Feral Paws Rescue
........Saving Feral Cats (TNR)
A feral colony is a social group of cats who avoid human contact, and breed
with each other to create a growing population of homeless cats.
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They are born outdoors and usually are hidden by their mothers; they
have little or no human contact in the formative months.
As they are often nocturnal, you may not be aware of their presence
or total colony size.
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You might be aware of the spraying, nighttime mating, and the
strong smell of urine from the intact males.
Adopting a Feral Cat
Feral cats are not good candidates for adoption unless someone is
willing to spend considerable time with them. Taming feral cats sometimes takes years.
A feral cat is either a domestic housecat who has been abandoned or
gotten lost and returned to wild behaviour, or the offspring of such a cat.
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Living without human contact for a long period of time, or without crucial
socialization to humans as kittens, feral cats are extremely
frightened and suspicious of humans.
How Does a Feral Cat Live?
Domestic cats may not have the properly honed hunting
instincts necessary to fend for themselves, despite what many people think.
They are opportunistic, scavenging scraps from dumpsters
and accepting hand-outs of cat food where they find them.
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Feral cats are prone to picking up serious diseases such as feline
leukemia and feline AIDS from other unvaccinated cats they encounter,
and of course they are always in danger of being hit by cars.
Female ferals are constantly pregnant or trying to nourish their kittens
on a starvation diet, and males risk injury in violent cat fights.
The average feral cat only lives for three years.
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Feral Cat Coalition
San Diego, California
Is spay/neuter/release working? Statistics from the San Diego Department of Animal
Control as of 6/30/97 show That while the number of cats adopted or claimed by
owners has remained fairly constant over the years, there has been a decrease of
almost 50% in the number of cats impounded and
killed as compared to 1992 (when the FCC clinics started). Before the FCC was
formed, the number of cats impounded and killed had been going up 15% per year!
So, you ask, what exactly is a feral cat??? Read on, and you'll learn more about a
problem that's causing a lot of suffering --- and costing you money!!!
Feral cats are the 'wild' offspring of domestic cats and are primarily the result of pet
owners' abandonment or failure to spay and neuter their animals, allowing them
to breed uncontrolled. Feral cat 'colonies' can be found behind shopping areas or
businesses, in alleys, parks, abandoned buildings, and rural areas. They are
elusive and do not trust humans.
Many people assume their animals will survive when they move away and
leave them behind. Contrary to popular belief, domestic animals do not
automatically return to their "natural" instincts and cannot fend for themselves!
Already, U.S. animal shelters are forced to kill an estimated 15 million homeless
cats and dogs annually. The alternative to humane euthanasia for almost every
stray is a violent end or slow, painful death. Many "throwaways" die
mercilessly outdoors from starvation, disease, abuse --- or as food to a predator.
A pair of breeding cats, which can have two or more litters per year,
can exponentially produce 420,000 offspring over a seven-year period,
And the overpopulation problem carries a hefty price tag. Statewide,
more than $50 million (largely from taxes) is spent by animal control
agencies and shelters for cat-related expenses.
In response to this staggering problem, the Feral Cat Coalition was formed
by Sally Mackler and Rochelle Brinton DVM. The FCC is an organization
that traps and spays/neuters feral cats, then returns them to their caretakers.
This service is provided to the community at no cost by licensed veterinarians
and volunteers with one goal in mind: reducing the enormous number
of homeless, unwanted cats.
Studies have proven that trap-neuter-release is the single most successful
method of stabilizing and maintaining healthy feral cat colonies with the least
possible cost to local governments and residents, while providing the
best life for the animals themselves.
Spaying/neutering homeless cats:
costs for repeatedly trapping and killing feral colonies are far higher than
promoting stable, non-breeding colonies in the same location. Vacated
areas are soon filled by other cats who start the breeding process over again
How can you be a part of the solution?
In the San Diego County area...
in maintaining their good health. In San Diego, Pet Assistance (619-544-1222)
can provide information on low-cost spay/neuter services in your area.
monthly clinics! Humane traps ( with instructions ) are available
to borrow. Call the number below for upcoming clinic locations--
-but please be patient---we often have a waiting list for traps, and
clinics are only once a month.
veterinarian to become involved!
is caring for stray, unowned cats let them know about our
services. Education is the key, so make others aware of the
feral cat problem and tell them how they can help!
Outside of the greater San Diego area...
Cat Coalition. We have detailed information that will help you get up and
running....plus, some of it is just interesting reading. Most of our printed
information is available by following the links below. If, for some reason,
you are unable to take advantage of this information in electronic form,
or if your needs extend beyond the scope of topics covered here,
feel free to contact us.
Please follow these links for more
information on the subject:
Feral Cat Coalition Documents
...A note for our 'anti-cat' critics.
...
The long awaited FCC video is now available.
... Pictures from Feral Cat Coalition clinics (please allow time for the images to load).
...The Feral Cat Coalition policy regarding testing/vaccination for FeLV/FIV/FIP
...An excellent report on Trap/Alter/Release Programs by Karen Johnson
...A source for humane traps
...Instructions for trapping feral cats
...An article by Sara Pehrsson from Cats Magazine August 1995
...An article by Susan Easterly from Cat Fancy Magazine November 1994
...Raising Orphan Kittens ...a helpful summary of tips for dealing
with abandoned kittens
...Taming Feral Kittens ...a guide to taming and socializing feral kittens
...Complete details for running an FCC-type clinic (procedures) 
... Comments by Dr. W. Marvin Mackie regarding the 'need for speed' in
veterinary practices. (Needs to be read carefuly from top to bottom)
... Study by Dr. Karl Zaunbrecher addressing the link between altering and
feral population stabilization. (Currently unavailable)
... FCC t-shirts make great gifts. Help our cause and look great too.
... A great article by Dr. David Zanders dispelling some common myths about Spay/Neuter.
... The Race To Outpace Feral Cat Over-population, a symposium presentation by Linda Kelson,
Feral Cat Coalition board member.
... A Model For Humane Reduction of Feral Cat Populations by FCC's Dr. Michelle Chappell.
Articles by Sarah Hartwell
... The Great Australian Cat Dilemma ...an overview of the problem in Australia.
... Why Feral Eradication Won't Work ...an article pointing out the problems with eradication programs.
... The American Feral Cat Problem ...an older, but still valid article.
... The Unsociable Cat ...are cats really solitary creatures?
This collection of FCC and related documents will continue to grow...stay tuned.