Feral cats:
 
As individuals and groups attempt to cope with feral cats, it has been observed that when cats are removed, other cats come in.  For many years, the coping mechanism was trap and destroy (because most feral cats can’t be re-homed the best solution is euthanasia in most cases).  Literature started cropping up that documented feral cat removal didn’t diminish the cat population for long.  When cats are removed from an area, other cats move in and begin to establish a colony. 
 
Experiments began with trap and return as a management strategy.  When this strategy is employed, cats are trapped, neutered/spayed and vaccinated.  They are then returned to their colony.  The result seems to be a stable colony which, for the most part, keeps out additional members.  When new members do arrive, they are again trapped and rendered incapable of reproduction.  Over time, the colony size dwindles as no reproduction is occurring. 
 
Last time I looked at the literature, the trap and return policy seemed to be reducing the number of cats killed and keeping the populations stable and/or slowly dimishing.   
 
In other words, given that trap and destroy doesn’t get rid of the problem, only individuals, then trap and return results in the best solution.  Nothing seems to give feral-cat free land, so a feral-cat “contained” population is the best possible.
 
The methods of feral cat control are still controversial.  I don’t know if trap and return is THE ultimate answer.  Predation still occurs, unless the cats are also well-fed.  It would seem that in critical habitat for a prey species that intensive feral-predator removal would be the best – but this takes time, money and is very unpopular, resulting in a lot of bad press oftentimes. 
 
I think we all agree, everyone, that THE answer to dog problems and cat problems is responsible pet ownership.  Until that time comes (about as likely as a trip to Oz), then strategies have to be employed to live with and/or deal with what irresponsible owners bring to the community.  Removal has been tried and doesn’t give very good results.  Control is the next best option. 
 
So, I’m not necessarily advocating allowing feral cat colonies to live free – in an ideal world, I’d love to see them all someone’s loving indoor pet!  But I’m offering this email as an explanation.  
 
Chances are that when a locality is allowing and sometimes even maintaining (by feeding) feral cats, they are actually trying very hard to maintain a population that works – as best as possible – for the environment.  
 
Hopefully this will help everyone understand what is going on – right or wrong, agree or disagree, localities that are managing feral cat populations and allowing them to exist in place are, in fact, trying to cope. 
 
Joanne


Joanne Howl, DVM 
West River, MD