Trap, Neuter, Return

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Trap, Neuter, Return

• A Case Study

Rodrigo A. Silva, MVZ, MPH Director
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History

• Domestic cats evolved from the African wild cat,
  Felis libyca.
• The domestic cat was introduced throughout the
  world by explorers and scientists, in an effort
  to control the rodent populations.
• Feral cats are offspring of stray or abandoned
  domestic cats that revert to a wild state.
• Raised without any human contact, they have a
  natural fear of humans (touch barrier).
• Being predators and scavengers, feral cats have
  become successful survivors.

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I just didnt like humans all that much, so, a
few years ago I decided to go feral
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The extent of the problem
It is estimated that there are approximately 73
million cats living as pets in the United States.
So, how many feral cats do you think there are?
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The extent of the problem

• Several studies conducted in various parts of the
  United States during the past 10 years suggest
  that 9-12 of all households feed cats they don't
  own.
• That suggests that a figure approximating 50
  million cats could be a conservative estimate of
  the feral and stray cat population.
• Although provision of food for unowned cats is a
  common activity, few cat feeders take further
  action to have the cats sterilized. Given the
  high rate of sterilization among pet cats
  (82-90), unowned cats may represent the single
  most important source of cat overpopulation.

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The extent of the problem
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The Perception

• Feral cats live short, miserable lives
• Feral cats are a public health and safety risk
• Feral cats threaten birds

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Short, Miserable Lives?

• Feral cats do not experience significantly more
  or worse medical issues than do housecats.
• Feral cats may live ten or more years, a lifespan
  comparable to many domestic cats.
• Death is not better than a less-than-perfect
  life.

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Public Health and safety Risk?

• Rabies
• Toxoplasmosis
• Cat Scratch Fever

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LABORATORY CONFIRMED CASES OF FELINE RABIES IN
ARIZONA, 1976-2006

• Between 1960 and 1975, 31 cats tested positive
  for rabies. Fifteen cases were reported in Pima
  County, 8 in Maricopa County, 3 in Cochise
  County, and one each in Graham, Greenlee, Pinal,
  Santa Cruz, and Yuma Counties. However, the lack
  of specific information on these cases precludes
  their being included in this table.
• Vaccine associated Big brown bat variant
  currently being transmitted by skunks
• Arizona grey fox variant South Central U.S.
  skunk variant

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC)
1990 to 2005 There have been 37 cases of human
rabies in US
Of 37 laboratory-confirmed rabies cases, at
least seven were known to originate outside the
U.S. None was acquired from a cat.
The last documented case of cat-to-human rabies
in the US was in 1975.
Yes cats can carry rabies. However, we need to
keep this in its proper perspective.
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Other Diseases
Some cat-related diseases that make people sick
are common, such as cat scratch disease (or cat
scratch fever), and others such as plague, are
rare. Toxoplasmosis is a disease that can come
from cats, but people are more likely to get it
from eating raw meat or from gardening.
http//www.cdc.gov/healthypets/animals/cats.htm
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Bird predation?

• Many studies have shown that cats do not have a
  detrimental impact on wildlife. These studies
  suggest three main points to consider
• Cats are opportunistic feeders, eating what is
  most easily available. Feral cats are scavengers,
  and many rely on garbage and handouts from
  people
• Cats are rodent specialists. Birds make up a
  small percentage of their diet when they rely
  solely on hunting for food
• Cats may prey on a population without destroying
  it. If this were not so, we would no longer have
  any mice around.

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The Facts
The most commonly preferred method for control of
cats has traditionally been to "trap and kill.
However, as soon as a cat is removed, a new one
will move in to take over the food source.
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The Facts
Studies on feral cat colonies have shown that
taking the mortality into account, along with
birth rates, over 12 years one unspayed female
with all her unspayed female offspring can
reasonably be expected to be responsible for over
3200 kittens if there is no human intervention.
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The Facts
An eleven-year study of eleven discrete feral cat
colonies on the University of Central Florida
campus involving 155 cats showed that colony size
is significantly reduced an controlled when using
TNR. When the study began in January 1991,
colony size ranged from three to twenty-five
cats. By its conclusion in April 2002, every
colony was reduced in number, with final
populations ranging from one to five cats.
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The Facts
Some continue to advocate the trap and kill
eradication approach. However, if eradication
programs really worked, after so many years of
killing, we should have eliminated the feral cat
population by now.
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The Facts
In 1989 Stanford University officials announced a
plan to trap and kill approximately 500 stray
cats living on campus. At that time Stanford Cat
Network (SCN) was formed to present TNR as an
alternative solution. As a result of TNR Stanford
cats now have zero population growth and the
population is declining through natural
attrition. Over 60 kittens were caught,
socialized and adopted out during the first
season. By 1994 only four kittens were found on
campus. The campus population is now estimated at
approximately 300 cats. Stanford's current cat
population is healthy and well cared for, and its
maintenance involves students, staff, and
faculty.
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• Insanity is doing the same thing over and over
  again expecting different results.
• - Albert Einstein

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Government Role

• Comply with State and Local Statutes
• Cost Assessment
• TNR vs. Trap and Kill
• Funding allocation (tax money)
• Support for TNR (Resolution)
• Discourage Trap and Kill
• Educate the community
• Public health
• Rabies vaccination
• Partnerships
• Community involvement
• Volunteers
• Donations

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MCACC Cat Intake July 05 to Dec 07
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Cat Euthanasia by FY
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TNR Benefits

• A healthy, gradually diminishing cat population
• Reduced public health and safety risks
• Vaccinated feral cats act as an immune barrier
  for rabies (oral vaccine)
• Reduction in complaints about behaviors
  associated with unsterilized cats
• Spraying
• Caterwauling
• Fighting
• Roaming
• Breeding
• Reduction of operational cost
• Strengthen community - partnerships
• Rabies barrier

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Bibliography

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• Group deals with feral cat problem, Trenton
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• Handy, F.L., "Measuring your community's pet
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• Johnson, K., L. Lewellen J. Lewellen, "National
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It was a beautiful street. The street of
homeless cats, she often thought. She never came
into it without seeing several of them, prowling,
thin vagabonds, furtive, aloof, but strangely
proud. Sympathetic creatures after all. - Jean
Rhys, Quartet