Estimating free-roaming cat populations and the effects of one year Trap-Neuter-Return management effort in a highly urban area

Kilgour, R. Julia; Magle, Seth B.; Slater, Margaret R.; Christian, A.; Weiss, Emily; DiTullio, Marco R.

doi:10.1007/s11252-016-0583-8

Cited by 38 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Interventional observation using friendly vocalization resulted in significantly higher counts per km (by 79%) of detected FRC than for noninterventional observation, but did not alter the estimated percentage of neutered cats. These findings expand those of Kilgour et al (), who demonstrated that sightability (observing without intervention) is not affected by sterilization. Observations accompanied by food delivery were associated with a further higher number of detected cats (24%–28%), compared to the use of vocalization alone, but, again, this did not alter the estimated percentage of neutered cats.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…For long‐term use and in highly dense populations, these methods require intensive professional effort and may suffer from interference in their fundamental assumptions. Such interference in the capture–mark–recapture method can result from loss of marks, due to high population turnover (Belo, Werneck, Silva, Barbosa, & Struchiner, ; Gunther, Finkler, & Terkel, ; Kilgour et al, 2017), as well as from uneven probabilities of capturing different individuals due to differences in their habituation to humans. Interference in the distance sampling method can result from obstructed visibility; obstacles on side roads/alleyways that limit strait line transects to main roads only; an FRC density that is not constant but in patches; and a highly heterogenic architecture in the same neighborhood, necessitating multiple sampling. Studies aimed at examining behavior, individual characteristics, and home range of FRCs, with present population size constituting a secondary outcome.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An accessible scheme for monitoring free‐roaming cat population trends

Gunther

Azriel

Wolf

et al. 2020

Ecology and Evolution

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Free‐roaming cats (FRCs) form nondomiciliary population groups that might lead to adverse environmental effects, as well as to welfare impairment of the cats themselves. Though criticized by ecologists, for the last two decades, the trap–neuter–return (TNR) programs were often employed aiming to manage these populations. At present, no accepted and accessible monitoring scheme exists to determine the effectiveness of those programs. In the current study, we present the reliability and validity of an applicable monitoring scheme, as an adjunct tool for a TNR program of FRC in an urban environment. The monitoring scheme is based on cat observation counts along randomly chosen transects. Fifty‐four transects were repeatedly walked for three years, between 2012‐2014, in 27 neighborhoods within an urban area of 19.3 Km2. Cat numbers counted in the 2014 observations were significantly higher than cat numbers found in the 2012 observations (prevalence ratio = 1.258, CI95%= 1.198–1.322, p < 0.001). The method revealed high reliability when different observers and different transects in the same neighborhood were compared (R2 = 0.548 and R2 = 0.391, respectively, for measuring cat counts per km, p < 0.001; and R2 = 0.5 and R2 = 0.74, respectively, for measuring neutering percentage, p < 0.001). This scheme was constructively validated by measurements of municipal data on the number of neutered cats and demonstrated high correlation (R2 = 0.59, p < 0.001). Conducting cat observations using friendly calling and feeding resulted in an increased number of FRC observed per km walk (by 79% and 22%–30%, respectively). However, these manipulations did not alter the recorded percentage of neutered cats. The proposed scheme provides spatio‐temporal data that can contribute to the management programs of such cat metapopulations in an urban environment.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An accessible scheme for monitoring free‐roaming cat population trends

Gunther

Azriel

Wolf

et al. 2020

Ecology and Evolution

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“…The neologism, ''cat mom,'' refers to people who voluntarily feed or take care of street cats. Recently, an increase in community cat populations started causing problems, including community cat welfare issues, nuisance behaviors, and public health concerns (Kilgour et al, 2017;South Korean Ministry of agriculture, food and rural affairs, 2018;Van et al, 2019). To reduce the population of community cats, a humane population control strategy known as trap-neuter-return (TNR) was introduced in 2008.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several countries have modified the TNR strategy to focus on specific areas with larger feline populations, and implemented intensive sterilization with the goal of expanding TNR programs into surrounding areas (Nutter, 2006;Mendes-de Almeida et al, 2011;Johnson & Cicirelli, 2014;Spehar & Wolf, 2018;Zito et al, 2018). This targeted, high-impact TNR intervention is more effective than sporadic TNR in reducing the community cat population (Kortis, 2014;Levy, Isaza & Scott, 2014;Kilgour et al, 2017). However, there are no high-quality, high-volume spay-neuter (HQHVSN) clinics in Korea, and there is a lack of experience in adopting high-impact TNR methods.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of a high-quality, high-volume trap–neuter–return model of community cats in Seoul, Korea

Cho

Kim²,

Kim

et al. 2020

PeerJ

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Background This study was performed to determine the characteristics of community cats that were admitted to trap–neuter–return(TNR) programs and the feasibility of the high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter (HQHVSN) model in Seoul, Korea. Methods TNR programs were performed eight times from 2017 to 2018, and a total of 375 community cats from the pilot areas were admitted. The pilot areas were selected regions wherein caregivers voluntarily participated in our TNR program. Each cat was anesthetized, assessed for health status, sterilized, vaccinated against feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia (FVR-CP), and rabies, and treated with insecticide after surgery. The time from anesthesia to recovery was evaluated to verify the efficiency of surgical time of the program. The TNR program at a local animal hospital and the program in this study were compared to assess the veterinary treatment administered and the cost for each cat. Results A total of 375 cats were underwent TNR in this study, including 192 (51.2%) intact females, 180 (48%) intact males, and three (0.8%) sterilized cats. Following surgery, 372 cats (99.2%) were returned to their original locations. Three cats (0.8%) died postoperatively. On average, 21.9% of the cats were pregnant during the TNRs, and the highest percentage of cats (63.9%) were pregnant in March. All cats presented to the TNR program were considered healthy enough to be part of the program after examination. For neutering one animal at a time, similar to conventional TNR ($140), it took 53 ± 16 mins for females and 30 ± 9 mins for males from anesthesia to recovery. In contrast, the standardized procedure can neuter multiple cats simultaneously, similar to the conveyor system, at an estimated rate of 6.8 mins per cat ($45 per female cat, $30 per male cat). Conclusions The TNR strategy in Seoul should be implemented by establishing dedicated clinics to concentrate on HQHVSN surgeries of cats. Through this pilot study, we were able to demonstrate that it is possible to effectively apply HQHVSN clinics in Korea. Future studies that perform intensive sterilization in targeted areas are necessary to confirm the efficacy of the TNR strategy.

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“…Free‐roaming domestic cats play a critical role in environmental contamination with T. gondii oocysts (Gotteland et al, ; Simon et al, ; VanWormer et al, ). Cat colonies are often found in areas with high contact with people and where access to food sources are greater (Kilgour et al, ; Schmidt, Lopez, & Colliter, ), such as parks, playgrounds and community gardens. Supplemental feeding of cats may alter T. gondii transmission by changing cat distribution, demographics and exposure to infected prey (Schmidt et al, ; VanWormer et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal and spatial variation in Toxoplasma gondii contamination in soil in urban public spaces in California, United States

Wit

Kilpatrick

VanWormer

et al. 2019

Zoonoses and Public Health

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Background: Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite that can have severe implications for human health. Acutely infected cats shed environmentally resistant T. gondii oocysts in their faeces that contaminate soil, and soil can serve as a reservoir of infection for humans. Free-roaming domestic cats are thought to play an important role in environmental contamination with T. gondii, but few studies have directly measured the direct contribution of free-roaming cats to T. gondii in soil. Methods:Our goals were to determine whether T. gondii soil contamination occurs in public areas with free-roaming cat colonies in central California and examine spatial and temporal variation in soil contamination. We initially performed spiking experiments to compare the limit of T. gondii detection in soil using three conventional nested PCR assays and one real-time quantitative PCR. The nested PCR targeting the internal transcribed spacer (ITS-1) of the small subunit ribosomal RNA was the most sensitive assay, with a limit of detection between 20 and 200 oocysts per gram of soil. We applied the ITS1 PCR assay on soil from sites in city and state parks, public playgrounds and community gardens in central California, USA. Samples were collected during spring, summer and fall and in sites located along the coast and inland. Results:We detected and sequence-confirmed T. gondii in 5.6% of all of our soil subsamples, but with large seasonal and spatial variation in soil contamination: we only detected T. gondii during fall and only in coastal sites (44.3% soil prevalence), despite similar sampling intensity across space and time. Conclusions:Our results suggest that free-roaming cat colonies are an important source of T. gondii in spaces where people recreate and grow food and that soil contamination is highly seasonal and spatially variable. Management of free-roaming cats could prevent T. gondii infections by reducing environmental contamination with this zoonotic pathogen. K E Y W O R D Sfree-roaming cats, management, molecular detection, public health, sea otters | 71 de WIT eT al.

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Estimating free-roaming cat populations and the effects of one year Trap-Neuter-Return management effort in a highly urban area

Cited by 38 publications

References 47 publications

An accessible scheme for monitoring free‐roaming cat population trends

An accessible scheme for monitoring free‐roaming cat population trends

Application of a high-quality, high-volume trap–neuter–return model of community cats in Seoul, Korea

Seasonal and spatial variation in Toxoplasma gondii contamination in soil in urban public spaces in California, United States

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