How Effective and Humane is Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) for Feral Cats?
a photo of two feral cats in a heavily oil-stained parking lot
view on EDIS
PDF-2020

How to Cite

Hostetler, Mark, Samantha M Wisely, Steve Johnson, Elizabeth Pienaar, and Martin Main. 2020. “How Effective and Humane Is Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) for Feral Cats? WEC423 UW468 03 2020”. EDIS 2020 (2). Gainesville, FL:8. https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-uw468-2020.

Abstract

As the number of feral cats continues to increase, land managers, public health officials, and private citizens are voicing concerns about how to address the nuisance and public health impacts, as well as animal welfare concerns, that feral cats create. Trap-neuter-release programs aimed at reducing feral cat populations without euthanasia are gaining popularity in the United States. But do they work? Authors Mark Hostetler, Samantha M. Wisely, Steve Johnson, Elizabeth F. Pienaar, and Martin Main discuss the pros and cons of trap-neuter-release programs in this 8-page fact sheet published by the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw468

https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-uw468-2020
view on EDIS
PDF-2020

References

Andersen, M. C., B. J. Martin, and G. W. Roemer. 2004. "Use of Matrix Population Models to Estimate the Efficacy of Euthanasia Versus Trap-Neuter-Return for Management of Free-Roaming Cats." Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 225: 1871-1876. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2004.225.1871

Blanton, J. D., D. Palmer, J. Dyer, and C. E. Rupprecht. 2011. "Rabies Surveillance in the United States during 2010." J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 239: 773-783. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.239.6.773

Boone, J. D., P. S. Miller, J. R. Briggs, V. A. Benka, D. F. Lawler, M. Slater, J. K. Levy, and S. Zawistowski. 2019. "A Long-Term Lens: Cumulative Impacts of Free-Roaming Cat Management Strategy and Intensity on Preventable Cat Mortalities." Front. Vet. Sci.| https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00238

Bradshaw, J. W. S. 2006. "The Evolutionary Basis for the Feeding Behavior of Domestic Dogs (Canis familiaris) and Cats (Felis catus)." J. Nutr. 136: 1927S-1931S. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/136.7.1927S

Castro-Prieto, J., and M. J. Andrade-Nunez. 2018. "Health and Ecological Aspects of Stray Cats in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico: Baseline Information to Develop an Effective Control Program." P. R. Health Sci. J.37: 110-114.

Castillo, D., and A. L. Clarke. 2003. "Trap/Neuter/Release Methods Ineffective in Controlling Domestic Cat 'Colonies' on Public Lands." Natural Areas Journal 23(3): 247-253.

Centonze, L. A., and J. K. Levy. 2002. "Characteristics of Free-Roaming Cats and their Caretakers." J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 220: 1627-1633. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2002.220.1627

Chalkowski, K., A. E. Wilson, C. A. Lepczyk, and S. Zohdy. 2019. "Who Let the Cats Out? A Global Meta-Analysis on Risk of Parasitic Infection in Indoor Versus Outdoor Domestic Cats (Felis catus)." Biol Lett. 15(4): 20180840. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2018.0840

Crawford, H. M., M. C. Calver, and P. A. Fleming. 2019. "A Case of Letting the Cat Out of The Bag-Why Trap-Neuter-Return Is Not an Ethical Solution for Stray Cat (Felis catus) Management." Animals 9(4): Article 171. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9040171

Crawford, H. M., J. B. Fontaine, M. C. Calver. 2018. "Ultrasonic Deterrents Reduce Nuisance Cat (Felis catus) Activity on Suburban Properties." Glob. Ecol. Conserv. 15: e00444, doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2018.e00444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2018.e00444

Dabritz, H. A., R. Atwill, I. A. Gardner, M. A. Miller, and P. A. Conrad. 2006. "Outdoor Fecal Deposition by Free-Roaming Cats and Attitudes of Cat Owners and Nonowners toward Stray Pets, Wildlife, and Water Pollution." J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 229: 74-81 doi:10.2460/javma.229.1.74. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.229.1.74

Foley, P., J. E. Foley, J. K. Levy, and T. Paik. 2005. "Analysis of the Impact of Trap-Neuter-Return Programs on Populations of Feral Cats." JAVMA Vol 227 No. 11: 1775-1781. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2005.227.1775

Gerhold, R. W., and D. A. Jessup. 2013. "Zoonotic Diseases Associated with Free-Roaming Cats." Zoonoses and Public Health 60(3): 189­-195. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1863-2378.2012.01522.x

Glass, G. E., L. C. Gardner-Santana, R. D. Holt, J. Chen, T. M. Shields, M. Roy, S. Schachterle, and S. L. Klein. 2009. "Trophic Garnishes: Cat-Rat Interactions in an Urban Environment." PLoS ONE 4: e5794. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0005794.

Gunther, I., T. Raz, O. Berke, and E. Klement. 2015. "Nuisances and Welfare of Free-Roaming Cats in Urban Settings and Their Association with Cat Reproduction." Prev. Vet. Med. 119: 203-210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2015.02.012

Gunther, I., H. Finkler, and J. Terkel. 2011. "Demographic Differences between Urban Feeding Groups of Neutered and Sexually Intact Free-Roaming Casts Following a Trap-Neuter-Return Procedure." J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 238: 1134-1140. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.238.9.1134

Hatley, P. J. 2003. "Feral Cat Colonies in Florida: The Fur and Feathers Are Flying." Journal of Land Use 18: 441-465.

Hernandez, S. M., K. A. T. Loyd, A. N. Newton, M. Gallagher, B. L. Carswell, and K. J. Abernathy. 2018. "Activity Patterns and Interspecific Interactions of Free-Roaming, Domestic Cats in Managed Trap-Neuter-Return Colonies." Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 202: 63-68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2018.01.014

Ireland, T., and R. M. Neilan. 2016. "A Spatial Agent-Based Model of Feral Cats and Analysis of Population and Nuisance Controls." Ecological Modelling 337: 123-136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2016.06.014

Jessup, D. 2004. "The Welfare of Feral Cats and Wildlife." Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 225(9):1377-83 https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2004.225.1377

Kreisler, R. E., H. N. Cornell, and J. K. Levy. 2019. "Decrease in Population and Increase in Welfare of Community Cats in a Twenty-Three Year Trap-Neuter-Return Program in Key Largo, FL: The ORCAT Program." Front. Vet. Sci. 6: 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00007

Lefkaditis, M. A., A. V. Sossidou, A. H. Panorias, S. E. Koukeri, A. I. Paştiu, and L. V. Athanasiou. 2015. "Urban Stray Cats Infested by Ectoparasites with Zoonotic Potential in Greece." Parasitol. Res. 114: 3931-3934. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-015-4688-4

Levy, J. K., and P. C. Crawford. 2004. "Humane Strategies for Controlling Feral Cat Populations." J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 9: 1354-1360. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2004.225.1354

Levy, J. K., D. W. Gale, L. A. Gale. 2003. "Evaluation of the Effect of a Long-Term Trap-Neuter-Return and Adoption Program on a Free-Roaming Cat Population." J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 222: 42-46. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2003.222.42

Levy, J. K., N. M. Isaza, and K. C. Scott. 2014. "Effect of High-Impact Targeted Trap-Neuter-Return and Adoption of Community Cats on Cat Intake to a Shelter." Vet J. 201:269-74. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2014.05.001 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2014.05.001

Longcore, T., C. Rich, and L. M. Sullivan. 2009. "Critical Assessment of Claims Regarding Management of Feral Cats by Trap-Neuter-Return." Conservation Biology 23(4): 887-894. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2009.01174.x

Loss, S. R., T. Will, T. Longcore, and P. P. Marra. 2018. "Responding to Misinformation and Criticisms Regarding United States Cat Predation Estimates." Biological Invasions 20: 3385-3396. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-018-1796-y

Ma, X., B. P. Monroe, J. M. Cleaton, L. A. Orciari, C. M. Gigante, J. D. Kirby, R. B. Chipman, C. Fehlner-Gardier, V. Gutierrez Cedillo, B. W. Petersen, V. Olson, and R. M. Wallace. 2020. "Rabies Surveillance in the United States during 2018." Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 256: 195-208. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.256.2.195

McElroy, K. M., B. L. Blagburn, E. B. Breitschwerdt, P. S.Mead, and J. H. McQuiston. 2010. "Flea-Associated Zoonotic Diseases of Cats in the USA: Bartonellosis, Flea-Borne Rickettsioses, and Plague." Trends Parasitol. 26: 197-204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2010.01.001

Miller, M. A., I. A. Gardner, C. Kreuder, D. M. Paradies, K. R. Worcester, D. A. Jessup, E. Dodd, M. Harris, J. A. Ames, A. E. Packham, and P. A. Conrad. 2002. "Coastal Freshwater Runoff Is a Risk Factor for Toxoplasma gondii Infection of Southern Sea Otters (Enhydra lutris nereis)." International journal for parasitology. 32(8): 997-1006. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0020-7519(02)00069-3

Mohd Zain, S. N., N. Sahimin, P. Pal, and J. W. Lewis. 2013. "Macroparasite Communities in Stray Cat Populations from Urban Cities in Peninsular Malaysia." Vet. Parasitol. 196: 469-477. doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.03.030. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.03.030

National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians. 2016. "Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control." JAVMA 248(5): 505-517. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.248.5.505

Natoli, E., L. Maragliano, G. Cariola, A. Faini, R. Bonanni, S. Cafazzo, and C. Fantini. 2006. "Management of Feral Domestic Cats in the Urban Environment of Rome (Italy)." Prev Vet Med. 77(3-4):180-5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2006.06.005

Nutter, F. B., J. F. Levine, and M. K. Stoskopf. 2004. "Reproductive Capacity of Free-Roaming Domestic Cats and Kitten Survival Rate." J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 225(9): 1399-1402. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2004.225.1399

Nutter, F. B. 2006. Evaluation of a Trap-Neuter-Return Management Program for Feral Cat Colonies: Population Dynamics, Home Ranges, and Potentially Zoonotic Diseases. North Carolina State University, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

Rimmelzwaan, G. F., D. van Riel, M. Baars, T. M. Bestebroer, G. van Amerongen, R. A. Fouchier, A. D. Osterhaus, and T. Kuiken. 2006. "Influenza A Virus (H5N1) Infection in Cats Causes Systemic Disease with Potential Novel Routes of Virus Spread within and between Hosts." Am. J. Pathol. 168: 176-183. https://doi.org/10.2353/ajpath.2006.050466

Schmidt, P. M., R. R. Lopez, and B. A. Collier. 2007. "Survival, Fecundity, and Movements of Free-Roaming Cats." J. of Wildlife Management 71 :915-919. https://doi.org/10.2193/2006-066

Spehar, D. D., and P. J. Wolf. 2017. "An Examination of an Iconic Trap-Neuter-Return Program: The Newburyport, Massachusetts Case Study." Animals 7(11): 81. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani7110081

Spehar, D. D., and P. J. Wolf. 2018. "A Case Study in Citizen Science: The Effectiveness of a Trap-Neuter-Return Program in a Chicago Neighborhood." Animals 8(1): 14. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani8010014

Swarbrick, H., and J. Rand. 2018. "Application of a Protocol Based on Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) to Manage Unowned Urban Cats on an Australian University Campus." Animals 8(5): 77. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani8050077

Vnuk, D., H. Capak, V. Gusak, D. Maticic, M. Popovic, and N. B. Bottegaro. 2016. "Metal Projectile Injuries in Cats: Review of 65 Cases (2012-2014)." J. Feline Med. Surg. 18: 626-631. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X15590869

Waap, H., J. Gomes, and T. Nunes. 2014. "Parasite Communities in Stray Cat Populations from Lisbon, Portugal." J. Helminthol. 88: 389-395. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022149X1300031X

Warner, R. 1985. "Demography and Movements of Free-Ranging Domestic Cats in Rural Illinois." J Wildlife Management. 49: 340-346. https://doi.org/10.2307/3801527

Wilson, P. M., C. R. Tidemann, and H. R. C. Meischke. 1994. "Are Cats on Rubbish Dumps a Problem?" In: Proceedings of the Urban Animal Management, Sydney, Australia. 163-174.

Zito, S., J. M. Walker, C. Gates, and D. Arnja. 2019. "A Preliminary Description of Companion Cat, Managed Stray Cat, and Unmanaged Stray Cat Welfare in Auckland, New Zealand Using a 5-Component Assessment Scale." Front. Vet. Sci. 21. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00040

Unless otherwise specified, articles published in the EDIS journal after January 1, 2024 are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) license.