What do you think should be done with the feral cat population?

Question

Does TNR (trap-neuter-return) work and why?

I have recently started doing TNR in Texas.
www.kathyskitties.com

Answer 1

Removing and killing feral cats does not reduce feral cat populations. It only provides space for more cats to move in and start the breeding process again. Unspayed, feral female cats spend most of their lives pregnant and hungry, as will the female kittens that survive. Unneutered tomcats roam to find, and fight to win, mates, and often suffer debilitating wounds in the process. Half of all kittens born in feral colonies die within their first year.
TNR works to spay feral cats and keep them from reproducing. Most often a "feeder" is asigned to take care of the coloney and keeps an eye on the colonie's health. Yes there are risks to feral cats, but they are no different than the risks to any outdoor cat. I don't know if you have a rescue that runs a TNR program in your area, but here is a website of one that runs in Tennesse. I hope it can help you.

Answer 2

Except in rare instances, I dislike the TNR programs. I am a vet tech at a cat shelter and we run a low cost spay/neuter program. We have a lot of trappers that use the clinic. They bring the ferals in and get them fixed and a rabies vaccine, and back out they go. Some are tested, some are not.
I think resources would be better spent if these cats were euthanized. They are never brought back in for another rabies vaccine, even if they test negative there is no guarantee that they will not be positive soon due to a recent exposure.
People shoot at the ferals, they are run over, they are fed anti-freeze. Why would we put them through the stress of traooing and surgery, just to put them back outside???? They are often problem to the people living around the colony and can be a danger if children are bitten. They are wild animals yet they know enough about people to know where to get the food. They raid garbage cans and dumpsters and leave feces and urine all over. They cannot be wormed and treated when sick. What kind of life is it for them????????? People who are into TRN programs have a void to fill inside themselves and some how it makes them feel better to to this with the ferals. I do not theink it is the best thing for the cats.

I still think they are a bad use of funds. There are frequently more females that now and again join a colony...probably dumped..and reproduce. It is a sad outcome for the kittens and Usually no one realizes there is a new female until there are kittens. There is more of a risk to these cats than other outdoor cats because of the sheer number of some of these colonies!!!!!
No one wants to live near a colony of 25 of more feral cats. They are a pain in the butt and a health risk!!!!!!!!! That alone should stop these TNR programs!!!!!!! They poop all over and they are a potential bit risk!!!!! I cannot name ONE program that re-traps every year for rabies boosters!!!!!!!!

Answer 3

I think it works but until all cats are caught you still have the problem.I think if they start fining people for not spaying or neutering their pets this will remain a problem.Lets just say if one female gets loose she is capable of having 1 litter every 3 months with 6 kittens to a litter for one year just imagine how many each one of the females born to her will have kittens.If that one female cat had been spayed we wouldn't have the population explosion now would we.Say a fine of 500.00 dollars to each cat caught.Oh and there should be a mandatory tag placed inside the ear to show who the owner is.

Answer 4

I believe that there is a huge Asian market for these cats. American should round them up, and sell them to Asian food companies. This will alleviate some of the problems related to an overpopulation of cats, make America money that can be used to help the needed here, and will help feed hungry nations.

It's a win win situation!

Answer 5

Sauteed in a light lemon butter wine sauce with garlic and mushrooms served with a good Merlot.

Or,

continue to let the Chinese take out restauraunts incorporate them into their dishes. Meow Goo Gi Pan.

Answer 6

get cats spayed and nutered