New York, US: As the battle against New York City’s burgeoning rat population intensifies, veteran radio host and activist Curtis Sliwa is urging city officials and residents to enlist an unconventional ally: the feral cat. Dubbed “Caped Crusaders at Night,” Sliwa’s initiative calls for organized feral cat “colonies” to strategically patrol neighborhoods where rats run rampant—turning back the rodent tide with feline prowess.
Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels and a lifelong advocate for urban safety, argues that a coordinated network of feral cats could serve as a natural, low-cost complement to traditional pest-control measures. “These cats are the original night watchmen,” he said at a recent press conference in midtown Manhattan. “They prowl dark alleys, abandoned lots, and subway tunnels where rats have free rein. It makes sense to harness what nature already provides.”
A Growing Crisis…