A new nationwide study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem uncovers the Israeli public’s conflicting attitudes toward free-roaming cats. While nearly a third of respondents regularly feed stray cats, a large majority still support reducing their numbers. This contradiction highlights the complexity of public attitudes, where emotional actions coexist with ecological concerns. Researchers emphasize the need for public education and propose involving cat feeders in monitoring and control efforts to improve policy effectiveness.

[Hebrew University of Jerusalem]– A new study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem reveals the complex and often contradictory public attitudes toward Israel’s free-roaming cat population. While many Israelis routinely feed stray cats, a large majority also support reducing their numbers—posing challenges for policymakers working to manage urban animal populations in humane and effective ways.

The study, conducted by Dr. Idit Gunther, Prof. Eyal Klement, and Doron Levin of the Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, surveyed 700 people at major public transportation hubs across Israel. Published in Preventive Veterinary Medicine, the research found that 32% of respondents fed stray cats during the previous month, with over 11% doing so daily. Still, 77% of all participants—including many feeders—agreed that cat numbers should be reduced, though daily feeders showed less support for this idea.

“People want humane solutions,” said Prof. Eyal Klement. “But those solutions need to be accompanied by greater public awareness of how feeding behaviors affect population dynamics.”

“People feed stray cats out of compassion,” added Dr. Idit Gunther. “But they don’t always understand or take responsibility for the consequences. Abundant food, together with the cat’s rapid reproductive capabilities, leads to dense and crowded populations. These conditions increase competition, disease transmission, and mortality—raising not only animal welfare concerns, but also risks to public health and urban ecology. Despite widespread concern about overpopulation, 90% of participants opposed culling as a control strategy. Support for Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) was common but not overwhelming, and religious respondents were significantly more hesitant, possibly due to cultural or religious norms.”

The study also highlights the potential role of frequent feeders in helping manage the issue. Many feeders care for multiple cats, often in close proximity to their homes, and those who feed more cats were also more likely to provide medical care. Their commitment, the researchers suggest, could be channeled into formal efforts to monitor and stabilize cat populations.

The researchers recommend that municipalities complement sterilization campaigns with targeted public education, particularly around the link between food availability and population growth. Without addressing this key driver, they warn, efforts to control stray cat numbers may not be sustainable in the long term. International Attitudes
Public attitudes toward stray cats in Israel closely mirror trends observed in the United States and parts of Europe, where compassion for free-roaming cats coexists with concern about their growing numbers. Like in Israel—where nearly a third of people feed stray cats yet over three-quarters support reducing the population—studies in the U.S. and Europe show similar contradictions. In both regions, Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs are widely favored as humane alternatives to culling, though public understanding of the ecological impact of feeding behaviors often remains limited. What stands out in the Israeli context, however, is the researchers’ proposal to actively involve frequent cat feeders in monitoring and control efforts—an approach still underutilized in many Western cities. Additionally, cultural and religious considerations appear to shape Israeli attitudes more distinctly than in secular European settings, where public support for sterilization is typically higher and less contested.

The study emphasizes that the issue extends beyond veterinary or ecological concerns—it's deeply rooted in social behavior. Addressing free-roaming cat overpopulation will require aligning public attitudes and everyday practices with ecological realities. Without a broader understanding of how actions like feeding impact the overall population, even well-intentioned efforts may fall short.