A South Florida town has begun a new program aimed at curbing the spread of a growing feral cat population.
Trap-Neuter-Return, or “TNR,” is the most humane and effective method known for managing feral and stray cats and reducing their numbers.
The City of Delray Beach recently earmarked $25,000 to neuter and vaccinate cats that freely roam the area. Officials estimate there are between 7,000 and 10,000 feral cats in the city.
Polk officials believe the City of Lakeland has also 7,000 and 10,000 feral cats.
The cats, which typically live together in a group called a colony, are trapped and brought to a veterinary clinic. They’re then spayed or neutered, vaccinated for rabies where appropriate, and ear-tipped. After they’ve recovered from their surgeries, the cats are returned back to their original territory where a caretaker provides regular food and shelter. When foster or permanent homes are available, young kittens and friendly adults are removed and placed for adoption.
Female cats can bear up to three litters a year.
Left unchecked, those numbers can surge exponentially and pose a health risk to residents through diseases such as rabies.
It doesn’t take long for a small cat population to become a very large cat population.
Because the TNR cats can no longer reproduce, the colony has the potential to decline in size over time. Spaying and neutering also greatly reduce nuisance behavior. Once the cats are fixed, fighting, yowling, and other noise associated with a mating stop almost entirely. The foul odor caused by unaltered males spraying to mark territory disappears and the cats, no longer driven to mate, roam much less and become less visible. The cats themselves are healthier and less likely to spread feline diseases. Meanwhile, rodent control is maintained by the cats’ continued presence.
The Delray Beach program uses animal experts to capture stray cats and transport them to a veterinarian. After being given anesthesia, the cats will be neutered or spayed, given a rabies vaccine, and have a microchip implanted.
The whole process takes roughly an hour and the cat is returned to its original territory. The Delray Beach program is scheduled to begin in November.
When could Lakeland start a program?