What is a Feral Cat?

 

A feral cat is born and raised outdoors with little or no human contact or is a stray that has lived outside long enough to become wild. Feral cats are elusive and typically distrustful of humans, often resulting from pet abandonment or failure to spay or neuter pets.

 

Feral cats form colonies and seek shelter wherever food is available, often in alleyways, empty lots, or abandoned buildings. Their lives are harsh, filled with struggles for food and water, and they face constant threats from disease and predation. These cats, representing the abandoned and lost, need our help.

​​

Difference Between Stray and Feral Cats

 

Yes, there is a difference. Feral cats are primarily wild or adapted to live outdoors, whereas stray cats are lost or abandoned pets. Stray cats generally trust humans and often seek shelter near people, relying on them for food.

 

"Catch and Kill" Doesn't Work

 

The "catch and kill" approach is costly and ineffective. Eradicating feral cat colonies often leads to the "vacuum effect," where new cats occupy the area or surviving cats breed more carefully. This method only offers a temporary solution.

​​

​

Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) Does Work

 

TNVR is a humane method that involves trapping feral cats, spaying or neutering them, vaccinating them against rabies, and returning them to their colonies. A caretaker provides food and shelter, stabilizing the population. TNVR is cost-effective and humane, allowing feral cats to live healthier lives without contributing to the homeless cat population.