“Working cat programs” as safety nets

Study

“When You Cannot Put That Cat Back Where It Came From – The Call for a ‘Working Cat Program’ Implementation,” published in the Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health, 2024. Complete article available online here.

Overview

In this article, researchers present the results of a survey used to assess the success of a working cat program (WCP) designed to “to place poorly socialized cats in non-traditional homes,” often as pest deterrents [1]. The vast majority of adopters (81%) reported that their cats remained on-site at the time of the post-adoption survey, and adopters reported a high level of satisfaction.

Key Points

WCPs are often referred to as “safety net” programs. As is typical of such programs, the cats whose outcomes were reported in this study were considered poor adoption candidates. “Cats who consistently show friendly behavior, readily solicit attention from multiple individuals, and are tolerant of petting, handling, and holding, thus appearing to be adaptable to a traditional home, are removed from the program and transferred to a rescue partner” [1].

Cats are typically admitted via three routes: (1) direct transfer from the shelter “because the cat is unsuitable for traditional adoption or cannot be returned to their previous location” (293/968, or 30%), (2) from community cat caregivers who “can no longer provide care for the cat and contact WCP directly instead of the local shelter” (445/968, or 46%), or (3) through rescue group partners in need of an option for cats considered poor adoption candidates (230/968, or 24%) [1].

“These findings create a solid basis for suggesting the implementation of more well-structured [working cat programs] should be considered a mainstay in animal welfare throughout Florida (and nationwide) in terms of promoting live-saving capacity and finding the right outcome for every cat.”

Unfortunately, the follow-up surveys were administered at different post-adoption intervals over the course of the program (i.e., 35 days post-adoption during 2019 and 2020 vs. 140–763 days post-adoption for 2021–2023), making year-to-year comparisons difficult. Overall, though, 81% of adopters (314/387) reported that the cat was still on their property at the time of the follow-up survey; another 18% (70/387) reported that the cat was no longer on their property, and 1% (3/387) weren’t sure of the outcome. The vast majority of respondents (289 of 387, or 75%) reported being “completely satisfied” with the cats they obtained through the WCP.

Based on their results, the authors note that WCPs “can connect potential adopters to cats with low affection expectations. The low-stress environment of a non-traditional home allows these cats to thrive, connect, and bond with people on their terms” [1]. Implementing WCPs, they conclude, “is a viable and successful way to provide positive live outcomes to cats unsuitable for traditional adoption, as an alternative to euthanasia” [1].

See related Issue Briefs:

• What to do with feral cats: Examining TNR for population management

• Cat health and welfare after TNR: Considerations and concerns

References

1. Guerios, S.; Houston, K.; Oglesby, M.; Farinha, M.; Jenkins, M. When You Cannot Put That Cat Back Where It Came From – The Call for a ‘Working Cat Program’ Implementation. Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health 2024, 3.