Stray cats captured on local beach

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) -- A non-profit organization has helped remedy the problem of stray cats that have been linked to a growing health problem in South Florida.

The Cat Network helped the city of Miami Beach with its decades-old stray cat problem, Saturday. Cat feces in the sand, on the beach, from 43rd Street to 65th Street, is reportedly the cause of six human cases of hookworm.

The Cat Network trapped the stray felines, which it does once a month. Donna Beth Ellard of The Cat Network said, "Today, we are spaying and neutering 46 stray and feral cats from the Miami Beach area."

Residents like Logan Triana assisted with the stray cat capture. "I'm putting the blankets under the cages," the young child said.

The City of Miami Beach also handed out flyers and informed people to wear shoes on the beach and to put down towels before they lay down on the sand to protect themselves from hookworms. "I had no idea," resident Karni Goodwin said. "I have three kids. They put everything in their mouth."

On Saturday, the cats also received rabies shots, flea treatments and dewormers. Patrick McLaughlin, a resident, said, "I think it's fabulous what they're doing. Someone's got to help."

The Cat Network hopes to eventually trap and release all of the estimated 3,000 stray cats on Miami Beach. "If we can keep the cat numbers under control, that will help keep any parasite problems to a minimum," said Veterinarian Dr. Marc Kramer.

(Copyright 2010 by Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)