​In an effort to slow and prevent the spread of COVID-19 and abide by the stay-at-home order, Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control is ordering the trapping of feral or community cats to be temporarily suspended.

Caregivers may still continue to feed and care for their colonies, but non-emergency surgeries are suspended under the governor's Executive Order 20-72. Spaying and neutering, unless it has been deemed necessary to save an animal's life or if combined with a medical emergency surgery, has been determined not to be medically necessary as defined and legally interpreted in the EO-20-72.

This temporary trapping ban comes as we are entering kitten season when most cat advocates increase their trapping efforts to prevent unwanted births. Unfortunately, it often causes large numbers of people to congregate as trapped cats are brought to spay/neuter clinics.

It is important for cat advocates to understand that trapping can resume once we get safely through the pandemic. Sick or injured feral or community cats may continue to be trapped during this period for the purpose of providing necessary medical care.