Feral cat management

Authors

Christopher A. Lepcyzk, University of Hawaii
Sheila Conant, University of Hawaii
David Duffy, University of Hawaii
David M. Bird, McGill University
Michael Calver, Murdoch University
Fern P. Duval
Michael Hutchins
Cheryl A. Lohr
Kerrie Anne Loyd, Arizona State University
Peter P. Marra
William C. PittFollow
Grant Sizemore
Rachel Sprague
Stanley A. Temple, University oj Wisconsin-Madison
Yolanda van Heezik, University of Otago
George Wallace, American Bird Conservancy

Date of this Version

2013

Citation

Lepczyk, C.A., S. Conant, D. Duffy, D.M. Bird, M.Calver, F.P. Duval, M. Hutchins, C.A. Lohr, K.A. Loyd, P.P. Marra, W.C. Pitt, G. Sizemore, R. Sprague, S.A. Temple, Y. Van Heezik, and G. Wallace. 2013. Feral cat management (Letter). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 243(10):1391-1392. doi: 10.2460/javma 243:10:1391.

Comments

U.S. government work.

Abstract

We applaud McCarthy et al for their research addressing a critical issue in feral cat management. We concur that feral and free-roaming cats pose myriad problems for people and the environment. However, we believe that the authors overlooked several important factors when concluding that trap-vasectomy- hysterectomy-release (IVHR) "should be recommended as a humane and more effective method of decreasing population size."

First, the population model used in the study does not represent a typical managed feral cat colony. Inclusion of self-imposed restraints on colony size attributable to a hypothetical carrying capacity restricts the population from reacting naturally to resources or control efforts. The model's lack of immigration and emigration restricts its application solely to small island situations. Likewise, the model does not appear to account for recapture of animals already treated in the population.