Application of a high-quality, high-volume trap–neuter–return model of community cats in Seoul, Korea
Background This study was performed to determine the characteristics of community cats that were admitted to trap–neuter–return(TNR) programs and the feasibility of the high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter (HQHVSN) model in Seoul, Korea. Methods TNR programs were performed eight times from 2017 to...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
PeerJ Inc.
2020-03-01
|
| Series: | PeerJ |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/8711.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797425774486093824 |
|---|---|
| author | Yoonju Cho Kyunghee Kim Min Su Kim Inhyung Lee |
| author_facet | Yoonju Cho Kyunghee Kim Min Su Kim Inhyung Lee |
| author_sort | Yoonju Cho |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background This study was performed to determine the characteristics of community cats that were admitted to trap–neuter–return(TNR) programs and the feasibility of the high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter (HQHVSN) model in Seoul, Korea. Methods TNR programs were performed eight times from 2017 to 2018, and a total of 375 community cats from the pilot areas were admitted. The pilot areas were selected regions wherein caregivers voluntarily participated in our TNR program. Each cat was anesthetized, assessed for health status, sterilized, vaccinated against feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia (FVR-CP), and rabies, and treated with insecticide after surgery. The time from anesthesia to recovery was evaluated to verify the efficiency of surgical time of the program. The TNR program at a local animal hospital and the program in this study were compared to assess the veterinary treatment administered and the cost for each cat. Results A total of 375 cats were underwent TNR in this study, including 192 (51.2%) intact females, 180 (48%) intact males, and three (0.8%) sterilized cats. Following surgery, 372 cats (99.2%) were returned to their original locations. Three cats (0.8%) died postoperatively. On average, 21.9% of the cats were pregnant during the TNRs, and the highest percentage of cats (63.9%) were pregnant in March. All cats presented to the TNR program were considered healthy enough to be part of the program after examination. For neutering one animal at a time, similar to conventional TNR ($140), it took 53 ± 16 mins for females and 30 ± 9 mins for males from anesthesia to recovery. In contrast, the standardized procedure can neuter multiple cats simultaneously, similar to the conveyor system, at an estimated rate of 6.8 mins per cat ($45 per female cat, $30 per male cat). Conclusions The TNR strategy in Seoul should be implemented by establishing dedicated clinics to concentrate on HQHVSN surgeries of cats. Through this pilot study, we were able to demonstrate that it is possible to effectively apply HQHVSN clinics in Korea. Future studies that perform intensive sterilization in targeted areas are necessary to confirm the efficacy of the TNR strategy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:21:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c6d578e87aa147c4bfdbb160321ad380 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:21:04Z |
| publishDate | 2020-03-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PeerJ |
| spelling | doaj.art-c6d578e87aa147c4bfdbb160321ad3802023-12-02T21:49:40ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592020-03-018e871110.7717/peerj.8711Application of a high-quality, high-volume trap–neuter–return model of community cats in Seoul, KoreaYoonju Cho0Kyunghee Kim1Min Su Kim2Inhyung Lee3Department of Pet Science, Seojeong University, Yangju, Gyeonggi, Republic of KoreaGyeongin Animal Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, South KoreaDepartment of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, South KoreaBackground This study was performed to determine the characteristics of community cats that were admitted to trap–neuter–return(TNR) programs and the feasibility of the high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter (HQHVSN) model in Seoul, Korea. Methods TNR programs were performed eight times from 2017 to 2018, and a total of 375 community cats from the pilot areas were admitted. The pilot areas were selected regions wherein caregivers voluntarily participated in our TNR program. Each cat was anesthetized, assessed for health status, sterilized, vaccinated against feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia (FVR-CP), and rabies, and treated with insecticide after surgery. The time from anesthesia to recovery was evaluated to verify the efficiency of surgical time of the program. The TNR program at a local animal hospital and the program in this study were compared to assess the veterinary treatment administered and the cost for each cat. Results A total of 375 cats were underwent TNR in this study, including 192 (51.2%) intact females, 180 (48%) intact males, and three (0.8%) sterilized cats. Following surgery, 372 cats (99.2%) were returned to their original locations. Three cats (0.8%) died postoperatively. On average, 21.9% of the cats were pregnant during the TNRs, and the highest percentage of cats (63.9%) were pregnant in March. All cats presented to the TNR program were considered healthy enough to be part of the program after examination. For neutering one animal at a time, similar to conventional TNR ($140), it took 53 ± 16 mins for females and 30 ± 9 mins for males from anesthesia to recovery. In contrast, the standardized procedure can neuter multiple cats simultaneously, similar to the conveyor system, at an estimated rate of 6.8 mins per cat ($45 per female cat, $30 per male cat). Conclusions The TNR strategy in Seoul should be implemented by establishing dedicated clinics to concentrate on HQHVSN surgeries of cats. Through this pilot study, we were able to demonstrate that it is possible to effectively apply HQHVSN clinics in Korea. Future studies that perform intensive sterilization in targeted areas are necessary to confirm the efficacy of the TNR strategy.https://peerj.com/articles/8711.pdfTNRFeral catPopulation controlUrban environmentShelterHQHVSN clinics |
| spellingShingle | Yoonju Cho Kyunghee Kim Min Su Kim Inhyung Lee Application of a high-quality, high-volume trap–neuter–return model of community cats in Seoul, Korea PeerJ TNR Feral cat Population control Urban environment Shelter HQHVSN clinics |
| title | Application of a high-quality, high-volume trap–neuter–return model of community cats in Seoul, Korea |
| title_full | Application of a high-quality, high-volume trap–neuter–return model of community cats in Seoul, Korea |
| title_fullStr | Application of a high-quality, high-volume trap–neuter–return model of community cats in Seoul, Korea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Application of a high-quality, high-volume trap–neuter–return model of community cats in Seoul, Korea |
| title_short | Application of a high-quality, high-volume trap–neuter–return model of community cats in Seoul, Korea |
| title_sort | application of a high quality high volume trap neuter return model of community cats in seoul korea |
| topic | TNR Feral cat Population control Urban environment Shelter HQHVSN clinics |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/8711.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yoonjucho applicationofahighqualityhighvolumetrapneuterreturnmodelofcommunitycatsinseoulkorea AT kyungheekim applicationofahighqualityhighvolumetrapneuterreturnmodelofcommunitycatsinseoulkorea AT minsukim applicationofahighqualityhighvolumetrapneuterreturnmodelofcommunitycatsinseoulkorea AT inhyunglee applicationofahighqualityhighvolumetrapneuterreturnmodelofcommunitycatsinseoulkorea |