Scott Loss, Tom Will and Peter Marra reviewed a number of
studies, some of them conducted in the 1930s and 1950s, upon which they based
their conclusions. They did not conduct
an independent study of their own to arrive at their new figures. For a detailed dissection of this latest
hatchet job I recommend you visit Peter Wolf’s blog, Vox Felina, aptly titled Garbage In, Garbage Out.
No one has any idea how many feral and free roaming cats are
“out there” at any given time. There has
been no census or population count done – PERIOD! Logically, the numbers rise and fall,
depending upon time of year (can we say KITTEN SEASON, anyone?) and
environment/habitat. Cats who have homes
may be strictly indoors only, allowed outdoors either supervised or not
supervised for varying lengths of time and some are outdoor only. A couple of studies have surveyed small
groups of cat owners about their habits concerning whether or not they allow
their cats to go outside.
None of the studies have taken into account the ages of the cats in their study, or whether or not the cats have been spayed or neutered. In my experience both of these factors are extremely important. Neither has any study asked about the cats’ histories. Did they come into the home as a kitten or an adult? How was the cat acquired? Was the cat an outdoor cat, rescued off the street? At what age did that happen? Was their mother an outdoor cat? Did she hunt prey and teach her kittens to do the same?
None of the studies have taken into account the ages of the cats in their study, or whether or not the cats have been spayed or neutered. In my experience both of these factors are extremely important. Neither has any study asked about the cats’ histories. Did they come into the home as a kitten or an adult? How was the cat acquired? Was the cat an outdoor cat, rescued off the street? At what age did that happen? Was their mother an outdoor cat? Did she hunt prey and teach her kittens to do the same?
Biologists know that orphaned mammals who are raised in
captivity from an early age do not fare well if released into their natural
habitat. Mammals have less inherent (instinctual)
behaviors than fish, birds, amphibians and reptiles. Young mammals have to be taught by their
mothers where to find or how to catch prey, where to find shelter and safety
among other things. While all cats are
carnivores and predators, they aren’t born knowing how to hunt, only with the
instinct to hunt.
One need only observe lion cubs at play and then observe kittens at play to see the similarities between them. Mother flicks her tail, whether she is a lioness or a domestic cat, and the kittens chase and try to catch it. The cubs and kittens naturally stalk each other and pounce on their littermates in play. This play behavior mimics hunting behavior. However, neither the cubs nor the kittens go for the kill. Big cats, like tigers or lions, will bring a live but injured prey animal back to their dens to teach the young to kill their prey. Often times the young ones simply “play” with the prey animal and their mother has to actually kill her offering. The cubs of big cats generally stay with their mother for about two years until they are capable of surviving on their own.
Another point often overlooked by biologists in their
studies, usually because they haven’t witnessed “the hunt” from beginning to end,
is what condition was the prey animal in when the hunt began. In most cases, predators take down the weak,
sick, injured, old or young of their prey species. If you have ever watched a nature film, you
will see that the stragglers in a group of herd animals are the ones singled
out as the target animal. Why would
domestic cats who hunt behave any differently?
Also, in the nature films you will witness that the hunt isn’t always
successful and their prey escapes. Logic
would dictate the same outcome for the success of the domestic cat’s hunting
forays.
Seasoned, older hunters are generally more successful than
younger, inexperienced hunters – of any species, including humans. Additionally, older predators are not as
successful as they once were. They are
less likely to hunt as frequently, possibly due to injuries or they just aren’t
as fast as they once were. Wild animals
MUST hunt and kill to eat. Domestic cats
live in an environment where food is much easier to get. We humans leave trash everywhere, whether it
is in dumpsters, construction sites, the side of the road or our garbage
cans. It doesn’t take a lot of energy or
skill to scavenge in our trash filled world.
Intact – unspayed females – who live their lives outdoors
are generally pregnant or nursing a litter of kittens. They have a greater need for food than do
male cats or spayed females. Spaying females
will greatly decrease the amount of food they need to survive and, consequently,
reduce their need to hunt as much. Male
felines, whether big cats or domestic cats, who are not neutered will travel
great distances in search of a mate.
They can smell a female in heat from miles away. During mating season male cats will forego food
for longer periods of time simply for the chance to mate and pass on their
genes. Unneutered male cats have been
known to kill a litter of kittens to bring on estrus in the lactating
female. Once a male cat is neutered he
wanders less and tends to stay close to his regular food source.
Opponents of Trap/Neuter/Return (or just cats in general) like
to say that even well fed cats will hunt.
I don’t doubt that some of them do.
However, no one knows what percentage of outdoor cats are prolific,
successful hunters. Since stalking,
hunting and killing prey expends an enormous amount of energy, it’s unlikely
that cats, as they age, who have a regular food source provided will expend
that energy to hunt. Although it’s
anecdotal, my experience with the outdoor cats in my neighborhood over the
years shows little or no interest in the birds, squirrels or lizards around
them. Any outdoor cats I’ve observed
have been spayed or neutered. They spend
their days lying around with full tummies.
They remind me of those husbands who plant themselves in their recliners
with their remote in front of the television and holler to their wives “Honey,
bring me a beer.” Why get up when
someone else will bring you what you need?
Are there too many cats living outdoors and struggling
to survive? YES! Cities and counties have spent millions and
millions of dollars picking up and killing millions and millions of cats, yet
there are still lots and lots of cats out there. As I see it, there are two factors at work
here. One, human irresponsibility –
people continue to abandon cats, most of whom have not been sterilized. Two – as with any species, when there is less
competition for the food supply, more young are born. Biologists are well aware of the term
carrying capacity. As long as there is
an abundant food source the number of individuals of a species will continue to
reproduce and a higher percentage of their offspring will survive to
adulthood. There will be less disease
simply because there are fewer contacts with individuals of the same
species. As the food supply diminishes, fecundity is reduced,
more of the young die before adulthood and disease can spread more easily
through the species.
As long as researchers refuse to use the same parameters
used when studying wild and/or native species when they study outdoor cats they
will reach the wrong conclusions.
Additionally, by refusing to listen to the experts – the people on the
ground, practicing Trap/Neuter/Return – they will lack the necessary
information to insure they reach accurate and reasonable conclusions.
One final note, again something that seems to always be absent in these studies that oppose TNR – not every cat is returned to the site where they were trapped. Most individuals or groups that practice TNR do their best to find responsible homes for the friendly adults and the kittens. These cats are REMOVED from the outdoors and live in permanent homes. All of the rescue groups that I have worked with include in their adoption agreements that the cat adopted will be an INDOOR CAT.
