Woman caring for stray cat colony questions Chatham County cat cap

SAVANNAH, Ga. — A woman who cares for a colony of stray cats is pointing to a potential loophole in a county ordinance as she disputes limits set by county officials.

The dispute centers on County Ordinance 22-212, which sets an eight cat cap inside a single-family house. Mariela is arguing the ordinance does not apply to outdoor cats.

Mariela, who describes herself as a cat whisperer, told WTOC other neighbors were already feeding the stray cats when she found dozens of pregnant strays and began caring for them. She said safety was the point and the main reason she started Cat Garden.

Fawn Smiley, Mariela’s former tenant and a Humane Society board member, taught her how to trap, neuter and return cats. For 25 years, Mariela has been fixing, vaccinating and treating cats with free flea medication.

By fixing and vaccinating the colony, Mariela told WTOC she is protecting the neighborhood.

Mariela said the yard has also become a spot where homesick SCAD freshmen come to sit with the cats. She said many of the cats at the garden are microchipped and belong to other neighbors. She insists the garden is where the cats like to gather.

Some neighbors are upset with the county and feel they have more questions than answers.

“Does she have to stop vaccinating? And then what? Overpopulation, sick cats, people getting sick?” said Riley Wolcott, a neighbor and SCAD student.

Mariela, for now, is abiding by the county mandates. WTOC has reached out to Chatham Animal Services but has not yet heard back.