Species guide · Updated September 27, 2026
Cats in Hawaiʻi
Felis catus
Free-roaming cats prey on native birds, and their feces carry the parasite behind toxoplasmosis, which has killed Hawaiian monk seals, spinner dolphins and native birds. FeralMap maps where people see cats, where cats are fed and where their feces collect, one observation at a time.
What to report
- A cat or a group of cats outdoors, with a count if you can make one.
- A feeding site: bowls, stations or someone feeding cats.
- Cat feces or a place cats keep defecating, such as a garden bed or beach park.
- The same place again on a later visit, so change over time is recorded.
Not this
- A collared cat in its own yard: that is a pet, not a free-roaming cat.
- A mongoose: smaller and low to the ground, with a long body, short legs and a pointed nose, and active by day.
A report is one observation at one place and time. It is not a count of animals and not an estimate of how many live there.
Who to call
Who to contact
FeralMap does not send your report to any agency. If a situation needs a response, contact them yourself using the details here.
- Hawaiian Humane SocietyOʻahu: stray animals, lost and found pets, and a free-roaming cat program.
- Maui Humane SocietyMaui: community cats, animal emergencies, and information about feral cats and dogs.
- Hawaiʻi Island Humane SocietyHawaiʻi Island: lost and found pets, spay and neuter, and community vet care.
- Kauaʻi Humane SocietyKauaʻi: lost and found pets and pet adoption.
- Molokaʻi Humane SocietyMolokaʻi: the island humane society for cats and dogs.
- Lānaʻi Cat SanctuaryLānaʻi: the island’s cat sanctuary, home to hundreds of rescued cats.
Links last reviewed 2026-09-27. A wrong link or a missing contact: contact@nene.org.
What to do on each island
Report cats on the map. For a cat that needs help, contact your island humane society.
| Island | What to do |
|---|---|
| Hawaiʻi Island | Report cats on the map. For a cat that needs help, contact your island humane society. |
| Maui | Report cats on the map. For a cat that needs help, contact your island humane society. |
| Oʻahu | Report cats on the map. For a cat that needs help, contact your island humane society. |
| Kauaʻi | Report cats on the map. For a cat that needs help, contact your island humane society. |
| Molokaʻi | Report cats on the map. For a cat that needs help, contact your island humane society. |
| Lānaʻi | Report cats on the map. For a cat that needs help, contact your island humane society. |
Reports of cats on the map
Public cats reports, all time
Open the full map · Select a cell to see its reports. Locations are generalized cells, never exact points.
Common questions
- Does one report mean one cat?
- No. A report is one observation at one place and time. Ten reports can be one cat seen ten times or ten cats seen once. Counts across visits are what make a place readable.
- Will the exact spot be shown?
- No. The public map shows a generalized cell of about 0.1 km²; the location you enter stays private.
- Is a beach near a cat report unsafe?
- A report cannot tell you anything about the parasite in sand or water. Follow health department advisories and wash up after handling soil or litter.
Sources
Read the project overview, the privacy policy, or download the public dataset.