Feral Cat Management Solutions

Feral cat colonies bring together a series of high risk elements that result in a ‘perfect storm’ of rabies exposure, according to Steve Holmer, senior policy analyst at American Bird Conservancy. Holmer’s assertion was part of his presentation, called “Managed Cat Colonies and Rabies,” that was one of 28 presentations aired in over 70 countries in connection with the second annual World Rabies Day International Webinar held September 21 and 22.

Peer reviewed studies have shown that over time, cat colonies increase in size, the result of the inability to neuter or spay all the cats and the dumping of unwanted cats at the colony sites by callous pet owners. The result is a large number of unvaccinated cats. “While cats make up a small percentage of rabies vectors, they are responsible for a disproportionate number of human exposures,” said Holmer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most people are exposed to rabies due to close contact with domestic animals such as cats and dogs. Although dogs historically posed a greater rabies threat to humans, dog-related incidents have become less frequent in recent decades, dropping from 1,600 cases in 1958 to just 75 in 2008. Meanwhile, cases involving cats have increased over the same period with spikes of up to 300 cases in a single year. “Managed colonies teach feral cats to associate with humans, and while most people will not interact with wildlife, especially animals displaying erratic behavior, cats are perceived as domestic and approachable,” Holmer says.

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