Cat City
First Run Features
•
1h 16m
Directed by Ben Kolak • Documentary • 2023 • 78 minutes
Cat City chronicles Chicago's love/hate relationship with feral cats. It tells the story of Chicago's outdoor cats and the communities who look after them.
What is the right way to care for feral cats and who gets to decide? A ground-breaking 2007 ordinance protects feral cats in Chicago that have been trapped, neutered and returned ("TNR") to their neighborhoods. Dubbed community cats, they control rats and provide love and meaning to their caretakers. There are now thousands of cat colonies in Chicago, many with only a single cat, but some with more than 40. These colonies are fed by volunteer caretakers who report on their well-being. Many ferals succumb to the elements, but the most hardy, tough and careful survive many seasons and become legends in their neighborhoods.
"A reflective and engaging documentary that prompts viewers to critically evaluate our interactions with urban wildlife and the dilemmas of managing such ecosystems...a must-watch for those intrigued by city life and animal welfare dynamics." —Chris Jones, Overly Honest Reviews
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