Feral Cats in Our Community

What is a Feral Cat?

• Feral cats are the 'wild' offspring of domestic cats and are primarily the result of pet owners' abandoning or not spaying/neutering their cats.
  
  
• Feral cats are generally elusive and do not trust humans; however, there can be a wide range of behavior in a feral cat colony.

Shown to left: Feral Cat Colony

• Sometimes tame cats or “friendlies” will join a feral colony in a desperate attempt for survival.
  
  
• Feral cat 'colonies' can be found behind shopping areas or businesses, in alleys, parks, abandoned buildings, and rural areas.

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How Can Feral Cats Be Controlled Effectively?

• Feral cat colonies can be decimated with disease and starvation, so it is important to control their populations.
  
  
• Euthanizing feral cats has not proven to be an effective population control measure.
  
  
• A non-lethal method called TNR (Trap, Neuter and Release) has been shown to reduce feral cat populations dramatically over time.

Shown to left: Feral Cat Humane Trap

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How Can You Help?

• Volunteer with IAR’s Feral Cat Team!
  
  
• All types of volunteer activities are needed:
  
  
  • Trapping cats for TNR
    
    
  • Transporting cats to and from spay/neuter surgeries
    
    
  • Feeding cats and maintaining colonies
    
    
  • Educating people about TNR
    
    
  • Coordinating cat food drives to feed the colonies

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How do feral cats survive?

• Scavenging for food from dumpsters, backyards or trash cans.
  
  
• Main food source is garbage.
  
  
• Also eat insects or rodents.
  
  
• Usually in urban areas—not generally a thread to birds.

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Managing a Colony

• Start with a daily feeding and watering program.
  
  
• TNR (Trap, Neuter, Release)
  
  
• Young kittens are considered tameable.
  
  
• Removing tamable kittens or tame abandoned pets that have joined the colony, vetting, and placing them for adoption.

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Relocating a Colony

• Hazards such as construction or poison may necessitate relocating.
  
  
• Suitable sites may include outdoor homes, farms, barns, stables.
  
  
• Cats must be crated and slowly acclimated to the new location.

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Protecting a Colony

• Never tell or show anyone (except helpers) the exact location of the colony.
  
  
• Be as discreet as possible when feeding.
  
  
• Don’t attract attention.
  
  
• Feed after hours or at night.
  
  
• Hide the feeding dishes out of plain site.

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For further information

Alley Cat Allies at http://www.alleycat.org/