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Free‐roaming cats (FRCs) form nondomiciliary population groups that might lead to adverse environmental effects, as well as to welfare impairment of the cats themselves. Though criticized by ecologists, for the last two decades, the trap–neuter–return (TNR) programs were often employed aiming to manage these populations. At present, no accepted and accessible monitoring scheme exists to determine the effectiveness of those programs. In the current study, we present the reliability and validity of an applicable monitoring scheme, as an adjunct tool for a TNR program of FRC in an urban environment. The monitoring scheme is based on cat observation counts along randomly chosen transects. Fifty‐four transects were repeatedly walked for three years, between 2012‐2014, in 27 neighborhoods within an urban area of 19.3 Km2. Cat numbers counted in the 2014 observations were significantly higher than cat numbers found in the 2012 observations (prevalence ratio = 1.258, CI95%= 1.198–1.322, p, The presentation of the reliability and validity of an applicable monitoring scheme of free‐roaming cats in an urban environment.

There is a widespread belief that for their own safety and for the protection of wildlife, cats should be permanently kept indoors. Against this view, I argue that cat guardians have a duty to provide their feline companions with outdoor access. The argument is based on a sophisticated hedonistic account of animal well-being that acknowledges that the performance of species-normal ethological behavior is especially pleasurable. Territorial behavior, which requires outdoor access, is a feline-normal ethological behavior, so when a cat is permanently confined to the indoors, her ability to flourish is impaired. Since cat guardians have a duty not to impair the well-being of their cats, the impairment of cat flourishing via confinement signifies a moral failing. Although some cats assume significant risks and sometimes kill wild animals when roaming outdoors, these important considerations do not imply that all cats should be deprived of the opportunity to access the outdoors. Indeed, they do not, by themselves, imply that any cat should be permanently kept indoors.

Free-roaming cats present a multidisciplinary challenge for wildlife conservation and feline welfare. Veterinary professionals are critical stake-holders in the issue of free-roaming cats, ...

Made available in DSpace on 2021-06-25T11:15:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-01-01 The present study aimed to assess anti-T. gondii antibodies in sheltered and free-roaming cats within a university campus that has an overlapping population of humans and livestock. A total of 51 cats were tested for anti-T. gondii antibodies using the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test. Overall, 8/51 cats (15.7%) were seropositive. Cats were more likely to be seropositive when free-roaming (p= 0.008) and with presence of skin lesions (p= 0.042), and less likely with < 1 year of age (p= 0.021), probably due to higher environmental exposure and infected prey consumption. The presence of seropositive free-roaming cats whose areas overlapped those occupied by humans and livestock may suggest an increased on-campus chance of T. gondii occurrence. Graduate College of Parasitology Federal University of Minas Gerais UFMG Graduate College of Public Heath Federal University of Bahia UFBA Graduate College of Veterinary Medicine São Paulo State University UNESP Graduate College of Molecular Biology Federal University of Paraná UFPR Department of Medicine State University of Ponta Grossa UEPG University of São Paulo USP ESALQ Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health São Paulo State University UNESP College of Veterinary Medicine Purdue University Departament of Veterinary Medicine Federal University of Paraná UFPR Graduate College of Veterinary Medicine São Paulo State University UNESP Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health São Paulo State University UNESP

Recently, a growing collection of evidence that associates trap&ndash, neuter&ndash, return (TNR) programs with substantial and sustained reductions in community cat populations across a variety of environments has emerged. Peer-reviewed studies emanating from the northeastern, midwestern, and southeastern United States, as well as Australia, document such reductions. The present study expands upon this body of evidence by examining the impact of a long-term TNR program on a population of community cats residing on a pedestrian trail adjacent to an oceanic bay located on the West Coast of the U.S. A population of 175 community cats, as determined by an initial census, living on a 2-mile section of the San Francisco Bay Trail declined by 99.4% over a 16-year period. After the conclusion of the initial count, the presence of cats was monitored as part of the TNR program&rsquo, s daily feeding regimen. Of the 258 total cats enrolled in the program between 2004 and 2020, only one remained at the end of the program period. These results are consistent with those documented at the various sites of other long-term TNR programs.

Background: Leptospirosis is a neglected but widespread zoonotic disease throughout the world. The vast majority of mammals are hosts of Leptospira spp., including domestic cats. Though clinical signs of active leptospirosis are generally mild in cats, chronic infections might result in renal injury. However, there is no consensus either on the clinical presentation nor on the disease diagnosis in cats. The study of acute-phase proteins (APPs) and biomarkers of oxidative status would contribute to knowledge about the development ofthe disease in cats. In this report, we evaluated four APPs: Serum amyloid A-SAA, Haptoglobin–Hp, albumin and Paraoxonase 1-PON1 and the antioxidant response through Total Antioxidant Capacity-TAC, in 13 free-roaming cats naturally infected by pathogenic leptospires and 19 leptospires-free cats, through a Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Results: DNA positive cats showed higher serum SAA and Hp concentrations than seropositive cats and their leptospires-free counterparts. DNA positive individuals, however, had lower serum PON1 activity and albumin concentrations than seropositive and leptospires-free cats. On the other hand, the increase in TAC serum concentrations was positively associated with anti-leptospiral antibodies titre. The PCA retained two principal components (PC1 and PC2), explaining 60.1% of the observed variability of the inflammatory proteins and the antioxidant TAC. PC1 was mainly associated with an inflammatory process, whereas PC2 correlated with the antioxidant status. The most contributing variables in PC1 where albumin (27.46%), SAA (24.71%), Hp (21.56%) and PON1 (20.69%). Variables with significant contribution to the PC2 were the antibody titre against Leptospira spp. (48.41%) and TAC (35.04%). Overall the PCA revealed differences in inflammatory and antioxidant biomarkers in cats naturally infected with leptospires compared to leptospires-free cats.Conclusions: Increases in Serum SAA, Hp, and decreases in serum albumin concentrations and PON1 activity indicate an acute phase response in infected, DNA positive cats. Moreover, we found an increase in TAC serum concentrations indicating an antioxidant response in this infection, which is proportional to the antibody titre and not to the presence of bacterial DNA.

Trap&ndash, Neuter&ndash, Return and its variants (hereafter TNR) aims to control unowned cat populations. Papers on this topic form a useful case study of how how an area of literature grows, papers become influential, and citation networks form, influencing future study as well as public perceptions of the science. We analysed 145 TNR studies published 2002&ndash, 2019. Common topics, identified by frequently used language, were population control, interactions with wildlife, disease transmission (including implications for pets, wildlife and humans), free-roaming cats, and feral and domestic cat management. One or more papers on each of these topics was judged influential because of high citations overall, high average citations/year, or frequent mentions in social media. Open Access papers were more influential in social media, raising greater public awareness than studies published in journals that were less accessible. While divergent views exist on a range of topics, the network analysis of the TNR literature indicated potential for forming self-reinforcing groups of authors. While it is encouraging that diverse views are expressed, there is a risk of reduced dialogue interactions between groups, potentially constraining dialogue to refine arguments, share information, or plan research. Journal editors could encourage communication by choosing reviewers from different camps to assess manuscripts and by asking authors to acknowledge alternative views.

Cat feeders serve as an important source of available food for free-roaming cats (FRCs) and can play a central role in providing data on FRC distribution, welfare, and health. Data on cat feeder personalities as well as a better understanding of their feeding practices offer relevance for decision making concerning FRC population control strategies. The current study surveyed 222 FRC feeders who responded to a municipal trap-neuter-return (TNR) campaign in an Israeli central urban setting. The aim of the study was to describe their personal characteristics, feeding practices, and the FRC populations they feed. Feeders were divided into four groups according to the number of cats they claimed to feed per day (group 1: fed up to 5 cats, group 2: fed 6–10 cats, group 3: fed 11–20 cats, and group 4: fed ≥21 cats). Most feeders were women (81%), with a median age of 58 years (range 18–81). The feeders reported an overall feeding of 3337 cats in 342 different feeding locations. Feeders of group 4 comprised 15.31% (n = 34) of all feeders but fed 56% (n = 1869) of the FRC in 37.42% (n = 128) of the feeding locations. “Heavy” feeders (groups 3 and 4) reported that they traveled significantly longer distances in order to feed the cats. Commercial dry food consisted of 90% of the food they provided, with 66% of them feeding once a day, with less food per cat per day than the other feeder groups. Interestingly, “heavy” feeders were usually singles, had on average fewer offspring, a clear preference for owning cats as pets, and lived in lower income neighborhoods. According to the feeders’ reports on the FRC populations they fed, 69.7% (2325/3337) cats were neutered and 11.8% (395/3337) were kittens. In addition, they reported that 1.6% (54/3337) of the cats were limping, 2% (67/3337) suffered from a systemic disease, 4% (135/3337) had skin lesions, and 3.9% (130/3337) were suffering from a chronic disability. Abundance of kittens and morbidity rate were significantly and negatively associated with neutering rate. These findings are in accordance with the suggestion that neutering may potentially improve cat welfare by reducing morbidity. Collaboration by the authorities with these heavy feeders, who represent a small number of FRC feeders and feed substantial FRC numbers, may be significant for the control and monitoring of FRC populations and their resources.

The community cats program (CCP), which includes trap&ndash, neuter&ndash, return activities, has been promoted in Japan to reduce the population of free-roaming cats without harmful effects on their welfare. To ascertain the effects of the CCP, a two-year route census of free-roaming cats was conducted in an area with CCP and the other area without CCP in urban Tokyo, Japan. The estimated number of cats was lower in the CCP area than the non-CCP area, but there was no difference in the rate of decline in cat populations between areas. More cats emigrated or disappeared rather than immigrated in both areas in the second year and more males tended to immigrate into the CCP area. There was no difference in the behavior of cats between areas and among seasons. The proportion of cats with poor health was lower in the CCP area than the non-CCP area. These results suggest that the CCP may improve the welfare of free-roaming cats. As the effect of CCP was restrictive in reducing the population of free-roaming cats, the further promotion of neutering of cats may be necessary to reduce the population density of cats.

The aims of the present study were to determine the weaning time for adoption of kittens, and to evaluate the fetal growth rate during pregnant in free-roaming cats. This study was conducted on three pregnant free-roaming cats (one feral cat and two stray cats). Radiography and ultrasonography were performed on the feral cat and on one of the stray cats. In the feral cat, fetal head diameter was measured once during pregnancy to determine the cesarean section (C-sec) time. In the stray cat, serial fetal head diameter was measured from capture to parturition. The body weight of the feral cat’s kittens was measured from 4 weeks postpartum because of their wildness. That of the stray cats’ kittens was measured immediately after birth. In the feral cat, scheduled C-sec was performed at predicted parturition day by measurement of head diameter, and six healthy kittens were delivered. The stray cats had five and six kittens by natural delivery, respectively. In the body weight gain of feral and stray cat’s kittens, two female kittens of the feral cat lost weight rapidly after they were separated from their mother, so they were returned to their mother for 1 more week. After that, the female kittens grew up without difficulty. Body weight gain of the ten kittens born to the two stray cats consistently increased, by approximately 14 g every day, until they were adopted. The body weight of kittens born by natural delivery was on average 77.5 g greater than that of kittens born by C-sec. However, the gap decreased with time. During the stray cat’s pregnancy, fetal head diameter increased by 0.042 cm every day. Maximum head size before parturition was 2.43 cm. These results indicate that the weaning time for adoption of kittens was 5-week-old postpartum.

After reading Michael Fox’s letter ( VR , 14 September 2019, vol 185, p 308) regarding the risks from free-roaming cats I felt a mixture of things, from disappointment to slightly culturally offended. Some years ago at a BSAVA congress I attended a lecture on cat toileting problems. The speaker from the USA …

I was interested to read the news article highlighting the top welfare priorities for the different species identified by Cathy Dwyer and her team for the Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF) ( VR , 15 …

Simple Summary For free-roaming cat management to be effective, people—including land managers, conservationists, cat lovers and the general public—need to be sufficiently empowered and motivated to accept and implement management actions. Research in the social and behavioural sciences has shown that engaging everyone and gaining consensus can be incredibly challenging. This paper describes an integrative framework based on the behavioural literature to design better, equitable and ethically acceptable interventions for free-roaming cat management. Abstract In Australia, free-roaming cats can be found in urban and rural areas across the country. They are inherently difficult to manage but it is frequently human behaviour that demands the most attention and is in most need of change. To the frustration of policy makers and practitioners, scientific knowledge, technological developments, and legal and institutional innovations, often run afoul of insufficient public capacity, opportunity and motivation to act. This paper demonstrates how the behavioural science literature can provide important insights into maximising the impact of free-roaming cat control activities within an ethical framework that prioritises acting “with” all stakeholders, rather than “on” stakeholders. By better understanding how human values, attitudes and beliefs are shaped, practitioners can more effectively and respectfully interact with how people interpret the world around them, make choices and behave. This literature also has much to say about why certain types of media and marketing messages elicit behaviour change and why other types fall flat. Finally, in addition to explaining the behavioural science and its implications, this review provides researchers, policy makers and engagement specialists with an inclusive, practical framework for conceptualising behaviour change and working to ensure land managers, cat owners and the general public can agree on and adopt best practices for managing free-roaming cats.

Feces littered on the ground by free-roaming cats contain bacteria, viruses, and parasites and pose a significant health risk to humans. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of communal litter box provision on the defecation behavior of a free-roaming cat population. The study was conducted at H temple and its graveyard in the uptown area of old-town Onomichi, Japan. Cat feces were collected and weighed once a week for 4 weeks, at five popular defecation sites in the temple precincts and graveyard, to assess the quantity of feces left by the cats. A commercial cat repellent was then applied to the ground at 11 sites, including the five popular defecation sites, and six communal litter boxes, created by filling repurposed plastic planters with cat litter, were provided at different sites. The feces in the six litter boxes and on the ground at the five defecation sites were collected and weighed once a week for 14 weeks. The behavior of the cats around the litter boxes and defecation sites was captured using trail cameras. The total weight of the feces collected from the ground before the application of the litter boxes and cat repellent was 939 g. Three adult cats were mainly responsible for the feces on the ground. The amount of feces found on the ground around the temple decreased gradually and significantly after the provision application of the litter boxes and repellent, and reached 0 g in the final week of the study. In contrast, the average weight of the feces in the six litter boxes increased gradually and significantly, and reached 65.7 g/litter box/week in the 14th week. The results showed that the provision of litter boxes and the use of repellent is effective in changing the defecation behavior of ownerless free-roaming cats. We recommend promoting the provision of litter boxes to free-roaming cats to reduce fecal pollution in Onomichi and engaging with local cat feeders to participate in the management of the litter boxes, such as cleaning and changing the litter.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate 2 methods of surveying free-roaming cats (Felis catus) and identify factors potentially associated with the presence of such cats in a mixed-urban environment. ANIMALS Free-roaming cats on and near The Ohio State University campus. PROCEDURES The university campus and surrounding areas were divided into zones classified by land-use category; 100 zones were selected for surveillance of free-roaming cats by the line-transect method (with visual observation). Twenty-three of the 100 zones were selected for surveillance by the trail-camera method (motion-triggered still photography). Food resources in the study site were mapped, and the presence of other animal species was recorded with trail cameras. Potential associations between the number of cat sightings and variables of interest were assessed by statistical methods, RESULTS There were 6 cat sightings in 5 zones and 92 cat sightings in 9 zones with the line-transect and trail-camera methods, respectively. Cats were most frequently detected off campus and in urban land-use zones. The number of cat sightings with trail cameras was significantly correlated with the density of food resources but not wildlife sightings in the area and was significantly greater at night than during the day. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The number of sightings with the trail-camera method was substantially higher than that obtained with the line-transect method; however, identification of individual cats was generally not possible, and population size could not be estimated with these methods. Communities considering population control for free-roaming cats should consider the use of trail cameras to identify areas with high free-roaming cat activity and observation at night to gather baseline data. Easily accessible food waste may attract free-roaming cats.

The dissemination of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli belonging to high-virulent pandemic lineages has become a global problem with serious consequences for public health worldwide. In this regard, E. coli lineages belonging to the sequence type ST648, which are mostly associated with human infections, have begun to be reported in animals. In this study, we report the identification and genomic characterization of international CTX-M-producing E. coli ST648/F lineages in free-roaming cats from an urban slum, in Brazil. Moreover, we have performed a comparative genomic analysis of worldwide reported E. coli ST648 strains, highlighting an epidemiologic linkage between human and companion animals.

Simple Summary Strong public support in the United States for the non-lethal management of free-roaming cats has prompted an increase in the practice of trap-neuter-return (TNR) over the past quarter-century, yet a paucity of analyzable data exists. Data sets collected by citizen scientists are likely to play an important role in filling this information void. A citizen scientist in Chicago, Illinois, recorded significant reductions in a free-roaming cat population as the result of a neighborhood TNR program. Colony populations, when grouped by the number of years enrolled in the program, declined by a mean of 54% from entry and 82% from peak levels. Results from concurrent TNR programs in the Chicago area are compatible with these findings. Abstract The use of trap-neuter-return (TNR) as a method of managing free-roaming cat populations has increased in the United States in recent decades. Historically, TNR has been conducted most often at a grassroots level, which has led to inconsistent data collection and assessment practices. Consequently, a paucity of analyzable data exists. An initiative is underway to standardize TNR program data collection and assessment. However, it could be some time before scientifically sound protocols are implemented on a broad scale. In the interim, sets of data collected by nascent citizen scientists offer valid opportunities to evaluate grassroots TNR programs. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effectiveness of a TNR program conducted by a citizen scientist located in Chicago, Illinois, where a county law permitting TNR was enacted in 2007. Colony populations, when grouped by the number of years enrolled in the program, declined by a mean of 54% from entry and 82% from peak levels. Results from coexistent TNR programs in the Chicago area are consistent with these findings.

Simple Summary Local communities in the United States are commonly responsible for selecting the most appropriate method of managing free-roaming cats. Lethal management has been widely utilized for generations, but the use of trap-neuter-return (TNR) has grown in recent decades. Despite expanded use of TNR, a relative scarcity of data associated with such programs exists. This paper retrospectively examines an iconic TNR program—began in 1992—that resulted in the elimination of hundreds of cats from the Newburyport, Massachusetts, waterfront. A careful review of contemporaneous reports, extant program documents, and stakeholder testimony indicates that an estimated 300 cats resided in the area at the commencement of the TNR program; none remained 17 years later. Up to one-third of the cats trapped were sociable and adopted into homes; the remainder were sterilized and vaccinated before being returned to the waterfront, where they declined in number over time due to attrition. A compelling narrative emerged from the available evidence concerning the effectiveness of TNR as a management practice, although a lack of feline population data associated with the Newburyport TNR program underscores the need for establishment of standardized data collection and assessment practices. Abstract The use of trap-neuter-return (TNR) as a humane alternative to the lethal management of free-roaming cats has been on the rise for several decades in the United States; however a relative paucity of data from TNR programs exists. An iconic community-wide TNR effort; initiated in 1992 and renowned for having eliminated hundreds of free-roaming cats from the Newburyport; Massachusetts waterfront; is cited repeatedly; yet few details appear in the literature. Although the presence of feline population data was quite limited; a detailed narrative emerged from an examination of contemporaneous reports; extant TNR program documents; and stakeholder testimony. Available evidence indicates that an estimated 300 free-roaming cats were essentially unmanaged prior to the commencement of the TNR program; a quick reduction of up to one-third of the cats on the waterfront was attributed to the adoption of sociable cats and kittens; the elimination of the remaining population; over a 17-year period; was ascribed to attrition. These findings illuminate the potential effectiveness of TNR as a management practice; as well as call attention to the need for broad adoption of systematic data collection and assessment protocols.

Cats are among the most popular pets. A cat can be a feral cat, a stray cat, or a pet cat with variable degrees of free-roaming access to the outdoors. Free-roaming pet cats are the most significant source of cat overpopulation. Furthermore, if free-roaming cats do not wear identification, ownership is difficult to identify. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate 1) how pet cats are kept and cared for in Germany and 2) cat owners’ attitudes to stray and feral cats and compliance with fertility control. The survey was designed as a multiple-choice questionnaire covering information on cat ownership and cat owners’ attitudes to stray and feral cats and cat population management tools. Regression analyses were applied to determine whether the attitudes to stray and feral cats could be predicted from demographic parameters or one’s own cat keeping. Many cat owners know stray and feral cats in their vicinity, but this knowledge has no influence on the spaying and neutering, identification, and registration status of their own cats and on their own cat keeping, e.g., with or without free access to the outdoors. Cat owners are afraid that stray and feral cats may transmit diseases to pet cats. The demographic parameters of the cat owners, e.g., their gender, age, and education level, significantly influenced their attitudes to keeping and caring for their own cat and controlling the cat population. Cat owners would accept the costs of legal requirements to spay or to neuter and to identify their own cat, and the majority would not relinquish their own cat to save the costs. To address the responsibility of cat owners is of utmost importance. It is necessary to spay or neuter and to identify free-roaming pet cats to prevent them from getting lost or pregnant. Each cat population management program’s success depends on cat owners being involved and convinced of its necessity.

The management of free-roaming domestic cats is a controversial and challenging issue for animal welfare organizations and government agencies. In this article, we used a previously validated conce...

Approximately 2-3 million cats are euthanased in animal shelters across the United States annually. Preventing pregnancy in cats is a key step to reducing this number. While surgery is generally a safe and effective tool for curbing reproduction in cats, it is not a practical method to achieve the reduction in numbers required for an appreciable impact on the cat population as a whole. Low-dose megestrol acetate (MA) is a synthetic progestin that has been used for the management of reproduction in free roaming cat populations; however, there has been no regulatory oversight regarding the use of this product for this purpose. Additionally, there is a paucity of data regarding the safety and efficacy of the product for the management of reproduction in free roaming cats. The purpose of this review is: (1) to outline the need for a non-surgical contraceptive in cats; (2) to discuss the uses of MA in domestic cats; (3) to consider potential adverse effects of the drug, and (4) to discuss regulatory challenges associated with the use of MA in free roaming cat populations. In order to answer the questions posed in this review, more data will need to be collected in laboratory and field studies.

A KEY consideration for animal shelters is maintaining quality of life and welfare. In the USA many shelters are experiencing a decrease in intake and euthanasia rates, resulting in shorter lengths of stay. With an emphasis on quality of life, shelters employ many strategies, such as adoption events, foster programmes and adoption ambassadors (who help move animals through the shelter system faster) to try to reduce the time animals are kept in a shelter. Widely available community-based spay neuter programmes and return-to-field management of free roaming cats are resulting in lower intake rates, which further decreases euthanasia and length of stay. Euthanasia may be employed as a last resort to help manage shelter populations in order to ensure that capacity for care is not exceeded. Housing animals humanely for weeks to months requires regular assessment, careful management and effective enrichment to ensure physical and mental health are maintained. In many European communities strict ‘no-kill’ policies make it illegal to euthanaise shelter animals. As in American shelters with such policies, inflexible regulations can lead to very long lengths of stay (months to years). If a facility has an open admission policy (meaning all animals in a given community or geographical area are accepted) then overcrowding can result. When animals …

Although the occurrence of cat-caretaking of free-roaming cats is widespread, particularly so in countries with a climate suitable for cats to reproduce year-round, our knowledge of this relationship is still incomplete. People who engage in daily activities of feeding and caring for groups of free-roaming cats (cat caretakers) are known to be devoted to their cats and invest considerable resources in their care, including neutering and veterinary care. These caretakers often encounter difficulties, such as resentment by neighbors and lack of cooperation or financing by the municipal veterinary services. Despite the fundamental understanding of these caretakers' high daily commitment, and sometimes strong bond with the cats, detailed knowledge is still lacking regarding the nature of this bond, the difficulties that ensue from this daily occupation, and the relationship between the two. The purpose of this study was thus to acquire a deeper understanding, by means of an in-depth interview with cat...

Objective—To examine demographic differences during a 1-year observational period between urban feeding groups of neutered and unneutered free-roaming cats following a trap-neuter-return procedure. Design—Natural-setting trial. Animals—Free-roaming adult cats (n = 184) and kittens (76) living in 4 feeding groups in an urban region of Israel. Procedures—Cats in 2 feeding groups were subjected to a trap-neuter-return (TNR) procedure. Cats in 2 other feeding groups were untreated. Data were collected on a weekly basis before and during feeding time over a 1-year period. Following individual cat identification, presence of adults and kittens was recorded throughout the year. Rates of immigration, emigration, and kitten survival were compared between neutered and unneutered groups. Results—The number of adult cats in the 2 neutered groups increased significantly during the study period because of higher immigration and lower emigration rates than in the unneutered groups, in which the number decreased. In the neutered groups, annual presence of neutered cats was significantly higher than that of sexually intact cats. Kitten survival in the neutered groups was significantly higher than in the unneutered groups. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Targeting the TNR method mainly at feeding groups in urban residential neighbourhoods may result in increased group size, as a consequence of 2 major changes in group dynamics: sexually intact cats immigrate into the neutered groups more readily and neutered cats reduce their emigration rates, possibly because of a reduction in reproductive and competitive pressures. To maintain a high proportion of neutered cats in such cat groups, persistent TNR campaigns are therefore necessary.

Objective—To characterize attitudes toward and perceptions of free-roaming cats among individuals living in Ohio. Design—Cross-sectional study. Sample Population—Households in Ohio. Procedures—A random-digit–dial telephone survey was performed, and 1,250 households were contacted. Results—703 of the 1,250 (56.2%) households completed interviews. Five hundred fifty-three (78.7%) participants reported seeing free-roaming cats at least occasionally, and 184 (26.2%) reported having fed free-roaming cats during the previous year. However, only 42 (22.8%) participants who fed free-roaming cats had ever taken one to a veterinarian, and 43 (23.4%) participants who fed free-roaming cats reported that at least one of the free-roaming cats had produced a litter in the preceding year. Differences existed between cat owners and other participants and among urban, suburban, and rural residents in regard to their attitudes toward free-roaming cats and the need for government regulations. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggested that free-roaming cats were common in Ohio, but that attitudes toward and perceptions of free-roaming cats differed between cat owners and other participants and among participants grouped on the basis of residential area. Thus, developing statewide approaches for regulating free-roaming cats may be challenging or unrealistic.

Overview: Trap–neuter–return (TNR) for cat management is transitioning from an enterprise driven mainly by an urge to ‘help’ into an enterprise that draws useful guidance and precedent from the fields of population biology and wildlife management. This transition is in its infancy, however. At the present time many TNR programs do not produce substantial and persistent reductions in cat populations, and those that do often fail to effectively document this achievement or to publicize their success. Challenges: As a result, TNR has become increasingly controversial, with TNR advocates and wildlife conservationists often staking out fundamentally incompatible positions. This may ultimately prove to be an unproductive debate, since public opinion in developed countries is unlikely to support a total abandonment of TNR in favor of widespread cat management using lethal methods, and since wildlife advocates are unlikely to support TNR as it is typically practiced. Advancements: In contrast, improving the effectiveness of TNR as a population management tool can benefit both cats and wildlife, potentially on a broad scale. Making these advancements requires the diligent promotion, dissemination and adoption of tools like population modeling, population monitoring and adaptive management. By virtue of their training and exposure to the scientific method, veterinarians are uniquely well positioned to translate the more technical aspects of these approaches to TNR practitioners, and to facilitate their wider use. Aim: The purpose of this review is to describe for a veterinary audience how to facilitate more effective sterilization-based management of outdoor cats, using a combination of theoretical knowledge derived from population modeling and empirical knowledge derived from population monitoring. Using both of these information sources synergistically can offer a viable pathway to better management outcomes.

People who feed cats that they do not perceive they own (sometimes called semi-owners) are thought to make a considerable contribution to unwanted cat numbers because the cats they support are generally not sterilized. Understanding people's perception of cat ownership and the psychology underlying cat semi-ownership could inform approaches to mitigate the negative effects of cat semi-ownership. The primary aims of this study were to investigate cat ownership perception and to examine its association with human-cat interactions and caretaking behaviours. A secondary aim was to evaluate a definition of cat semi-ownership (including an association time of ≥1 month and frequent feeding), revised from a previous definition proposed in the literature to distinguish cat semi-ownership from casual interactions with unowned cats. Cat owners and semi-owners displayed similar types of interactions and caretaking behaviours. Nevertheless, caretaking behaviours were more commonly displayed towards owned cats than semi-owned cats, and semi-owned cats were more likely to have produced kittens (p

In Italy, which is rabies-free, the national Law No. 281 [Legge Nazionale 14 agosto 1991. No. 281: Legge Quadro in materia di animali di affezione e prevenzione del randagismo. Gazz. Uff. Rep. Ital. no 203 del 30 agosto 1991: p. 3] on the management of pets and on the control of feral cats has introduced the no-kill policy for this species. Thus, "trap-neuter-release" (TNR) programs have been carried out for >10 years. In this paper we present data on registered colonies and censused cats in Rome from 1991 to 2000; the results of the neutering campaign from 1991 to 2000; and a survey, on 103 cat colonies, on the effects of demographic control of urban feral-cat colonies in the city of Rome, carried out by the local Veterinary Public Services (VPS) in collaboration with the associations of cat care-takers. In 10 years almost 8000 were neutered and reintroduced in their original colony. The spay/neuter campaigns brought about a general decrease in cat number but the percentage of cat immigration (due to abandonment and spontaneous arrival) is around 21%. This suggests that all these efforts without an effective education of people to control the reproduction of house cats (as a prevention for abandonment) are a waste of money, time and energy.

Objective—To estimate the number of unowned free-roaming cats in a college community in the southern United States and identify the characteristics of community residents who feed these cats. Design—Cross-sectional, random-digit telephone survey. Sample Population—587 households in Alachua County, Florida, surveyed between March 1 and May 10, 1999. Procedure—Telephone surveys were conducted, and respondents were asked questions about feeding of unowned free-roaming cats. Results—70 (12%) households fed free-roaming cats; mean ± SD number of free-roaming cats fed per household was 3.6 ± 1.9. Households that fed free-roaming cats were more likely to own pet cats than were households that did not feed free-roaming cats; however, 30 of 70 (43%) households feeding free-roaming cats did not own cats or dogs. Although the percentage of pet cats that were neutered was high (90%), only 8 (11%) households that fed free-roaming cats attempted to have such cats neutered. The free-roaming cat population was estimated to represent approximately 44% of the population of cats in the county. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggest that unowned free-roaming cats may represent a substantial portion of the total cat population in a region. Public policies and education programs aimed at reducing cat overpopulation should include provisions for neutering unowned free-roaming cats, and efforts should target the general public, not only pet owners, because not all households that feed unowned free-roaming cats own pets. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2003;223:202–205)

Objectives—To describe the characteristics of unowned, free-roaming cats and their caretakers who participated in a trap-neuter-return (TNR) program and to determine the effect of the program on free-roaming cat colonies. Design—Prospective study. Sample Population—101 caretakers of 920 unowned, free-roaming cats in 132 colonies in north central Florida. Results—Most (85/101; 84%) caretakers were female. The median age was 45 years (range, 19 to 74 years). Most (89/101; 88%) caretakers owned pets and of those, most (67/101; 66%) owned cats. The major reasons for feeding free-roaming cats were sympathy and love of animals. Most caretakers reported that the cats they cared for were too wild to be adopted, but many also reported that they considered the cats to be like pets. The total surveyed cat population was 920 before participation in TNR and 678 after TNR. Mean colony size was 7 cats before TNR and 5.1 cats after TNR. Most cats lived on the caretaker's property. At the time of the survey, 70% (644/920) of the cats had been neutered. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—The decrease in the surveyed free-roaming cat population was attributed to a reduction in births of new kittens, adoptions, deaths, and disappearances. Recognition of the human-animal bond that exists between caretakers and the feral cats they feed may facilitate the development of effective control programs for feral cat populations. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2002;220: 1627–1633)

Made available in DSpace on 2015-11-03T18:06:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2014-04-01. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-11-04T10:13:26Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 S1984-29612014000200231.pdf: 467657 bytes, checksum: 96c8c4f14077f36b598be56827978c8c (MD5) Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Hemoplasmas são bactérias encontradas aderidas aos eritrócitos de felinos. A hemoplasmose felina está frequentemente associada a gatos velhos machos, sem raça definida e com acesso à rua. O presente estudo objetivou realizar a detecção molecular de espécies de hemoplasmas em gatos domiciliados e errantes em Campo Grande, estado do Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), Brasil. Entre janeiro/2013 e abril/2013, amostras de sangue foram colhidas de 151 gatos domésticos (65 errantes e 86 domiciliados) e avaliadas por PCR frente à presença de sequências do gene do 16S rRNA de hemoplasmas, seguidas de sequenciamento, análise pelo BLAST e análise filogenética. Os resultados deste estudo mostraram uma ocorrência de 36,4%. Vinte e três (15,2%) gatos mostraram-se positivos na PCR para ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’, 17 (11,2%) para Mycoplasma haemofelis, e 15 (9,9%) para ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’. A co-infecção por dois ou três hemoplasmas ocorreu em 25 gatos (16,6%). Não foi observada diferença estatística significativa entre sexo e estilo de vida dos gatos amostrados e a presença de hemoplasmas. O estudo mostrou que diferentes espécies de hemoplasmas circulam na população de gatos (domiciliados e errantes) na cidade de Campo Grande, MS, Brasil. Sugere-se o diagnóstico diferencial para hemoplasmose felina em gatos que apresentam sinais clínicos inespecíficos de doença com manifestação sistêmica. Hemoplasmas are bacteria living in feline red blood cells. Feline hemoplasmosis is frequently associated with old male cats that have access to the streets. This study aimed to detect the presence of hemoplasma speciess in domiciled and free-roaming cats in Campo Grande, state of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), Brazil, using molecular techniques. Between January 2013 and April 2013, EDTA-whole blood samples were collected from 151 domestic cats (65 free-roaming and 86 domiciled cats). Samples were subjected to PCR assays targeting hemoplasmas 16S rRNA, followed by sequencing, BLAST analysis and phylogenetic analysis. Results show an occurrence of 36.4% for hemoplasmas. Twenty-three cats (15.2%) were positive for 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum', 17 (11.2%) for M. haemofelis and 15 (9.9%) for 'Candidatus M. turicensis', from PCR. Coinfection by two or three hemoplasmas was found in 25 cats (16.6%). No statistically significant difference between genders or between lifestyles was observed for the presence of hemoplasmas among the cats. Results show different hemoplasma species are present in cat population (Campo Grande, MS, Brazil). It is suggested that a differential diagnosis for feline hemoplasmosis should be made when cats show nonspecific clinical signs of disease with systemic manifestation. Universidade Católica Dom Bosco – UCDB, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil Centro de Controle de Zoonoses – CCZ, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil FAPESP: 2013/06016-6 FAPESP: 2013/09889-0

Free-roaming cats in New York, NY, USA, that presented to a trap–neuter–return program were surveyed for biochemical data. One hundred and one cats had blood collected for a plasma biochemistry panel after the induction of surgical anesthesia. Reference intervals for 18 analytes were generated for the sample population, along with age-specific reference intervals when statistically appropriate. Age groups (juveniles and adults) differed in 10 of the 18 analytes measured, including protein levels and albumin/globulin ratio, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatine kinase, creatinine, phosphorus, calcium and potassium. No differences were found between males and females. This is the first report of biochemical reference intervals for a group of free-roaming cats within the USA.

We investigate whether the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program can be effectively used to control the population of free-roaming cats in Florida's Lee County. We do this by estimating the number of cats that must be spayed/neutered in order to keep the population from increasing.

Case summary Cytauxzoonosis is a tick-borne disease of cats, and Oklahoma (OK), USA, is considered an enzootic state. To determine the prevalence of Cytauxzoon felis, blood was collected from free-roaming cats, as they are frequently exposed to tick vectors. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of C felis infection in free-roaming cats in north-central Oklahoma and central Iowa (IA). Infection with C felis was determined using DNA extracted from blood and PCR amplification. Blood was collected from 380 free-roaming cats between January and April in 2014 in OK. DNA from C felis was detected in 3/380 (0.8%; 95% confidential interval [CI] 0.22–2.3%). In IA, 292 blood samples were collected between 2012 and 2014. No C felis-infected cats were detected (0; 95% CI 0–0%). Relevance and novel information The prevalence of C felis (0.8%) in north-central OK reported herein was lower than the previously reported 3.4% in domestic cats in OK. Our study supports that the prevalence in a given enzootic area can vary by location and from the pool of cats sampled. None of 291 (0%) cats were infected with C felis in central IA. To date, only one case of cytauxzoonosis in a domestic cat has been reported in IA. It is important to monitor cats for C felis infections in northern US states, as geographic distribution of Amblyomma americanum expands northward. As free-roaming cats have more contact with the tick vectors of C felis, this population allows us to monitor the expansion of C felis distribution.

Objective—To evaluate the effect of a long-term trapneuter-return program, with adoption whenever possible, on the dynamics of a free-roaming cat population. Design—Observational epidemiologic study. Animals—155 unowned free-roaming cats. Procedures—Free-roaming cats residing on a university campus were trapped, neutered, and returned to the environment or adopted over an 11-year period. Results—During the observation period (January 1991 to April 2002), 75% of the cats were feral, and 25% were socialized. Kittens comprised 56% of the original population. Male cats were slightly more numerous (55%) than females. At the conclusion of the observation period, 47% of the cats had been removed for adoption, 15% remained on site, 15% had disappeared, 11% were euthanatized, 6% had died, and 6% had moved to the surrounding wooded environment. Trapping began in 1991; however, a complete census of cats was not completed until 1996, at which time 68 cats resided on site. At completion of the study in 2002, the population had decreased by 66%, from 68 to 23 cats (of which 22 were feral). No kittens were observed on site after 1995, but additional stray or abandoned cats continued to become resident. New arrivals were neutered or adopted before they could reproduce. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—A comprehensive long-term program of neutering followed by adoption or return to the resident colony can result in reduction of free-roaming cat populations in urban areas. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2003;222:42–46)

Objective—To determine prevalence of FeLV infection and serum antibodies against feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in unowned free-roaming cats. Design—Cross-sectional serologic survey. Animals—733 unowned free-roaming cats in Raleigh, NC, and 1,143 unowned free-roaming cats in Gainesville, Fla. Results—In Raleigh, overall prevalence of FeLV infection was 5.3%, and overall seroprevalence for FIV was 2.3%. In Gainesville, overall prevalence of FeLV infection was 3.7%, and overall seroprevalence for FIV was 4.3%. Overall, FeLV prevalence was 4.3%, and seroprevalence for FIV was 3.5%. Prevalence of FeLV infection was not significantly different between males (4.9%) and females (3.8%), although seroprevalence for FIV was significantly higher in male cats (6.3%) than in female cats (1.5%). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Prevalence of FeLV infection and seroprevalence for FIV in unowned free-roaming cats in Raleigh and Gainesville are similar to prevalence rates reported for owned cats in the United States. Male cats are at increased risk for exposure to FIV, compared with female cats. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2002;220:620–622)

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) was first isolated and identified in 1986. Since then it has been shown to have a worldwide distribution, and the infection generally appears to have reached a state of endemicity. This is the 1st study of FIV-prevalence in Finland. Serum samples of 196 free-roaming cats were tested for antibodies to FIV and FeLV antigens (Feline leukemia virus). With a combined enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), 13 of the cats (6.6%) turned out to be positive for FIV and 2 for FeLV (1.0%). Adult male cats in the capital area of Finland had a FIV prevalence of 24%, a relative proportion 4.7 times higher than that for females.