St. Mary’s County Moves To Curb Feral Cat Surge Ahead Of Kitten Season

LEONARDTOWN, Md. — As spring approaches and “kitten season” looms, St. Mary’s County officials are taking a proactive step to address a growing problem quietly unfolding in neighborhoods across the county: feral cat overpopulation.

During the April 14 meeting of the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County, Director Jennifer Aubert-Utz and Animal Services Division Manager Hollis Lampe presented a request to apply for a $24,000 grant through the Maryland Department of Agriculture, aimed at reducing the number of unowned, outdoor cats.

The commissioners unanimously approved the request.

A Growing Issue Across Neighborhoods

From rural properties to suburban communities, complaints about feral cat colonies are increasing, and so are the numbers.

“These cats are just multiplying, exponentially, and we need to kind of get our hands around it,” Utz said during the meeting.

County officials say the issue extends beyond nuisance concerns. Residents report overcrowded colonies, property impacts, and worries about disease, while animal control continues to see a steady rise in calls for assistance.

According to a memo presented to commissioners, St. Mary’s County has experienced a year-over-year increase in requests related to feral cat colonies, with some neighborhoods struggling to manage rapidly growing populations.

Inside The $24,000 Grant Proposal

If awarded, the funding would support efforts to humanely trap, sterilize, and either return or relocate approximately 300 feral cats across the county.

The proposal focuses on targeted areas, including Lexington Park, Great Mills, Leonardtown, Mechanicsville, and Ridge, locations where requests for help have been most frequent.

Under the plan, Animal Services staff and volunteers would trap cats, transport them for spay/neuter surgery and rabies vaccination, then return them to their original location or place them as working “barn cats” when needed.

“We typically trap and release a cat within 24 hours,” Lampe said.

The $24,000 grant would cover the cost of 150 spay procedures and 150 neuter procedures, totaling 300 surgeries.

Why Timing Matters: Kitten Season

The push for funding comes just before the annual surge known as kitten season — a time when shelters see a dramatic increase in intake.

“We get countless kittens in every summer … that can be prevented by sterilizing outdoor cats now,” Lampe said.

Without intervention, officials say, populations can grow rapidly.

“We get numerous calls about people who don’t mind a couple of cats in their yard, but all of a sudden a couple of cats turns into 40 cats,” Lampe added.

In 2025 alone, the county shelter took in more than 1,600 cats, with a significant portion coming from targeted areas identified in the grant application.

A Much Larger Population Than 300

While the proposal targets 300 cats, officials acknowledge the broader population is significantly larger.

Using a common estimate of one feral cat per 15 residents, Lampe said the total number of feral cats in the county likely reaches into the thousands.

“There are certainly far beyond 300 feral cats in the community,” she said.

County data shows at least 175 to 200 cats have already been identified in known colonies where property owners are actively seeking help.

Partnerships And A Long-Term Approach

St. Mary’s County has partnered with Feral Cat Rescue in past efforts, but officials say additional funding is needed to sustain and expand the work.

“This grant would go a long way in getting us started,” Utz said.

If approved by the state, the grant would run from January through December 2027 and would not require matching county funds.

Looking Ahead

For animal services staff, the goal is not only to reduce the number of feral cats, but also to ease pressure on shelters and improve outcomes for both animals and residents.

By focusing on prevention through sterilization, officials hope to reduce intake, limit overcrowding, and avoid difficult decisions tied to space and resources.

“We’re hopeful to stop that before it starts,” Lampe said.

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