The Manager's report back on costs and benefits of potential responses to the feral cat issue

PO Box 86, Western Springs, IL 60558

[phone removed] phone [phone removed] fax www.triplerpets.org QUESTION Does a TR trap/neuter/return program stabilize or reduce the feral cat population of an established colony fed and sheltered by a responsible caretaker in an urban neighborhood? BACKGROUND The environment for this study was a two-block-square radius centered on the colony. This area is a mixed density urban neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois at approximately 6300 S Cicero and adjacent to Midway airport. The neighborhood included:

Single-family residences

• Multi-family apartments • Alleys, backyards and garages in various stages of maintenance • Small businesses on the ground floors of apartment buildings • Midway International Airport with hangars, storage, open fields and runways • One abandoned and boarded up multi-story residence The area is an ideal habitat for feral cats. The feral cat

Figure 1: Cat 2 Prior to TNR

colony caretaker lives in a single-family residence with a small, well-tended backyard and a well-kept garage accessible via an alley. Between the garage and backyard, a feeding station and several small shelters built from plastic storage containers are provided for the feral cats that compose the colony.

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Figure 2: Map of Colony Location, Chicago, IL

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A Case Study of the Effectiveness of TNR on a Feral Cat Colony

RESEARCH From July 2006 to April 2007, Trap and Remove was the method used to control the feral cat population. The removed cats were either adopted to private parties or surrendered to a shelter. The colony's numbers steadily increased from one cat to eleven cats despite removal of kittens and strays (see Figure 3: Trap and Remove Colony Statistics). Status Date Population 4 Jul-06

Female Cat 1 arrived with three older Kittens B, C and D

Aug-06 Adult Cats 2 and 3 joined the colony 8 Sep-06 Two new kittens E and F are born Oct-06 Kittens E and F are surrendered to a local shelter Dec-06

Kittens G, H, I and J are born

Kitten K born

Jan-07 Feb-07 Kitten K is surrendered to a local shelter 9 Mar-07

Kitten D disappears

11

Kittens L and M are born

Apr-07

Figure 3: Trap and Remove Colony Statistics

EXPERIMENT From April 28, 2007 to September 8, 2007, a Trap, Neuter and Return (TR) method was implemented and maintained. Eleven feral cats were spayed and neutered and provided with basic medical care (See Figure 4: Trap, Neuter and Return Timeline).

S/N Date

Cat Gender

Kitten C

Kitten H

Kitten G

Cat 2

Kitten I

Apr 29 2007

Kitten J