Today is National Feral Cat Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about the community cats living throughout the country and how we can humanely care for them. “Community cat” is a term used to describe unowned cats, which includes stray, abandoned, and feral cats. Believe it or not, there are many people who consider stray or unowned cats to be essentially pests, not giving them a second thought or caring about their livelihood. Well, I disagree completely. I believe that there is no difference between the cat sleeping on your bed and the cat sleeping under a dumpster. They’ve just been given different opportunities in this lifetime. All domestic cats, owned and unowned, are social and complex creatures, and it’s our fault that there is such an overpopulation problem. Irresponsible pet owners who do not spay and neuter their cats and who allow them to roam freely have caused the shocking numbers of unowned cats. With the appropriate awareness of how to reduce these numbers and humanely care for community cats, we can begin to reverse the cycle.
There are two outstanding resources for learning about community — or feral — cats and how to humanely care for them. First, Alley Cat Allies is the national advocacy organization dedicated to the protection and humane treatment of cats. Alley Cat Allies created National Feral Cat Day to share resources and raise awareness. Visit their website alleycat.org to learn more about them and be sure to visit the National Feral Cat Day website at nationalferalcatday.org to download information and participate in this year’s events.
Another extremely important resource is Vox Felina, written by cat advocate Peter J. Wolf. Peter spends countless hours researching bogus scientific claims made against feral cats, debunking illogical arguments calling for their destruction. Peter’s writing is thorough, well-crafted and heartfelt. He is truly one of the most important voices for the cats. Please visit VoxFelina.com to read his work.
There are many, many other wonderful organizations throughout the country working to help community cats. If you are involved in any of these organizations, if you participate in TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return), or if you help care for a feral cat colony, THANK YOU for what you’re doing to help the cats. Happy National Feral Cat Day!
May 2013 be a pivotal year for the nation’s street/community/feral cats! As a longtime ACA member/supporter and great admirer of Vox Felina, you KNOW I’m sharing this, with love and *PRAYERS* for cats everywhere. *HAPPY NATIONAL FERAL CAT DAY 2013!*
As a small cat rescue who has reached the max limit (hoping for more adoptions), I now devote my attention to the outdoor feral cats some who have inhabited the yard for 10 + years. My neighbor and I trap them, get them spayed/neutered, rabies vax, & tested. Then we care for them for as long as they are with us. It is bitter-sweet to care for them, watch them grow into late adulthood and then one day they are gone – not to another house – gone where they can be alone to pass quietly away from prying eyes. We can only hope that the passing is peaceful and painless.
i have ” adopted ” four feral cats from the cat shelter i used to help at. The first two were truly feral and had been found in the wild with their mother. They were 12 weeks old when i brought them home and very scared and hostile. but after 4 years they are the most amazing cats you could ever hope to have. they are both so gentle and loving and have never bitten or scratched me. They live with me but can go out to my back garden where i have a cat enclosure. They are still very nervous of people and will hide whenever anyone comes to the door or passes by the window.
The other two had been to a previous home but had not settled. They, too are fantasic and have been with me for three years now.
They all get on and are an absolute joy.