A Management Program and Study of the Population Characteristics and Dynamics
of Feral Cats on the Texas A&M University Campus.
The goal of the AFCAT program has always been to manage the feral cat
population through a trap-test-vaccinate-alter-return-monitor (TTVARM) program.
The first 18 months or so was the most active time, with the majority of cats
being feral. In years 2 and 3, an increasing number of cats on campus were
kittens or tame adults, with relatively few new feral cats caught. In year 3,
trapping frequency on campus was reduced to every 2 or 3 months as part of the
ongoing maintenance of the campus colonies.
The program has been considered a success with fewer cats trapped or found,
a decrease in complaints related to cats on campus and a positive view of the
program in general. The following table and graph show the figures for total
cats and kittens on campus, including both feral and tame animals.
AFCAT 5 Year Summary (August 1998 - August 2003)
| Coat Length: |
| Value |
| Frequency |
| Percent |
| DLH |
| 20 |
| 9 |
| DMH |
| 27 |
| 12 |
| DSH |
| 179 |
| 79 |
| Total |
| 226 |
| 100 |
| Gender: |
| Value |
| Frequency |
| Percent |
| Female |
| 114 |
| 50 |
| Male |
| 112 |
| 49 |
| Total |
| 226 |
| 100 |
| Estimated Ages: |
| Value |
| Frequency |
| Percent |
| Under 3 months |
| 43 |
| 19 |
| 3 - 6 months |
| 31 |
| 14 |
| 6 months - 1 year |
| 24 |
| 11 |
| 1 - 3 years |
| 72 |
| 31 |
| Over 3 years |
| 56 |
| 25 |
| Total |
| 226 |
| 100 |
There were 8 cats picked up and adopted directly from campus without testing.
There was 1 kitten found dead on campus. There was 1 cat euthanized for a bite
incident without testing. One cat tested positive for both FIV and FeLV.
| Feline Leukemia Virus (FELV): |
| Value |
| Frequency |
| Percent |
| Negative |
| 204 |
| 94 |
| Positive |
| 12 |
| 6 |
| Total |
| 226 |
| 100 |
| Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV): |
| Value |
| Frequency |
| Percent |
| Negative |
| 203 |
| 94 |
| Positive |
| 13 |
| 6 |
| Total |
| 226 |
| 100 |
| What Happened to the Cats? |
| Value |
| Frequency |
| Percent |
| Adopted |
| 82 |
| 36 |
| Euthanized/Died |
| 38 |
| 17 |
| Returned to Campus |
| 105 |
| 46 |
| Returned to Owner |
| 1 |
| 0.4 |
| Total |
| 226 |
| 100 |
Return to AFCAT Home Page
This page was last updated on: October 23, 2003
Copyright 2000 Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine
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