August 24, 1998

To:Board of Health

From:Dr. Sheela V. Basrur, Medical Officer of Health

Subject:Feral Animals in Toronto: Issues and Options

Purpose:

This report outlines how the impact on Toronto of the presence of feral animals, and how the City should address resulting concerns.

Source of Funds:

The funds to deliver the current programs provided by Toronto Animal Services were approved by Council at its meeting of April 29, 1998.

Recommendation:

It is recommended that Toronto Animal Services continue to provide the current level of service with respect to feral cat problems pending a review and resolution of related amalgamation issues.

Background:

At its July 6, 1998 special meeting on Animal Services, the Board of Health requested that the Medical Officer of Health report on a number of animal-related issues, either as part of a consolidated report and draft Animal Services by-law, or as separate reports. The issue of "how significant the impact of feral animals is on the community, and how this should be addressed" will be dealt with exclusively in this report.

Comments:

The term feral, when used in the Animal Services profession, typically means a previously domesticated animal which has escaped or been released from captivity and has become "wild and untamed." This also includes subsequent offspring of these feral first generation animals. In the City of Toronto we have been able to confirm a feral animal population of cats. There have been many reports, sightings and impoundments of stray dogs, however, there does not appear to be a feral dog population. It is important to differentiate the stray animal from the feral animal. The typical stray cat or dog has an owner, is socialized towards people, may or may not be identified, is often well cared for and fed at home. Also, the stray animal may be deliberately allowed to run at large or easily escape confinement, but usually returns home. Feral animals usually avoid direct contact with people and are not socialized adequately for normal handling. The feral cat, seemingly self-sufficient, is not a competent "wild" animal and is still largely dependent upon people for food and shelter. A specialist in cat genetics has indicated that as a result of thousands of years of domestication, cats retain certain juvenile characteristics that encourage dependency into adulthood. Also, the domesticated cat has a reduced adrenal response and decreased brain size from that of its wild ancestor, making it less equipped for self-protection and preservation. Since a the feral cat does not function as effectively as a truly wild animal, they are found in colonies near to people primarily in industrial and urban settings.

In Toronto these feral cats often exist in colonies of varying sizes and in different locations. The number of feral cats in our city is very difficult to determine. Although actual figures are not available, the number of feral cats received by Animal Services is a minority of the total cats received yearly. Animal Services does receive a number of calls requesting information and assistance with cat-related problems.

In Toronto and other more urban environments the feral cat can become a problem. These cats may soil or mark peoples property, potentially carry disease transmissible to other animals and people, tear apart garbage and hunt and kill small mammals and birds. One report from the University of Richmond, Virginia, estimated that their population of one million cats killed up to three million birds yearly. Furthermore, the cats themselves usually suffer because they often harbour feline diseases, have parasites and poorly healing wounds. The cats in these colonies are often unkempt, unidentified, wild and elusive in behaviour. They succumb to freezing weather, starvation and disease, or may be injured or killed by vehicles, dogs or even humans. It has been estimated that the average life span of a feral cat is two to three years.

Feral cat colonies usually start out with one or two cats that were initially stray or abandoned by their owners. These cats scavenge food from remnants left by people, hunt small wildlife and live in "make do" shelters under porches, in sheds and behind warehouses. Well meaning people feeling sympathy for these cats, place food out day after day, which leads to more cats coming into the area. These cats quickly learn where they can find food and shelter. One or more of the cats are usually unsterilized females, which become pregnant, delivering litters of up to six kittens after two months gestation. These kittens, not handled by or socialized to humans, are fearful of people and become the first generation feral cats. The colony grows as the kittens quickly mature since the female kittens are able to bear offspring before they are one year old. In the meantime the mothers become pregnant once again. The population keeps growing, its size and rate of growth reflecting the availability of food and shelter, the addition of new cats to the colony, and the loss of cats which leave, die or are killed.

Food and shelter are the two main reasons that feral cat colonies continue to exist in our city. There are three main ways of responding to the feral cat problem. These options along with pros and cons are listed as follows:

a)Trap, vaccinate, sterilize and release (TVSR):

The cats in a colony are individually trapped and removed to be sterilized, vaccinated and treated for minor injury or illness. These animals are very difficult to handle, so special care, equipment and drugs must be administered. Once complete, the cat is reintroduced into the colony.

Pros:The future number of kittens born to the colony is reduced. The reintroduced cats have an initial protection against some feline diseases and rabies, therefore reducing spread of disease for a period of time. Some minor injuries or illnesses may be treated. Kittens captured young enough may be socialized and placed as pets in homes. Current Animal Services staff already have training and pre-exposure rabies vaccinations.

Cons:The cost to provide this care could be prohibitive. Some cost may be defrayed by assistance from dedicated and reliable volunteers, however, any person handling feral cats must be well trained and vaccinated against rabies. Access to private property may be a problem and efforts may be sabotaged by people on either private or public lands. Occasionally an owned "stray" cat may be captured in error and must be released. Because feral cats do not have an owner, it is debatable whether legally a veterinarian has the authority to treat or perform surgery on them. Furthermore, it may be difficult to find a veterinarian who has the desire, time and resources to assist in the program. The effect of the vaccines administered does not last the lifetime of the cat and the cat may sustain future injury or illness. These cats do not usually allow themselves to be trapped more than once, so future medical care is difficult, if not impossible to administer. The nuisance and health problems caused by feral cats is not adequately resolved by the implementation of this program. The cats are still exposed to the elements, diseases and dangers when released or "abandoned" to once again fend on their own.

Some people refer to TVSR as trap, vaccinate, sterilize and "abandon," unless the cats are released in an area isolated from roads, people and other animals that may harm them; constantly attended for food, water and medical needs; and, housed in a temperate environment.

b)Trap, rehabilitate or euthanise (TRE):

All feral cats in the colony are trapped and assessed for rehabilitation or euthanasia and actions taken accordingly.

Pros:The captured cats are spared from a potentially harsh and inhumane existence. The nuisance and health problems are resolved as long as the food and shelter sources are removed. The cats that can be rehabilitated may be placed as pets in homes. Current Animal Services staff already have training and pre-exposure rabies vaccinations.

Cons:Unless the attractants, such as food and shelter are removed or made inaccessible, the problem will likely reoccur or wildlife will take advantage of the free "bed and breakfast." A number of the cats that are removed will have to be euthanised because they cannot be rehabilitated or there are not enough people and resources available to rehabilitate the number of cats captured. Some people believe that life as a feral roaming cat is better than euthanasia. However, releasing these animals back into a situation where the only care they receive is food and unprotected shelter may be considered too high risk for a slow and inhumane demise, as opposed to euthanasia, which is merciful and quick. Of the feral cats that can be socialized and rehabilitated, many will harbour infectious and often fatal feline diseases and ultimately be euthanised. Occasionally an owned "stray" cat may be captured in error and must be released. Access to private property may be a problem and efforts may be sabotaged by people on either private or public lands. TRE would require some cost, must have trained and equipped people who are vaccinated against rabies and available to capture and handle the trapped cats.

This endeavour would only be truly effective if the food, shelter and any other attractants are removed. Otherwise this solution would not be recommended as the cycle of problems would reoccur.

c)Leave Feral Cats Alone:

Leave the situation as it is, with public education efforts by the City. Animal Services staff would provide advice to the public on how a feral cat colony evolves when food and shelter are made available to "stray" and feral cats. Staff would also emphasize the cycle of problems the cats and neighbourhood would be exposed to as a result of these lingering cats.

Pros:Minimal apparent costs incurred, other than staff time for educational efforts. As long as the food and shelter remains constant or is reduced, then the population of cats coming and going, living and dying will remain relatively constant or decrease.

Cons:The disadvantaged existence in which these incompetent "wild" cats live and die is not rectified. The problems experienced by people and other animals in the immediate area are not addressed. The prevention of potential disease outbreak is not curtailed. The population will increase if more food and shelter become available.

The current practice of most of the Toronto Animal Service Centres is a limited combination of b) and c). Animal Services staff provide education on how to deal with feral cats, explaining the problems with providing food and shelter. Some centres will supply traps in cases where the citizen has taken steps to reduce or cut off food and shelter, so that the cats are not left to fend on their own. These captured cats are brought to the animal centres and usually euthanised because they cannot be rehabilitated or there are not enough resources available to rehabilitate the cats. The response to concerns lodged by the public is reactive and is handled on a case-by-case basis. Resources within the Animal Services current budget are too limited to provide a resolution to this issue on a city wide scale. Also, there is the problem of determining which is the best solution and how members of the community will cooperate in any effort initiated by the City.

Conclusions:

Toronto's feral animal population appears to be restricted to cats. These feral cats are usually unapproachable and elusive. The actual number of feral cats is very difficult to determine and the overall problems associated with these cats is not as significant as some of the other issues related to animals in our city. However, this does not diminish either the problems experienced by citizens or by the feral cats. When reviewing the alternatives listed in this report it appears that the most likely solution is a combination of options b) and c). This would include reduction and elimination of attractants such as food and shelter, trapping and rehabilitating or euthanising the captured feral cats and educating the public on prevention and elimination of the problem. With the combined implementation of options b) and c) there will still be some negative consequences to manage and overcome. However, option a) TVSR is not recommended because it is unlikely that the environment and resources could be provided to humanely maintain these animals, and the problems experienced by the public would not be resolved.

The implementation of combination b) and c) options should be held in abeyance for two reasons. Firstly, Toronto Animal Services will be undergoing a consultant's review in the near future and the outcome of that review may have an impact upon the delivery of the service. Secondly, the six separate services are in the process of amalgamation and until this occurs, provision of an effective, equalized delivery of the service will not be achievable. Therefore, it is recommended that we continue to provide the current level of service pending the review and resolution of amalgamation.

Contact Name:

Eletta Purdy, Etobicoke Animal Centre

Tel:394-8110

Fax:394-8682

Dr. Sheela V. Basrur

Medical Officer of Health