Research overview: lethal versus non-lethal management of free-roaming cats

Managing free-roaming cats pits welfare, ethical and conservation considerations against one another, and this overview surveys the debate between lethal control and non-lethal approaches like trap-neuter-return. It examines arguments that culling or removal can more reliably reduce populations and protect wildlife, especially in sensitive ecosystems, against welfare and public-opposition concerns and questions about feasibility and effectiveness. The survey discusses modelling comparing approaches, the role of context such as islands versus urban areas, and hybrid strategies. It also covers the strong social and political dimensions, with stakeholders ranging from animal advocates to conservationists holding opposing views. By laying out the evidence and values at stake, the survey frames cat management as a contested problem where the best approach depends on goals, setting and the relative weight given to cats, wildlife and human preferences.