The Cat Network, Inc. – How a $35 Bounty Started an Epic Journey

Throughout October, we are throwing our support behind the mission to turn Feral Cat Day into Feral Cat Awareness Month, an opportunity to raise awareness about community cats (also called feral or stray), promote Trap-Neuter-Return, and recognize the millions of caring people who dedicate their time and energy to improving the lives of the cats & kittens most in need of support. With around 60-100 million stray cats in the US, we know it takes more than just one day to make a meaningful difference in a problem this overwhelming, and one group that understands this more than most is The Cat Network in Miami, Florida.

Founded in 1995, The Cat Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supported by more than 2,500 volunteers and donors, helping community cats, stray, abandoned, and homeless cats throughout South Florida while supporting the people who care for them. Through education, low-cost spay/neuter services, adoption assistance, and advocacy, the organization works to humanely reduce cat overpopulation and improve the lives of cats and the communities they live in.

What Is The Cat Network? 

The Cat Network is dedicated to humanely reducing cat overpopulation in South Florida through five core pillars: education, sterilization, adoption, advocacy, and humane public policy. Our story begins more than 30 years ago…

In July 1995, the City Manager of Miami Beach contracted with a commercial trapper, Humane Animal Removal, to trap and euthanize the city’s feral cats, with a bounty of $35.00 for each cat trapped and killed. When this became public, a local and national outcry ensued, and the media had a field day. The Cat Network, still in its infancy, helped organize local opposition to the trap-kill plan. Susan Fleming, president of The Cat Network and a Miami Beach resident, was instrumental in negotiating with the City to institute TNR instead.  With help from Animal Control’s mobile animal clinic and SoBe spay/neuter certificates, we convinced the City to implement the more humane approach of TNR.

The following year, we began our spay/neuter certificate program with participating veterinary clinics, the first of which was Galloway Animal Clinic. Since 1995, we've helped sterilize more than 122,000 cats and assisted in the adoption of more than 24,000 cats.

What makes us unique is our comprehensive approach. Rather than simply responding to the symptoms of overpopulation, we focus on preventing future litters while helping cats in need. Our programs include the Miami Meow Mobile, low-cost spay/neuter vouchers, adoption referrals through an extensive foster network, public education, and advocacy for Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) as the most humane and effective way to manage community cat populations.

Kitten Season Never Ends in Miami 

One of our biggest challenges is simply the sheer number of cats needing help. Because South Florida has warm weather year-round, kitten season never truly ends. This creates an ongoing demand for spay and neuter services, foster homes, adoptions, and community education. Every day we receive calls from residents who have discovered kittens, injured cats, or growing community cat colonies.

There really isn't an "off season" for cat rescue here, so our volunteers and veterinary programs stay busy throughout the entire year. Preventing unwanted litters through early sterilization is one of the most effective ways to reduce this constant cycle.

Funding is another ongoing challenge. Keeping our veterinary programs affordable requires significant community support, and the costs of medical supplies, equipment, and operations continue to rise.

People can make an enormous difference by:

• Donating to support our programs.

• Becoming a volunteer or foster caregiver.

• Spaying and neutering their own pets.

• Helping community cats through TNR.

• Sharing our educational resources and adoptable cats on social media.

• Becoming a member of The Cat Network.

Every donation, volunteer hour, and shared post helps save lives.

The Cat Network Has A Lot To Be Proud Of

Over the past 30 years, The Cat Network has become one of South Florida's leading organizations dedicated to reducing cat overpopulation. Sterilizing more than 122,000 cats and helping over 24,000 cats find homes are milestones that represent countless lives saved.

We're especially proud of the Miami Meow Mobile, which has dramatically increased access to affordable veterinary care, and our long-standing network of volunteers and foster caregivers who make our adoption program possible. Together, these programs have helped thousands of residents become part of the solution while improving animal welfare throughout South Florida.

Miami Meow Mobile

The Miami Meow Mobile is a fully equipped veterinary clinic designed specifically for cats. Originally envisioned in 2001 and launched in 2005, it was created to make affordable veterinary care accessible to more people throughout the community.

Today, the Meow Mobile provides low-cost spay and neuter surgeries, vaccinations, testing, microchipping, parasite treatments, and basic wellness services. Originally designed as a traveling clinic, it currently operates from a fixed location in Kendall, allowing us to serve a large number of cats efficiently and safely.

The Meow Mobile remains one of our signature programs because every surgery performed helps prevent future litters and reduces shelter overcrowding throughout South Florida.

Spay/Neuter Certificate Program

Our Spay/Neuter Certificate Program partners with participating veterinarians throughout South Florida. Residents can purchase discounted certificates that cover sterilization surgery, a rabies vaccination, and ear tipping for community cats.

This partnership expands access to affordable veterinary care beyond our own clinic. If someone discovers a stray or community cat in their neighborhood, the voucher program provides an affordable pathway to have that cat sterilized before additional litters are born.

By working together with local veterinary clinics, we're able to reach far more cats than we could alone and give residents practical tools to help solve the community cat problem.

The Weird and the Wonderful

Working with cats means no two days are ever alike. Volunteers have rescued kittens from engine compartments, construction sites, shopping centers, and backyard sheds. Every rescue brings its own surprises—and often a few scratches and plenty of memorable stories.

The resilience of these cats never stops amazing us. Watching frightened community kittens transform into affectionate family pets is one of the most rewarding experiences we witness over and over again.

Every cat that is sterilized prevents countless future kittens from being born into homelessness. Every adoption changes two lives—the cat's and the family's.

Knowing that thousands of volunteers, donors, veterinarians, and community members are working together toward the same goal makes every success even more meaningful.

Looking Ahead

As we celebrate over 30 years of service, our goal remains the same: continuing to expand access to affordable spay and neuter serviceswhile working toward a future where no healthy or treatable cat is euthanized simply because there are too many homeless animals.

We continue to strengthen our community partnerships, grow volunteer involvement, support foster caregivers, and educate the public about responsible pet ownership and Trap-Neuter-Return practices.

Anyone interested in getting involved can learn more by visiting TheCatNetwork.org. There they can become a member, volunteer, foster cats, adopt, donate, or schedule services through the Miami Meow Mobile.

Email: info@thecatnetwork.org
Phone: (305) 255-3482