Document Type

Thesis

First Advisor

Dr. Lisa Gassin

Publication Date

5-2023

Scholarship Domain(s)

Scholarship of Discovery

Abstract

A feral cat is a cat that is untamed and not suitable for placement in a home. Through their naturally high rate of reproduction and lack of population management, feral cat populations have grown exponentially, leading to overpopulation. Feral cats effect their communities through their impact on wildlife, financial burden, and health risk to both humans and other animals. Due to the impact feral cats place on their communities, multiple management methods have been suggested. Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is a humane, effective method of management; however, controversy surrounds its use. Existing studies have determined that age, gender, and past experiences with cats can be predictors for which management method an individual prefers. To assess whether targeted education impacts support for TNR, sixty-five undergraduate students were administered a series of surveys prior to and following watching a video on either TNR (treatment) or cat breeds (control). The survey included questions about participants’ past experiences with cats, views on cats and their management, and knowledge about cats. Participants were recruited by the researcher visiting multiple general education classes and passing around a sign-up sheet. Informed consent was given before participants continued to the rest of the survey. Data was analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA, followed by post-hoc comparisons for items with significance in the interaction terms. Significant interaction terms were observed for the survey items that directly asked about TNR. This suggests that the treatment video was effective in producing both cognitive and attitudinal changes in participants.

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