Speaking from the SE USA, we have an enormous excess of feral cats with new litters arriving continually. Seems to be much worse after Covid lockdown ended because many people took to touring, getting out and abandoned their PETS. Shelters and Humane Agencies spend an enormous amount of 💰, time and effort in trapping cats who are homeless to proceed with TNR, since they are full to capacity almost always. Foster care has been utilized more with socialization especially of kittens for adoption as the goal. People with birdfeeders complain but many communities support feral populations and have feeding stations monitored by volunteers for those cats that cannot be homed on farms or in residences. Many are flown to the NE in plane loads after appropriate vet intervention from donations where cooperating humane agencies have already placed them for adoption. Being an elder cat lady, I was very involved before becoming disabled, but still treasure my two remaining now very social 😽😽 formerly feral now cuddly loving cats. We have issues with mice mostly in attics, outdoors the feral cats take care of them. I am not aware of rat infestations in our communities but I am isolated at home so may be simply unaware. Your solution is very practical and I applaud your efforts to care for the cats and eliminate pests.
Thank you, Judith, for sharing your experiences and insights. It's heartening to hear about the dedicated efforts in your community to manage feral cat populations through TNR and foster care. Your commitment to these animals and the practical solutions you've implemented are commendable.
I appreciate your feedback on the article and am glad to hear that you find the proposed solution practical. It's wonderful to know that your community supports feral cat populations and has established feeding stations monitored by volunteers. The collaborative efforts to transport cats to the Northeast for adoption are also inspiring and highlight the importance of cooperation among humane agencies.
Your personal story about your two formerly feral cats is a testament to the success of TNR and foster care programs. It's also interesting to hear about the role feral cats play in controlling mice populations in your area.
Thank you again for your kind words and for sharing your valuable perspective. Your dedication to animal welfare is truly inspiring, and I hope our combined efforts can continue to make a positive impact on both feral cat and pest management.
Ed, thank you for such a well thought out plan. It has a long historical precedence and could also grow out of current working cat programs offered through shelters and rescue groups with TNR as the focus. Please keep up posted on implementation.
Though I don't know much about rats or pigeons, I like this idea. One problem I see with it is getting people to stop using poisons or other toxic means of ridding the pests. The other is getting the community involved. It will take great cheerleading abilities to convince people to manage the cats. But I think it could be done.
Andrea, thank you for your feedback. As TNR is implemented the need for poisons will diminish. This will become apparent with fewer complaints coming into city hall. Also, I have never seen a problem with TNR programs attracting sufficient numbers of volunteers to effectively implement the program. Having seen TNR effectively implemented in several communities, I'm stunned that it is not the go to strategy of every urban planner and city official.
You would think they'd use that strategy, but we are fighting the city where I live. Just recently we've made progress but it's never enough. They would still rather exterminate feral cats rather than use scientifically proven efforts. It will happen, but slowly.
Speaking from the SE USA, we have an enormous excess of feral cats with new litters arriving continually. Seems to be much worse after Covid lockdown ended because many people took to touring, getting out and abandoned their PETS. Shelters and Humane Agencies spend an enormous amount of 💰, time and effort in trapping cats who are homeless to proceed with TNR, since they are full to capacity almost always. Foster care has been utilized more with socialization especially of kittens for adoption as the goal. People with birdfeeders complain but many communities support feral populations and have feeding stations monitored by volunteers for those cats that cannot be homed on farms or in residences. Many are flown to the NE in plane loads after appropriate vet intervention from donations where cooperating humane agencies have already placed them for adoption. Being an elder cat lady, I was very involved before becoming disabled, but still treasure my two remaining now very social 😽😽 formerly feral now cuddly loving cats. We have issues with mice mostly in attics, outdoors the feral cats take care of them. I am not aware of rat infestations in our communities but I am isolated at home so may be simply unaware. Your solution is very practical and I applaud your efforts to care for the cats and eliminate pests.
Thank you, Judith, for sharing your experiences and insights. It's heartening to hear about the dedicated efforts in your community to manage feral cat populations through TNR and foster care. Your commitment to these animals and the practical solutions you've implemented are commendable.
I appreciate your feedback on the article and am glad to hear that you find the proposed solution practical. It's wonderful to know that your community supports feral cat populations and has established feeding stations monitored by volunteers. The collaborative efforts to transport cats to the Northeast for adoption are also inspiring and highlight the importance of cooperation among humane agencies.
Your personal story about your two formerly feral cats is a testament to the success of TNR and foster care programs. It's also interesting to hear about the role feral cats play in controlling mice populations in your area.
Thank you again for your kind words and for sharing your valuable perspective. Your dedication to animal welfare is truly inspiring, and I hope our combined efforts can continue to make a positive impact on both feral cat and pest management.
Ed, thank you for such a well thought out plan. It has a long historical precedence and could also grow out of current working cat programs offered through shelters and rescue groups with TNR as the focus. Please keep up posted on implementation.
Thank you, Heidi! Will do!
Also, in the trenches of Ukraine and Russia. They have cats, but there’s too many rodents. (https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/01/21/europe/rats-and-mice-swarm-trenches-in-ukraine-in-grisly-echo-of-world-war-i). We had a subsidy in Peel region for rat problems., but it’s ended as of Feb of this year.
Though I don't know much about rats or pigeons, I like this idea. One problem I see with it is getting people to stop using poisons or other toxic means of ridding the pests. The other is getting the community involved. It will take great cheerleading abilities to convince people to manage the cats. But I think it could be done.
Andrea, thank you for your feedback. As TNR is implemented the need for poisons will diminish. This will become apparent with fewer complaints coming into city hall. Also, I have never seen a problem with TNR programs attracting sufficient numbers of volunteers to effectively implement the program. Having seen TNR effectively implemented in several communities, I'm stunned that it is not the go to strategy of every urban planner and city official.
You would think they'd use that strategy, but we are fighting the city where I live. Just recently we've made progress but it's never enough. They would still rather exterminate feral cats rather than use scientifically proven efforts. It will happen, but slowly.
Let me know if I can assist.
A great and historic way to eradicate the vermin
Thanks Frank! I've seen this work in several communities. I'm stunned its not the go to strategy among urban planners and city officials.