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Feral cat
A feral cat or a stray cat is an unowned domestic cat (Felis catus) that lives outdoors and avoids human contact; it does not allow itself to be handled or touched, and usually remains hidden from humans.[1][2] Feral cats may breed over dozens of generations and become a local apex predator in urban, savannah and bushland environments, and especially on islands where native animals did not evolve alongside predators. Some feral cats may become more comfortable with people who regularly feed them, but even with long-term attempts at socialization, they usually remain aloof and reject human touch. Of the 700 million cats in the world, an estimated 480 million are feral.[3][4][5]
Feral cats are devastating to wildlife, and conservation biologists consider them to be one of the worst invasive species on Earth.[6][7] They are included in the list of the world's 100 worst invasive alien species. Attempts to control feral cat populations are widespread but generally of greatest impact within purpose-fenced reserves.
Some animal rights groups advocate for trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs, also known as trap-neuter-vaccinate-release (TNVR) programs, to prevent feral cats from breeding and being nuisances by spraying urine and fighting over territory. Scientific evidence has demonstrated that TNR is not effective at controlling feral cat populations alone and must be done alongside removal. For TNR to be effective, at least 88% of the cat colony should be neutered which is an unrealistic goal in majority of cases, and any lower rates actually increase cat populations.[8][9][10][11][12][13] TNR also takes much longer to eliminate cat colonies as compared to trap and euthanasia and it is more expensive and resource-intensive.[14] TNR receives many criticisms of it being inhumane, to the point that some say that TNR stands for trap-neuter-reabandon, because feral cats do not have good lives and die early from disease, poisoning, predation, vehicle collisions and sometimes violence by humans.[15] A possibly more effective alternative to TNR has been proposed, which is trap-vasectomy-hysterectomy-release (TVHR).[16]
- ^ Liberg, O.; Sandell, M.; Pontier, D.; Natoli, E. (2014). "Density, spatial organisation and reproductive tactics in the domestic cat and other felids". In Turner, D. C.; Bateson, P. (eds.). The domestic cat: the biology of its behaviour (Third ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 119–147. ISBN 9781107025028.
- ^ Hildreth, Aaron M.; Vantassel, Stephen M.; Hygnstrom, Scott E. "Feral Cats and Their Management" (PDF). University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension. University of Nebraska. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- ^ Ali Taghipour, Sahar Ghodsian, Mina Shajarizadeh, Mitra Sharbatkhori, Sasan Khazaei, Hamed Mirjalali. “Global prevalence of microsporidia infection in cats: a systematic review and meta-analysis of an emerging zoonotic pathogen.” Preventive Veterinary Medicine 188, 105278, 2021.
- ^ Ali Rostami, Mahdi Sepidarkish, Guangxu Ma, Tao Wang, Maryam Ebrahimi, Yadolah Fakhri, Hamed Mirjalali, Andreas Hofmann, Calum NL Macpherson, Peter J Hotez, Robin B Gasser. “Global prevalence of Toxocara infection in cats”. Advances in Parasitology 109, 615-639, 2020.
- ^ Xuying Zhang, Kokila Jamwal, Ottmar Distl. “ Tracking footprints of artificial and natural selection signatures in breeding and non-breeding cats.” Scientific reports 12 (1), 18061, 2022.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Longcorewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "IUCN/SSG Invasive Species Specialist Group". 100 Worst Invasive Species. Archived from the original on 29 December 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
- ^ Natoli, Eugenia; Maragliano, Laura; Cariola, Giuseppe; Faini, Anna; Bonanni, Roberto; Cafazzo, Simona; Fantini, Claudio (18 December 2006). "Management of feral domestic cats in the urban environment of Rome (Italy)". Preventive Veterinary Medicine. 77 (3–4): 180–185. doi:10.1016/j.prevetmed.2006.06.005. ISSN 0167-5877. PMID 17034887.
- ^ Spehar, Daniel D.; Wolf, Peter J. (November 2020). "The Impact of Targeted Trap–Neuter–Return Efforts in the San Francisco Bay Area". Animals. 10 (11): 2089. doi:10.3390/ani10112089. ISSN 2076-2615. PMC 7698188. PMID 33187180.
- ^ Longcore, Travis; Rich, Catherine; Sullivan, Lauren M. (2009). "Critical Assessment of Claims Regarding Management of Feral Cats by Trap–Neuter–Return". Conservation Biology. 23 (4): 887–894. Bibcode:2009ConBi..23..887L. doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2009.01174.x. ISSN 1523-1739. PMID 19245489.
- ^ Levy, Julie K.; Gale, David W.; Gale, Leslie A. (1 January 2003). "Evaluation of the effect of a long-term trap-neuter-return and adoption program on a free-roaming cat population". Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 222 (1): 42–46. doi:10.2460/javma.2003.222.42. ISSN 0003-1488. PMID 12523478.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Coe 2021was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
Hostetlerwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Lohr, Cheryl A.; Cox, Linda J.; Lepczyk, Christopher A. (February 2013). "Costs and benefits of trap-neuter-release and euthanasia for removal of urban cats in Oahu, Hawaii". Conservation Biology: The Journal of the Society for Conservation Biology. 27 (1): 64–73. Bibcode:2013ConBi..27...64L. doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2012.01935.x. ISSN 1523-1739. PMID 23009077.
- ^ "WEC423/UW468: How Effective and Humane Is Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) for Feral Cats?". Ask IFAS - Powered by EDIS. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
- ^ "Study shows feral cat control could benefit from different approach | Tufts Now". now.tufts.edu. 15 August 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
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