At least the cat colonies don't have to freeze in the winter in FL
like they
do elsewhere.
Most TNR groups that I know of in this area don't tests at all.
From: felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org
[mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of Heather
Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2012 1:27 PM
To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
Subject: [Felvtalk] Fwd: TNR
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Heather <furrygi...@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Mar 8, 2012 at 1:23 PM
Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] TNR
To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
Definitely not to argue, but to provide some perspective on high
volume TNR
and the ACA (and Neighborhood Cats) stance on routine testing of TNR
ferals...
While millions of cats are of course killed in shelters each year
nationally, the free roaming cat population on the streets may
differ vastly
geographically. In my city (Tampa), there are hundreds of
thousands of
feral cats. There are several of us constantly practicing TNR on
the
"population at large" (or colonies where the feeders are not
fixing--a huge
sore spot with us, too), meaning trapping pretty much every week,
sometimes
more than once a week, cats who are not at our own colonies. Some
of my
friends trap anywhere from 10 - 50 cats per week for TNR (and of
course
kittens and such are rescued as much as space/socialization/fosters
permit,
sick cats treated, etc.) Routine TNR's--not being rescued for
adoption or
not being addressed/treated for illness are not tested. If we
tested every
cat, we could only spay/neuter/vaccinate a fraction of the cats.
There
would be far more (exponentially, we all know how cats can
reproduce--here
it's hot and a mama will have 3 litters a year) cats breeding,
spreading
illness. There would be more negative AND more positive cats, and
therefore
since unfixed, also more positive (and negative) kittens being born
on the
streets. In our city, we are serving the greater good by fixing
as many as
possible. Since we all also do a lot of rescue, pulling
friendlies/dumped
cats, or cats to be treated for illness, from colonies, I can say
we run
into FELV fairly seldomly. Despite my own very high # of colonies,
in
addition to helping people rescue and fix cats all over, I have run
into
FELV the most of anyone I know and it's really just been in two
areas, close
in proximity, where the feeders are NOT fixing the cats. Disease
definititely seems to proliferate where the cats are unsterilized,
though of
course I realize it spreads in other ways besides reproducing.
As TNR has steadily increased in our county, the # of cats
euthanized at our
county AS has steadily declined--I can share a graph if anyone is
interested, the results are absolutely amazing and pretty much in
direct
proportion in terms of euth decrease/TNR increase. Several years
ago
16K-18K cats were killed per year at this county shelter; now it is
down to
around 9K.
Even our own local Humane Society--which has the most awesome s/n/TNR
clinic, but was very firm on testing for years, finally conceded
with the
ACA/Neighborhood Cats stance that, on routine TNR's not showing
signs of
illness, the resources are best spent in sterilizing more cats than
on
testing. They do sometimes call us while assessing/operating and
say they
feel a particular cat needs to be tested. They are elated by the
decrease
in shelter euthanasia as well.
I have no qualms returning an FIV+ cat to a safe area with a good
caretaker,
I had one FIV+ female who lived to be 14 outside until we brought
her in to
live her last 9 months due to geriatric issues. Granted, this was
on a
university campus where we often have cats live to be over 10 years
old
(just a little different environment from the true streets such as
fast food
joints, etc.).
I hope me providing this perspective isn't resented--again, it's not
intended to argue, just some comments to explain why many embrace
the ACA
perspective on not testing routine TNR's
Of course everyone is entitled to their own opinion and best
practices for
what they are doing. The overpopulation problem in Florida is
insane, that
is one thing that goes without saying.
Thanks everyone for caring about cats!
Heather
On Thu, Mar 8, 2012 at 12:26 PM, Beth <create_me_...@yahoo.com>
wrote:
I agree, FeLV should be put down or homed. I have returned FIV cats
Unfortunately, Alley Cat Allies thinks they all should be returned
& not
even tested. The place I have gotten ferals fixed believes this &
refuses to
test ferals.
Crazy.
