DIX HILLS, NY — Neighbors on Cascade Court say they are trying to find help for dozens of cats that appeared after a homeowner on the block was evicted. Residents estimate that between 20 and 30 cats are now roaming the area, and several households have been taking turns feeding them while they search for a longer-term solution.
Some of the cats are said to be friendly, and residents believe many were once domesticated pets rather than true strays. Neighbors say they want the animals placed in proper care instead of being left to survive on the street, where they have seen dangers from cars and, in at least one case, deaths among the cats.
What Neighbors Reported
Residents interviewed on the block said the cats started showing up about three weeks ago, not long after the eviction. Renee Novotny said the number of animals has grown quickly from the occasional stray to a large group that now draws daily attention from neighbors trying to help.
Robyn Wisch said her stepdaughter feeds the cats every day and sometimes sits outside with them after work. Ralph Zammillo said the animals are “good cats” that need homes, and he said some have already been killed while sheltering under cars. Neighbors also described one incident in which two kittens ended up inside the hood of a car and later were adopted by a dealership employee.
Town And SPCA Response
Neighbors say they contacted the Town of Huntington and the Suffolk County SPCA for help. The town says it considers the cats feral and is offering free cages so residents can trap them, bring them in to be spayed or neutered, and then release them back into the area. Officials say the SPCA will ultimately decide how the animals are classified.
The Suffolk County SPCA says its investigation is still underway. The agency says it will work to get the cats care and, when possible, place them for adoption. That leaves the central disagreement unresolved for now: residents say the animals are domesticated and should be homed, while the town says they should be handled as feral cats under a trap-neuter-return approach.
What Happens Next
For now, the cats remain on the block and neighbors are continuing to feed them while they wait for a decision from animal-control officials. The practical question is whether the animals will be taken in for care and adoption or returned to the neighborhood after sterilization, which the town says is the current plan if they are determined to be feral.
Anyone trying to follow the case can check with the Town of Huntington and the Suffolk County SPCA, both of which have been asked to respond. The situation is still changing, and residents say their main goal is to keep the cats safe while a final classification is made.
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