Feral cats are "wild" cats, often found in abandoned buildings, and very common in big cities AND small towns.    Stray cats are not feral cats.    Feral cats do NOT have a human family, maybe they did at one time, but now they're on their own!   Stray cats can sometimes, after a long period of time on their own, become feral though!   (keep your kitty inside....they will be safer, happier and healthier!)

Every year, a wonderful organization called Alley Cat Allies sponsors National Feral Cat Day, to raise awareness of the problem of feral cats.    There are literally millions of them in every city, town and village around the country.   Even in the tiny town where I live, human population about 3100, there are probably 250 or more feral cats.   

We, the NWMO Humane Society, have, in the past 2 years or so, gotten about 60 feral cats "fixed".   We practice what is called TNR, Trap Neuter Return.   This is the only method that has been found to keep the numbers of feral cats down.   Killing (shooting, poisoning etc) feral cats doesn't help, because the remaining cats just breed more new kitties!!!    We use humane live traps to catch the kitties in the evening/nighttime.   Then, we bring them in the morning to the Veterinarian (or if we're lucky a special discounted feral cat clinic!!) where they are spayed or neutered, checked for diseases, wounds etc that can be treated, given their shots (rabies, and we do a 7 in 1 kitty shot), given deworming medication and Frontline/Advantage for fleas and ticks.   They are then returned to the trap or carrier they came in, and closely observed until they are recovered mostly from the anesthesia (usually 2 or 3 hours) then they are returned to the exact spot where they were trapped, and released.

How can you help?    This month would be a great time to donate to your local Animal Shelter or Humane Society.    Or Volunteer!    Encourage local goverment officials to try a TNR program in your community, it is a great thing to do for the kitties AND the humans!    Less chance of your own pet getting any illness from feral cats, less kitties using your flowerpots as a litter box, less beautiful kitties run down in the road!

Maybe someone in your neighborhood feeds a feral cat colony.   They are ANGELS to do that, it can cost a FORTUNE!  Maybe you can help them by offering to buy a few bags of cat food or dishes, or offer to help them TNR their colony!!

Ok, now off I go to list some more items on eBay so we can pay for some TNR of our own to celebrate National Feral Cat Day this month!!!

Kathey