Outcomes of a Community Cat Program Based on Sterilization of Owned, Semi-Owned and Unowned Cats in a Small Rural Town

Abstract

In rural towns of Australia, free-roaming cats are often in high numbers on a human population basis and frequently cause nuisance issues. Traditional methods of managing these cats often consist of trapping and euthanizing those not adopted, which can be costly and distressing for the people involved and not aligned with community preferences. Our study focused on a pilot Community Cat Program in small rural town of Rosewood, Australia. The program provided free sterilization, microchipping, and preventative health care for all cats in the area. The program aimed to reduce the number of cats entering shelters and being euthanized. In the third year of the program, cat intake had decreased by 60%, numbers euthanized by 85%, and there were 39% fewer cat-related calls to council. These results highlight the rapid effectiveness of targeted sterilization programs in reducing euthanasia and cat-related complaints. These programs are a humane and sustainable method of managing free-roaming cat populations and are aligned with a One Welfare approach which aims to optimize the wellbeing of humans, animals, and their environments.