The cats, which have long been a tourist attraction, are both beloved and reviled by those who visit and live in Old San Juan, where the 16th-century fortress known as “El Morro” is located.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The U.S. government has temporarily paused its plan to remove the iconic stray cats that roam Puerto Rico’s historic capital district, pending the outcome of a lawsuit, a nonprofit organization announced Monday.
This temporary reprieve is a victory for opponents of the U.S. National Park Service’s decision to remove around 200 stray cats from the grounds of El Morro, a centuries-old fortress built during Spain’s colonial rule.
“It’s a short-term win, but these cats remain at risk in the long term,” said Yonaton Aronoff, an attorney representing Maryland-based Alley Cat Allies, which filed the lawsuit.
The cats, a beloved yet controversial presence, have become a tourist attraction in Old San Juan, where the fortress sits as part of the San Juan National Historic Site, managed by the U.S. National Park Service.
In 2022, the federal agency expressed concern about the growing cat population, citing health risks to humans and potential harm to wildlife. Officials also noted that the strong odor from cat urine and feces was a growing issue.
By late 2023, the agency announced plans to hire an animal welfare group to remove the cats, with a secondary plan to contract a removal agency if the first organization couldn’t complete the task within six months.
The U.S. National Park Service has not yet responded to inquiries regarding this temporary halt.
Public meetings on the plan sparked heated debate, with critics raising concerns about the fate of the captured cats. The animal welfare group chosen would decide whether the cats would be adopted, placed in foster care, sheltered, or subject to other outcomes.
Aronoff emphasized that removing the current population wouldn’t solve the problem permanently. “New cats will just replace them,” he explained. “This could turn into an endless cycle.”
The National Park Service initially planned to start removing the cats in October, but agreed to delay the operation until a judge rules on the lawsuit filed by Alley Cat Allies in March. The nonprofit argues the plan violates laws, including the National Environmental Protection Act. A ruling is expected in early 2025.
For now, the cats continue to wander the pathways around El Morro, with some believed to be descendants of those from the colonial era. Others were introduced by a former mayor to control the rat population in the mid-1900s, while many were simply abandoned by their owners.
Local nonprofit Save a Gato helps feed, spay, neuter, and place the cats up for adoption. However, they’ve acknowledged that finding homes for such a large number of cats remains a challenge, as shelters on the U.S. mainland are often full.