As a veterinarian who has spent the last two decades researching, and advocating for, the humane treatment of feral and free-roaming cats, known more broadly as community cats, I was glad to see the opinion piece in the Lakeland Gazette on May 9th.[1] I feel compelled to comment in order to keep the dialogue going, as well as add an evidence-based perspective.
There is substantial, and mounting, evidence that Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR—experts advocate for vaccination of these cats in order to create a barrier to rabies between wild animals and domestic animals and people to protect the public’s health; but that is a whole separate discussion) programs are indeed effective at reducing the population of community cats. For an evidence-based repository of information on the humane and effective management of community cats, I would suggest that Sheriff Judd (or readers, if they are so inclined) visit the website of the National Feline Research Council.[2]
I have long been a supporter of Sheriff Judd, particularly with respect to his position on armed citizens being a deterrent to crime in Polk County. However, I am amazed that he refuses to embrace the latest evidence-based approaches to dealing with the problem of community cats. A recent article published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science,[3] entitled, “Rethinking the Animal Shelter’s Role in Free-Roaming Cat Management” concludes that “No realistically available intervention is sufficient to completely eliminate free-roaming cats from the landscape. Traditional ad hoc admission to shelters is not a panacea that eliminates the concerns generated by free-roaming cats. Placing it as such in contrast to TNR has needlessly pitted the interests of cats, cat lovers, and shelter staff against the interests of wildlife advocates and public health officials. Success in solving the complex issues associated with free-roaming cats will be best served by moving beyond this false dichotomy to an evidence-based assessment of all possible approaches to management of this prolific and adaptable species.” Doing nothing does nothing to solve the problem.
Sheriff Judd is an avid bird photographer who believes that returning cats to the environment after sterilization and vaccination puts birds at risk. What Sheriff Judd doesn’t realize is that TNVR programs lead to fewer cats to prey on birds. His solution is to trap and kill these cats. We’ve been trapping and killing cats for decades; how has that worked out? A recent article using sophisticated computer modeling to compare community cat management techniques concluded that “Culling is likely to be ineffective and inefficient in terms of cumulative preventable deaths and population size reduction.”[4]
When I first moved to Polk County and became involved in a TNVR program at a local non-profit, I tried to schedule a meeting with Sheriff Judd to discuss the incomprehensible management of community cats in our community. He refused, and sent a major and a captain, who argued that the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals did not support TNVR. What they didn’t realize was that PETA really isn’t a mainstream animal welfare organization, but all of the others do, indeed, support TNVR. As the evidence mounts for the humane, and economically efficient, management of community cats, perhaps Sheriff Judd will now sit down and discuss the evidence. Evidence that can improve the lives of the cats, birds, and the citizens, of Polk County. I would gladly lend my professional expertise to such a paradigm shift. Just call me, Grady…
G. Robert Weedon, DVM, MPH
Community Cat Surgeon
Retired Clinical Assistant Professor
University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine
[1] https://lakelandgazette.info/news/2022/05/09/the-immorality-of-killing-cats/
[2] www.felineresearch.org
[3] Hurley KF and Levy JK (2022) Rethinking the Animal Shelter’s Role in Free-Roaming Cat Management. Front. Vet. Sci. 9:847081. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.847081
[4] Boone JD, Miller PS, Briggs JR, Benka VAW, Lawler DF, Slater M, Levy JK and Zawistowski S (2019) A Long-Term Lens: Cumulative Impacts of Free-Roaming Cat Management Strategy and Intensity on Preventable Cat Mortalities. Front. Vet. Sci. 6:238. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00238