Feral Cat Colony at Loews Hotel Held Under Inhumane Conditions

The plight of the Feral Cat Colony Ousted by Loews Orlando Florida Hotel Chain, which for years had been living peacefully on the grounds of the Loews Royal Pacific, Loews Portofino, was featured on Petside.com last week.

The feral cat colony was banished following the hotel chain’s corporate staff’s decision to trap the feral cats and relocate them to a local animal shelter.

Since trapped/neutered/returned (TRN) stable feral cat colonies present no health risk to humans, not only was Loews’ decision unnecessary, it was cruel, since these feral cats have lived together as a bonded family and have been displaced from an area they have called home for a  long time.

As agonizing as it was for the feral cat colony at the time the original story broke, at this time the situation has become even more untenable. On Thursday April 5, Alley Cats Allies published a press release with an update describing the cruel treatment which the feral cats have been receiving. With the inappropriate trapping methods used by Critter Control, the company Loews Hotel chain hired to remove the feral cat colony from their property, the cats are suffering terribly.

Becky Robinson, president and co-founder of Alley Cat Allies, said, "We have heard horrible reports of cats held outside in traps for up to nine hours, baking in the hot sun and in temperatures of 90 degrees with no food and water. Eyewitnesses have posted photos of cats who have been injured from the frantic struggle to free themselves.”  

Robinson added that "The trappers are clearly not following humane best practices. Proper protocol dictates that the traps should be continuously monitored, covered by a sheet or towel immediately after trapping to minimize stress and chance of injury to the cat, and removed to a quiet and safe place.”

The feral cat colony on the Loews Hotel chain property has been denied food and water for more than a week. If hotel employees are caught feeding them, their jobs are at stake.

Since the Loews Hotel chains market themselves as a pet friendly company, it’s beyond my comprehension why  Loews  continues to turn down the generous offers of help made by Alley Cat Allies and several other animal welfare organizations, to consider more humane options for the feral cats.  

All of the feral cats who had been living peacefully in the TNR colony on the hotel chain property have been neutered or spayed and are no longer breeding. In spite of Loews’ claim the feral cats the health of guests at risk, based on the “say-so” of Orange County Animal Control and The Florida Department of Health, in reality; feral cat colonies present virtually no health risk at all.

Don’t let these feral cats continue to suffer needlessly. Sign Alley Cat Allie’s petition right away. Tell Loews Hotel chain to stop hurting the feral cats and give them the humane care they need.

Share your thoughts about how these feral cats have been treated in a comment.