Quite interesting that this article is dated Feb.8th just 3 days prior to the Feb. 11th article.
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Qualicum Beach News
Feral cats must be spayed or neutered, says SPCA
Published: February 08, 2010 4:00 PM
Updated: February 08, 2010 4:52 PM
PARKSVILLE — The first response by some to an infestation of feral cats might be to trap and euthanize.
However, said SPCA shelter manager Nadine Durante, that approach seldom works.
Rather, she said, the loss of a colony will usually just lead to other feral cats moving in to take advantage of whatever food and shelter was keeping the first group alive. They breed and breed until, very quickly, the original population is replaced — or even exceeded.
It’s called the vacuum effect and stands as the main reason why spaying and neutering colony members is considered the best way to go.
“We don’t believe in removing feral cats,” Durante said. “As soon as you remove some feral cats they continue to reproduce to bring the numbers up again.”
Neutered cats however, tend to defend their colony’s territory and, being unable to reproduce themselves, tend to keep the population in some sort of balance.
“It’s better to spay and neuter them and keep the numbers they have, “if they’re cared for and monitored by responsible individuals.”
— Neil Horner