Admissions of Cats to Animal Welfare Shelters in Melbourne, Australia

Marston, Linda Constance; Bennett, Pauleen

doi:10.1080/10888700902955948

Cited by 65 publications

(124 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Two peaks of stray cat records show consistently for all of the areas with one peak during the summer and another peak 3-4 months after. The pattern indicates a well defined seasonal distribution similar to results of a study of stray cat admissions in Australia (Marston & Bennet, 2009). …”

Section: Monthly Trend Of Stray Cat Countssupporting

confidence: 57%

Stray cats in Auckland, New Zealand: Discovering geographic information for exploratory spatial analysis

Aguilar

Farnworth

2012

Applied Geography

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Stray cats are a common feature of urban landscapes and are associated with issues of animal welfare and negative environmental impacts. Management, planning and decision-making require readily accessible information on stray cats. However, much of the existing data is not immediately useful for a geographic information system (GIS) in terms of format, content and explicit location information. Spreadsheets we obtained from a single large shelter in the Auckland region. They contained records of stray cat pickups and admissions for an entire year (n = 8573) of which 56.4% (n = 4834) contained data that could be processed to derive relevant spatial information. The resulting data consisted of identified roads and areas of Auckland where the stray cats were found. Published census databases and shapefiles were matched with the data to build a GIS of stray cats. Global and local regression analysis was employed to discover spatial distribution characteristics including the identification of areas with relatively high and low concentrations of stray cats and to explore relationships between socioeconomic condition and stray cat density. Significant clustering is more evident in South Auckland than elsewhere in the region. Specific geographical information is valuable, not only for understanding population dynamics of stray cats, but also to allow spatial and temporal targeting of resources to minimise their impact and promote responsible ownership.

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Section: Monthly Trend Of Stray Cat Countssupporting

confidence: 57%

Stray cats in Auckland, New Zealand: Discovering geographic information for exploratory spatial analysis

Aguilar

Farnworth

2012

Applied Geography

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“…In Melbourne Australia, health conditions of cats from colonies were found to be generally poorer than non-colony cats. They displayed significantly increased incidences of cat flu, elevated flea burdens and evident scarring (Marston & Bennett, 2009). In addition cat colonies provide a potential source of zoonotic diseases (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution characteristics of unmanaged cat colonies over a 20 year period in Auckland, New Zealand

Aguilar

Farnworth

2013

Applied Geography

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a b s t r a c tCat colony records for the period 1991 to 2011 were used to determine spatial characteristics and relationships between cat colony density, human population, social conditions and the physical environment. Results show a positive correlation between cat colonies, population density, social indicators and the types of land where they are located. A temporal increase in the density of cat colonies is noticeable in areas where they are frequently reported, supporting the hypothesis that cat colonies are a persistent feature of Auckland's urban landscape. Complementing an earlier paper on stray cats, this paper seeks to provide information to support the implementation of management measures to mitigate both social and animal welfare concerns.

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“…Although Domestic Short Hairs are reportedly the most prevalent breeds in shelter cat populations in Australia, New Zealand, the United States and the UK , Rinzin, Stevenson et al 2008, Marston and Bennett 2009, there are limited studies available that analyse the link between daylight or breed with excess cat population admissions and outcomes in shelters (Casey, Vandenbussche et al 2009). …”

Section: Prolific Seasonal Cat Breeding and Excess Petsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Australian research regarding cat entry to shelters and outcomes is restricted to a single study of a large shelter in Melbourne, Victoria (Marston and Bennett 2009) and a government report on the fate of cats entering two shelters in Adelaide, South Australia (Marston 2009). …”

Section: The Lack Of Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Australia, research in relation to domestic cats and the excess pet problem is limited to the following: one study of cat admissions to a single shelter in Melbourne, Victoria (Marston and Bennett 2009); a government report of cat admissions and outcomes from two shelters in South Australia (Marston 2009); several studies and a government report estimating the owned cat population, demographics of cat ownership, and prevalence of desexing in the owned population (Chaseling 2001, Baldock, Alexander et al 2003, Baldock 2004, Kendall and Ley 2006, Australian Bureau of Statistics 2009, Toribio, Norris et al 2009); one investigation of community attitudes to cats in Victoria, Australia (Toukhsati, Coleman et al 2005); and a study that examines the attitudes of the public towards wandering cats and cat confinement, also in Victoria Australia (Toukhsati, Young et al 2012) .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Australian excess cat population: An exploration of cat admissions and outcomes to RSPCA shelters

Alberthsen¹

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It is estimated that more than 60% of cats admitted to animal shelters in Australia are euthanased. Euthanasia of healthy cats as an outcome to shelter entry is of concern for shelters, councils, and the community. Attempts made by government, welfare agencies, and community organisations to manage both cat entry to shelters and their subsequent euthanasia have achieved limited improvements. The percentage of cats euthanased has remained constant for the past decade, and a lack of fundamental statistical information about cat admission to shelters makes it difficult to understand the extent of the excess cat problem, to develop effective management strategies, and to evaluate the success of strategies employed.The aim of this thesis was to rigorously examine cat admissions and outcomes at RSPCA shelters throughout Australia. With this information it was possible to begin to address the paucity of available data and establish a nuanced description of the cat population admitted to shelters and the risk of euthanasia. From this, evidence-based recommendations for policy development, preventative measures, and future interventions were developed.Almost half of RSPCA cat admissions were stray (47%) and, when age, gender, breed, desexed status prior to admission, feral status, and year were accounted for, strays were just as likely as owner-surrendered cats to be rehomed (OR1.1; 95% CI 1.0-1.2: P<0.001). The percentage of cats categorised as desexed prior to admission was high (36%) in comparison to other studies, but low considering that only 47% of owner-surrendered cats were desexed and the reported desexing rate for owned cats is 90% or more. No differences in monthly adult cat admission patterns were observed when compared to December (the month with the highest overall cat intake). However, seasonal admission patterns differed significantly for kitten admissions (regardless of the kitten age definition for each state), with most kittens admitted in the summer months (November -February) (P<0.001). The most common reason for surrender of cats was for owner-related reasons (82%); the most frequent was due to accommodation issues (21% of all owner-related reasons for surrender). Overall, 58% of 195,387 cat admissions included in this research were euthanased as an outcome to admission. The most common reasons were medical (31%) and age (22%).When shelter practices were scrutinised, it was found that the presence and enforcement of quarantine measures on admission of new cats, the provision of climbing enrichment, and shelter capacity were all significantly associated with the risk of euthanasia. Additionally, 3 from the participants in our study, it was revealed that shelters generally operated on an all or nothing approach to policy and practices. Interestingly, the presence or absence of behavioural assessments for cats, age specific policy, and attitudes of decision makers were not significantly associated with the risk of euthanasia.One of the important conclusions derived from these findings is that a...

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Admissions of Cats to Animal Welfare Shelters in Melbourne, Australia

Cited by 65 publications

References 17 publications

Stray cats in Auckland, New Zealand: Discovering geographic information for exploratory spatial analysis

Stray cats in Auckland, New Zealand: Discovering geographic information for exploratory spatial analysis

Distribution characteristics of unmanaged cat colonies over a 20 year period in Auckland, New Zealand

The Australian excess cat population: An exploration of cat admissions and outcomes to RSPCA shelters

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