Open AccessReduction of free-roaming cat population requires high-intensity neutering in spatial contiguity to mitigate compensatory effects
Author(s) -
Idit Gunther,
Hadas Hawlena,
Lior Azriel,
Dan Gibor,
Olaf Berke,
Eyal Klement
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2119000119
Subject(s) - neutering , population , population control , culling , biology , demography , medicine , ecology , environmental health , family planning , cats , herd , research methodology , sociology
Significance Although popular companion animals, domestic cats pose numerous problems when free-roaming, including predation of wildlife, hazards to humans, impaired sanitation, and a decrease in their welfare. Thus, managing their populations is essential. The trap–neuter–return method (TNR; capturing, sterilizing, returning/releasing) is widely employed for managing cat populations. However, there is a lack of long-term controlled evidence for its effectiveness. We examined the outcomes of high-intensity TNR by performing a 12-y controlled field experiment. Neutering over 70% of the cats caused population decline when applied over contiguous areas. However, it was limited by a rebound increase in reproduction and survival. These findings provide a robust quantification of the limitations and the long-term effectiveness of TNR.