Israel Struggles to Manage Its Feral Cat Population Despite Millions Spent on Sterilization

Israel faces a significant challenge in managing its feral cat population, estimated between 500,000 and 2 million cats living in public spaces. Despite spending millions of shekels annually on sterilization surgeries, the government lacks comprehensive data on the actual number of cats, their breeding hotspots, or the effectiveness of these efforts. There has never been a nationwide census or systematic mapping, and no single authority is responsible for the issue's resolution.

The current approach focuses on counting sterilization procedures as a measure of success, but this does not indicate whether the cat population is decreasing, if fewer kittens are born, or if the problem is improving. The responsibility is fragmented across government ministries, local authorities, veterinarians, and animal welfare organizations, resulting in a lack of coordinated action. Sterilization campaigns are often isolated and insufficient to stabilize populations without targeted, repeated efforts in defined areas.

This ongoing cycle leaves cats to continue reproducing, while authorities respond reactively to complaints and emergencies. The consequences extend beyond animal welfare, affecting residents who face nuisances, overburdened caregivers, animal organizations filling public service gaps, and local governments dealing with sanitation and public health issues. The article argues that this is a public management failure rather than just an animal welfare concern.

The proposed solution is a shift from sporadic campaigns to a comprehensive, multi-year national policy that clearly assigns responsibility, provides steady funding, professional standards, training, and unified data systems. Local authorities should conduct focused sterilization and mapping, alongside efforts to register and neuter pet cats, prevent abandonment, care for injured animals, regulate feeding, and manage waste sources. Success metrics should move beyond surgery counts to measuring reductions in kitten births, stabilized population centers, and decreased burdens on the public and organizations.

Yael Arkin, CEO of the "Let the Animals Live" organization, emphasizes that cats will continue living alongside humans, but Israel must decide whether to persist with improvised management or take real responsibility to solve the crisis.