A new mathematical model of the cat population in the United Kingdom shows that neutering owned cats not only affects the population dynamics of companion cats, but also subpopulations of stray, feral and shelter animals.
explained as In a study published in Plos OneAlthough many previous studies have examined cat population dynamics, few have taken into account connectivity between subpopulations, limiting understanding of how certain factors within a particular subpopulation—such as fertility—may also affect other subpopulations.
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The newly developed model draws on real-world data to define parameters related to various factors such as survival rates, fertility rates, seasonal reproductive patterns and rates of transition between subpopulations. The researchers used the model to simulate how changes in female sterilization and other factors might affect cat population dynamics.
In the simulations, castration of females significantly affected all subpopulations. Low female castration rates have led to population explosions within other subpopulations, particularly stray cats.
The simulations also show that castration of females at a young age reduces the population growth rates of all subpopulations, even if castration rates are similar.
The factors with the greatest influence on the overall growth rate of the cat population are pet survival and fertility rates. Among the subpopulations, street cats had the second highest influence, followed by feral cats and kennel cats with the lowest influence.
The researchers note that these results underscore the importance of considering the interconnectedness of cat subpopulations and may help inform population management efforts. The availability of more data on cats is suggested as a factor that could help improve the accuracy of this model.
Source: Modified by Veterinária Atual, Dogs and Cats VET FOOD Group.
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