In year 2020, Czech hunters killed only 9937 domectic cats which is the lowest number since time memoriam. Some older stats in picture below (red - hunted cats, brown - hunted dogs). This implies that local population of stray and feral cats continues to decrease albeit slowly. Good news.
Stray and feral cats are very effective hunters and one of the most harmful invasive species. And while central European wildlife has basically adapted to live alongside this menace for millenia, higher density of cats still negatively influences density of small birds and reptiles. Stray cat population is also a major hydrance to return of locally extinct pure wild cat - who currently is on its way to come back naturally by dispersal from surrounding populations in Germany, Austria and Slovakia. The last important harmful aspect is transmission of many pathogens and parasites, some of them dangerous even to humans (toxoplasma, giardia etc.).
Two major ways how to decrease feral cat population number is via lethal and non-lethal approach.
Non-lethal way is either by trap-neuter-release or trap-and-adopt. Non-lethal programs are slowly picking stream here, performed by increasing number of local charities, shelters and municipality TNR programs. Unfortunately, it is still far from covering the real need. For example, all cat shelters are able to accept circa 8500-10000 cats anually but must refuse at least twice as many calls for help. Less than 10% municipalities have any sort of TNR program.
The lethal way is left to licenced hunters who are allowed to kill any domestic cat (or dog) they meet more than 200 meters away from nearest permanently inhabited house. Their statistics are collected centrally so we can see approximate development of the total stray cat population in Czechia.
Stray and feral cats are very effective hunters and one of the most harmful invasive species. And while central European wildlife has basically adapted to live alongside this menace for millenia, higher density of cats still negatively influences density of small birds and reptiles. Stray cat population is also a major hydrance to return of locally extinct pure wild cat - who currently is on its way to come back naturally by dispersal from surrounding populations in Germany, Austria and Slovakia. The last important harmful aspect is transmission of many pathogens and parasites, some of them dangerous even to humans (toxoplasma, giardia etc.).
Two major ways how to decrease feral cat population number is via lethal and non-lethal approach.
Non-lethal way is either by trap-neuter-release or trap-and-adopt. Non-lethal programs are slowly picking stream here, performed by increasing number of local charities, shelters and municipality TNR programs. Unfortunately, it is still far from covering the real need. For example, all cat shelters are able to accept circa 8500-10000 cats anually but must refuse at least twice as many calls for help. Less than 10% municipalities have any sort of TNR program.
The lethal way is left to licenced hunters who are allowed to kill any domestic cat (or dog) they meet more than 200 meters away from nearest permanently inhabited house. Their statistics are collected centrally so we can see approximate development of the total stray cat population in Czechia.