Tomorrow, October 16th, is Feral Cat Day. The plight of feral kitties is an ongoing issue, and a very sad one at that. By some estimates, there are as many as 70 million feral cats here in the US. A local Frisco, TX vet discusses feral cats below.
Feral and stray cats are no different from domestic cats physically, but they are worlds apart in terms of socialization. Stray cats are used to humans. Many are former pets, while others may have just always lived near and interacted with humans. Strays can become feral in time. Ferals, on the other paw, are completely wild.
Controlling Populations
With so many feral cats out there, it can be overwhelming trying to help them. Many charity organizations focus on reducing the amount of unwanted litters. This is usually done via TNR (Trap/Neuter/Release) programs. The cats are captured, spayed or neutered, and released again. They will still have to fend for themselves, and, unfortunately, will still have shorter lifespans than the average pet cat would. But this does help reduce the number of unwanted kittens out there. It’s also a better option than bringing them to shelters, where they have little to no chance of getting adopted.
Fixing Fluffy
It’s also very important to make sure that your own kitty has been fixed. Just one unwanted litter can have as many as 11, 606,077 descendants in just nine years. If Fluffy is still intact, contact your vet to schedule an appointment.
Adoption
One might think that adoption is the best way to help feral cats, but that isn’t always the case. If Fluffy has been wild her whole life, she will have missed that crucial socialization window, and may never be comfortable living as a pet. That said, feral cats can make wonderful barn cats. Most of them are skilled mousers, and can actually be a great help with pest control!
Providing Resources
Of course, just giving kitties food and water can help. This can be tricky to navigate, though. Setting out food and water in your yard could turn your place into a kitty magnet. There are also restrictions in some places, in part due to concerns that leaving the food and water out will attract vermin. Check local ordinances, and ask your vet for advice.
Contact us, your Frisco, TX animal clinic, anytime. We’re here for you!
