Why have a CSR program?
The Outaouais region is home to a large number of feral cats that can reproduce quickly. In fact, a pair of unsterilized cats can produce over 5,000 offspring in a single year! A Capture-Neuter-Release (CSR) program is an effective way of reducing this overpopulation in a humane way.
A stray cat occupies a territory because it finds resources there: food, shelter, etc. Studies have shown that if this cat is removed from the territory, another cat will quickly take its place.
The idea behind the CSR program is to allow the cat to continue occupying the territory, but to prevent it from reproducing. Sterilization also helps reduce problematic aggression and territorial marking. It's a long-term solution to the problem of stray cat overpopulation!
This cat has probably always lived outdoors and has not been accustomed to human contact, so it would probably be very difficult for it to adapt to domestic life.
The cats targeted by the CSR program adapt very poorly in a shelter and are rarely good candidates for adoption due to their "wilder" lifestyle. Although some will approach humans in search of shelter or food, they remain animals that thrive best outdoors, where they are free to roam as they please.
The CSR program is specifically designed for stray cats who are not good candidates for adoption, but who are nonetheless part of our community ecosystem. Implementing a CSR program is a humane and effective long-term alternative for managing cat populations.