Fertile Felines May Require New Laws

America’s wandering cat population is growing—and if communities don’t address the issue, their numbers could spiral to alarming heights, LiveScience reports. As it stands, there’s a cat for every 3.5 Americans, and reproducing roamers contribute to the 5 million cats euthanized yearly. Cities may need to follow Los Angeles’ lead: The city now requires all cats and dogs be “fixed” soon after birth.

“If we don't change something, we're going to continue to lose this battle” against overpopulation, says a veterinary expert. She surveyed Ohioans on their interactions with felines, and found that about a third of respondents saw roving felines daily. Over half supported spay-neuter laws, which the researcher encourages, though “it gets very emotional,” she says. (More cat stories.)