Evaluation of Population Management Based on Trap-Neuter-Return and Trap-Neuter-Adoption Practices in a Free-Roaming Cat Colony in the Federal District, Brazil.

Overpopulation of domestic animals leads to various problems, such as the formation of feline colonies. Population management methods for these colonies have been studied previously; however, no scientific consensus has been reached. This study evaluated the use of trap-neuter-return (TNR) in a free-roaming cat colony in Brazil's Federal District. The study was conducted over 18 months and involved 157 cats that had not previously been managed. The experiment had three parts: recognition and preparation, TNR intervention, and monitoring. The results showed a 47.8% reduction in colony size. Additionally, 98.8% of the animals were sterilized. The adoption, death, disappearance, abandonment, and immigration rates were 19.7%, 14.0%, 14.0%, 7.6%, and 4.5%, respectively. The TNR experiment conducted in the proposed manner, which included detailed pre-planning, mass sterilization, active management, continuous monitoring, and educational actions, proved to be efficient and humane. However, guidelines aimed at managing animal populations, promoting adoption, preventing abandonment, and educating people about responsible pet ownership are essential for achieving sustainable results.

Community Engagement and the Effectiveness of Free-Roaming Cat Control Techniques: A Systematic Review.

Although free-roaming and feral cat control techniques are often applied in human communities, community engagement is not always considered. A systematic literature review following an update of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) methodology was conducted to evaluate whether community engagement influences the effectiveness of control techniques, excluding culling, in managing cat populations. The degree of community engagement was estimated based on the number of roles reported during the application of the control technique, which included adoption, trapping, care, and/or education. Education followed by adoption was the determining factor in the decreasing cat populations over time. The limited evaluations of control technique effectiveness, narrow geographical scope, and our simple measure of engagement emphasize the need for more detailed studies. These studies should evaluate the effectiveness of control techniques, while considering community engagement more comprehensively.