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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a
trap-neuter-release (TNR) program? How does the CAT program
work? What is a
feral cat?
Feral
cats are the offspring of stray or abandoned pet cats, raised without close
human contact. They typically live in
colonies where food and shelter are available. What is a trap-neuter-release (TNR) program?
With
trap-neuter-release (TNR) programs, cats are humanely trapped and neutered,
so that they won't contribute to the growth of the cat population, and they
are provided with other necessary veterinary care. Upon recovery, the cats are released back
into their colony. Colony caregivers
then provide them with food and water daily, and monitor their numbers and
health. Why TNR?
Studies
have shown that controlling feral/stray cat populations through ‘trap and
kill' programs is very ineffective and costly. In addition, these programs are widely felt
to be inhumane. When feral/stray cats
are removed from their colonies and euthanized, those left behind become more
fertile and reproduce to fill the territory vacated by those removed. Removal programs must therefore be
constantly repeated. To help better deal
with feral/stray cat overpopulation, many communities in TNR
is considered to be the most humane and economical solution to the problem of
feral and stray cat overpopulation by experts such as the American Veterinary Medical Association,
American
Humane Association, Humane Society of
the United States, and the Cat
Fanciers' Association.
TNR helps to stabilize and maintain healthy feral/stray cat colonies
with the least possible cost to local governments and residents, while
providing a better life for the animals themselves. Benefits
of a TNR program include: ·
Stabilization of feral/stray cat populations ·
Reduction of problematic behavior such as
fighting, spraying, howling, predation of native wildlife ·
Reduction in the spread of disease (rabies,
distemper, feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukemia) ·
Reduction of stress amongst feral/stray cat
populations resulting from fighting and pregnancy ·
Allowing feral/stray cats to live out their
natural lifespan in good health ·
Fostering of compassion in neighbourhoods ·
Reduction of costs to taxpayers and humane
societies. TNR programs are less
costly than repeated attempts at euthanization or housing of feral or stray
cats at a humane society. Who is the Cat
Action Team?
The
Cat Action Team (CAT) of Prince Edward Island (PEI) is an all-volunteer
registered charitable organization working to care for and control the feral
and stray cat population throughout the province. CAT was founded in November 2000 in Our
goals are: ·
To sustain a trap-neuter-release (TNR) program ·
To provide long-term after care to neutered feral
and stray cats by providing them with food, shelter, and medical care ·
To reduce problematic behaviour and to reduce the
threat of disease from feral and stray cats ·
To reduce the number of unadoptable stray cats
presented to the PEI Humane
Society ·
To educate the public about feral and stray cats
and the problem of cat overpopulation ·
To assist communities in the management of stray
and feral cat populations. How does the
CAT program work?
TNR Feral
or stray cats are caught using a humane box trap. Once trapped, cats are brought to a
veterinary clinic and are surgically spayed or neutered. They are also tested for disease,
vaccinated, treated for parasites, and tattooed for later recognition. In an effort to protect the health of the
stray and feral cat population, cats who test positive for feline
immunodeficiency (FIV) or feline leukemia (FeLV) are humanely
euthanized. Veterinary care is provided
by private veterinary clinics and by volunteer veterinarians and students at
the Atlantic
Veterinary College (AVC). Costs
for veterinary care at the AVC are currently funded by grants from the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre. CAT also receives a grant from the Pegasus
Family Foundation, and financial support from Pegasus for a "Five for
Fridays" Feral Cat Neuter Clinic at the AVC. CAT pays a discounted rate or approximately
$100 per cat at private clinics. IAMS recently
awarded $5,000.00 to CAT for activities at the AVC. This will be used to buy test kits for
Friday clinics. There
is currently a waiting list of over 400 cats who are waiting to go through
CAT's TNR program. Colony
Care The
Cat Action Team also operates a Colony Care Program, which goes hand-in-hand
with our TNR program. CAT is contacted
by members of the public who are concerned about stray and feral cats in
their area. An initial assessment of
the area is done to ensure that it is a safe location for the cats. However, relocation of cats is kept to a
minimum as there is usually no alternative area to place the cats. CAT then forms partnerships with those
citizens who are willing to act as "caregiver" for a group of feral
and stray cats, or a "colony."
A caregiver agrees to provide the cats with food and water daily, and
to monitor the health and numbers of the cats in the colony. In exchange, CAT provides caregivers with
supplies of cat food, and with a wooden shelter and straw bedding, if
necessary. Also, cats in the colony
are enrolled in the TNR program as soon as possible. CAT remains in contact with caregivers to
provide assistance as necessary. Other
Programs The
Cat Action Team also provides limited emergency veterinary care for stray and
feral cats who are injured or ill, and an informal adoption network for
kittens and tame adult stray cats. |
Updated 9 April 2012