• Legislative Alerts
• Feature Legislative Article
• Animal Legislation Articles
• Is new pet legislation proposed in your area?

LEGISLATIVE ALERTS

Feral Cat "Trap/Neuter/Return" is Under Siege
Part One

This article is available in a PDF format

A review of TNR development in the United States

. On January 5, 2010 a final court injunction was issued. This judgment prohibits the City of Los Angeles from assisting feral cats through its support of trap/neuter/return (TNR). The decision was a shock to many people all around the country who believe TNR is the best solution for feral cats in the United States today. These cats are domestic by ancestry but completely unsocial. They cannot be touched, must be trapped and are not suited as pets in a home. In rural areas where they hunt, and are also prey for other animals, their lifestyle is similar to that of wildlife. Other feral cats are inter-dependent with humans. Though not social, they gravitate to farms or live within industrial parks. They scrounge for food in urban alleys, vacant buildings and in suburban residential neighborhoods. Feral females produce two or three litters per year and citizens often take the kittens to their local shelters. Usually the sire and dam go on to produce another litter and the population continues to increase. Feral cats and their offspring make up a large percentage of cats euthanized in shelters¹. Stopping the reproduction is the main goal of TNR. Once an entire colony is trapped, vaccinated and sterilized the cats are then returned to their familiar neighborhood where caregivers provide food daily. They monitor the colony for any signs of illness and for newcomers. Any cats suited for homes are placed with groups for adoption. Gradually the colony size is reduced through attrition (death by old age). Numerous individuals and organizations have worked for over 30 years to promote TNR in the United States as the most humane way to manage the numbers of free-roaming/unowned/feral cats.

The superior court judge determined that the City of Los Angeles and Department of Animal Services have been promoting TNR without first conducting a review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The ruling does not stop private citizens and rescue organizations from carrying out TNR activities. But the most serious impact of the decision is that the discount coupons/vouchers for spay/neuter of feral cats, which the City has issued since 1991, are no longer allowed. City animal shelters are barred from providing information about and referrals to Trap/Neuter/Return groups. Developing or providing literature about TNR or outreach to educate the public on services available for feral cats is no longer possible. Shelters are usually the first place a citizen thinks to call when they want help with free-roaming cats. The City cannot refuse to issue traps to capture nuisance feral cats or refuse to accept these cats for impoundment.

In June 2005 the Los Angeles Board of Animal Services Commissioners adopted TNR as the "preferred method of dealing with feral cat populations". According to the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, led by Urban Wildlands Group² with the LA Audubon Society, the American Bird Conservancy and others, the City should not promote TNR before compliance with the CEQA. The injunction requires a full scientific review with assessment of alternatives and potential mitigation³.

This court decision represents a much broader setback for those who trap and care for feral cats in this City and elsewhere. It could escalate the ongoing battle everywhere between advocates for non-lethal treatment of feral cats and those who prefer eradication of these cats or placement in expensive impractical sanctuaries. Arguments for the advantages of TNR have consistently been slanted toward the welfare of cats. The wildlife and bird advocates aggressively challenge TNR and criticize this method as an ineffective form of management from an environmental perspective. They blame cats for endangering wildlife whereas other studies show there are many other factors responsible. A critical analysis of the Urban Wildlands Group's Assessment article has recently been prepared with points to counter their claims⁴.

The Cat Fanciers' Association for many years has supported the concept of TNR as the most humane and effective way to reduce the numbers of cats who otherwise mate unchecked.

This newest bird versus cat dispute warrants a review of the history of trap/neuter/return development. New studies and more arguments will be needed to reconfirm TNR strategy as the best way to reduce free-roaming cat populations in order to benefit both cats and wildlife. The Cat Fanciers' Association for many years has supported the concept of TNR as the most humane and effective way to reduce the numbers of cats who otherwise mate unchecked. CFA's board of directors formally endorsed TNR in 1998⁵.

Domestic cats are by no means a recently introduced "invasive species". In every community there have been free-roaming/unowned/feral feline populations for decades. Cats have a long history of being "free spirits" ever since they arrived in America with the Pilgrims on ships in the mid 1600s⁶. They were valued in the earliest settlements for their ability to hunt rodents to protect crops and grain. They are still appreciated in many areas as working cats who keep the rats and other vermin under control. Rats carry diseases and also kill ground nesting birds and other wildlife.

Surveys show from 8% to 26% of households in the United States feed cats they do not own at their doorstep yet very few take steps to alter these cats⁷. Most do not know where to turn for help with trapping or cannot afford the expense of sterilization. Many attempts have been made to "catch and kill" unwanted feral cats and they have all failed. TNR now has the support of most communities as the humane approach for cats. When colonies of cats diminish due to attrition, TNR benefits the birds and other wildlife.

Free-roaming/unowned/feral cats readily mate with each other, with intact abandoned strays and pet cats who accidently go outside. Wherever there is a food source the cats will form colonies whether 3 or 4 in a backyard or 200 on a college campus. Shelters in every community take in thousands of kittens produced by the unintended matings of these cats every year. Adults considered "nuisance" animals are also trapped and brought to animal services. Unless there are rescue groups willing to take the cats or "baby bottle" foster homes able to care for and socialize the kittens, feral cats contribute greatly to the number of cats killed in shelters.

The concept of trap/neuter/return began in England and Denmark in the early 1970s. Other countries, such as South Africa and Australia, have used TNR for many years. In the United States individuals began to cooperate with willing veterinarians to develop small grassroots efforts. AnnaBell Washburn in 1980 established an animal shelter on Martha's Vineyard to help the colonies of cats formed when animals were left behind after the summer. She attended a conference in Boston and heard Dr. Peter Neville, veterinarian and author from Great Britain, give a presentation on TNR in England. Inspired, she established PAWS (Pet Adoption and Welfare Service) and began the first known TNR program in America in the mid 1980s.

Recognition of the huge numbers of feral cats in the US can be attributed to the first publication of Maverick Cats, by Ellen Perry Berkeley in 1982. By 1984 a paper by Dr. Peter Neville and Jennifer Remfry describing the success of neutering and returning cats to a site in London opened the eyes of many in this country searching for a solution. One of the first organized strategies to manage homeless cats was the Stanford Cat Network, which remains a national model. In 1989 a comprehensive program of TNR was implemented on the Stanford University campus in California. The number of cats has steadily declined from approximately 1500 at the program's inception to less than 200 through adoption of social strays and natural attrition.

Alley Cat Allies, founded in 1990, introduced spaying and neutering of entire cat colonies with TNR in the United States based on the methods successfully developed in England, South Africa and Denmark. Starting with cats in the Washington, DC, area, this organization today is the primary national resource for information on TNR and an active advocate for stray and feral cats⁸.

Another early model program was the San Diego Feral Cat Coalition. In early 1992 as part of a community summit led by the San Diego Humane Society, feral cat caregivers, cat fanciers, rescuers and others got together to deal with the free-roaming cat problem. After years of individuals working to trap feral cats and sterilize them one at the time the groups were frustrated that the remaining cats kept reproducing. The area shelters continued to impound and euthanize cats at a rate that was increasing by 10% every year. An organized program was developed, funds raised, traps purchased and veterinarians involved. The first spay/neuter clinic was held in November 1992. Now FCC has "trap depots" in several areas with over 200 traps available for loan. They instruct a growing number of caregivers and through active involvement in TNR and, with volunteer veterinarians providing sterilization at FCC clinics, this group has prevented thousands of cats from being born. After only two years from inception of the program in 1992 the number of cats brought in to shelters dropped by over 35% and euthanasia of cats dropped 40% with an estimated cost savings of almost $800,000⁹.

In 1996 the first major national attempt to address the huge problem of feral cats in the United States was co-sponsored by The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) and American Humane Association in Denver. The scientific workshop on free-roaming/unowned/feral cats included presentations from many organizations to examine the merits of trap/neuter/return (TNR) and other options. Wildlife advocates were included. Until that time awareness of TNR among individuals and small volunteer groups had developed in parts of the Country but there was little national assessment of this approach. After the workshop there was new consensus and direction. Groups have continued to develop strategies to reduce feral cat numbers as well as find ways to avoid locating colonies near sensitive wildlife areas.

Neighborhood Cats was started in 1999 in Manhattan by a three neighbors concerned with the numbers of feral cats in their upper West Side area. Over the next few years, the TNR movement in New York City grew rapidly. This is a highly professional group that provides training workshops on a regular basis. Experienced trappers help newcomers and Neighborhood Cats works with shelters and animal organizations to encourage more resources so more feral cats are spayed/neutered.

TNR remains a volunteer activity without much government support. There are progressive shelters who support non-lethal feral cat management and cooperate with nonprofit groups. In some communities, like Orange County, Florida, citizens can call animal services and receive information about free feral cat spay/neuter services. However, in general the sheltering community has remained somewhat negative toward TNR and information is not widely available for the public. Caregivers are frustrated with local humane societies because of their lack of guidance and assistance. This is fortunately starting to change.

By Joan Miller
CFA Legislative Information Liaison
Fanc-e-Mews - September 1, 2010

Part Two will review attitudes concerning TNR by some of the animal welfare organizations and others and the challenge of addressing environmental objections raised by the Los Angeles court action.

Is new pet legislation proposed in your area?

Often what might appear on the surface to be a good law in principle, can be disastrous because of unintended consequences.

If you should become aware of any pending changes in local pet law or a newly proposed ordinance, please let us know at legislation@cfa.org. We can analyze these proposals and provide information to your local animal control jurisdiction. Often what might appear on the surface to be a good law in principle, can be disastrous because of poor wording or because of unintended consequences that have not been sufficiently thought out.

What you HEAR could be important! Anti-breeding, pet limit laws or other legislation could come to your city, county or state. If you hear of impending legislation of this nature, in your area, contact CFA.