Effectiveness of trap-spay/neuter-return programs on free-roaming cats as a form of rabies prevention

Introduction Cats are the second most tested animal for rabies each year in Massachusetts. In order to reduce the cost of rabies prevention, trap-spay/neuter-return (TNR) programs for feral cats can be used to reduce the population of cats, thus reducing potential rabies exposure. This is significant to public health because reducing the free-roaming cat population may not only reduce exposure to rabies, but reduce rabies prevention costs, freeing resources which can be used on other interventions. Methods The effectiveness of TNR programs in Massachusetts was assessed using analysis of variance and analysis of covariance tests which compared the number of animals submitted for rabies testing per year by county. Spearman’s rank order correlation test was used to determine whether or not differences in the number of animals submitted for rabies testing were associated with the number of free-roaming cat population reduction interventions present in each county. The costs of TNR programs were assessed and compared to normal rabies prevention costs. Results There were statistically significant differences (