In communities that are home to feral cat colonies, controlling their populations can be a rather hot button issue. Many people care for these animals and provide them with food and shelter in the backyards or parking lots; while others wish their neighborhood was rid of these cats. There are generally two ways to deal with feral cat populations; euthanasia or trap-neuter-release, or TNR. Euthanasia is the practice of trapping these cats, humanely and inhumanely, and bringing them to "kill shelters" where they soon are euthanized in an effort to decrease the population. TNR is a non-lethal method to control the population that involves humanely trapping feral cats, having them spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and returning them to their colony to live their lives. TNR cats usually have an ear clipped to show that they have been spayed/neutered. Both stir some very strong feelings on either side of the cat debate.
Seeing how these cat colonies live and breed firsthand as well as how beautiful and sweet these cats are, euthanasia makes me sick to me stomach. Euthanasia is a band-aid solution with less than satisfactory results that are normally accompanied by food bans. Food bans are normally town or state issued mandates that require residents to stop feeding outdoor cats as they hope the cats will just leave if there is no food. Which just isn't the case. When food becomes scarce, cats just move closer to humans in hopes of finding scraps. As well, killing the cats as a solution just means that there will be more food and shelter for other cats that will come into the area starting the cycle all over. Not to mention that shelters that perform euthanasia are already packed to capacity and do not need more animals to deal with. One female cat has the ability to give birth to roughly 100 kittens in a seven year period. Euthanasia is not even the cheaper option. TNR costs range from under $40 to $75 for the entire process, while euthanasia costs roughly $100. Some areas even have TNR programs, making the process completely free.
What I've mentioned so far are just the logistical and financial reasons to support TNR over euthanasia. Somehow murdering perfectly able cats that are cared for by so many members of a community has become acceptable. There are so many myths about feral cats such as how they are mostly sick and dirty or that they have terrible quality of life. While living outdoors is not the perfect situation for a cat to be living in, they do have the skill set to survive and live long lives outdoors. There has been a gorgeous tortie kitty that has been visiting my window for a few years now and whenever she disappears for a couple days, I always worry if she was picked up to be brought to a kill shelter.
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