US halts plan to remove iconic stray cats from a historic area in Puerto Rico’s capital

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Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. stray / streɪ / (adj.) – (of an animal) lost or having no home or owner
    Example:

    The girl found a stray dog wandering alone on the street.


  2. meander / miˈæn dər / (v.) – to walk or move slowly without a clear direction or purpose
    Example:

    We often meander through the park on weekends, taking our time to enjoy the flowers and the fresh air.


  3. revile / rɪˈvaɪl / (v.) – to criticize or say bad or hurtful things about someone or something
    Example:

    The politician was reviled by the public for his controversial policies.


  4. heated / ˈhi tɪd / (adj.) – very excited or angry
    Example:

    The conversation became heated when they started discussing politics.


  5. prowl / praʊl / (v.) – to move around quietly and secretly like when hunting
    Example:

    The cat loves to prowl around the garden, searching for small animals.


Article

Read the text below.

The U.S. government has temporarily halted a plan to remove iconic stray cats that live in a historic district in Puerto Rico’s capital until a lawsuit opposing the project is resolved, a nonprofit announced in September.


The ruling was cheered by those fighting a decision by the U.S. National Park Service to remove an estimated 200 cats that meander a seaside fortress that Spain built in colonial times.


The cats, which have long been a tourist attraction, are both beloved and reviled by those who visit and live in Old San Juan, where the 16th-century fortress known as “El Morro” is located. It’s part of the San Juan National Historic Site that the U.S. National Park Service operates.


The federal agency warned in 2022 that the population of cats had surged and that the felines could transmit illnesses to humans and were likely killing wildlife, adding that the smell of urine and feces enveloped the area.


The agency held public hearings on the plan that became heated, with critics noting that the organization selected would decide whether the trapped cats would be adopted, fostered, kept in a shelter, or face other options.


Yonaton Aronoff, an attorney for Maryland-based Alley Cat Allies, said in a phone interview that removing the current cats is an impossible task since new cats would take their place. “They’re going to have to keep doing this forever,” he said.


The U.S. National Park Service was scheduled to start removing the cats in October, but it agreed to halt those plans until a judge rules on a lawsuit that Alley Cat Allies filed in March. The nonprofit alleges that the plan violates acts including the National Environmental Protection Act.


Meanwhile, cats of all colors and sizes continue to prowl the trails bordering deep turquoise waters that surround El Morro, and they even have a statue honoring them nearby. Some of the felines are believed to be descendants of cats from the colonial era, while others were brought by a former mayor to kill rats in the mid-20th century. Still others were simply abandoned by their owners.


This article was provided by The Associated Press. 


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • The cats have long been a tourist attraction in Old San Juan. In your opinion, should stray animals be part of a city’s tourist attractions? Why or why not? Do you think people’s perspectives toward these felines affect them negatively or positively? Why? Discuss.
  • Some of the cats are thought to be from the colonial era, while others were brought by a mayor to catch rats. How do you think the presence of these cats adds to the history of Old San Juan? Do you think the cats should be protected because of their historical connection to the area? Why or why not? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • An attorney for Maryland-based Alley Cat Allies said that removing the current cats is an impossible task since new cats would take their place. If they were to remove the cats, what do you think is an appropriate way to do it (ex. take the cats to a shelter, have them adopted)? In your opinion, what other solutions could be considered instead of removing the cats? Discuss.
  • Do you think stray cats pose a serious health risk to humans? Why or why not? Do you believe public health concerns should take priority over preserving the stray cat population? Why do you think so? Discuss.