Building Sustainable Habitats for Free-Roaming Cats in Public Spaces: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

ABSTRACT This review article examines the possibility of providing a toolkit to prepare habitats for free-roaming cats (FRCs) in public spaces. The toolkit targets local communities, authorities, stakeholders, and advocates in the cities of the Global South, to raise awareness and improve the welfare of FRCs living in urban communities. This article explores a relatively new area in urban studies and veterinary science, and its connection to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A systematic review was conducted using bibliometric analysis, which illustrated how the literature on urban studies ignores the sustainability of public spaces as a living space for FRCs. This study contributes to our understanding of the current situation of FRCs from a theoretical perspective, in relation to the urban transformation of low-income and high-poverty countries. The article concludes with a four-pillar toolkit to help impoverished communities use public spaces as a resource, build sustainable habitats, and provide living spaces for FRCs.