Animal (Exemption for Purpose of Conservation) Order, 2025 Published

The Cayman Islands Government continues to take steps towards the humane management of feral and stray animals within the jurisdiction, with Cabinet recently approving the publication of a new legislative order that operationalises a cat pound at the Department of Agriculture in Grand Cayman. The order also provides for a cat pound to be established on Cayman Brac in the future.

The Animals (Exemption for Purpose of Conservation) Order, 2025, a collaboration between the Ministry of Health, Environment and Sustainability, the Department of Environment (DoE) and the Department of Agriculture (DoA), empowers the DoA, DoE and members of the public to lawfully trap feral cats on their property or with the land owner's permission, and take them to the newly established cat pound.

Hon. Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, Minister for Health, Environment and Sustainability explains: “Our responsibility to future generations of Caymanians is to ensure that we do everything in our power to protect our native and endemic wildlife.  The humane management of feral and stray animals is an essential aspect of protecting the Brown Booby, Blue Iguana and Rock Iguana populations.”

The Minister continues: “Having a cat pound and clear procedures for trapping and impounding feral cats helps ensure we are upholding animal welfare standards while supporting conservation outcomes.  Feral and stray cats present a significant threat to our wildlife in the Cayman Islands as they are exceptional hunters.  As such, they have significantly contributed to the decline in the Brown Booby, Blue Iguana and Rock Iguana populations in particular, but roaming cats pose ongoing threats to all native birds, reptiles and insects across our islands."

The National Conservation Council has approved procedures for managing stray and feral cats which will help members of the public understand their responsibilities in terms of animal welfare. In accordance with requirements for animal welfare under the Animals Act, trapped cats should have access to shade, water and food, and be transported to the pound as soon as possible.

Once at the cat pound, cats will be held for at least six calendar days unless claimed by and returned to a confirmed owner within that time. Animals which are unclaimed after that time will be eligible for re-homing through established adoption and fostering programmes, transfer, or humane euthanasia by the DoA.  Cats which are returned to their rightful owners will be microchipped if they are not already.  Anyone with a lost cat is encouraged to report the details of their missing pet to the Department of Agriculture as soon as possible. The public are encouraged to keep pet cats indoors or in outdoor enclosures such as "catios" and are reminded that all pets should be contained on the owner's property to ensure their safety.

It is important to note that the separate procedures already exist that specifically control feral cats in Little Cayman and other key environmentally sensitive sites in the Cayman Islands, and these will remain in effect as they are not impacted by the new order.

“This is not the only step which our Government is taking to address this issue,” Minister Ebanks-Willks adds.  “Updates to the Animals Act are also in the process of being drafted in order to modernise this important piece of legislation and strengthen the Government’s ability to humanely manage feral and stray animals. Taken together, these steps represent significant progress towards improving animal welfare in the Cayman Islands while protecting our unique native and endemic species from predation by feral and stray cats.”

For more information on the new cat pound, please contact the Department of Agriculture on (345) 947-3090 or agriculture@gov.ky.