There are around 113 million cats in European households, with potentially hundreds of thousands or even millions of cats abandoned in Europe every year. In Spain alone, there are an estimated 150,000 abandoned domestic cats. The authors of this paper note that when free-roaming cats come into conflict with humans, they can be trapped, poisoned, and shot.
This article provides a perspective on the responsibilities of veterinarians to manage populations of free-roaming cats in a humane, socially acceptable, and scientifically valid manner.
First, the authors consider possible harmful effects of homeless cat populations, including predation of locally threatened wild animals. However, they note that we don’t currently have enough evidence on cats’ true predatory impact. Some stakeholders argue that cats may even help biodiversity, by mostly preying on so-called “invasive” species. Neutering free-roaming cats to reduce breeding could help biodiversity by creating a population of older cats who are less likely to hunt.
There are also several medical conditions that cats may (in theory) pass to humans or to other cats. These include hookworm disease, which causes iron deficiency, and Bartonellosis, known as “cat scratch disease.” In reality, the authors note that both conditions are rare, and the risk of transmission to humans is small. Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection, which does have a minor risk of transmission from cats to humans. However, this is only likely to occur in extreme conditions with significantly poor hygiene.
The cases of environmental damage and disease risk demonstrate how threats from free-roaming cat populations are often exaggerated by various stakeholders. The authors then consider the suitability of different approaches to population management, to further reduce any existing risks.
As is often the case with animals viewed as “pests,” communities will sometimes attempt to reduce free-roaming cat populations by trapping and killing them. This can be effective in some cases, such as on small, isolated islands. In most places, however, the authors feel that killing free-roaming cats is high-effort, expensive, and requires ongoing maintenance. For an average European island of 1,500 square kilometers, total eradication of cats may cost over €120 million.
Killing cats may also simply allow cats from other areas to move in and reproduce, meaning populations are not managed for long. Lethal methods often end up targeting dominant cats within communities, allowing more resources for younger and less dominant cats to spread and repopulate. Finally, the authors argue that killing free-roaming cats is inhumane and often illegal — they also cite one example where 40% of cats killed in an Indigenous Australian community were actually companion animals.
An alternative approach is to trap free-roaming cats, who are then taken to shelters to await adoption. This may work in some cases. However, the authors argue it is often not practical — many free-roaming cats aren’t suited to being companions, while there simply aren’t enough homes for every cat in need of one.
Instead, the authors claim that the most effective and humane way to manage cat populations is through “trap-neuter-return,” or “TNR.” Under such schemes, free-roaming cats are captured, sterilized, and released again. This prevents cats from breeding, reducing population size without resorting to harm. When combined with “trap-and-remove” programs (where certain ill or adoptable cats are removed from a community), cat populations have been reduced between 54%-100%. While effective, TNR requires consistent efforts over time, and is likely to be a slow process.
Critics of TNR argue that it is inhumane, given that cats are simply “re-abandoned” after being neutered. The authors point out that many free-roaming cats have lived their lives outside and are not socialized to be indoors, while others become habituated to a certain community and may not thrive if placed elsewhere. Neutering can also improve the quality of life in many cats, as it reduces competition over breeding, and therefore fighting.
The authors argue that veterinarians have a responsibility to support and promote animal welfare. As such, they say that vets should support the use of TNR and oppose lethal control. Euthanasia should only be used in extreme cases, where there is no other option (e.g., when a cat is terminally ill). They argue that the public needs to be educated about the benefits of TNR and the consequences of abandoning companion cats.
TNR programs can be supported when they are based in law and regulations. The recent law 7/2023 in Spain aims to protect animal welfare, including non-lethal control measures such as sterilization and vaccination of community cats. This law also mandates that companion animal cats are sterilized before 6 months of age, to prevent accidental litters of kittens who are then abandoned. Microchip registration can also be used to identify and distinguish companion and community cats.
Animal advocates in Spain and other countries with large populations of abandoned cats can support humane management by promoting the benefits of TNR. As demonstrated in Spain, adoption of such practices can be increased by lobbying for consideration of them in law. These efforts can also be driven by veterinarians who have an expert understanding of cat behavior and what they need to thrive.
The post Managing Free-Roaming Cats: A Veterinary Perspective appeared first on Faunalytics.
This article provides a perspective on the responsibilities of veterinarians to manage populations of free-roaming cats in a humane, socially acceptable, and scientifically valid manner.
First, the authors consider possible harmful effects of homeless cat populations, including predation of locally threatened wild animals. However, they note that we don’t currently have enough evidence on cats’ true predatory impact. Some stakeholders argue that cats may even help biodiversity, by mostly preying on so-called “invasive” species. Neutering free-roaming cats to reduce breeding could help biodiversity by creating a population of older cats who are less likely to hunt.
There are also several medical conditions that cats may (in theory) pass to humans or to other cats. These include hookworm disease, which causes iron deficiency, and Bartonellosis, known as “cat scratch disease.” In reality, the authors note that both conditions are rare, and the risk of transmission to humans is small. Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection, which does have a minor risk of transmission from cats to humans. However, this is only likely to occur in extreme conditions with significantly poor hygiene.
The cases of environmental damage and disease risk demonstrate how threats from free-roaming cat populations are often exaggerated by various stakeholders. The authors then consider the suitability of different approaches to population management, to further reduce any existing risks.
As is often the case with animals viewed as “pests,” communities will sometimes attempt to reduce free-roaming cat populations by trapping and killing them. This can be effective in some cases, such as on small, isolated islands. In most places, however, the authors feel that killing free-roaming cats is high-effort, expensive, and requires ongoing maintenance. For an average European island of 1,500 square kilometers, total eradication of cats may cost over €120 million.
Killing cats may also simply allow cats from other areas to move in and reproduce, meaning populations are not managed for long. Lethal methods often end up targeting dominant cats within communities, allowing more resources for younger and less dominant cats to spread and repopulate. Finally, the authors argue that killing free-roaming cats is inhumane and often illegal — they also cite one example where 40% of cats killed in an Indigenous Australian community were actually companion animals.
An alternative approach is to trap free-roaming cats, who are then taken to shelters to await adoption. This may work in some cases. However, the authors argue it is often not practical — many free-roaming cats aren’t suited to being companions, while there simply aren’t enough homes for every cat in need of one.
Instead, the authors claim that the most effective and humane way to manage cat populations is through “trap-neuter-return,” or “TNR.” Under such schemes, free-roaming cats are captured, sterilized, and released again. This prevents cats from breeding, reducing population size without resorting to harm. When combined with “trap-and-remove” programs (where certain ill or adoptable cats are removed from a community), cat populations have been reduced between 54%-100%. While effective, TNR requires consistent efforts over time, and is likely to be a slow process.
Critics of TNR argue that it is inhumane, given that cats are simply “re-abandoned” after being neutered. The authors point out that many free-roaming cats have lived their lives outside and are not socialized to be indoors, while others become habituated to a certain community and may not thrive if placed elsewhere. Neutering can also improve the quality of life in many cats, as it reduces competition over breeding, and therefore fighting.
The authors argue that veterinarians have a responsibility to support and promote animal welfare. As such, they say that vets should support the use of TNR and oppose lethal control. Euthanasia should only be used in extreme cases, where there is no other option (e.g., when a cat is terminally ill). They argue that the public needs to be educated about the benefits of TNR and the consequences of abandoning companion cats.
TNR programs can be supported when they are based in law and regulations. The recent law 7/2023 in Spain aims to protect animal welfare, including non-lethal control measures such as sterilization and vaccination of community cats. This law also mandates that companion animal cats are sterilized before 6 months of age, to prevent accidental litters of kittens who are then abandoned. Microchip registration can also be used to identify and distinguish companion and community cats.
Animal advocates in Spain and other countries with large populations of abandoned cats can support humane management by promoting the benefits of TNR. As demonstrated in Spain, adoption of such practices can be increased by lobbying for consideration of them in law. These efforts can also be driven by veterinarians who have an expert understanding of cat behavior and what they need to thrive.
The post Managing Free-Roaming Cats: A Veterinary Perspective appeared first on Faunalytics.