Support Spay & Neuter — But Make Sure the Bill Works

Hawaiʻi faces a real challenge with cat overpopulation.

Expanding access to spay and neuter services is one of the most effective ways to address the problem.

That’s why Hawaiʻi Animal Advocacy supports the goal of HB1736 to increase funding for cat sterilization programs.

However, there is one provision in the bill that could unintentionally prevent the program from working.

The bill currently states that cats sterilized with program funds may not be released back into the environment.

At first glance this may sound reasonable — but in practice it prevents sterilization programs from working for community cats.

Why This Matters

Most outdoor cats in Hawaiʻi are not owned pets. They are community cats living near human neighborhoods.

These cats cannot easily be adopted and shelters cannot absorb them in large numbers.

The proven way to reduce these populations is a program called Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR).

The process is simple:

1. Cats are humanely trapped

2. Cats are spayed or neutered and vaccinated

3. Cats are returned to their original territory

Once sterilized:

• reproduction stops
• roaming decreases
• colonies stabilize
• populations decline gradually over time

If cats cannot be returned after surgery, large-scale sterilization programs cannot operate effectively.

In other words, sterilization funding without return-to-territory will not reduce outdoor cat populations.

A Working Example in Hawaiʻi

On Oʻahu, the City & County of Honolulu works with the Hawaiian Humane Society to provide sterilization services for free-roaming cats through the Feline Fix program.

Cats are sterilized, vaccinated, and returned to their colony locations where reproduction stops and populations decline naturally over time.

This is a practical example of how community cat population management works in Hawaiʻi.

The Solution Is Simple

HB1736 can achieve its goals with a small amendment allowing sterilized community cats to be returned to their original territory as part of a managed program.

This ensures the bill actually reduces outdoor cat populations while expanding access to spay and neuter services.

Submit testimony NOW on HB1736 HD2 - SEE INSTRUCTIONS

Help Improve the Bill

If you support spay and neuter programs that actually reduce cat overpopulation, please contact your legislators and ask them to support HB1736 with an amendment allowing managed community cat programs.

Together we can protect wildlife, support responsible pet ownership, and implement practical solutions that work.

Support Our Work

Hawaiʻi Animal Advocacy works to promote science-based policies that protect animals, communities, and Hawaiʻi’s unique environment.

If you would like to support this work, please consider making a donation to help us continue advocating for practical and humane solutions.

Note: Hawai'i Animal Advocacy organization is an Hawai'i Nonprofit and does not qualify for tax exemption for your donation.