Volusia County’s largest city, Deltona, has a big feral cat problem.
So much so, the city is moving forward with an ordinance to mandate feral cats be caught, neutered and released.
Right now Deltona Animal Control is catching cats roaming the streets and taking them to the Halifax Humane Society.
"Unfortunately, we see a lot of feral cats from Deltona," said Tyler Stover with Halifax Humane Society.
According to Humane Society and city leaders, hundreds, if not thousands of cats are taken to the shelter. Many of them are euthanized.
But all that will change if Deltona passes a new ordinance giving feral cats a chance to live out their lives. The ordinance passed its first reading Monday.
It's called the catch, neuter and release program. The city will call on volunteers to catch stray cats and turn them over for neutering or spaying.
"I know that there have been traps that have been loaned out to residents and we'll get a call whenever there is a trap," said Deltona spokesman Lee Lopez.
Once the feral cat is neutered or spayed, its ear is tipped (a small cut on the tip). The cat is then released, unable to reproduce.
Volunteers like Danny Groseclose said the program is working in other cities, like Port Orange and Cassadaga. He also said it is more cost effective.
"It was about 50 percent less to trap, neuter and return as opposed to trap and euthanize," Groseclose said.
Cities pay about $60 to have a cat neutered.
But a Deltona city leader said they pay about $100 to board the cat for several days before it is put down.
"It saves money for us at the shelter," Stover said. "It saves money for the cities and it keeps the cats in their environment where they can continue to live a happy life."
The next and final reading for the new feral cat ordinance is Nov. 3. Deltona will use a grant provided by Halifax Humane Society to neuter feral cats.