Cat admissions toRSPCAshelters in Queensland,Australia: description of cats and risk factors for euthanasia after entry

Australian Veterinary Journal - Tập 91 Số 1-2 - Trang 35-42 - 2013
C Alberthsen1, J. S. Rand1, Pauleen C. Bennett2, Mandy Paterson3, M. M. Lawrie4, J. M. Morton5
1The Centre for Companion Animal Health, School of Veterinary Science The University of Queensland St Lucia Queensland Australia
2School of Psychological Science La Trobe University Bendigo Victoria Australia
3RSPCA Wacol Animal Care Campus Queensland Australia
4Australian Veterinary Association Sydney New South Wales Australia
5Jemora Pty Ltd, Geelong, Victoria, Australia

Tóm tắt

ObjectiveA lack of information limits understanding of the excess cat problem and development of effective management strategies. This study describes cats entering Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) Queensland shelters and identifies risk factors for euthanasia.MethodsData for cats entering relevant shelters (July 2006–June 2008) were obtained from the RSPCA's electronic database. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify risk factors for euthanasia.ResultsOf 33,736 cats admitted, 46% were adult cats (≥3 months) and 54% were kittens (<3 months). The most common reason for admission was stray (54%), followed by owner surrender (44%). Euthanasia was the most common outcome (65%), followed by adoption (30%). The odds of euthanasia were lower for kittens and for cats that were desexed prior to admission. Of the strays, 8% had been desexed. For cats of similar age, sex, desexed and feral status, stray cats were more likely to be adopted than owner‐surrenders.ConclusionsStrategies are needed to reduce numbers of cats admitted and euthanased. Given the high proportion of admissions that were kittens, reducing the incidence of delayed sterilisation of owned cats may be an important strategy for reducing the number of unwanted kittens. Many cats admitted as strays were rehomable, but given the high proportion of admissions that are strays, further research on stray populations is needed. Future studies of cats entering shelters would be enhanced if data collection definitions, categories and methods were standardised.

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Australian Veterinary Journal

Tập 91 Số 1-2

35-42

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