cid 127 Galapagos goats shot cats sprayed neutered and sent to mainland because companion animals we care about them even though more expensive Dynamics of Pet Overpopulation Terminology unwanted was once wanted uncontrolled runaway pet stray stray have been owned and strayed away from homes roaming free on street abandoned had been owned neglected dumped given to shelters feral animal gone back to wild life reverted from traits of domestication cats behave like wild cousins not socialized with people cid 127 Most overpopulated companion animal species in the United States is the cat semi feral dogs sort of go back to wild state wild untamed domesticated India dogs are a problem tropical world snakes a problem cid 127 What is companion animal overpopulation cid 127 More companion animal than homes keepers cats and dogs reptiles birds small mammals don t care about mice Consequences of overpopulation public health concerns rabies bites lice parasites humane concerns control measures starvation worry about their welfare wildlife threats cats are hunters destroy physical environment nuisance factor fighting carry trash animal disease increases how people characterize these problems The numbers estimated Shelter census 5 8 million animals yearly 35 000 shelter employees Shelter euthanasia 4 5 million animals yearly 50 dogs 70 cats Free roaming feral animals cats 60 million dogs Population Ecology Population determinants birth rate vs death rate number of reproducing animals nutrition disease temperature climate adaptation to environment The python problem in Florida Feral Burmese pythons snakes deliberate dumping accidental release after hurricanes Significant ecosystem destruction snakes as vermin don t care how we kill them Dog Ecology how they die euthanasia or non managed causes hit by car poison infection fairly easy to control dog population because easy to control reproduction feeding and hunting reproduction 3 times in 2 years environmental adaptability eat lots of things adapt to climate indoor outdoor cats variation of responsibility and freedoms Cat Ecology behavior feeding and hunting cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 reproduction every 2 weeks environmental adaptability Follow up TNR what type of research do we need to evaluate the feral cat problem and its possible solutions addresses overpopulation by neutering them problem only vets can administer the spraying neutering 75 of feral cat population must be neutered to effectively decrease its population size Euthanize Animal shelters catch and kill addresses all consequences of overpopulation not popular program because love cats high on affect cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127