Is It Better to Bring In or Leave Colony Cats Outdoors During a Hurricane?

Callie lets us near her to feed, but never touch her.

Miami has just survived the wrath of Hurricane Irma that reached us two days ago.

Needless to say it was stressful from the preparations, to holding our breath as Irma struck land,  unleashing her fury as she skirted Miami, and her agonizing slow withdrawal.

In the end we are grateful that our families, pets and the Miami Riverfront cats all survived unscathed!

As we finish cleanup efforts and slowly return to normalcy, upon reflecting on recent events many questions were asked of volunteers and small rescue groups that care for homeless cats.

"Why didn't you trap the cats, cage them and evacuate?"

Every situation is different depending on the type of cat (feral or friendly), and the resources of the volunteer/caretaker in terms of  reliability of shelter, space, funds and supplies and distance to non hurricane state.

Regarding feral cats, per Alley Cat Allies:

 ...for truly feral cats, their best chance of survival is using their own instincts and abilities to respond to changing circumstances. Like wildlife, feral cats will instinctively seek higher ground during floods.

With regard to friendly cats, it depends on the friendliness of the cat and its known comfort level with indoor environment. This is key.  Colony feeders may have friendly relations with some cats where they can pet them and pick them up. However, this does not necessarily mean that a friendly cat will remain friendly indoors.  Cats dislike change in environment. Some outdoor cats may experience high stress levels indoors not only from new surroundings but from being caged for days. This may be more stressful for the cat than a hurricane.  

At Riverfront Cats, one beautiful all black male cat is named Romeo. He is a Romeo. He seeks attention and affection from caretakers before eating.  He enjoys petting and tolerates being picked up. However, Romeo also suffers from seizures when in a carrier.  We learned this on two occasions. First when he was trapped for TNR. But also years later when placed in a carrier and taken to vet when he showed signs of illness. While exiting the vet office, he had seizures and was rushed back inside to the vet. Thankfully he has not become ill again. With the news of Hurricane Irma, we knew he had to remain outdoors. Days in a carrier would more likely kill him than the hurricane. We trusted his instincts to survive. He also knows to meow for help or attention as he once appeared lost or stuck in his part-time refuge--the storm drainage on our condo lot. Thankfully it is shallow that he was able to jump out on his own.

Romeo an affectionate colony cat

In a category 4 or 5 hurricane, it is likely that an average house will lose a roof, parts of the home or entire home. The roof is usually the first to go. That is why they are called "catastrophic" storms. One has to expect the worst to prepare for it. In this case, bringing in colony cats and caging them for days is not wise.  There is also guaranteed loss of electricity. Unless there is a concrete shelter with no to minimal windows and a generator for emergency power source, and solid roof, as difficult as it may sound, it may be best to leave the cat outdoor.

Evacuating Can Sometimes Be More Dangerous
As native Floridian having lived through various storms and hurricanes, and learning from other hurricane related events around the country, sometimes evacuation poses more danger.

In Miami we were fortunate that the hurricane shifted, taking Miami outside the cone, and we were only impacted by outer bands. Still powerful with gusts of winds as high as 90mph but nowhere near the strength of a Category 3 or 4 at 130mph. The Riverfront Cats have weathered many tropical storms. So when Irma moved, we were very confident the Riverfront Cats were going to survive. 

"Do you know where an outdoor cat seeks shelter during a regular storm?"

Most of us do not.  We know they have their hiding places during a major storm.  Therefore one has to think like a cat, not human and trust their instincts.

These decisions are a struggle for caretakers.  There are many factors to consider and weigh.  Colony cat caretakers should never be judged.  Outsiders can offer funds or resources or other options. But never judge.

To learn more about protecting a cat colony before and after a storm, visit Alley Cat Allies, "Disaster-Proofing a Community Cat Colony".

We Are Here to Help
We are here to help you assess your situation and whether to evacuate with pets. Contact us at riverfrontcats@yahoo.com. We offer recommendations only. The decision is ultimately yours. Be safe.

When to bring in friendly cat and when to leave cat outside

Tiffany when she lived outdoors

The subject of community cats (also known as colony cats or neighborhood cats) is still largely unknown. While the cat may be the number one pet in the U.S., the average resident has low awareness of the plight of  homeless cats, the causes, the challenges and even the solutions.

One of the questions we often receive is "Well if you brought in one friendly outdoor cat, why not bring them all indoors and find them permanent homes?".  Good question. The best way to answer is to illustrate with a real life example. First, there are 20 neighborhood cats here at the Riverfront. "Bringing them in" is no walk in the park. It requires time, patience and routine to socialize them and get them accustomed to living indoors.


Another scenario is about a  family of four black cats--Nikki (mother) and her offspring, Sonny, Leroy and Tiffany. These were Riverfront Cats that live and roam on both the Florida Power & Light (FPL) yard and the neighboring Riverfront condos.  All four cats were managed (cared for and fed) by two kind men at FPL and RC volunteers. The black cats were all friendly, and welcomed petting and regular feedings.

Sadly, on a cold winter night a couple of years ago, the mother Nikki, was found dead in the transformer room at the FPL yard.  She was electrocuted.  This is an installation where small mammals can crawl in including opossums and racoons. They find warmth on the electric coils.  A month later, Sonny, was found dead inside the substation.  As a knee jerk reaction, I brought in Tiffany.  She was the smallest and quite affectionate.  But upon bringing her in, Tiffany had difficulty adjusting.  She no longer exhibited that carefree spirit and one could detect her longing to be outdoors whenever she heard the sounds when I opened the balcony door. A strange environment, other alien cats, and walls all around...this is daunting for a cat that has lived outdoors. Simply put, cats do not like change.
 

Tiffany eating outdoors--she is pictured in our graphic image on home page.

 Transition takes time and developing new routines is important. While Tiffany learned our household routine and was assured she would have shelter free from ants, mosquitoes, extreme heat, humidity and occasional cold front, and provided clean litter and regular meals, there was a trace of sadness in her eyes. I had stripped her of her freedom to run, climb and explore and detached her from the only family she knew--her brother Sonny and friend Lion King and the other feeders/caregivers. "Did I do the right thing?" I asked a longtime cat rescuer and caretaker.  "Sometimes it's best to leave them outdoors. It's their home. The cats know the area and they always have food and know where to seek shelter from storms.". With that, I decided to leave Leroy outdoors with an expensive all wood cat house. At the same time, I was determined to uplift Tiffany.  She clearly had energy and needed more space beyond the confines of a two bedroom condo. I went on a mission to find her a permanent large home. And I did.  She is happily living in a two- story home in Baltimore, MD with a loving couple, stairs to climb, a large window with a view to the outdoors and a playmate that has wholeheartedly accepted her and they play constantly. It is the perfect ending to that chapter.

Tiffany indoors

The answer to the original question is not clear cut. It is a case-by-case basis. The guardian has to assess each case based on many factors--location, potential hazards, level of danger, and resources for feeding and vet care.  Resources must be carefully weighed. In our case I invested time in nurturing Tiffany, sticking to routine and showering her with affection. Moreso, I invested time and money to find her a new home and transport her by airline to Baltimore. "Socializing" an outdoor cat and finding them permanent homes is very challenging.  So I felt confident leaving Leroy outdoors was best until...

At the time of this posting, Leroy was discovered with a horrific hind leg injury. The vet surmises a type of chemical burn. Yet there are no chemicals in the visible areas where he roams.

The bill to date is $700. If amputation is needed, that's another $1800.  In this case, the vet care is astronomical. City streets are no place for a cat. The dangers exist.  Perhaps taking in friendly cats, one by one, socializing them, finding them homes will now become our new protocol.

Fanny is a sweet outdoor cat.
We would love to bring her in, socialize her and find her permanent home

Never feel guilty about the decision you made. You do the best you can knowing you did everything in your power. We are here to listen to your case and offer insight and suggestions to help make a difference. The goal is for the cats not to suffer. There is always a solution.