SPRING MEANS KITTENS…FERAL ONES!

EACH YEAR, CAT MATING SEASON STARTS AROUND VALENTINES DAY!

What is a feral cat? They are offspring of stray, lost or abandoned domestic cats who revert to a wild state. These cats are primarily the result of pet owners’ failure to neuter their animals, allowing them to breed repeatedly outdoors. Usually they settle in an area that has a reliable food source such as a restaurant dumpster if they are lucky enough.  Raised without human contact, feral cats are fearful of humans and are usually not adoptable.

The life of a feral cat: Without the care and shelter like a domestic pet would have, these cats are left to fend for themselves. The annoying behaviors like spraying, mating, trashing garbage, and fighting can be greatly reduced. With managed care of feeding and providing some type of shelter, these cats do not suffer by starving or freezing to death.  Providing these small things as some kindhearted Volunteers do, these cats will live their lives keeping to their “area” and not allowing other cats to enter their “colony.”

Maintaining A Colony: A colony is a group of cats who have been neutered or spayed, given their rabies shots, checked for diseases and ear tipped (to identify) before being  released back into the wild (TNR=Trap-Neuter-Return). If the kittens are young enough when caught, they can be rescued and tamed. The group eventually dies off one by one, and since they can no longer breed, the colony dies off as well. In our area, females can have an average of 10-12 kittens per year/2-3 litters/(usually only half survive)  increasing the population if a colony in not maintained through TNR.  In the warmer climate areas, they can go into heat 6-7 times per year!

Feral cats are the targets of animal cruelty!

Attempts to decrease the feral cat population through feeding bans and killing have been tried for many years and failed. Cruelty to animals is against the law whether they are wild animals or not! The TNR Programs are working to keep the feral cat populations down. This program is humane and fosters compassion in the community!

Call for more information or to find out what you can do to help these poor cats who did nothing to deserve this cruelty by the elements or neglect.

           Written by:  Linda Goldsmith