Feral Paws Rescue

The information provided on this site is for educational purposes. Do not attempt to handle a homeless cat before consulting with an experienced rescuer! Injury can be caused to you and/or the cat. You should always consult a veterinarian where appropriate. Feral Paws Rescue is not responsible or liable for any injury to you and to third parties resulting from the use of this information.

Don't buy into the cruel myths about feral cats and kittens. Discover the compassionate solution that really works. The only solution is TNR Trap-Neuter-Return!

Maybe you've seen them behind a restaurant. or in an alley or park. Feral (wild) cats live everywhere, forming colonies wherever they find scraps of food and a bit of shelter, be it in dumpsters or under a boardwalk, at state prisons! Tens of millions of feral cats now live in the U.S.

FERAL... OR STRAY?

FERAL IS NOT ANOTHER WORD FOR "STRAY" A STRAY IS A CAT WHO HAS BEEN ABANDONED OR WHO HAS STRAYED FROM HOME AND BECOME LOST. STRAY CATS CAN USUALLY BE RE-SOCIALIZED AND ADOPTED. ADULT FERAL CATS USUALLY CAN'T BE SOCIALIZED AND WON'T ADJUST TO LIVING INDOORS OR WITH A HUMAN FAMILY. RATHER THAN ATTEMPTING TO TAME ONE OR A FEW FERALS CATS. BECAUSE  MANY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE HARD WORK THAT GOES INTO WORKING WITH FERAL CATS. NOT TO SAY MANY CAN'T BE TAMED. BUT NOT REALLY  UNDERSTANDING HOW TO WORK A FERAL CAT.  IT MAKES THE TAMING PART VERY DIFFICULT TO DO. YOUR TIME AND EFFORT ARE BETTER SPENT STERILIZING MANY FERAL CATS TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF REPRODUCTION.

MYTH: Feral cats lead short, miserable lives so it's best to trap and euthanize them

REALLITY: Studies show that feral cats have about the same lifespan as  pet cats. And they contract diseases at about the same rate. It is simply not humane to prudent to kill a healthy feral cat, and this practice does not reduce their populations over the long-term because other cats move in and start breeding.

A feral cat is an unsocialized cat. Either he was born outside and never lived with a human family, or he is a house cat that has strayed from home, and over time, has thrown off the effects of domestication and reverted to a wild state. Feral cats avoid human contact. When pet cats are forced to fend for themselves outdoors, huge numbers die from exposure or accidents. The survivors often turn feral and, if they have not been sterilized, give birth to feral kittens. The cycle continues.

THEY HAVE A HOME ---- OUTDOORS

Adult feral cats are like wildlife. They usually cannot be socialized and are most content living outside. On the other hand, feral kittens up to 10 weeks of age can often be tamed and placed in homes.

MYTH: Feral cats are diseased and can make pet cats or children sick.

REALITY: Feral cats are generally healthy. The incidence of disease in feral cat colonies is no higher than among owned cats. Feral cats shun human contact, especially with unfamiliar people. They aren't interested in interacting with you or your children.  

The traditional approach to reducing feral cat numbers has been to round them up and remove them. But bringing feral cats to shelters is the same as a death sentence. Because they are wild and therefore unadoptable, they end up being euthanized. So do their healthy kittens, who, if trapped by 10 weeks of age, can be socialized and adopted.

ERADICATION DOESN'T WORK!

Trap-and-remove schemes------- which must be done on an ongoing basis ----- are extremely costly to communities. What's more, other cats move in to take advantage of the newly available resources and they breed prolifically, quickly forming a new colony. This "vacuum effect" is well-documented.

BECAUSE FERAL CATS ARE WILD AND UNADOPTABLE, "REMOVING " INVARIABLY EQUALS KILLING!

MYTH: Feral cats should be taken to local animal shelters so they can be adopted.

REALITY: Feral cats are not pet cats and they will be KILLED at most shelters. Because they're considered dangerous, they sometimes don't even make it to the shelter, but are KILLED in the animal control truck! Feral kittens are separated from their mothers often when they are still nursing. While the mothers are immediately euthanized, the kittens are spared but often are not tamed by shelter workers within the critical 10 week window, so they remain feral and therefore unadoptable. Even no-kill shelters are not able to place feral cats in homes.

"I couldn't bear to see these little babies dying (just) because they had been born"

Former Animal Welfare League of Arlington employee

A Washington Post Story in June 2002 described how workers at an Arlington, Va. animal shelter were fired after they were discovered secretly taking home feral kittens stated to be euthanized. The workers hoped to socialize the kittens so they could be adopted

MYTH: Feral cats are predators that deplete wildlife.

REALITY: Studies show that the overwhelming cause of wildlife depletion is destruction of natural habitat due to man-made structures, chemical pollution, pesticides, and drought-- NOT FERAL CATS!

"We were afraid to contact anyone in animal control because we heard that they would pick up the feral cats and destroy them"

Just how often do you hear that from someone?

DISCOVER A BETTER WAY............ 

An answer you can feel good about!!!

TRAP-NEUTER-RETURN

THE HUMANE, NONLETHAL METHOD OF POPLUATION CONTROL, IS MORE EFECTIVE THAN TRAP-AND KILL,AND IS MORE REFLECTIVE OF A CARING SOCIETY.

DON'T BE FOOLED........ Any solution other than Trap-Neuter-Return results sooner or later, in the destruction of these beautiful, wild creatures!

There is a solution that not only reduces feral cats: Trap-Neuter-Return. TNR is a proven procedure in which entire colonies of stray and feral cats are humanely trapped, then evaluated, vaccinated, and neutered by  veterinarians. Kittens and tame cats are adopted into good homes. Adult cats to wild to be adopted are returned to live out their lives under the watch of voluntary caregivers.

TNR WORKS!

The breeding stops. Populations are gradually reduced. The annoying behaviors of breeding cats, like yowling or spraying, stop!

The cats are vaccinated against disease, and they are fed on a regular schedule. This ongoing care creates a safety net for both the cats and the community!

Visit the Alley Cat Allies Web site www.alleycat.org   to find lots of ways to help stop the killing of feral cats and to promote Trap-Neuter-Return, the humane, nonlethal method of population control. Above all, you can help by preventing feral cats from being born in the first place. Make sure your own pet cats are spayed and neutered. And never abandon a pet!

EMBRACING LIFE                                              

Alley Cats Allies and Best Friends Animal Society and Feral Paws Rescue are dedicated to stopping the breeding without killing them!

The Truth about Feral Cats

Although there are tens of millions of feral cats living in the U.S., most people don't realize there is a sensible way to manage and reduce their numbers: Trap, Neuter, and Return or TNR. Tragically, this lack of information leads to millions of cats being killed in shelters every year because they are not tame and therefore unadoptable.

Discover the truth:

A stray cat is not a feral cat.
A stray is a cat who has been abandoned or who has strayed from home and become lost. Stray cats can usually be re-socialized and adopted.

A feral cat is an unsocialized cat.
Either he was born outside and never lived with a human family, or he is a house cat who has strayed from home and over time has thrown off the effects of domestication and reverted to a wild state.

Feral cats should not be taken to local shelters.
Feral cats are not pet cats, and they will be killed at most shelters. Because they're considered unadoptable, they sometimes don't even make it to the shelter but are killed in the animal control truck. Even no-kill shelters are not able to place feral cats in homes.

Feral kittens can be adopted.
Feral kittens can often be tamed and placed in homes, but they must be tamed in their first weeks of life. This is a critical window, and if they aren't handled in time, they will remain feral and unadoptable.

Feral cats have about the same lifespan as pet cats.
And they contract diseases at about the same low rate. The incidence of disease among feral cats is no higher than owned cats.

Feral cats are not the cause of wildlife depletion.
Studies show that the overwhelming cause of wildlife depletion is destruction of natural habitat due to man-made structures, chemical pollution, pesticides, and drought — not feral cats.

Trap and Remove doesn’t work.
Not only would you have to continue to remove cats, this process is extremely costly to communities. What's more, other cats move in to take advantage of the available resources and they breed prolifically, quickly forming a new colony. This "vacuum effect" is well documented.

Trap, Neuter, and Return does work.
No more kittens. Their numbers gradually go down. The annoying behaviors of mating cats, such as yowling or fighting, stop. The cats are vaccinated, and they are fed on a regular schedule. This ongoing care creates a safety net for both the cats and the community.

• TNR stops reproduction and gradually reduces feral cat populations.
  
  
• TNR improves and extends the lives of feral cats.
  
  
• TNR is effective, humane, and does not cost much.
  
  
• TNR is a proven plan that just makes good sense. (PDF)
  
  

Share the Truth
Click here to download your own copy of The Truth about Feral Cats (PDF)

For more information about feral cats, please visit Alley Cat Allies or click on the links below.

• Wild About Cats
  
  
• The ABCs of TNR (PDF)
  
  
• Five FAQs About Spaying & Neutering Stray and Feral Cats (PDF)
  
  

Advocacy Kit

2006 16" x 20" Poster
Put this beautiful poster in libraries, community centers, churches, retail shop windows, pet stores, veterinarians’ offices, public transportation stations, schools, restaurants, or anywhere people will see it and learn about National Feral Cat Day. Asking permission before you put up the poster is an excellent opportunity to develop other supporters.

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Download PDF
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Ads
These attractive ads, in English and Spanish, can be printed in newspapers and newsletters, used as flyers and handouts, or hung as small posters. All ads are available with and without the NFCD logo in both color and black and white formats. View larger ad images

Success Tips

Our efforts are working. We hear from people across the country about the progress they’re making with feral cats in their areas. Trap, Neuter, and Return is making a very real difference for feral cats in communities just like yours. Below are some tips to help you help the cats.

Tip #1
Learn who your city council members are. You can do this by searching for your city government website on the internet. If your city does not have a website, look in your local white pages and call the city clerk's office. Make sure to get their full name, mailing address, and phone numbers (and e-mail if they have one listed). Take the time to introduce yourself to your city council members and start a line of communication with them. See more information about changing your community.

Tip #2
Start your own Trap, Neuter, and Return group! Alley Cat Allies has broken down the steps necessary for you to create your own organization dedicated to bettering the lives of outdoor cats through a Trap, Neuter, and Return program. If you are interested in creating a new clinic in your area, click here.

Tip #3
Feel like you are all alone in your town and trying to single-handedly help the outdoor cats yourself? Don’t. Organize! Getting the word out about your work will help encourage and inspire others to help you in your mission. Educate other people by holding a class about Trap, Neuter, and Return at your local library. Tell people about the steps involved in the process, and make sure to get everyone’s name so you can contact them to help you in the future. For more about how to change your community by organizing, download this PDF.

Tip #4
Are you thinking about talking to your local animal control officer about Trap, Neuter, and Return? Set up an appointment with him or her and bring some goodies. These officers are the people who you will need to work with in order to seek change in your community. If you are worried about what to say, download this PDF to learn how to best get the message across to your local officers.

Tip #5
Trap, neuter, and return works! Wondering who else in the animal protection movement has a position on Trap, Neuter, and Return? Click here to read other organization’s perspectives. Using the perspectives of the other nationally respected organizations that support the humane method of outdoor cat population management may help you change the minds of important figures in your community.

Tip #6
Are people asking you for hard facts, and are you having a difficult time answering their questions about Trap, Neuter, and Return? With some time and a little research, you can be fully prepared for those questions. Alley Cat Allies has compiled many scientific studies and posted them and discussions about them online. You can check out our past newsletter articles or read some scientific studies.

Tip #7
Stand out in the crowd! Wear an orange ribbon, and encourage your supporters to do the same. This is an effective method of showing your support when attending a town hall meeting. Council representatives often want to know how many in the crowd support the issue in front of them. Make sure to have your speaker, if you are allowed to give a presentation, point out that all the people in the audience wearing an orange ribbon want Trap, Neuter, and Return in your community. Click here to order your own orange ribbons.

Tip #8
Is your town considering new animal ordinances, or do they have ordinances that aren’t benefiting animals? Unsure? Click here to learn how licensing cats and leash laws make life for outdoor cats much harder and certainly more dangerous. Learn how to organize and fight these antiquated laws.

Tip #9
Work with the media. News reporters are not intimidating, and speaking to them should not cause you hot sweats. Take your cues from the politicians you see on TV — have a few talking points and repeat them over and over again. Just because the reporter asks you the question doesn’t mean you have to answer it in a straightforward way. Stay positive, smile for the camera, and tell truth. For more tips on working with the media — click here.