A domestic (friendly) feline that has been abandoned, lost or
neglected and forced to live and survive on its own, is called 'Stray.'
The offspring of these stray cats, raised without human contact, develop
a natural fear of people and become 'wild.' The wild offspring of
domestic animals are called 'Feral.'
Why Do We Have Feral Cats? - This phenomenon is most often
attributed to uneducated pet guardians who do not spay or neuter their
pets, allowing them to roam and breed freely. And, by others who cruelly
abandon or neglect their unwanted pets. Simple fact, human indifference
is the root cause.
How Do Feral Cats Survive? - Though there is a high mortality
rate amongst feral cats, they struggle for survival eking out an
existence any way they can. They live and congregate anywhere there is a
food source (dumpsters, behind restaurants and cafeterias, even our own
backyards). All cats are territorial, and even though forced to live in
the wild, feral cats are social and emotional beings that seek
interaction and companionship with other cats, and, with humans. They
form and live in what we call "colonies."
Many Positives...Great hunters, feral cats can help us in many
ways, one of which is to help contain the rodent and vermin population.
They also act as a buffer between human and rodent disease such as
rabies and the plague.
Is There Really Humane Feral Cat Control? - Yes,
Trap/Alter/Return is a humane method of population control, which first
began in England in the late 1970's. Studies have proven
Trap/Alter/Return to be the single, most effective method of stabilizing
and maintaining healthy feral cat colonies, with the least cost to
government and residents. At the same time, it provides the best life
for the cats themselves, and creates harmony and goodwill within
communities.
Can YOU Prevent Feline Overpopulation? - Yes, spay or neuter your
pets. Educate others as to the benefits of spay/neuter. Help stop pet
abandonment and report those who do this inhumane act.
Stop the Killing... As long as killing and abandonment are
considered acceptable solutions, all cats will be deemed as disposable
and having life without value. By implementing a positive method of
population control, we can live in harmony and be proud to have humanely
stopped the suffering of abandoned, feral and homeless cats.
Cat Math
According to the
National Humane Education
Society one unspayed female cat
and her mate and all their
offspring, producing 2 litters
per year with only 2.8 surviving
kitten per litter can total:
1 YEAR= 12
2 YEARS = 67
3 YEARS = 367
4 YEARS = 2,107
5 YEARS = 11,801
6 YEARS = 66,088
7 YEARS = 370,092
8 YEARS = 2,072,514
9 YEARS = 11,606,077