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Feral Cat Coalition
Study Data

In San Diego County, the non-profit Feral Cat Coalition has trapped, altered and released in excess of 3,100cats over the past two years. In addition to these cats,which were over 5 months of age at the time of altering. an unknown number of kittens were also trapped, socialized and adopted into new homes.

Prior to this project, San Diego County Animal Management Information System reported an increase of roughly, 10% per year in the number of cats handled by San Diego Animal Control shelters from 1988 to 1992. The increase peaked at 13% from Fiscal Year (FY)91 to FY92, with a total of 19,077 cats handled. After just two years, with no other explanation for the drop, only 12.446 cats were handled--a drop of 35%. Instead of another 10% annual increase, euthanasias plunged 40% from 91-92 to 93-94.

SAN DIEGO ANIMAL CONTROL CAT STATISTICS 1988-1994

            Total Claimed Adopted Euthanized Research Other*
            ----- ------- ------- ---------- -------- -----
88-89      13,939    202    2,130    10,976      7     614
89-90      15,394    230    2,223    12,340      -     591
90-91      16,849    238    2,426    13,561      7     617
91-92      19,077    248    2,577    15,525      6     721
92-93      14,143    180    2,297    11,121      -     545
93-94      12,446    223    2,386     9,269      -     568
*Other includes: return to wild, transfer to correct jurisdiction, wildlife rehab, stolen, escaped, DOA. died in kennel, died in truck, died at contract vet, misc.

Of the 3,153 cats trapped by the Feral Cat Coalition which were altered, -54% were female, 46% were male. Of the 1639 females spayed, the following characteristics were noted: 


 453      Normal          28%
 691      In Heat         42%
 218      Pregnant        13%
 216      Lactating       13%
  61      Post Queening    4%
----                     ---
1639                     100%

Only 3%, 86 cats total, were found to have been already altered. 17 cats were refused surgery for being under 5 months of age, or too ill. 18 cats died during surgery. 679 cats (22%) needed additional medical treatment--generally amoxicillin for infections, or ivomectin for mites or worming. Additionally, cleaning and suturing wounds and abscesses were very common.

72% of these stray female cats were either in heat, pregnant, or had recently had kittens. This is at least a three and a half times higher incidence of pregnancy than found among owned cats. Three studies have shown between 16-20% of owned cats have a litter prior to altering. A 1991 Massachusetts SPCA study found 20% of owned cats had a litter, a Las Vegas Study reported 16% of owned cats reproduced, and in the 1993 survey of Santa Clara County residents, 16% also verified that their cats had a litter prior to altering.

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