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MYTHBUSTING: Challenging Traditions and Saving More Cats

Erica Roewade

Outreach Director

Liz Houtz

Programs Director

www.catsinaction.org

            Chicago

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ERICA

  • Tree House Humane Society Chicago Community Cats Coordinator 2013-14
  • PAWS Chicago Community Cats Coordinator 2015-16

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Combined 23 years of experience focusing on:

Hoarding projects

Dispute management

Impoundment diversion

High-volume targeted TNR: 6,000+ cats

Working cats

Barn cats

LIZ

  • Started trapping cats in 2010
  • Tree House Humane Society Chicago Community Cats Program Manager 2013-17

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  • Co-founded Cats in Action 2019
  • Established non-profit 2022

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  • 3.2 million cats enter the shelter system on average every year

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  • 530,000 cats are euthanized in shelters annually

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  • 810,000 animals in shelters are returned to their owners (only 100,000 are cats, 3.1%)

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Source: www.shelteranimalscount.org National Database

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Traditional policies are not working for cats

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  • 3.2 million cats enter the shelter system on average every year

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  • 530,000 cats are euthanized in shelters annually

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  • 810,000 animals in shelters are returned to their owners (only 100,000 are cats, 3.1%)

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Source: www.shelteranimalscount.org National Database

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Traditional policies are not working for cats

  • Bently doesn't understand why he was picked up
  • He misses his person who may never find him
  • Stanley is terrified of people
  • Feral cats rarely make it out of impoundment facilities alive

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  • What is “home” from a cat’s perspective?

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  •  What is an appropriate living situation for a feral vs. friendly cat?

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  •  How do we make a good decision for the situation at hand, not necessarily the traditional decision?

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  •  Longstanding animal welfare industry policies are closing doors on lifesaving opportunities

What is an acceptable home for a cat?

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Myth #1 

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Friendly cats need to be in a proper indoor “house”

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Shadow and Moonlight live in a custom car garage

Employees and customers love them

Myth #1 

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Friendly cats need to be in a proper indoor “house”

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Myth #1 

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Friendly cats need to be in a proper indoor “house”

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Venkman, Egon and Ray live at a craft brewery in Chicago

They protect precious grain from rodents

Myth #1 

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Friendly cats need to be in a proper indoor “house”

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Myth #1 

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Friendly cats need to be in a proper indoor “house”

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  • Marco lives at a record store. He is a fashion icon and music critic
  • He has run for both Mayor and President

Myth #1 

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Friendly cats need to be in a proper indoor “house”

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Myth #1 

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Friendly cats need to be in a proper indoor “house”

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  • Tessa lives at a vape shop in Hinsdale IL
  • She was greeting all the customers!

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Myth #1 

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Friendly cats need to be in a proper indoor “house”

  • The Sophisticats live at a bike shop

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Myth #1 

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Friendly cats need to be in a proper indoor “house”

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Myth #1 

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Friendly cats need to be in a proper indoor “house”

  • Best Friends adopted this friendly cat to True Leaf Market in UT

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  • Cat lives in their warehouse and is adored by all

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Myth #2

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Friendly cats should never be outside

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  • Outside of the US, outdoor friendly cats are an accepted part of the community
  • Cat family at a gas station on the Greek island of Amorgos
  • Chicago-based foundation sponsored my team to TNR 200 cats on the island

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Myth #2

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Friendly cats should never be outside

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Myth #3 

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Feral cats that have only lived inside can’t be placed outside

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  • There are far more cats in need (e.g., hoarding situations) than there are warehouses and breweries
  • Undersocialized indoor-only cats thrive in the right placement
  • Hobby farms and horse barns are ideal

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Myth #3 

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Feral cats that have only lived inside can’t be placed outside

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Myth #3 

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Feral cats that have only lived inside can’t be placed outside

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  • Bogey and Bacall were removed from a colony at 4 months old and never socialized
  • They spent a year and a half living under a bed!
  • They went from being terrified and miserable to loving life at a horse barn

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Myth #3 

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Feral cats that have only lived inside can’t be placed outside

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Myth #4

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Cats with FIV or FeLV can’t go back outside

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  • Do not combo/snap test cats going back outside
  • Sterilize cats to prevent mating and fighting—leading causes of disease transmission
  • Spend all money on TNR
  • If the cat was already tested, return and monitor
  • Never euthanize an otherwise healthy cat

Myth #4

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Cats with FIV or FeLV can’t go back outside

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Myth #5

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Cats with three legs, one eye, 

or no teeth can’t live outside

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  • Unlikely scenarios not supported by evidence should not guide return decisions
  • Forcing captivity and human interaction on feral cats is cruel
  • Most TNR'd free-roaming cats have caretakers; they are not hunting to survive

Myth #5

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Cats with three legs, one eye, 

or no teeth can’t live outside

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Myth #6

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Cats who lost their shelter need to be relocated

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Myth #6

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Cats who lost their shelter need to be relocated

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  • Cats often have multiple shelter areas or will find new ones
  • When demo crews arrive, cats will safely scatter and return when quiet
  • Create multiple escape routes
  • Spend your time talking to neighbors, finding new yards for shelter

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Myth #7

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Cats need to be “taught” how to hunt by their mothers

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  • Hunting is instinctive
  • Pheromones deter rodents 
  • Don't hesitate placing  "inexperienced" cats in barns

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Myth #7

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Cats need to be “taught” how to hunt by their mothers

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Myth #8

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The neighborhood is “too dangerous” for cats

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Myth #8

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The neighborhood is “too dangerous” for cats

  • Cats don't track crime statistics
  • Think like the cat: This is the only home they know
  • There are cat lovers in every neighborhood
  • This is a vacant housing project in Chicago

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Myth #9

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You have to know who is feeding to return a cat

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  • Cats typically have multiple food sources
  • 14% of U.S. households (26% of cat-owning households) provide care—mostly food and water—for free-roaming cats*
  • They know where the food is, so you don't have to
  • Sampson had 3 houses in a row feeding him and they didn't know about each other!

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*Source: American Pet Products Association’s 2019–2020 National Pet Owners Survey

Myth #9

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You have to know who is feeding to return a cat

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Myth #10

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You shouldn't TNR in winter

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  • Mating season begins 3rd week of January
  • Delaying TNR only results in more kittens
  • Cats will not succumb to hypothermia from a small patch of shaved fur
  • Fur takes months to grow back anyway
  • Holding cats for recovery longer than 24 hours is unnecessary and stressful
  • Provide outdoor shelters with straw

Myth #10

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You shouldn't TNR in winter

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Myth #11

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You shouldn’t return kittens

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  • Feral kittens over 12 weeks old are nearly impossible to socialize
  • Feral kittens 8-12 weeks old can take a long time to socialize
  • We can fill all foster homes with younger kittens who socialize quickly and get more kittens off the streets
  • Managing kittens detracts from TNR, which has a greater impact on reducing the population

Myth #11

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You shouldn’t return kittens

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Myth #12

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The public doesn’t support friendly

cats living in non-traditional environments

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  • Cat lives on a bike!
  • And various tents, Airbnbs and vans

Myth #12

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The public doesn’t support friendly

cats living in non-traditional environments

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Myth #12

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The public doesn’t support friendly

cats living in non-traditional environments

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Myth #12

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The public doesn’t support friendly

cats living in non-traditional environments

  • Who doesn’t love bodega cats?
  • Half a million devoted followers
  • Features shop cats from around the world

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  •  Open your minds to non-traditional homes so you can save more cats
  •  Put yourselves in the cat’s paws
  •  Don’t project human emotions and needs on cats
  •  Don’t let “Keyboard Cowboys” and “Rescue Warriors” prevent cats from living in their best homes
  •  Celebrate (and publicize!) your successes

Conclusions

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MYTHBUSTING: Challenging Traditions and Saving More Cats

Erica Roewade

Outreach Director

Liz Houtz

Programs Director

www.catsinaction.org

            Chicago