Universal hotel to remove feral cat colonies
Apr 3, 2012

Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando is removing the feral-cat colony that lives on its hotel grounds. According to the Orlando Sentinel, the hotel has been known for its model trap-neuter-release colony of cats living at the hotel (this ended earlier this year), and has "tiny, Italian-style cat mansions adorned with a plaque recognizing this program." The hotels are pet-friendly for guests with animals, but they recently issued an employee policy preventing the feeding of wild animals, which would include the cats.

Jennifer Hodges, a Loews spokeswoman, said, "The Florida Department of Health states that feral cats pose a continuous concern to communities due to the persistent threat of injury and disease. The priority at our hotels is the health and safety of our guests and team members."

Animal-rights activists are upset with Loews' decision and said the hotel is being "hypocritical and heartless" and that the cats will be killed if taken to shelters. In response, Loews released a memo saying, "While our hotels are pet-friendly, there are important distinctions between owned pets and feral, undomesticated animals."

Loews is planning to move the cats to Orange County Animal Services Center. Kat Kennedy, a spokeswoman for the Center, said that cats part of a "sterilized community such as Loews' can be identified by a marking on their ears. When such a cat is impounded, the county agency notifies a non-profit group, CARE Feline TNR, which handles such cats' relocation to suitable colonies. And if a particular cat is familiar enough with humans it may be a candidate for adoption."