【正文】 olerated or even weled as rodent catchers, for panionship or as a feature of an area, but the situation can deteriorate if populations increase unchecked leading to huge numbers of cats, diseased and dying animals, noise, smell, disturbance to rubbish bins and killing of wildlife. Feral cat populations will increase wherever there is food and shelter unless steps are taken to control these. If a population of feral cats is surviving and healthy, there is almost certainly someone feeding them. If the intention is to control them, then the cooperation of the feeders is necessary. It is now recognised, that a humane way of dealing with groups of feral cats is to trap, neuter, release them into familiar surroundings and then to care for them on that site. Catching cats by hand, even when wearing gloves, is not remended as scratches and bites can be severe. Nets mean a risk of the cat panicking or being entangled. Cats are best caught with either manual or triggeractivated cage traps, baited and placed near their usual feeding place. Manual traps, where the cage door is released by the trapper, are remended when a particular cat is sought. Automatic traps should be covered to protect the animal from the elements and should be regularly monitored. Once caught, the cat should be transferred to a carrying or restraint cage and put in a quiet place covered with a cloth or blanket. The main features of this cage are a drop door for easy transfer of the cat and a squeeze panel to enable the cat to be restrained within the cage. ‘Equipment is detailed in the acpanying guide.’ 《社區(qū)貓過剩問題處理指南》 CCAPN LuckyCats CatsZone CCAPN、 LuckyCats、 CatsZone 版權(quán) 所有 ，未經(jīng)許可請勿部分轉(zhuǎn)載 第 15頁，共 24頁 If the cat is taken for treatment or neutering, the veterinary surgeon should be warned that the cat is feral and may have food in its stomach. The cat should be vaccinated and wormed。 again it is important that records be kept of any treatments. Most feral cats are too wild to bee domestic pets, although in some cases they can be neutered and placed in outdoor homes such as farmyards or riding stables to continue living as ferals. Cats taken to a new site should be confined for a few days in pens until they are familiar with their surroundings. Feral cats do not adapt well to a confined life and the acmodation provided by most animal shelters will not be suitable. If a society wishes to provide a shelter where ferals can spend the rest of their lives, then special consideration will need to be given to the needs of the animals and it must be ensured that new animals entering the colony are free from ringworm and diseases such as feline immunodeficiency virus. If the intention is to remove or reduce numbers in an area, then steps should be taken to make it less appealing, so that other cats wont simply move in. Clearing or removing food sources should be gradual to prevent the risk of starvation. It is almost impossible to eradicate cats from an area in one move, some will avoid capture and others will move in. Poisoning is both inhumane and can threaten children and other animals. Cat control measures must be viewed as a longterm strategy. Population Control Preventing births of unwanted cats is essential to any programme of care and control of either feral or owned cats and neutering has proved worldwide to be the most effective method of population control. A neutering or sterilisation campaign should start with owned cats because it is the well cared for cats, which produce the most kittens. As cat owners and veterinary surgeons accept the value of neutering, it is easier to spread the idea to free living populations. In addition to reducing the number of unwanted kittens, neutering has other benefits. Spade females do not e into season and so do not call to attract males. They are no longer at risk of uterine or ovarian infections or tumours and the risk of mammary tumours is greatly reduced. There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that females should have a litter before sterilisation. Indeed, if females have a season or litter, there is an increased risk of mammary tumours later in life. Neutered males bee more docile and affectionate, their urine loses its strong smell and it is sprayed less and they roam and fight less. WSPA can supply their training video ‘Neutering techniques for dogs and cats’ for veterinary surgeons studying the procedures required. Animals should not have eaten prior to anaesthesia and operations should be undertaken in suitable facilities by trained personnel with proper anaesthesia employed and effective postoperative care for the animal ensured. The local authority should establish subsidised neutering programmes, possibly in conjunction with veterinary institutes and animal protection societies. Any rehomed cats should be neutered before release. Providing suitable facilities need not be prohibitively expensive. The WSPA video ‘Istanbul’s Bus Hospitals’ shows how, although not ideal, an effective veterinary surgery has been created in the centre of Istanbul, using converted buses. Also Veterinary surgeons form Europe or North America may offer to visit a country to neuter cats or help establish a programme. 《社區(qū)貓過剩問題處理指南》 CCAPN LuckyCats CatsZone CCAPN、 LuckyCats、 CatsZone 版權(quán) 所有 ，未經(jīng)許可請勿部分轉(zhuǎn)載 第 16頁，共 24頁 To be successful the programme must be ongoing, continuing the neutering operations. Cats can breed very fast and a population of cats apparently stabilised after a onemonth programme can soon rise again, when a few unsterilised cats move into an area. For longterm management it is important to be able to easily identify which cats have or have not been neutered. Ear tipping, where the tip of the left ear is removed following the operation, is accepted in many countries