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. 2024 Oct 14;14(20):2953.
doi: 10.3390/ani14202953.

A Situational Analysis of Attitudes toward Stray Cats and Preferences and Priorities for Their Management

Jacquie Rand  1   2 , Rebekah Scotney  2 , Ann Enright  1 , Andrea Hayward  1 , Pauleen Bennett  3 , John Morton  2   4
Affiliations

A Situational Analysis of Attitudes toward Stray Cats and Preferences and Priorities for Their Management

Jacquie Rand et al. Animals (Basel). .

Abstract

Current cat management approaches are outdated and ineffective, failing to reduce stray cat numbers or related complaints and negatively impacting the job satisfaction and mental health of veterinary, shelter, and municipal staff. We undertook a situational analysis prior to implementing a Community Cat Program based on free sterilization of owned, semi-owned, and unowned cats in the city of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. The study involved 343 residents in three suburbs in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia with high per capita intake of cats into the receiving shelter and municipal pound. We investigated the prevalence and impacts of free-roaming cats in urban areas, focusing on sightings, associated issues, and community preferences for cat management. Stray cats were observed by many respondents (71%), primarily at private residences (52%) and in alleyways or streets (22%), which caused serious or moderately serious problems for 38% of those who saw stray or wandering cats. Key concerns included the killing of native birds (38%) and animals (35%), noise (33%), and soiling (32%). Actions taken by respondents who saw stray or wandering cats included chasing them away or using deterrents (25%), capturing the cat for removal or calling council (18%) and preventing home entry (14%). Respondents' priorities for the local government management of cats included preventing kittens from being born (94% of respondents) and stopping cats from preying on native animals (91%); reducing disease spread to pets (89%), wildlife (89%), and humans (87%); decreasing stray cat numbers (75%); and preventing cat fights (70%). Respondents favored sterilization (65%) over euthanasia (35%), aligning with the results of previous research. Cat ownership and feeding unowned cats were predictors of management preferences. Only 29% of respondents were satisfied with the current local council management of the problem. Information on the benefits of management by sterilization could further enhance community support.

Keywords: cat management preferences; euthanizing; kittens; one welfare; sterilizing; wildlife.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. J.R. holds an honorary position at the University of Queensland and is employed by the Australian Pet Welfare Foundation (APWF), which is a research-based, not-for-profit organization that undertakes research aimed at improving the health and welfare of dogs and cats and benefiting pets and the people who care for them. APWF is largely funded by philanthropic gifts. R.S. is employed by the University of Queensland; A.E. is a volunteer and is undertaking research training with AWPF; A.H. is a volunteer with APWF and assists with data collection and editing manuscripts; P.B. is employed by LaTrobe University; J.M. holds an honorary position at the University of Queensland and provides an epidemiology consultancy service through his company, Jemora Pty Ltd. Costs for the statistical analysis were funded by a grant from the Waltham Foundation to the University of Queensland.

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