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Colony Cats

DESEX AND RETURN

Animal Liberation is receiving more and more calls from concerned people about the killing of healthy cats by various councils. Cat's crime? They exist. People seem to have polarised opinions about this species. They are either much loved and coddled companion animals or seen as a threat to human health and a predator of massive proportions. A lot of superstition still abounds about cats and they are vilified as being the cause of the extinction of many mainland native species - these are urban myths not substantiated by any studies done in Australia.

Predation on native species

Cats are frequently blamed for loss of native species. In point of fact it is sprawling human habitat encroaching on living areas of native animals, and subsequent chemical and pesticide pollution, pastoralism and habitat loss due to soil erosion and removal of dead trees and other foliage. Drought and fire are other factors. It would be more productive to address human behaviour than continue maligning cats. Colony cats customarily eat mice, rats, rabbits and garbage and very often have human carers who feed them.

Not harmful to human beings

Colony cats are not lost animals. They are not "owned." They are free living. They aren't looking for a home because they have one - it is outside. They are wild animals unaccustomed to any but the little human interaction required to feed them. They are not interested in forming attachments. (Perhaps their very independence engenders hostility). They will not harm you or your children. They carry no more disease than any other animal. Toxoplasmosis for example is found in all animals including humans and can be ingested from infected food, water or dust. You are more likely to get it from gardening than from cats.

Speciesism

Over 200 years of colonisation Australians have shot, trapped and poisoned trillions of animals. Our dichotomic attitude toward animals splits into those that appeal to our sense of nurturing and.....all the rest. Those we eat and wear we call "stock" as, seemingly, this terminology denotes they are "things" which justifies us doing whatever we wish without taking into account their capacity for pain, suffering and pleasure. For the same reason we call selected other species, including wild cats, "feral" in order to vindicate anything we do to them. "Pet" or "pest" - semantics dictate our attitude to animals.

Cost Effectiveness and Efficaciousness of Desex and Return

It has been shown time and again that Desex and Return programs are the only effective way of keeping down cat numbers. It has been proven in the United States, the U.K., Italy, Kenya, Greece, Tunisia, South Africa, Israel and parts of Australia to be effective, responsible and humane. It has been illegal to kill a healthy cat or dog in Italy for over a decade now.

Testimonials

"Once implemented a Trap-Neuter-Return program here in our community it was clear that it is tremendously more effective than any other approach." Robin Starr, CEO SPCA "All across the country Trap-Neuter-Return is having a dramatic impact on solving neighbourhood feral cat problems." Ed Boks Executive Director, New York City Animal Care and Control. Tomkins County in New York was probably the first community in America to have a no-kill policy for colony cats. In June 2001, a Trap Neuter program was commenced offering free desexing of colony cats. The county went from killing 100% of its colony cats and a budget deficit of $150,000.00 to a humane program and a surplus of $23,000.00. Over a 10 year period Orange County in Florida saved over $650,000 as a result of desex and return as opposed to trapping and killing. In Battersea UK a housing estate colony remained stable at around 20 cats over a 5 year period. Only 1 litter was born in that time. Both Texas A&M University and University of Central Florida have reduced their colony cat populations. CATS (South Australia) has conducted long term studies of 84 colonies with desex and return as a method of controlling population numbers. These began in 1988 and 84 colonies were involved. The study found that un-neutered cats were not attracted to these colonies and no kittens were born to replace those that died. The resident cats deterred new cats coming into the area, which would have happened if the original colony had been exterminated.

Why killing doesn't work to reduce numbers

Worldwide studies show that if cats are removed and killed it leaves a vacuum which will be quickly filled by other cats. And so the cycle begins all over. It is cruel, it is wasteful of time and money and it simply does not work. Responsible "ownership" must be encouraged. All cats should be desexed.

Action

If you are in an area where there is a colony try to work with Council and neighbours to form an alliance for the welfare of cats. Set up regular feeding times for the animals, this will help when you are attempting to trap them as you can regulate when they will be hungry and entice them into a trap. Be aware this is not pleasant for the cats, they are wild and not used to being confined. Be fully briefed by your vet as to recuperation time required and where you will keep the cats during this period.

Contact National Desexing Network on 07 5509 9001 or info@ndn.org.au for advice on low cost neutering around Australia. Local vets may be willing to reduce their costs if you are looking to neuter several animals. It is important that the whereabouts of existing colonies of cats not be widely known as negligent people may dump unwanted cats in an area that is functioning as a Desex and Return colony.