ReviewAnimals : an open access journal from MDPI2019
A Case of Letting the Cat out of The Bag-Why Trap-Neuter-Return Is Not an Ethical Solution for Stray Cat (
Review in Animals : an open access journal from MDPI, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 27 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
27 citing papers in PubMed.
- Long-term effect of neutering age on body condition score and bodyweight in domestic cats.The Veterinary record · 2025Article
- The Wildcat That Lives in Me: A Review on Free-Roaming Cats (Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2025Review
- Calling a trade-off a trade-off in arguments for cat confinement.Animal welfare (South Mimms, England) · 2025Review
- Domestic cat management in the UK: learnings from a global perspective.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2025Review
- One-year surveillance ofFrontiers in veterinary science · 2025Article
- Evaluation of Population Management Based on Trap-Neuter-Return and Trap-Neuter-Adoption Practices in a Free-Roaming Cat Colony in the Federal District, Brazil.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2024Article
- Public Attitudes towards and Management Strategies for Community Cats in Urban China.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2024Article
- Density and Home Range of Cats in a Small Inhabited Mediterranean Island.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2024Article
- A Survey of Public Opinion on Community Cats' General Health and Relationship Quality with Residents in Urban China.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2024Article
- Assessing multiple free-roaming dog control strategies in a flexible agent-based model.Scientific reports · 2023Article
- Characteristics of cat semi-owners.Journal of feline medicine and surgery · 2023Article
- Piloting an International Comparison of Readily Accessible Online English Language Advice Surrounding Responsible Cat Ownership.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2023Article
- The Role of Veterinarians in Managing Community Cats: A Contextualized, Comprehensive Approach for Biodiversity, Public Health, and Animal Welfare.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2023Article
- Zoonotic parasites associated with predation by dogs and cats.Parasites & vectors · 2023Review
- Attitudes and practices toward feral cats of male and female dog or cat owners and non-owners in Seoul, South Korea.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2023Article
- Occurrence ofMicroorganisms · 2022Article
- Intensive Adoption as a Management Strategy for Unowned, Urban Cats: A Case Study of 25 Years of Trap-Assess-Resolve (TAR) in Auckland, New Zealand.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2022Article
- Urban landscape and infection risk in free-roaming cats.Zoonoses and public health · 2022Article
- Climate Change and Companion Animals: Identifying Links and Opportunities for Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies.Integrative and comparative biology · 2021Article
- The Cohabitation of Humans and Urban Cats in the Anthropocene: The Clash of Welfare Concepts.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs, in which stray cats are captured, neutered and returned to the environment are advocated as a humane, ethical alternative to euthanasia. We review the TNR literature in light of current debate over whether or not there should be further TNR trials in Australia. We revisit the problems arising from stray cats living in association with human habitation and estimate how many stray cats would have to be processed through a scientifically-guided TNR program to avoid high euthanasia rates. We also identify 10 ethical and welfare challenges that have to be addressed: we consider the quality of life for stray cats, where they would live, whether the TNR process itself is stressful, whether TNR cats are vulnerable to injury, parasites and disease, can be medically treated, stray cats' body condition and diet, and their impacts on people, pet cats, and urban wildlife, especially endemic fauna. We conclude that TNR is unsuitable for Australia in almost all situations because it is unlikely to resolve problems caused by stray cats or meet ethical and welfare challenges. Targeted adoption, early-age desexing, community education initiatives and responsible pet ownership have greater promise to minimize euthanasia, reduce numbers rapidly, and address the identified issues.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.