Some free-roaming cats in New York City are parasite “super-shedders,” study shows
If you’ve ever strolled through New York City and felt like there were a lot of cats strutting the streets, you weren’t wrong. No one knows exactly how many felines wander New York, but it’s a lot. Bideawee, a regional animal shelter, says tens of thousands of stray and feral cats live in the city’s […]
In New York City, free-roaming cats are considered "super-shedders" of parasites, according to a recent study conducted by researchers from Rowan and Long Island Universities. The study, which examined nearly 90 cats across all boroughs except Manhattan in late spring and summer of 2023, found that over half of the cats tested were infected with at least one parasite, while 22% were found to harbor two or more.
The findings, while not surprising to wildlife veterinarian Felicia Nutter at Tufts University, provide a baseline for understanding the prevalence of parasites among these cats in the area. The study emphasizes the need to continue monitoring this population, as these free-roaming cats occupy a critical interface between animal health, human health, and environmental hygiene.
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