Though stray cats on campus may seem pathetic, cuddly and furry at first, students have been warned that the stray prowlers on campus are a threat to student health and safety.

Many students view the cats that live on campus the same way they view their house cats at home.

However, Angela Neal, assistant director for Residence Life Education & Housing and resident director for Smith Adams and Barret Halls, advises students to completely ignore the cats.

“Students care a lot and miss their pets at home,” Neal said. “But if we weren’t feeding them they would find another source of food.”

Sydney Wooton, sophomore social work major from Uvalde and Barret resident, said the cats often hang around the residence hall.

“Twice I was walking outside and a cat came into our pod behind me to the surprise of my roommates,” Wooton said. “Usually the cats aren’t that friendly but recently, they’ve seemed extremely friendly. They just want to be loved.”

Wooton said she received an email that told students to avoid feeding and housing the cats because of dorm rules.

“I heard there was a guy in Barret who was actually letting a cat sleep in his own bed and was feeding him,” Wooton said.

Though the cats are not easily avoided, since they seem to be all over campus, Neal still advised students to stay away.

“They’re not ours so leave them alone,” Neal said. “It’s when people show them affection and then walk away that they get angry and hiss.”

In the email sent to Barret residents, Neal said there was a “significant problem” with cats around the building.

According to the email, the problem was not only the cats roaming around the building, but the problem also was with students who are associating themselves with the strays, feeding the cats and letting them into their dorms.

Neal advised students that the majority of cats on ACU’s campus are homeless, which implies that they have not had their shots and could cause potential danger.

“When students feed the cats they get more and more comfortable,” Neal said.