A University of Florida study revealed that in 2023, over 365,000 free-roaming cats and dogs were admitted to shelters across the state. Additionally, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission estimates there are 60-100 million homeless cats nationwide. Despite a slow decline in euthanasia rates, Central Florida still ranks among the highest in the U.S.
This is a serious issue, but every solution starts with a simple action, like sitting down to play with a cat using a wand toy.
Central Florida’s cat cafes, like Orlando Cat Cafe, are helping to reduce the problem by giving community cats a chance at adoption. Visitors to these cafes help socialize cats, which improves their chances of thriving in new homes once adopted.
“Socialization is crucial to a cat’s well-being,” says Cindy Skop, owner of the Kitty Cat Lounge in Lakeland, another local cat café making a difference. Read more about how cat cafes are helping both cats and communities thrive.
