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Rhode Island Veterinarian Proposes Euthanasia for Feral Cats

15 Comments | Add Yours
By Exceptional Veterinary Team
March 3, 2010

Rhode Island veterinarian Scott Marshall recently drafted a bill that proposed euthanasia as a solution to get the state's population of feral cats under control.The bill, introduced by Senator John Tassoni, Jr. was recently withdrawn after a flurry of criticism from animal rights groups such as Defenders of Animals (DEM). Marshall was quoted as saying, “I’m open to trying other methods...[but] I’m not very optimistic. If this is the only means we have left, it’s a regrettable move, but it’s something we have to take. I know some groups think we are targeting cats, but we are trying to get them on par with roaming dogs." Marshall cited potential health risks to humans from the population of feral cats as the reason for the euthanasia.

What do you think is the best way to control the population of feral cats? Is euthanasia really the only answer?

 

15 comments so far...

Comments posted on this discussion forum are the opinion of the comment writer and should not be construed as medical advice or as being the opinion of the publisher. Comments may be removed or edited at the discretion of the publisher.

Feral Cats and true ignorance

I have to say that I am constantly amazed at the ignorance of so many in our society - including, it seems, some veterinarians - about feral cats and the ultimate solution to the problem.

First to restate what others have said and what should be obvious euthanasia does not eliminate the problem. Studies even in the last century have shown that when you euthanize these cats you create a void. Feral cats do not like a void and will fill it with more feral cats. Spay/Neuter does not create a void. Spay/Neuter leaves the colony numbers intact while providing a lack of growth by eliminating reproduction. This isn't a difficult concept, is it?

Second, ALL feral animals are the fault of humans who couldn't seem to live up to their responsibilities. They have not neutered their animals and then they dumped them - intact. These animals did not spring up on their own. They were put there by people who are supposed to be intelligent and civilized - "supposed to be" being the operative phrase.

Again, EUTHANASIA DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM! Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) solves the problem!

Fri, 03/12/2010 - 08:33 — Guest

And he calls himself a Vet??????????

I do alot of TNR on my own with my own money. I have been bite badly only by one and that was due to human error. I am sure glad that your practice is not in my area. SOUNDS LIKE YOU WOULD WANT TO PUT EVERY CAT TO DEATH, PROBABLY EVEN NOT HUMANLEY! GO TO ALLEY CATS.ORG AND GET YOURSELF SOME EDUCATION!

Lynn E. Ratcliff
Mickleton,NJ 08056

P.S. I hope you come back as a feral cat!
Why don't you try to help with the problem by education and helping our with discount spay/neuter. Oh I forgot you need the money. Dr. Marshall you are a disgrace to your profession1

Mon, 03/08/2010 - 22:13 — Guest

And he calls himself a Vet??????????

I do alot of TNR on my own with my own money. I have been bite badly only by one and that was due to human error. I am sure glad that your practice is not in my area. SOUNDS LIKE YOU WOULD WANT TO PUT EVERY CAT TO DEATH, PROBABLY EVEN NOT HUMANLEY! GO TO ALLEY CATS.ORG AND GET YOURSELF SOME EDUCATION!

Lynn E. Ratcliff
Mickleton,NJ 08056

P.S. I hope you come back as a feral cat!

Mon, 03/08/2010 - 22:11 — Guest

I am coming from a country

I am coming from a country where we tried to control feral animal population by euthanasia.
Simply did not work.
I think the best control is to spay and neuter vaccinat etc. as many as possible stray animals.
Second, please TALK to the ladies that leave bags with dog/cat food under the bushes @ 3- 4 am and let them know that they really do not help but the opposite they disturb the weak balance in our urbanized nature.
Euthanasia should be executed in cases of particular diseases or if a cat or dog bite someone and Rabies testing needs to be performed.

Mon, 03/08/2010 - 12:12 — Guest

Feral Cats

I took it upon myself to help control a feral colony in my neighborhood. I trapped every intact cat that I could and had it spayed or neutered and then released it back. There still seem to be plenty of song birds left around. We've all (I, my neighbors and others)worked on HABITAT for them. The cats don't have as much of an advantage where there is proper habitat. The rodent population is better controlled. It's all about BALANCE. Humans have disturbed the balance of things and we need to put it right, but we all got into this field to limit the suffering of animals didn't we? Death is a final resort, not a solution.

Mon, 03/08/2010 - 00:22 — Guest

Well...

I agree with you most certainly about euthanasia NOT being a solution for the feral cat population. I worked in Florida as a student with Operation CatNip which is another organization which spay/neuters and vaccinates feral cats. I wish that there were more of these organizations and I wish people would not allow their pet cats to go outside. Euthanasia seems narrow minded.
Other than that I can't say that I agree with you. There is too high of a demand for meat in this country and the counties that we export beef to, for it to be plausible to have cattle feeding on land. There just isn't enough land in the US for us to grow as many cattle as we need to supply the demand for beef. Well of course unless we pillage some more wildlife area to get land for the cattle to graze on (*sarcasm*). Besides... I think feedlot cattle look pretty happy, especially when the feed truck comes by.
PS... Wasn't prop 8 about gay marriage?

Sun, 03/07/2010 - 22:24 — Guest

Shaking my head at the ignorance

As someone who has participated in TNR of feral cats ( BTW they are ear tipped so it is easy to see which cats have been vaccinated ), I have seen first hand the successful implementation of this solution. I am shocked and saddened by the posts of those who support killing feral cats.

If you have an open mind and wish to be educated please check out :
http://www.alleycat.org

Sun, 03/07/2010 - 00:21 — Guest

closed minded vets - wow

just reading these comments make me cringe. typical - if we don't like it, just kill it. Those in favor of euthanasia of feral cats must take a long hard look at themselves - MOST of the damage done to local wildlife is done by HUMAN DESTRUCTION of their habitat. Maybe we should kill all the cougars and wolves too... There is alot of evidence to support outside venturing housecats are a major source of songbird death - want to kill them too??? It is veterinarians like you that perpetuate the stereotype that cats are lesser animals to our client base - good job! I urge you to look at the partnership between Feral Cat Coalition and the Audubon Society in Portland, Oregon. It works. And to the vet who just moved to California and is upset that Prop 8 (?) means livestock have to be treated more humanely, I have two words for you - Rotational Grazing. Look it up and become familiar with it - safe meat products and healthier cattle - everyone wins. After all, aren't cows meant to eat grass??? Certainly not corn. I guess you are ok with going to feedlots where they get acidosis and become sick from eating an unnatural diet and standing everyday in feces. Sorry for the rant but get educated!

Sat, 03/06/2010 - 14:01 — Guest

Euthanasia of feral cats

Having just been badly bitten by a feral cat yesterday and having the Rabies concern weighing heavily on my mind, I have to agree that unless someone is willing to be sure that these cats are vaccinated(impossible), it is a public health threat to all involved pet health care providers. In our state, it isn't even a law that cats be vaccinated for Rabies. Barbara Griffith, DVM, Whitmore Lake, Michigan

Sat, 03/06/2010 - 08:56 — Guest

I Totally Disagree -Euthanasia is not the solution

These cats have become overpopulated for a reason. Steps must be put in place to ensure the problem does not reoccur such as funding for spay and neuter programs. I totally disagree that Euthanasia is the ONLY option -that is very shortsighted.. Disposing of lives for the sake of convenience is rediculous and completely in opposition of what our profession stands for. Making sure the problem doesn't occur in the first place makes the most sense and funding should be allocated for the rehabilitation and care of the current cats. There are plenty of organizations that rehabilitate feral cats -and even individuals who are not suitable as pets can be re-homed to keep tabs on rodents in responsable households and businesses. There are plenty of vet schools who would love the opportunity to learn spay and neuter techniques for a release program into controlled colonies. Controlled colonies in planned areas can control pests that carry more devastating diseases then the cats do. Not only would this be a great learning tool for future members of our profession but a win win situation. Let's use our heads instead of settling for the "easy" option.

Fri, 03/05/2010 - 22:59 — Guest

Animal rights

I feel animal rights groups may really make our jobs and lives difficult if things continue progressing the way they are. I recently moved to California, so I am now in the thick of it and, for example, cat declaws have been outlawed in 8 cities (I think 8)and may be statewide soon. I have also been following the new ideas of livestock management - the happy cows and pigs and chickens running around on dirt and full of parasites, etc. The livestock management that has been developed over centuries to make meat available and affordable for humans is changing and I worry that soon eating any kind of meat on a regular basis is going to be too expensive for the majority. The feral cat problem is really something people have caused and failed to control - it does seem that euthanasia is the best option - versus the public health risks, wildlife damage, and health concern for the feral cats as well as owned cats. I agree with the previous statements and wonder what makes cats different?

Fri, 03/05/2010 - 16:53 — Guest

Unfortunately, euthansia is a

Unfortunately, euthansia is a viable alternative to a better solution. It seems this is the American way, rather than come up with a better solution "just kill it". I have TNR in my area and have had a reduction in the feral cat population, which I'm sure everyone will tell me the studies have proved otherwise. I can only go by my experience.

Fri, 03/05/2010 - 16:49 — Guest

Feral Cats

I agree with what is said above. Euthanasia seems like the only realistic option that will help get feral cat populations under control. Once this happens, other less drastic means of controlling their population can be adopted.

Fri, 03/05/2010 - 16:14 — Guest

Feral cat issue

I think euthanasia is the ONLY viable option - the amount of damage a single cat does to local wildlife is staggering, never mind the health risk to domestic cats/public.

Fri, 03/05/2010 - 15:03 — Guest

Feral Cats

I have no problem with euthanasia of feral cats. They are a nuisance and a public health hazard. We cannot assure that all have been vaccinated for rabies even in a "colony". We do not put up with feral rats, there is low tolerance for suburban wild dogs, pigs, deer, elk, moose, mountain lions, boa constrictors, etc. Cats are just another feral animal.
The problem isn't so much controlling reproduction - it is controlling the feral cat period.

Fri, 03/05/2010 - 14:51 — Guest

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