Domestic cats have been living with people for around for about 10,000 years, according to recently uncovered archeological evidence. Sometimes the cats provide great benefit. Credit cats for killing rats who spread the Great Plague. Today, we know living with housecats is beneficial for our health.

However, for as long as the species we call the domestic cat (Felis catus) has existed, there have been feral cats living in colonies in piazzas (town squares) in Italy, down London alleys and in fields and cities around the world. Likely at least two cats accompanied Columbus to America. Scientists estimate there may be as many or even more unowned cats in America than the 82 million owned cats.

At first, the only means for eliminating these unwanted cats were attempts to poison them. Of course, today that method is considered inhumane, and it's against the law. But attempts to poison never worked to control their numbers anyway. Cats are pretty smart, and hard to fool (try sneaking a pill into your cat's food),

The preferred approach in many places has become animal control: Culling a colony by humanely trapping, and then bringing cats into the shelter for humane euthanization or adoption.

It turns out people mostly don't want even nuisance cats trapped and killed. At one time, adoption seemed an option for ferals, but it turns out to be a bad idea. Housing the generally unadoptable feral cats meant valuable cage space was being taken up while adoptable cats were being turned away or euthanized. Also, most feral cats become exceedingly stressed in shelters; some don't even survive the experience.

"These cats have never been socialized to people, and they're extremely fearful," says Becky Robinson, who had a better idea for feral cats around 20 years ago. She noticed how some European nations were dealing with their feral cat problems and imported the idea, called trap, neuter, return (TNR) to one Washington, D.C., alley.

Robinson began to TNR a colony, which flourished in an alley not all that far from the White House. Each cat was humanely trapped, delivered to a veterinarian for spay/neuter and to be vaccinated for rabies. The cats' ears were notched to identify which cats were in the program. Then, the cats were then returned to the same alley to live out their lives. Caretakers supplemented the cats with food, and identified any newcomers to the colony who would also be trapped, altered and vaccinated.

"There was a huge need for a humane way to deal with feral cats; as soon as people heard we were using TNR successfully, they called wanting to know more," says Robinson, the founder and president of Alley Cat Allies, based in Bethesda, Md. Today there are 225 organizations dedicated solely to TNR, not to mention the many shelters that offer TNR programs. Alley Cat's mission is to end the senseless cycle of trap and kill when there's a better way.

Thousands of volunteers participate in TNR, which also includes overseeing a colony. If a colony cat is deemed friendly, this is likely a lost cat since true feral cats are so very fearful. Friendly cats are scanned for a microchip, and hopefully returned home. Otherwise, the friendly cats and any young kittens are given to shelters to adopt.

There are lots of additional benefits to diminishing stray numbers. "In this country, rabies is a public health victory because we vaccinate," says Robinson. "Experts agree the more stray cats vaccinated for rabies, the better. Historically (using trap and kill) some cats in a colony would be removed, but their numbers would only increase again, and meanwhile none are vaccinated."

Other species also benefit by lowering feral cat populations. Songbird lovers have a lot to worry about these days as species are frequently being added to the endangered species list. Cats may contribute to their decline, though habitat destruction; air- and light-pollution, and climate change seem more contributable factors. "People who care about cats care about nature in general -- no one wants to see songbirds disappear," Robinson adds.

To support feral and stray cats where you live learn more, contact Alley Cat Allies, www.alleycat.org or call 240-482-1980.

 

 

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Steve Dale welcomes questions/comments from readers. Although he can't answer all of them individually, he'll answer those of general interest in his column. Write to Steve at Tribune Media Services, 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, NY 14207. Send e-mail to PETWORLD(at)STEVE DALE.TV. Include your name, city and state. Steve's website is www.stevedalepetworld.com; he can be heard Sundays on WGN Radio, 8 to 10 p.m. CST (www.wgnradio.com to listen live), and hosts the nationally syndicated "Steve Dale's Pet World" and "The Pet Minute." He's also a contributing editor to USA Weekend

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