Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/stadium-cats/

Lockdowns all over the world due to the coronavirus pandemic have helped many ecosystems to recover. Due to the impact on the tourism industry, many ecological destinations had time to breathe and for wildlife to reproduce.

However, in the case of Oakland Stadium, the lockdown has caused the uncontrolled reproduction of feral cats which are now over-running the place.

“And the kittens are running wild,” stated Henry Gardner, executive director of the Coliseum Authority which oversees the facility in a memo as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. “The good news is the rat population has decreased substantially.”

Oakland Stadium, currently branded as RingCentral Coliseum, is the home field for MLB’s Oakland A’s and once housed the NFL’s Raiders before their transfer to Las Vegas. Opened in 1966, it has been a proud venue for various events like concerts, conventions, and big social gatherings.

No one expected that the coliseum would be invaded by feral cats.

Yet, this is not the only area that has been experiencing this kind of problem. The Oakland Arena which is adjacent to the Coliseum is now also home to these unruly animals.

“There are about 30 to 40,” Gardner told KRON. “While they are not a danger, the cats do pose a public nuisance.”

The Oakland Coliseum Alliance is coordinating with the animal control officers to get the cats adopted or placed in shelters.

Yes, feral cats can be also adopted although it may take some while for them to get used to people. Unlike stray cats which at some point in their lives have had interactions with humans, feral cats are used to living outdoors without human companionship.

According to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, there are between 60 million to 100 million feral cats in the US.

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Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog