(LC05) Trap Neuter Return (TNR)

Question 1

When did we start bringing cats inside (US)?

Answer 1

Invention of kitty litter (1947 Edward Lowe)

Question 2

4 main variables on lifespan

Answer 2

Lifestyle, Gender, Reproductive status, Vaccination status

Question 3

Lifestyle

Answer 3

Indoor lives longer than outdoor

Question 4

Gender

Answer 4

Males take more risks and don’t live as long

Question 5

Highest risk cat?

Answer 5

Unaltered, unvaccinated, outdoor, male

Average Lifespan: 13 mos.

Question 6

Lowest risk cat?

Answer 6

spayed, fully vaccinated, indoor, female

Average Lifespan: 13 years

Question 7

Number of owned cats?

Amount sterilized?

Answer 7

79-88 million cats in US

80-85% sterilized

Question 8

Number of free roaming cats?

Answer 8

10-90 million free roaming cats in US
For every un-owned cat there is roughly an owned cat
Approximately the human population divided by 6
2% sterilized

Question 9

Groups of free-roaming un-owned community cats?

Answer 9

Stray cats (abandoned/lost/community pet)
&
Feral cats (evasive/untamed/born wild/stray turned wild)

Question 10

What is the larger cat population we are dealing with?

Answer 10

un-owned, free-roaming community cats

Question 11

Environmental impact of un-owned cats?

Answer 11

Non-native species can impact wildlife

*Can’t realistically rid population–must manage instead

Question 12

Public health impact of un-owned cats?

Answer 12

Zoonotic disease concerns

Question 13

Cat welfare impact of un-owned cats?

Answer 13

Cats deal with being in the wild well regardless of conditions which is why they are widespread and invasive

Question 14

Management options of un-owned cats?

Answer 14

Traditional sheltering
“No-kill” sheltering
TNR

Question 15

Examples of reasons for public to call Animal Control on un-owned cats?

Answer 15

Unwanted marking
Garden nuisance 
Living in garages
Neighbor feeding cats
Killing wildlife/birds
Mating behavior-(populating/fighting)

Question 16

Ratio of cats in shelters that are un-owned, free-roaming cats?

Answer 16

9 out of 10

Question 17

Higher rate of euthanasia for cats versus dogs?

Answer 17

20% or higher than dogs

Question 18

Cat return to owner rate?

Answer 18

less than 2%

dog is 38%

Question 19

Length of shelter stay?

Answer 19

28 days

2x of dog

Question 20

Impact of cat euthanasia in shelters?

Answer 20

doesn’t accomplish anything to fix the problem long term

Question 21

Describe Community Cat Management Program necessities

Answer 21

Big enough system for change
Safe for environment
Sustainable
Socially acceptable

Question 22

Goals of Community Cat Management

Answer 22

Improve welfare & population (placing them in a shelter where they are at a higher risk of death than outdoors isn't helping them)
Reduce negative impacts of cats
Decrease resident pop
Decrease shelter intake
Decrease shelter euthanasia

Question 23

Community Cat Management control options

Answer 23

• Lethal control (only works in isolated colonies otherwise a population will just relocate to the void)
• Adoption (this would be an ideal scenario but there are not enough homes for impact & ferals are not suitable)
• Sanctuary (limited capacity- not large scale)
• TNR

Question 24

Goal of TNR?

Answer 24

Population reduction by non-lethal methods
Improve pop health
Minimize neg impacts
Reduce complaints from public

Question 25

What is TARGETED TNR?

Answer 25

*focused, sustained, colony level, decrease cat intake, euthanasia, cat pop if get over 70%

Focus on a group of cats, starting with an idea of what you are dealing with
Very controlled process–organized trapping process
live trap, spay/neuter, id them (ear tip/tattoo), Rabies vx, triage/treat/euthanize sick

Question 26

What ear do you tip?

Answer 26

left

Question 27

How do you shrink the population?

Answer 27

At least 70% of the population altered–overtime the pop will decrease–this is why plucking cats occasionally doesn’t work & create lasting effects
**test question

Question 28

Describe barn cat program

Answer 28

Alternative outcome for unadoptable cats
decrease cat euthanasia
no impact on intake or community population numbers
*Kinda like trap, neuter, RELOCATE
It’s a way for the shelter to not have to euthanize

Question 29

Describe return to field

Answer 29

Progressive approach to shelter intake
HUGE decrease in intake, euthanasia, resources required for care
No significant impact on community population
*not targeted like TNR so you won’t have population change (Miami Dave County in FL did this)