Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Today there are over 100 000 stray cats in Sweden and of these 10 000 are found in Gothenburg. There are several instances that try to reduce the number of stray cats. The problem for stray cats is primarily the suffering they may face in hunger, cold, predators, diseases, parasites, accidents, etc. The cats receive no veterinary care and may die from a simple infection that easily can be cured with antibiotics. Stray cats also can spread diseases to domestic cats, be a sanitary problem and compete with other small predators on prey.

Authorities working with stray cats are the Country Administrative Board and the police authority. However, it is mostly non-profit organizations and shelters that are trying to give these cats new homes. Some organizations are also working with the controversial TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) method. It includes trapping stray cats, giving them veterinary care, neutering them and then release them in the area in which they were trapped. After release the cats are provided with food twice a day by volunteers.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the problems with stray cats in Gothenburg and what the city's organizations and authorities are handling the problem. When the Country Administrative Board receives reports of isolated cases of stray cats, they inform the police, which is the authority that if possible, captures the cat. The organizations working with stray cats in the Gothenburg area are Djurens vänner in Gothenburg, Djurens samarittjänst in Gråbo, Råmossen katthem in Alingsås, Gilos katthjälp, Göteborgs djurskyddsförening in Mölnlycke, Djurhemmet Tigerharen, Västerkatten, Änglakatten, Gothiakatten and Göteborgs katthjälp. These work as shelters, foster homes and with the TNR method.

There seem to be a little agreement about the solution to the problem with stray cats between the authorities and organizations in Gothenburg. However, they all think that a mandatory identification marking of cats would increase their status and thus probably reduce the number of stray cats. Some of the organizations in Gothenburg also want mandatory neutering of outdoor domestic cats, in order to prevent an increase in unwanted cats. The Country Administrative Board, the police and some of the cat organizations in Gothenburg says that the TNR method is violating the Swedish legislation, and they will therefore not promote TNR. They are also hesitant to if it is ethical to allow domesticated cats living in the wild. According to them, increased use of TNR method may encourage people to release their cats adrift because they know there are people who feed them. The organizations involved in TNR believe that this method gives the feral cats which can not survive indoor a chance.