Version 1
: Received: 11 March 2024 / Approved: 11 March 2024 / Online: 14 March 2024 (05:54:52 CET)
How to cite:
Cotterell, J.L.; Rand, J.; Barnes, T.S.; Scotney, R. Impacts of a Local Government Funded Free Cat Sterilization Program for Owned and Semi-owned Cats. Preprints2024, 2024030588. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202403.0588.v1
Cotterell, J.L.; Rand, J.; Barnes, T.S.; Scotney, R. Impacts of a Local Government Funded Free Cat Sterilization Program for Owned and Semi-owned Cats. Preprints 2024, 2024030588. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202403.0588.v1
Cotterell, J.L.; Rand, J.; Barnes, T.S.; Scotney, R. Impacts of a Local Government Funded Free Cat Sterilization Program for Owned and Semi-owned Cats. Preprints2024, 2024030588. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202403.0588.v1
APA Style
Cotterell, J.L., Rand, J., Barnes, T.S., & Scotney, R. (2024). Impacts of a Local Government Funded Free Cat Sterilization Program for Owned and Semi-owned Cats. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202403.0588.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Cotterell, J.L., Tamsin S. Barnes and Rebekah Scotney. 2024 "Impacts of a Local Government Funded Free Cat Sterilization Program for Owned and Semi-owned Cats" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202403.0588.v1
Abstract
In Australia, traditional methods of cat management by local government (councils) animal management officers (AMO) have been ineffective, with cat-related calls and cat impoundments continuing to increase, resulting in many healthy cats being euthanized. This has detrimental effects on the mental health of AMOs, pound and shelter staff and veterinarians. The City of Banyule, Victoria implemented a free cat sterilization, microchipping and registration (licensing) program in 2013-14. Initially targeted to three low socioeconomic suburbs with the highest cat-related calls and intake, where enforcement action had little effect. An average of 4.1 cats/1000 residents per year were sterilized over eight years. The program was available to all cats in the area, including stray cats being fed by caregivers, provided they took ownership of the cats. There were no limitations on the number of cats enrolled per household and free transport was provided if required. The program was later expanded city-wide. Over eight years, city-wide cat intake decreased by 66%, euthanasia by 82%, with an increase in proportion of cats reclaimed by owners from a baseline of 6% of intake (2012-13) to 16% (2020-21). Cat-related calls decreased in the target area by 51% and city-wide by 36%. The council’s financial outlay was $84,000, which resulted in decreased costs as-sociated with cat-related calls of $266,225.00. Instead of traditional trap-adopt- kill, proactive management of urban cats based on targeted sterilization should be utilized by government and animal welfare agencies in Australia and internationally. These types of programs are effective at reducing intake and euthanasia and are cost-effective.
Keywords
sterilization program; cats; animal management Australia; one welfare; local government; animal welfare
Subject
Biology and Life Sciences, Animal Science, Veterinary Science and Zoology
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
