News & Info: Hospital Ferals Topic of Study

Hospital Ferals Topic of Study

In a 1993 issue, the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association published a study by Zaunbrecher, DVM & Smith, DVM, MPH, concerning the best way to deal with a colony of cats at the Gillis W. Long Hansen’s Disease Center (a federal research facility and hospital) in Carville, L.A. Their study revealed several advantages of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) over eradication programs. Eradication is only a temporary fix, in that “removing the cats from an established colony increases the population turnover, but doesn’t decrease the number of cats in in the colony” (p.449). Also, new cats that move in to fill the void are likely to introduce disease and worsen nuisance behaviors. TNR of these cats proved to be humane, economical, and socially acceptable. Plus, it stabilized the colony into a healthy and quiet group in which low turnover was observed. The colony at this hospital facility is cared for and enjoyed by both patients and staff, who also assisted in stabilizing the colony. Although this is an older study, it still applies and has been replicated worldwide many times.

News & Info: Hospital Ferals Topic of Study