February 24, 2026
Fourteen Cats Is a Colony, Not a Hobby
From: Outnumbered in Oaks at San Gabriel
My neighbor has been feeding stray cats for two years and now there are fourteen of them living in and around our cul-de-sac. They're in my garden, on my car, and I found three of them in my garage last week. My neighbor says she's helping them. I say she's running an unlicensed wildlife operation. Who's right?
You’re right. Feeding one stray cat is kindness. Feeding fourteen is a land-use decision that affects the whole street, and she didn’t ask anyone.
Georgetown has an ordinance about this. Look it up, or call the city’s animal services line and tell them exactly what you told me: there are fourteen cats, they are feral, they are on your property, and your neighbor is actively sustaining the population. The city has a trap-neuter-return program and they will help. What they will not do is help if nobody calls.
Before you do that, have one conversation with your neighbor. Not to persuade her — she’s not going to stop caring about cats — but to tell her plainly: the cats are in your garage, your garden is destroyed, and if the situation doesn’t change you’ll be calling the city. That’s not a threat, that’s information. Give her the chance to respond.
If she waves you off, make the call. You are not required to share your property with fourteen animals because your neighbor has feelings about them. Her kindness ends at her property line.
Also get your garage door fixed. That’s on you.
— Vera
Got your own situation? Vera may not fix it, but she'll tell you what to do about it.
Write to vera@forgeorgetown.com →