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A three-year, $1.5 million effort to count the number of cats living in the Nation’s Capital launched Tuesday.

The “DC Cat Count” census is being conducted a group of scientists and animal welfare organizations, The Washington Post reports:

“By spending $1.5 million over three years, a consortium of scientists and animal welfare organizations thinks it can find out with an initiative known as the DC Cat Count, which launches Tuesday. “The cat census, organized by the Humane Rescue Alliance, the Humane Society of the United States, PetSmart Charities and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, will help animal advocates understand how many felines are in the city and how to cope with cats that don’t have a home.”

The results of the study will “facilitate data-driven cat population management” and improve the lives of both cats and other wildlife residing in D.C., the DC Cat Count website explains: