The welfare of feral cats and wildlife

Abstract

T are an estimated 60 to 100 million feral and abandoned cats in the United States. By any measure, this is an important welfare issue, and the many bodies of free-roaming cats visible along roadsides across the country are mute testimony to the tragedy of their unhappy lives. Many people of goodwill want to see this situation improved. Some believe that feeding feral cats; trapping, neutering, and releasing them; and allowing them to live in colonies is 1 answer to the overpopulation problem. Others believe that, on the whole, such programs are most often unsuccessful at sharply reducing and eventually eliminating feral cat populations. In my opinion, attempting to maintain cats in colonies only compounds the problem by causing massive killing and crippling of native wildlife, jeopardizing biodiversity, undermining traditional animal control, enabling irresponsible people to abandon cats, and sending mixed messages about the veterinary profession’s commitment to serve the welfare of all species, including cats and wildlife.