This letter is in response to Michelle Lerner's letter to the editor, "TNR Is Most Effective, Cheapest Way To Control Feral Cats" (Sentinel, July 9).

There is no scientific evidence indicating that Trap-Neuter- Return (TNR) substantially, quickly or effectively reduces the feral-cat population. The American Veterinary Medical Association has stated that any reduction is insignificant.

Cats are the leading carrier of rabies among domestic animals. Managed colonies often consist of approachable cats, not just true feral cats. Raccoons and skunks, both rabies-vector species in New Jersey, regularly dine at cat colonies. Any cat that evades capture in TNR is not only fed, but also better able to breed and remains unvaccinated. Cats are rarely re-trapped for subsequent vaccinations. The cost of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is generally more than $1,000. This could place an excessive financial burden on public-health departments and insurance providers.

Most feral cats do not die of natural causes. They are crushed by vehicles, torn up by fan belts, mauled by raccoons and coyotes, abused by people or succumb to disease. In fact, a study just published in the Journal of Wildlife Management (http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/1 0.2193/2008-033) concluded that coyotes pose a risk to domestic cats. The authors captured, radiocollared and tracked eight coyotes for three months. They observed 36 coyote-cat interactions, of which 19 resulted in coyotes killing cats. Are any of these outcomes humane for companion animals that do not naturally thrive in the wild?

TNR will never help wildlife. Why? The cats are always there, and feeding them in no way lessens their motivation to hunt. Colonies are perpetually maintained. New cats simply replace old ones. Neighborhood cats find the food source. Irresponsible pet owners dump cats at managed colonies. Even colony caregivers relocate cats into existing colonies. Wildlife does not get a break.

Due to a combination of their opportunistic predatory behavior and their occurrence in numbers exponentially higher than native predators, cats can wipe out bird populations from otherwise suitable habitat. In some cases, cat predation may supersede habitat loss as a primary threat to birds' survival. Cats also have impact on birds through competition with native predators such as raptors, and through the harboring and transmission of diseases to birds and other wildlife. In addition to direct mortality, cats may also cause stress responses in birds that result in reductions in breeding success or survival.

The American Bird Conservancy recently released a video, "Trap, Neuter and Release: Bad for Cats, Disaster for Birds." This film reveals how TNR is contributing to the deaths of millions of birds each year, including endangered species. See http://www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/ stories/090601.html.

Cat removal works when the food source is removed. More information can be found at http://tnrrealitycheck.com/.
Linda Cherkassky
New Jersey State Apprentice
Wildlife Rehabilitator
Voorhees