Group Releases Results of National Feral Cat Survey

Via The Sacramento Bee - Since 1990 the mass killing of feral cats has become unpopular as nonlethal methods of control have shown a better, more effective way to control feral cat colonies.

Alley Cat Rescue (ACR) recently conducted a national survey of feral cats groups and according to ACR's President and Founder, Louise Holton: "This survey proves that Trap Neuter Return (TNR) works and that many groups and individuals volunteer their own time and their own money to control and stabilize the nation's feral cat population."

Over 600 surveys were mailed and 120 groups in 37 states responded. Some interesting facts that came from the survey:

• Most feral cat groups provide spay/neuter services to "owned" cats as well as offering TNR services for ferals. 
• Most (96%) of TNR groups practice neuter-before-adoption for the stray cats they place in homes. 
• One quarter of the groups report that their colony cats are 6 to 8 years old. Thirty-five percent report their cats are between 9 and 12 years old, and over 14% report feral cats 13 years old and older. 
• Most (96%) of the groups provide rabies vaccinations to feral cats; 64% provide distemper; 11.76% provide feline leukemia shots; 62.18% deworm feral cats; 63.87% provide flea treatment. 
• One third reported that there were 26 to 30 kittens in each colony before TNR; 42.86% said there were 0-5 kittens in colonies after TNR. 

Conclusion: Louise Holton who helped pioneer TNR had this to say: "We have come a long way since I started on this mission to promote TNR in 1990. Back then there were only a handful of forward-thinking groups and individuals working on implementing TNR in America. Today ACR found nearly 700 groups and we will be working on identifying more in the future."

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