Trap, Neuter and Return - The Background

Many colonies of feral cats have formed on Lamma around food sources such as refuse collection points and restaurants.  In addition some are fed by kind individuals. However it is unkind in the long term to feed cats and not also do something to stop them reproducing.

When we started we reckoned there were over 700 street cats in North Lamma. Now there are only about 300.

The lives of these cats were hard and short, filled with fear, hunger and disease.  Life expectancy was no more than three years.  It was particularly hard for a female as she spent most of her life pregnant or nursing.  Illnesses, parasites, injuries and human malice claimed the lives of most of her kittens but those that survived continued the cycle.

 

Not only did these cats suffer but they acted as a reservoir for disease and the sight of sick and dying animals was distressing.  Catching and killing or poisoning feral animals is costly but ineffective as those killed are quickly replaced by survivors or outsiders - quite apart from the suffering inflicted on the animals.  Eradication programmes have a very poor record of success worldwide.

A particular problem on Lamma is created by people who leave the island and abandon their companion animals, supposing that they can survive in the wild.  In fact, domestic cats and dogs generally cannot fend for themselves, live in confusion and die slowly from malnutrition and disease.  Meanwhile they may well breed if they are not neutered.  In addition domestic animals from other areas are often brought to outlying islands and dumped there by owners who no longer want them or are not permitted to keep them in their apartments.

Photos of a female cat we have been failing to trap for the last five years - at it again in July 2006:
    

Our Programme

With the help of the HKSPCA - see: Cat Colony Care Programme  - and in cooperation with AFCD, a programme of "Trap/Neuter/Release" (TNR) was set up in 2000 to address the problem in a humane and cost-effective way.  The goal is to achieve a stable population of healthy non-breeding animals.

Targeting one colony at a time, the cats are fed and watered daily, then trapped individually, treated, vaccinated, microchipped, sterilised and either released back into the colony or fostered and homed whenever this is feasible.  The first targeted colony (Tai Peng) was estimated to have been producing around 50 kittens per season, beyond a sustainable level, sp most died of disease and/or hunger.   Since the programme was initiated this has been reduced to just one or two litters a year.  The improvement in the general health of the colony is plain to see.  Similar results have been achieved with other colonies.  We make sure that someone is appointed to be responsible for providing food and water and long term supervision.

Natural attrition has of course continued but the reproduction has all but ceased because of the programme. There are now less than half the number of cats that there were at the beginning.

To avoid repetition, treated cats have one ear clipped while anaesthetised.  This heals rapidly and, as the hair grows back, is not visible/noticeable except at close range.


The TNR treatment clearly does not traumatise the cats.  On the contrary, one of the main difficulties in achieving 100% treatment of fertile cats in a colony is that graduates of the programme return confidently to the traps for a safe meal.

To avoid your cat being mistakenly trapped as a feral, please provide him/her with a collar when going outside.

See pictures of us in action.

Adoption
While TNR is a compassionate and pragmatic solution to the feral cat overpopulation problem, the difficult conditions in which a feral cat must survive bear no comparison with adoption by a loving home.  We make every effort to find homes for friendly cats and to foster kittens until this can be arranged.  But most of the cats are too wild to be homeable.

Where a cat has been injured or maimed it is not returned to the colony in that condition.


How can you help?

1.  Spay or neuter your own cat. 
     The value of the TNR programme is clear but the other main sources of abandoned animals must be stopped.  Breeding by feral animals is only part of the problem,  we must all spay and neuter our own companion animals so that uncontrolled breeding and accidental pregnancy do not lead to more unwanted kittens.

2.   Donate food or money for trapping or maintenance.  Contribute to the cost of maintaining the treated colonies.  We have no funding from official sources and depend entirely on the generosity of people like you both for money and for practical help.

3.   Identify a colony you would like to care for.  We will help you trap and neuter them. Join Us!

4.   Donate to help with transport costs.  We and the cats must travel by ferry and taxi.

5.   Foster an injured or young cat.  This is a short term and very rewarding experience.  All the love with no long term commitment, and the pleasure of knowing you have saved a life.

6.  Adopt one of the rescued kittens or friendly cats - visit: cats currently looking for homes

Want to know more about Feral Cats? - click here