(Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Hong Kong)

The Progress of the CCCP

The Cat Colony Care Programme (CCCP) is ongoing, with our carers continuing to successfully trap street cats. By the end of March 2010 we have processed 28,988 cats through the programme since its start.

Well done and thank you to all concerned.

Ear-tipping is useful as it is an easy means of identifying that a cat on the street has been neutered and also indicates that the cat may be part of the CCCP.

This easy visual identification is key to the ongoing colony surveillance and management but micro-chipping is a more accurate means of identification and helps us, through our records, to reunite cats with their carers and enable us to return them to their specific location if they are caught for whatever reason.

Over the years 852 of the street cats were put up for adoption in our homing cattery so they could find safe, loving homes. Unfortunately 144 required euthanasia on humane grounds due to ill health and some cats were re-united with their owners or returned to the carer for treatment of minor medical problems.

The colony size can vary from just a few individuals to quite large numbers in areas where the cats have been resident for a while and breeding unchecked with an abundant food source. We currently have over 450 active registered carers.

We receive many phone calls about the programme and it attracts a lot of media interest and public support.

Cats on the streets are a community problem. It is not just the responsibility of the SPCA and our registered carers. We also need you to help and support for our programme to continue.

It is very encouraging for us for this long-term initiative to stop killing healthy animals and control the street cat population by reducing birth rates to be received so well.

We hope that you will continue to support us and be our ambassadors for the programme in whatever way you can.

Figures of financial year 2009 - 2010

In 2009 – 2010 the SPCA handled over 5600 cats, which is a 15-fold increase in number compared to the number when CCCP first started in 2000. 97% (5423 individuals) of the handled cats were de-sexed and returned to their colony, while 3% (159 individuals) were put up for adoption in the Homing cattery. A small percentage less than 0.3% required euthanasia on humane grounds after examination by veterinary surgeon.

The majority of cats were de-sexed and returned to their colony.

Over the years the number of cats handled annually increased but now the number of cats handled each year is stabilizing at around five and a half thousand.

Number of cats de-sexed through CCCP has been increasing annually, showing that CCCP is effective in drawing public participation to control stray cat population. It should be noted that the majority of cats handled each year come from newly enrolled colonies - a smaller number will come from existing colonies that may have some ongoing baseline activity to address newly abandoned cats or immigrants.

The SPCA continues to monitor the programme using the its veterinary and carer databases in order to assess its effectiveness in terms of population control and impact on animal welfare.

In addition field surveys are carried out from time to time. These surveys may be reactive and undertaken when the SPCA monitoring system or another party highlights an issue or they can be proactive (applied research in the field) - assessing the programmes impact and effectiveness. Below is a summary of ongoing surveillance.

Programme survey summary

At the survey site, stray cats were estimated (by the carers) to be 750 in year 2000 before the implementation of the programme. In the initial 2 years during the programmes development activity was low level. In 2002 there was a significant increase in activity on the part of the carers with the SPCA increasing capacity to match the demand as it was recognised that targeted and consistent effort was needed to get the desired impact on the cat population. In 2002 the SPCA started to carry out surveillance on the cats at the site this was done using a recognised methodology for obtaining data (linear counting) that is representative of the general population. A robust scientific approach in operation procedures and data collection was vital so that the result can be used as a reference by other foreign countries / organisations that might need to show that such programmes can be effective.

In 2002 there were 107 stray cats counted and of these only 27% could be identified (ear-tipped) as colony cats. Three years later (in 2005) the number of stray cats counted had dropped to 53 (a 50% decrease) with 74% being identified as colony cats. Separately the carers were asked again to estimate the number of stray cats present in 2005 - 300 was the figure reported. This estimate showed a similar dramatic decline in the stray cat population as suggested by the representative linear count.

Over the years the stray cat population has gradually declined reaching a much lower stable population level. The carers report a significant improvement in cat welfare and improved tolerance by the public. Significant supportive effort has been carried out in parallel to the work with the street cats - promoting responsible pet ownership aiming to prevent unwanted litters and cat abandonment. Whilst these are significantly reduced at the survey site there is still need for the carers to constantly monitor the colonies and take action if new cats are spotted.

It should be noted that ear-tipping proved to be a successful technique for identification of neutered colony cats for the carers, spca staff, government officials and the general public.

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