Response to Wolf et al.: Furthering Debate over the Suitability of Trap-Neuter-Return for Stray Cat Management

Pet domestic cat (Felis catus) populations are increasing all around the world, resulting in an increase in contact with humans and wildlife, potentially spreading zoonotic diseases and predating on wildlife. With the recently identified rise in cat populations in remote Indigenous communities in Australia, culturally appropriate cat population management strategies are required. A systematic review process was conducted to review the current global cat population management practices that are suitable for owned, free-roaming cat populations in these communities. Eight articles on in-situ field cat populations and five studies simulating computer modelled cat populations reported results of 66 population management interventions. Surgical Sterilisation (SS) was used in all socialised owned cat articles. The trap–neuter–release (TNR) method was used most frequently on unsocialised cats and gained the best results when the trap–remove (TR) method was used concurrently to adopt out unwanted social cats and euthanise ill or injured cats. The results of this review suggest that long-term TNR/SS programs supplemented with TR provide the current most ethically sound best practice, humane method of managing cat populations in remote Australian Indigenous communities. It is also recognised that no one plan will fit all, and that further research on the micro-level techniques used to deploy both TNR and TR needs to occur, and that culturally appropriate community consultation during all processes is vital in achieving a sustainable management program.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global Strategies for Population Management of Domestic Cats (Felis catus): A Systematic Review to Inform Best Practice Management for Remote Indigenous Communities in Australia

Kennedy

Cumming²,

Brown

2020

“…The nodes that develop around authors and journals may also indicate practices for searching the literature (e.g., citation alerts for new papers by a specific author) that could contribute to the development of closed groups, reinforcing specific internal views without challenge from other interpretations. Variation in terminology is a significant issue in managing cat populations [ 31 , 74 ], which, in turn, is challenging for developing bibliometric analyses.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The breadth of international authorship shows the extent of problems with unowned cats internationally. A challenge is to evaluate robust findings that are likely to translate to many localities, as distinct from those that may have more limited regional application (e.g., see [ 30 , 31 ] cf. [ 33 ]).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since 2002, there has been a growing scientific literature on TNR, covering population turnover and size (e.g., [ 23 , 24 , 25 ]), animal health and welfare (e.g., [ 21 , 25 ]), as well as human involvement with TNR colonies (e.g., [ 26 , 27 ]). The literature has grown into one of contrasting viewpoints (e.g., [ 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ] cf. [ 32 , 33 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Evidence for Citation Networks in Studies of Free-Roaming Cats: A Case Study Using Literature on Trap–Neuter–Return (TNR)

Calver

Fleming

2020

Self Cite

Trap–Neuter–Return and its variants (hereafter TNR) aims to control unowned cat populations. Papers on this topic form a useful case study of how how an area of literature grows, papers become influential, and citation networks form, influencing future study as well as public perceptions of the science. We analysed 145 TNR studies published 2002–2019. Common topics, identified by frequently used language, were population control, interactions with wildlife, disease transmission (including implications for pets, wildlife and humans), free-roaming cats, and feral and domestic cat management. One or more papers on each of these topics was judged influential because of high citations overall, high average citations/year, or frequent mentions in social media. Open Access papers were more influential in social media, raising greater public awareness than studies published in journals that were less accessible. While divergent views exist on a range of topics, the network analysis of the TNR literature indicated potential for forming self-reinforcing groups of authors. While it is encouraging that diverse views are expressed, there is a risk of reduced dialogue interactions between groups, potentially constraining dialogue to refine arguments, share information, or plan research. Journal editors could encourage communication by choosing reviewers from different camps to assess manuscripts and by asking authors to acknowledge alternative views.

“…First, we provide more plausible and defendable explanations of key elements of the Wolf et al [ 13 ] rebuttal paper. We do not comment on their specific criticisms of the Crawford et al [ 12 ] paper, which have been dealt with in an independent response [ 14 ], rather we challenge general statements made by Wolf et al about the efficacy and ethics of TNR. Second, we respond to the assertion by Wolf et al that their response “provides contextual background for this important animal and human issue.” We address this contextual clarification by outlining underlying biological, sociological, and economic flaws in TNR logic that account for its inefficient and unethical outcomes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Reply to Wolf et al.: Why Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) Is Not an Ethical Solution for Stray Cat Management

Read

Dickman

Boardman

et al. 2020

We critique the recent article by Wolf et al. (2019) that claims scientific merit for reducing the number of stray cats in Australia through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs, and then we provide an inventory of biological, welfare, and economic reasons why TNR is less successful than adoption and euthanasia for managing unowned cats. Like Crawford et al. (2019) and multiple other comprehensive and unbiased Australian and international scientific reviews, we refute the idea that returning neutered unowned cats to stray populations has any valid role in responsible, ethical, affordable, and effective cat management, or in wildlife conservation. The main purported objective of TNR proponents along with animal welfare, human health, and wildlife advocacy stakeholders is to reduce the number of unhomed cats. We contend that cessation of provisioning unowned cats with food is the most effective approach to achieve this objective. We also present evidence from the Brisbane City Council that informed cat management policy, advocacy, and laws, backed up by responsible rehoming or prompt ethical euthanasia, are together effective at reducing the stray cat problem.