A discrete-time bioeconomic model of free-roaming cat management: A case study in Knox County, Tennessee

Thompson, Brielle K.; Sims, Charles; Fisher, Teresa; Brock, Sarah; Dai, Yi; Lenhart, Suzanne

doi:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2022.107583

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…Studies in Brooklyn, New York, and Rome, Italy suggest that semi-owners, feral cat feeders, who intentionally provide food or other benevolent actions for the health and fitness of cats, contribute toward the overpopulation of cats in urban environments (33,34). A similar conclusion was put forward in a recent study in Tennessee, where authors concluded that the people feeding the cats needed to be persuaded to provide less food, otherwise some cats would need to be euthanized (35).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Attitudes and practices toward feral cats of male and female dog or cat owners and non-owners in Seoul, South Korea

Kim,

Kenyon,

Cheong

et al. 2023

Front. Vet. Sci.

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The number of pet cats in South Korea has sharply increased since 2010. Problems have arisen with feral or stray cats, creating conflict among residents, to such an extent that the government provides some sites for people to offer feeding stations for the stray cats. This study investigated hypotheses on people’s attitudes toward feral cats in Seoul, South Korea: (i) dog and cat owners would show more positive attitudes than non-owners toward feral cats; (ii) females would have more positive attitudes toward feral cats than males; (iii) the number of Seoul-provided feeding stations by district would be correlated with people’s positive attitudes toward feral cats. Responses from 7,394 participants were used for the final analyses with 3,179 males, 3,607 females, and 599 others (includes “decline to state”). Cat owners reported more extremely positive attitudes toward feral cats than people who had no cats. Females more often had cats than males, and they were more extremely positive toward pet and feral cats than males, and strongly opposed to culling as a management strategy. The attitudes toward feral cats of people with only dogs were intermediate between people with cats and people without pets, more resembling those of people without pets. There was a correlation between the number of city-provided feeding stations and people’s attitudes toward feral cats, but only in the areas with at least 40 feeder stations; having many city-provided feeding stations was associated with very negative attitudes to feral cats. Whether the very large number of feeding stations were provided in the two neighborhoods due to a previously excessive number of feral cats in those neighborhoods, vs. those feeding stations attracting or provisioning an ever-growing number of feral cats, is unknown. These results show sharp differences in attitudes between cat owners and non-owners, and between males and females. Results resemble findings in other studies, perhaps with more extreme differences between sub-groups. The study revealed that attitudes toward pet and feral cats in Seoul were complex and varied with pet ownership, with sex, and with neighborhood context.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Attitudes and practices toward feral cats of male and female dog or cat owners and non-owners in Seoul, South Korea

Kim,

Kenyon,

Cheong

et al. 2023

Front. Vet. Sci.

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“…The level of perceived ownership appears to have little impact on the strength of the human-animal bond and the associated benefits. Furthermore, the value individuals place on free-roaming cats may improve the case for the cost-effectiveness of a free sterilization program [52]. These findings are important when considering animal management strategies, because the killing of the cats being cared for by multi-cat carers has been shown to have long-term adverse psychological impacts due to the sudden severing of this strong bond [19].…”

Section: Relationship With Catsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These findings are important when considering animal management strategies, because the killing of the cats being cared for by multi-cat carers has been shown to have long-term adverse psychological impacts due to the sudden severing of this strong bond [19]. Therefore, when estimating the economic case for urban cat management, the value that individuals place on free-roaming cats is important to consider [52], as well as the cost of severing that bond.…”

Section: Relationship With Catsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solutions-Based Approach to Urban Cat Management—Case Studies of a One Welfare Approach to Urban Cat Management

Crawford,

Rand,

Rohlf

et al. 2023

Animals

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Urban free-roaming cats create concern about their impacts on wildlife and human health, leading to the use of trap–adopt–kill methods to manage these populations. This method is ineffective at decreasing the free-roaming cat population and has a negative impact on cat caregivers’ well-being. Using semi-structured interviews, this study explored the relationship that semi-owners (people who feed cats but do not perceive ownership) and owners of multiple cats have with the cats they care for, and the social and psychological impacts of an alternative assistive-centered approach to urban cat management. This approach to semi-owned and owned cats provided free sterilization and preventative healthcare. Our findings demonstrate that the caregivers had a strong emotional bond with the cats they cared for. The caregivers also experienced a positive impact on their quality of life, and indicated an improvement in the cats’ welfare after having the cats sterilized through this program. Additionally, the cat caregivers indicated that they had a negative view of agencies, such as the municipal council. It is recommended that an assistive-centered approach to urban cat management be prioritized by local councils and welfare agencies to improve caregivers’ quality of life and psychological well-being, whilst also improving cat welfare. The implementation of this assistive-centered management approach could improve the relationship between communities and the agencies involved, leading to the continuous reporting of free-roaming cats for sterilization. This assistive-centered approach has the potential to reduce the free-roaming cat population, their effects on wildlife, nuisance complaints, and council impoundments, and is aligned with the One Welfare philosophy.

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“…Thus, in locations with high rates of cat abandonment, like in Spain, which has the highest figure of cat abandonment in Europe (Crespo, 2021; Fatjó et al, 2015), implementing measures to reduce cat abandonment is key for the success of cat management programs. Depending on the context and intensity, the effectiveness of different cat management methods can vary (Benka et al, 2022; Schmidt et al, 2009; Thompson et al, 2022). The context in small islands with low numbers of cats (Nogales et al, 2004) is very different to that of large mainland cities with high numbers of cats (Gunther et al, 2022), so it is not correct to compare the effectiveness and costs of the same management method in these two different contexts as Carrete et al (2022) do to criticize trap‐neuter‐return (TNR) programs.…”

Section: Cat Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Culling programs can also be ineffective (Lazenby et al, 2014; Palmas et al, 2020) and there are numerous cases in which TNR programs have been successful, especially those involving animal shelters and animal adoption (Benka et al, 2022; Meijer, 2021; Natoli et al, 2019; Spehar & Wolf, 2017). Even if only cost‐effectiveness is taken into account when evaluating the success of cat management programs, whether one method is more effective than another in one location may depend on particular factors, such as the cat caretaker's cooperation (Thompson et al, 2022). Regardless of the management method, there must be sufficient intensity for it to be effective (Benka et al, 2022; Boone et al, 2019; Schmidt et al, 2009).…”

Section: Cat Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impacts of free‐roaming cats cannot be generalized and their role in rodent management should not be overlooked

Badenes‐Pérez

2022

Conservat Sci and Prac

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Cats, Felis catus L. (Carnivora: Felidae), were domesticated because of their role in rodent control around human settlements. Free-roaming cats (henceforth, referred to as "cats") can predate on a wide variety of small-to mediumsized animals and affect biodiversity. The impact of cats on biodiversity varies from country to country, region to region, and habitat to habitat. Depending on the location and context, the overall impact of cats on biodiversity can be negative, neutral, or positive. Management of cats should take into account the complex interactions that occur between cats, rodents, and the species they prey upon.

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A discrete-time bioeconomic model of free-roaming cat management: A case study in Knox County, Tennessee

Cited by 4 publications

References 43 publications

Attitudes and practices toward feral cats of male and female dog or cat owners and non-owners in Seoul, South Korea

Attitudes and practices toward feral cats of male and female dog or cat owners and non-owners in Seoul, South Korea

Solutions-Based Approach to Urban Cat Management—Case Studies of a One Welfare Approach to Urban Cat Management

The impacts of free‐roaming cats cannot be generalized and their role in rodent management should not be overlooked

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