feline feral trap/spay/neuter/release programs-what about rabies and FVRCP boosters?

Question

how will feral cats that live in colonies not become victims of expired rabies and FVRCP vaccinations which are usually given at time of spay/neuter?it seems to be a double edged sword- if these cats do come in contact with a rabid animal or a cat with FELV/FIV,and are not properly vaccinated that they will die of disease-but if they aren't spayed/neutered there will be a never ending problem of feral/stray cats?any answers?

Answer 1

Re vaccinations see this http://tedeboy.tripod.com/drmichaelwfox/id27.html

re TNR: If no one takes permanent responsibility for the colony, it could be cruel. But if someone does it can be a humane solution. On my own, I trapped and spayed animals abandoned by tenants in the apt I was living in and when I moved took them with me.

But the problem is that this just addresses the problem and not the real cause. There is no reason in our advanced society for pet overpopulation to exist. It is the failure of nonprofit organizations, politicians and ourselves to take the steps necessary which include free spay neuter, adequate laws to stop animal breeding and education of the public about humane and proper care of animals. No kill shelters allow people to dump their animals (accompanied by a donation usually) guilt free with the myth that the animal will be found a good home.
These places are a business within themselves taking in tax deductible donations. I agree they serve a purpose but should be a last resort to save animals, not the primary method, which would be not to have any unwanted animals.

We need to start programs to educate the next generation . Here is a link for a story for children to teach them to spay their pet.

http://www.theanimalspirit.com/misty.html
http://cats.about.com/library/guest/ucfeature30a.htm

Answer 2

That is my HUGE problem with these programs. I work in a shelter and we have a TNR program. I hate it. I think it is cruel (except in very limited situations) to release these ferals back out where they came from. They are NOT revaccinated for rabies, and FeLV/FIV is a REAL problem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They are pests to area people, they make a mess,spread parasites,and are tortured by kids and adults alike. It is not a good situation for either!!!!!!!!
We have had trapping in the same area for a couple years, and where there was NO FeLV last year, there is this year. There are more cats too.
In my opinion, there needs to be more trap, neuter,euthanize programs. All the money we spend on these TNR programs, think of all the adoptable cats that can be helped with the same funds.
Rabies is a real issue, last year we had a feral cat attack at guy in his yard and the cat was positive for rabies. He was neutered though!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think unless the colony has a dedicated caretaker, who will trap the next year and then every three years for rabies...we are doing no service to the community. And it would be so hard to retrap the right cats without microchipping and then you are getting into more bucks for these ferals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Distemper is not a common issue with ferals...they usually have already developed natural immunity.

Felv is spreading like wildfire in many colonies!!!!!!!!!! It may be spread MOSTLY during the breeding times, but there are TONS of kittens being born positive and some of them are going on to breed. It CAN be spread by sharing food and water also...not AS readily, but it can. One male that is positive coming into the colony and breeding with several females can cause a ton of sickly positive cats in no time. Then they are susally left to die a horrid and slow death.

The food is also an issue...we have had a few this season that were able to be retrapped and were blocked. Euthanasia was the option then.
Rabies may not be a epidemic among the feral colonies, but ONE rabid cat is enough for me!!!!!!! I would not live near a colony!!!!

One local school had a problem with roundworm because the cats were going one block over and pooping in the playground sand. One block away from a school is a feral cat colony of about 25 cats. I do not want my kids near there. It is because many of these cat wackos will not euthanize anything and think they are doing a great thing by pupping these cats back out and forgetting them.
I would like to see a mass reduction in these colonies!!!!!! The resources can be better used other places!!!

Generally, I do not think a feral cat lives long enough to develop cancer from the crappy food. And I don't think many foods use Ethoxyquin anymore. Even crappy foods preserve with Vit E.

Answer 3

It is not a perfect solution by any means and it does cut down on the number of homeless cats and kittens born outside by preventing breeding. The FELV and FIV viruses are almost always transferred in the mating process of cats where biting usually happens. Neither is readily transmitted if cats eat from the same food bowl, or ground or whatever.

There is a lot of controversy about how long the rabies vaccination is good for. Laws mandate frequent repeats of this vaccine even though I think the number of instances of rabies in cats is almost non-existent, and I would like to be contradicted on that if anyone has the statistics for the US.

Currently a lot of vets believe that the distemper shot will protect a cat for its lifetime, distemper is a cause of death in kittens and is not prevalent in adult cats.

I have a greater problem with what these cats are being fed. The feeders give a lot of their money to provide these cats with food and must use the cheapest varieties. What happens to the male cat that has a urinary blockage because of his diet of dry food?
What happens if cancer develops due to the chemicals that are used to preserve the cheap food, like ethoxicin (sp.?)?

Answer 4

I have asked that question myself and I guess you would have to trap them again and get their updated shots. I have a feral cat that I trapped and not long after I got her she had babies inside my house and I am going to have her fixed and then I don't know what to do with her, but I don't want to release her back into the same kind of life that she came from. She is not a friendly cat at all and I am hoping with lots of patience, I can tame her, but if not, I guess I will have to put her down. At least her babies will get adopted to good homes and they will all get their shots and be fixed so at least they won't reproduce any...if only everyone would have their cats spayed and neutered...