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Cats, people love the kitties. Maui (and Hawaii) have many, many cats, too many.
We have large colonies out in our "wild" areas and in towns that are supported by dedicated teams that feed them.
The real story is that cats are a danger to Hawaii. They eat birds, all our birds, most importantly the unique birds found only in Hawaii that are federally protected.
They spread disease that affects our monk seals.
They urinate and defecate on homes randomly. When my dog defecates, I pick it up. I make it pee somewhere besides on my neighbors' lawns. I keep it leashed so as not to go after anything or anyone.
I had a cat for 21 years. We cared for it, It was an inside cat that did not harm anyone.
Why do cats here get a free pass to do these things with no controls? Spay neuter and release cannot work; if you miss one breeding pair, they breed fast enough to stay ahead and they still get to do the dirty deeds to our birds and environment.
Maybe we need federal intervention because we are failing to control a feral predator that is killing endangered species. Why do cats get a free pass?
Stephen Rodgers
Kihei