Trap-neuter-return ( TNR) is promoted and widely accepted as a “humane” way of reducing the population of feral cats (Wolf & Hamilton, 2020). Calls for population control of feral cats – in particular, lethal methods – are understandably being met with resistance and appeals for context-specific measures and humane treatment (Lynn et al., 2019 Wandesforde-Smith et al., 2021). As they are forced to integrate with local ecosystems, feral cats are often thought of as victims of circumstance, but also as a threat to native wildlife (Peterson et al., 2012). There are an estimated 60–90 million cats living with humans as companion animals in the US today, but there are an additional 10–50 million feral cats living in outdoor environments, i.e., cats that have minimal or no support from humans (Baker et al., 2010). Today, however, their hunting skills are less in demand. Domestic cats (hereafter “cats”) held these dual roles – companion animal and self-reliant hunter – for millennia.

Genetic evidence suggests that cats were domesticated again in early ancient Egypt, but Egyptian domestic cats were probably tamer and more sociable than the cats domesticated earlier (Ottoni et al., 2017). silvestris libyca) and were tamed by early grain farmers in the “Fertile Crescent” to help control rodents (Ottoni et al., 2017). Keywords: outdoor cats feral cats trap-neuter-return wildlife conservation mesopredatorsĭomestic cats ( Felis catus) are descendants of a subspecies of the wildcat ( F.

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