TNR Handbook - Neighborhood Cats

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The Neighborhood Cats TNR Handbook 3. FIV positive cats can lead relatively long lives Cats infected with FIV have commonly been known to live for many years and some never get sick. While their immune systems are compromised, proper care and nutrition can compensate to at least some degree. By contrast, FeLV positive cats have a much higher mortality rate. Most infections occur in kittens and most of them will die by the age of two to three years old. Still, while they are alive, they can often live symptom free until near the end if properly fed and sheltered. 4. Euthanizing positive cats is ineffective colony management The theory often advanced is that positive feral cats need to be identified through testing so they can be removed from the colony and the remaining cats can be protected from the disease. In truth, removing the positive cat makes little difference. It’s most likely the other cats in the colony have already been exposed to the virus and will have become infected or not. Furthermore, no matter how many ferals are removed because of positive test results, FIV and FeLV will remain in the environment and be an ongoing threat. New cats passing through or entering the colony could carry it and even colony members who tested negative might be harboring the FeLV virus. It’s not well known, but the ELISA FeLV test is also not completely reliable when the result is negative. The FeLV virus could be hiding in the bone marrow of an infected cat and not show up in the blood. The primary cause of illness in ferals, including FIV and FeLV, has more to do with proper colony management than the presence of any virus. Colonies with lots of sick cats are invariably ones that receive poor or insufficient nutrition, have inadequate shelter from cold and rain, and are unneutered. These conditions lead to weakened immune systems and susceptibility to disease. Indeed, some holistic veterinarians believe it is almost impossible for a healthy adult cat to catch FeLV. The best way to prevent the spread of disease is not by testing and removing individual cats, but by improving the quality of food, making sure the cats have warm, dry shelter in winter and getting them altered. 5. The life of a FIV/FeLV positive cat has value, too At Neighborhood Cats, we euthanize cats only if they are actively ill, suffering and terminal. If a feral cat was to test FIV or FeLV positive, but showed no signs of illness, we would return him to his colony. As a result, there’s no point in our doing the testing as a matter of routine. We only test if the cat is sick and the results are needed for diagnosis, treatment or determining if euthanasia is appropriate. There have been a few instances when we knowingly returned FIV or FeLV positive but asymptomatic cats back to their colonies. These colonies were neutered and well managed. We have yet to observe other cats falling ill as a consequence. Cats who are known to be positive do need to be closely observed for signs the terminal stage of the illness has taken hold. Loss of weight, persistent upper respiratory infections, drooling or difficulty eating indicates the cat should be re-trapped and examined by a veterinarian. If your veterinarian insists on testing, anyway Despite these factors weighing against the testing of ferals, your veterinarian may insist upon it and not give you any choice in the matter. Or the program providing spay/neuter funding may include testing in its protocol and is inflexible. If that’s the 81
The Neighborhood Cats TNR Handbook case, then find out before the cat is tested what the policy is for handling positive cats. If they will automatically euthanize the animal, which unfortunately is often the case, then we recommend you do not work with them if at all possible. As the caretaker of the colony, as the one who watches over, worries and feeds the cats on a daily basis, it is your right to decide their fate, not the veterinarian’s. The veterinarian is there to help and provide information, not make life-or-death decisions in your place. Feral cats are not second-class animals and should receive the same consideration as a domestic cat. A veterinarian would never presume to decide for the guardian of a house cat that the animal is going to be euthanized, nor should he do so for a feral simply because he’s providing his services to you for free or at a discount. • Post-surgical recovery Anesthetic withdrawal Depending on the spay/neuter clinic, the cats may be returned to your care prior to their full recovery from the anesthesia. In those instances, it’s important to recognize the typical stages of anesthetic withdrawal so you can properly assess whether everything is going well. In the first stage, the cat is unconscious (Figure 1). Everything is normal if she is breathing regularly, gums are pink and not white, and eyes are wide open and reflexively blink when tapped at the corner. Care must be taken to ensure the cat does not lie in a position that would constrict their windpipe and cut off their breathing, such as awkwardly twisting their neck. Because this assessment may require handling of the cat, cats in the unconscious stage should not be returned to the caretaker. Only experienced veterinary staff should ever pass judgment on whether it is safe to touch a sedated feral cat. In the second stage, depending on the type of Figure 1 anesthetic used, the cat may shake or twitch a fair amount, as though violently shivering or in a mild seizure. This is nothing to be alarmed about. The anesthesia causes the cat to lose control over the regulation of her body temperature, which drops. As the drugs wear off, the cat shivers to regain warmth. The drop in body temperature is why it is vital that a recently neutered cat be placed in a warm space for recovery (at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit). During this stage and hereafter, the cat should be confined in her trap. In the third stage, the cat has regained consciousness, but not full control over bodily movements. The cat may struggle to move about and fall over or swoon, appearing in a drunken state. She may bang up against the sides of the trap, trying to get out. The trap should be covered with a sheet by this point to provide a sense of security. Finally, upon full withdrawal, the cat will lie or sit quietly, appearing perhaps a little tired but otherwise alert. 82
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Contents The Neighborhood Cats TNR
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Foreword The Neighborhood Cats TNR
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6. Winter Shelter The Neighborhood
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Page 47 and 48: This is easily gotten around by tap
Page 63 and 64: • Hard-to-catch cats The Neighbor
Page 69 and 70: • Directions for use by Laura Bur
Page 73 and 74: 10. Caring for Cats in Traps The Ne
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Page 91 and 92: 13. Return to the Colony The Neighb
Page 93 and 94: 14. Relocation & Sanctuaries • Re
Page 107 and 108: 16. Feral Cat Resources Neighborhoo
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TNR Handbook - Neighborhood Cats

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