Factors Affecting Student Tolerance for Free-Roaming Cats

• Published in: Human dimensions of wildlife Vol. 18; no. 4; pp. 263 - 278
• Main Authors: Wald, Dara M., Jacobson, Susan K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Routledge 01.07.2013; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Animal care; Animal populations; attitudes; Cats; free-roaming/feral cats; management; risk perception; wildlife acceptance capacity; Wildlife management
• ISSN: 1087-1209; 1533-158X
• DOI: 10.1080/10871209.2013.787660

The management of free-roaming domestic cats is a controversial and challenging issue for animal welfare organizations and government agencies. In this article, we used a previously validated concept, wildlife acceptance capacity, to measure tolerance for free-roaming cats. We also identified the demographic, situational, and affective factors influencing tolerance, and evaluated the effect of tolerance on attitudes toward cat management. We conducted a written survey with 381 university students, measuring experiences with outdoor cats, perceptions of and tolerance for the cat population, attitudes toward cats and cat management, and risk perceptions. Tolerance/acceptance was measured as preference for reducing future cat population levels. A 7-item model-including positive and negative experiences, attitudes, beliefs, perceived risks, and perceptions of the current cat population-predicted acceptance 81% of the time. Cat acceptance predicted attitudes toward cat management and should be addressed in future campaigns aimed at reducing the population of free-roaming cats.