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Humane Education
Feral Cat Information
What is a Feral Cat?
It's not a breed, but rather a cat that is either a stray, abandoned or many times the offspring of another feral cat. Often times people equate "feral" with the word "wild". Feral cats can indeed be wild — that is they shy from all humans, any type of human contact, and survive by their instincts. However, feral cats can having varying attitudes about humans and contact with us. Some feral cats will allow you to feed them, but shy away when any attempt at contact is made. Others may permit human contact after a time and great patience on our part.
Feral cats represent one of the larger challenges we as animal lovers have. These cats survive only by instinct and sometimes the generosity of a pet lover. If left to survive on their own, they live a short life. Their average life span of 3 years is cut short by diseases, injuries, predators and lack of nutrition.
Additionally, because these cats are most often not neutered or spayed, they will produce at least one litter of feral kittens. If human intervention does not occur, these kittens in turn will have kittens and those kittens...you get the picture. This in turn creates overcrowded shelters, who euthanize millions of these animals because they are not considered adoptable or these is just not enough room to house them all those who are homeless.
Feral cats benefit from a practice which is termed, "TNR". This acronym represents, "trap, neuter, vaccinate and return." This is a proven and effective means by which to reduce the number of unwanted cats and kittens and thus reducing the number who are euthanized each year in shelters.
Caregivers of feral cat colonies who practice TNR continue to provide food, medical care and monitor the cats as a lifetime commitment. It is because of these caring folks that the numbers of cats euthanized in shelters has declined. Make no mistake though, the numbers of cats euthanized in shelters each year is still in the millions — many feral and just as many domestic. Indeed, a tragedy of immense proportions.
However, as a reader of this article, you are helping to end this tragedy. How? For each person that learns what a feral cat is and is not, one more feral cat is better understood. And "understanding" goes a long way in helping feral cats.
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