Humane Control of Cats

Everyone is familiar with the sight of scraggly, emaciated cats prowling a parking lot, darting away in fright when a human nears. It is nearly impossible to coax such animals into submission for these cats are feral, not to be confused with stray cats, and Mobile is home to plenty of them.

Unlike a stray cat, who may be recently abandoned or lost and warm toward humans, most feral cats have been born and raised in the wild and resist human contact, and therefore cannot be tamed as pets. Given the inability to take feral cats into homes, a controversial question emerges: How exactly should these cats be dealt with?

Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) is a method of controlling feral cat populations that began in Europe and spread to the U.S. in the mid-90s. It is officially endorsed by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) as the best method of maintaining populations of cats who cannot be given indoor homes.

The method, which involves trapping cats, sterilizing them, and returning them to the wild, is the least costly and most effective way of reducing the number of cats born into the wild.

Unfortunately, many communities still use the cruel and outdated method of trapping and killing feral cats. Many choose to trap-and-kill, mistakenly believing that by killing off the animals altogether, the population will be completely eradicated from the property. This has been shown to be ineffective.

There is little reduction in numbers in the long run, as cats multiply rapidly. Furthermore, this technique is quite cruel, ranging anywhere from individuals poisoning the cats, to agencies trapping them in steel leg traps and gassing them.

Mobile is home to the Azalea City Cat Coalition (ACCC), which works to provide TNR services to feral cats in the city. The program was founded in 2007 by Susan Young, who was inspired to create the organization after witnessing the suffering and subsequent multiplication of a colony in cats near her job site.

After doing some research, she found TNR to be the most effective way of both helping and controlling feral cats.

“There is no organization devoted specifically to felines in Mobile. Cats are under-represented at most adoption events and animal welfare groups,” Young said in an interview with The Vanguard. “However, cats are certainly over-represented behind restaurants and shopping centers, and forced to live unimaginable lives.”

Feral cats usually live together in what is known as a colony. Their lives are largely a struggle for survival. They take refuge wherever food is available, consuming whatever they can find – mostly garbage and small animals.

Extreme temperatures during the summer and winter can be harsh; infections, parasites, and animal attacks are common. Sadly, as a result, the average lifespan of an unaided feral cat is less than two years.

In contrast, after the cats are vaccinated and returned to the wild, TNR programs implement a colony caretaker who ensures the cats are provided with a constant food source and shelter. As a result, their lifespans usually increase to about 10 years, and the cats’ quality of life is vastly improved.

Young attests to TNR’s numerous benefits.

“In the areas [of Mobile] that have undergone TNR, the colonies are thriving. We have had 100 percent success, as we have not produced a kitten in three years [from treated colonies]. The health and temperament of the cats has vastly improved,” she said.

“Statistics indicate that TNR is responsible for a [decrease between 55-65 percent] in shelter intakes and euthanization of cats at shelters during the first two years [of a TNR program]. This saves taxpayers and government agencies a lot of money while acting humanely.”

While Young’s program has seen success, the community as a whole is not fully aware of the TNR method. There are still some who refuse it.

“Some corporate properties are not willing to participate in TNR; they choose to pay a private trapper to catch and kill the cats.

They don’t realize that this is only a temporary fix and the horrible way the cats die,” Young said.

She believes some people have the misconception that a colony of feral cats is somehow dangerous.

“In fact,” Young said, “feral cats avoid human contact.”

In an effort to educate the community and extend the TNR message, Young said she wishes to offer outreach to schools and civic groups, and would also like to hold workshops and training on responsible colony management and care.

“The concept of TNR is new and innovative for Mobile, but I think over time most will see that the benefits are too good to ignore,” Young said.

Azalea City Cat Coalition is currently accepting volunteers to help with the program. Young urges anyone who is interested in helping out to contact lindaw@azaleacitycats.org or call 251-648-7582 and leave a name and telephone number.

After all, said Young, “no one organization or person can solve the feral cat problem overnight. It will take a community-wide effort to put an end to this problem.”

For further information on TNR, visit alleycat.org.