Measuring Success Measuring Success

Phase One of a Longitudinal Study Phase One of a Longitudinal Study that Measures the Impact of a that Measures the Impact of a

Statewide Program in Oregon to Statewide Program in Oregon to Reduce the Population of Feral CatsReduce the Population of Feral Cats

Sharon Warner Methvin, PhDSharon Warner Methvin, PhDDepartment of Sociology Department of Sociology Clark CollegeClark College

Vancouver, Washington 98663Vancouver, Washington 98663Smethvin@clark.eduSmethvin@clark.edu 360.992.2976 360.992.2976

Do Trap Neuter Return Do Trap Neuter Return Programs for Oregon’s Feral Programs for Oregon’s Feral

Cats Make a Difference? Cats Make a Difference?

How Do We Measure Success?How Do We Measure Success?

Measuring SuccessMeasuring Success• Which Cats? Which Cats? • Which Places? Which Places? • Which Circumstances? Which Circumstances? • Which Caregivers?Which Caregivers?

Areas of MeasurementAreas of Measurementof Program Success in this of Program Success in this StudyStudy• The catThe cat

Long-term health and well-being of the animalLong-term health and well-being of the animal• The colony The colony

Stabilization of the increase of the feral Stabilization of the increase of the feral population within the colonypopulation within the colony

• The caretakerThe caretakerStability in caregiver responsibility for the Stability in caregiver responsibility for the feral colonyferal colony

Research DesignResearch Design• Stratified by location of urban and ruralStratified by location of urban and rural• Systematic ten percent sampleSystematic ten percent sample• Randomized by all cats participating in the Randomized by all cats participating in the

clinic each had an equal chance of entering clinic each had an equal chance of entering studystudy

• Six clinics selected during a six month periodSix clinics selected during a six month period• Follow up interviews at six months and one Follow up interviews at six months and one

and a half years out (ongoing at this time)and a half years out (ongoing at this time)• A 55 point questionnaire and interview A 55 point questionnaire and interview

entered into access, coupled with two phone entered into access, coupled with two phone interviews that repeat key data points interviews that repeat key data points

Sample StrategySample Strategy• Ten percent sample of six clinics over Ten percent sample of six clinics over

a six month perioda six month period• Sample consists of 48 cases that are Sample consists of 48 cases that are

representative of approximately representative of approximately 1500 cats served by the program1500 cats served by the program

• Clinics represent two urban service Clinics represent two urban service areas and a composite picture of the areas and a composite picture of the rural service arearural service area

The Question Asked?The Question Asked? Is the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon Is the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon

making a difference in reducing making a difference in reducing overpopulation? overpopulation?

FCCO ProgramFCCO Program• Founded in 1995Founded in 1995• A Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) A Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR)

ProgramProgram• 3-4 Saturday Clinics each Month3-4 Saturday Clinics each Month• An average of 80 Cats per ClinicAn average of 80 Cats per Clinic• 20,000 Cats Sterilized to Date20,000 Cats Sterilized to Date• www.feralcats.comwww.feralcats.com

Cat ArchetypesCat Archetypes• Commercial KittyCommercial Kitty• Lone Mom/Tom HoboLone Mom/Tom Hobo• Barnyard KittyBarnyard Kitty• Residential ClusterResidential Cluster

Commercial Kitty Archetype Mama

Commercial KittyCommercial Kitty7 cases 7 cases • A four generation lineage, meaning an A four generation lineage, meaning an

offspring of a commercial kitty who offspring of a commercial kitty who often has had at least two of her own often has had at least two of her own litters.litters.

• Workers tend to feed and create Workers tend to feed and create innovative shelters. innovative shelters.

• Adult cats are quite feral but well Adult cats are quite feral but well adapted to environment; kittens may adapted to environment; kittens may be caught and adopted. be caught and adopted.

Mom/Tom HoboTuxedo Kitty

Mom/Tom Neighborhood HoboMom/Tom Neighborhood Hobo14 cases14 cases• Usually an abandoned stray that over time Usually an abandoned stray that over time

may become more scared and wildmay become more scared and wild• Usually wonders the neighborhood Usually wonders the neighborhood

searching for a safe place to live, often searching for a safe place to live, often with offspring from one or more litterswith offspring from one or more litters

• May search and/or compete with other May search and/or compete with other animals for food and/or territoryanimals for food and/or territory

• May find/trust a new caregiver and settle May find/trust a new caregiver and settle into the new yard or even home into the new yard or even home

Barnyard KittenChocolate Chip

Barnyard KittenBarnyard Kitten4 cases4 cases• Born into the farm colonyBorn into the farm colony• Usually and offspring of a mamma cat that Usually and offspring of a mamma cat that

was dumped and showed up one day or was was dumped and showed up one day or was herself born into the colonyherself born into the colony

• Those who survive beyond kitten hood tend Those who survive beyond kitten hood tend to be healthy and well adapted to the to be healthy and well adapted to the environmentenvironment

• Some baby barn kittens are tamed by the Some baby barn kittens are tamed by the caregivers and adopted outcaregivers and adopted out

• Adult barn cats (3 more cases) are a subsetAdult barn cats (3 more cases) are a subset

Residential ClusterMr. Monroe

Residential ClusterResidential Cluster16 cases16 cases• May be in the shed, garage, green May be in the shed, garage, green

spacespace• Single family houses, apartment Single family houses, apartment

complexes, trailer parkscomplexes, trailer parks• Two or more generations of feral or Two or more generations of feral or

abandoned cats who stayabandoned cats who stay• Often an extended lineage of collateral Often an extended lineage of collateral

and lineal offspringand lineal offspring

Colony ArchetypesColony Archetypes• Virgin ColonyVirgin Colony

First time Trapped First time Trapped • Colony Undergoing StabilizationColony Undergoing Stabilization

Reached 50% RateReached 50% Rate• Colony Undergoing MaintenanceColony Undergoing Maintenance

Reached 80% RateReached 80% Rate

Virgin ColoniesVirgin Colonies13 cases13 cases• 9 at stabilization; 4 at maintenance9 at stabilization; 4 at maintenance• Most brought in my caregivers not Most brought in my caregivers not

FCCO volunteer trappersFCCO volunteer trappers• On average only 50% of the cats in On average only 50% of the cats in

colony had been caughtcolony had been caught

Colonies at StabilizationColonies at Stabilization10 cases (non virgin)10 cases (non virgin)• Reached on average 50% sterilization Reached on average 50% sterilization

raterate• Usually one or more “holdouts”Usually one or more “holdouts”• May have one or more young litters to May have one or more young litters to

catchcatch• Usually brought in by caregivers instead Usually brought in by caregivers instead

of FCCO volunteersof FCCO volunteers• May need to wait two or more months May need to wait two or more months

for next clinicfor next clinic

Colonies at MaintenanceColonies at Maintenance21 cases 21 cases • 11 colonies at 100% sterilization11 colonies at 100% sterilization• Others have one or two cats unalteredOthers have one or two cats unaltered• All have reached the 80% sterilization All have reached the 80% sterilization • Half brought in by caregivers & half FCCOHalf brought in by caregivers & half FCCO• Trapped over one or more yearsTrapped over one or more years• Frequent attendance at clinics (3-8x’s)Frequent attendance at clinics (3-8x’s)

Strategies to Improve SuccessStrategies to Improve Success

• Colony follow up plan to achieve 80% ruleColony follow up plan to achieve 80% rule• Establish voucher program and/or Monday Establish voucher program and/or Monday

clinic to catch “holdout” cats and youngclinic to catch “holdout” cats and young• Establish separate mechanism for Establish separate mechanism for

sterilizing cats from FCCO volunteerssterilizing cats from FCCO volunteers• Establish tracking plan to monitor coloniesEstablish tracking plan to monitor colonies• Establish frequent, targeted clinic Establish frequent, targeted clinic

locationslocations• Advance marketing in targeted locationAdvance marketing in targeted location

DiscussionDiscussion• Clearly for the cats, such as Mr. Monroe, Clearly for the cats, such as Mr. Monroe,

Tuxedo Kitty, Mama, and Chocolate and 19, Tuxedo Kitty, Mama, and Chocolate and 19, 996 others, the organization has made a 996 others, the organization has made a differencedifference

• For the over population of feral and stray cats, For the over population of feral and stray cats, the difference is less clearthe difference is less clear

• Depends on which location and which colonies Depends on which location and which colonies • These two factors will be better understood These two factors will be better understood

once the comparative data from the follow up once the comparative data from the follow up interviews are analyzedinterviews are analyzed