Feral Cat Day – How You Can Help!
October 16th is a very important day – it is National Feral Cat Day! Unfortunately, feral cats have been stuck with a bad rep. They are “wild” and “homeless” and “dispensable.” NOT TRUE! In today’s post, we are going to debunk these myths and give a few options on how you can help any feral cats you may find in your community.
Contrary to what some may believe, feral cats* ARE domesticated cats – just like your very own house cat. The difference between a feral cat and your cat is that a feral cat has not been socialized with people the way your house cat has been. They are wary and scared of humans. Can you blame them? Wouldn’t you be scared of a giant that’s 10 times bigger than you?! Feral cats will probably run if you approach them, and they will hiss and growl at you. If you try to grab them, you will probably get bitten. It’s not because the cats are wild and mean. They are just scared. This is why feral cats are usually not adoptable.
*Feral cats are not to be confused with stray cats. A stray cat is one that has been socialized with humans – they probably once belonged to someone and maybe got lost or were abandoned.
Though feral cats are not adoptable, they are not homeless either. Their home is the outdoors – the woods behind your house, the storm drains on your street, the crawl space under your home, or maybe even the engine of your car. Obviously, the lives of feral cats are not the easiest, but there are things we can do to make them more comfortable. If you would like to help out a local feral colony or even just the single feral cat living near your home, there are safe and easy ways to do so.
1) Feed them.
The first step in caring for feral cats is feeding them. You will probably want to feed them dry food rather than wet food because wet food can spoil if left out too long and will attract ants and other insects. Putting the food in an out-of-the-way place is also a good idea. That way the cats will feel more secure and comfortable when eating. Make sure you put out water bowls as well!
And of course, the feeding station and dishes should be kept clean.
Read this: 8 Must Haves for a Top-Notch Feral Feeding Station
2) Put out or build feral cat shelters.
Feral cat shelters are a wonderful way to give the cats a warm and safe place to live. They also make great places for pregnant cats to give birth, and they are especially helpful in the winter as well.
Building a feral cat shelter doesn’t have to be complicated either! The first example below is made using plastic bins, styrofoam, and hay. (Click here for instructions on how to make a feral cat shelter from plastic bins.)
Here is a link to some other DIY feral cat shelters.
3) TNR
The third and probably most important thing you can do to help feral cats is to Trap, Neuter, and Return them. Though a controversial topic, the ASPCA says that TNR is “the most humane, effective and financially sustainable strategy for controlling free-roaming cat populations.” Spaying/neutering cats relieves them of the stresses of mating, pregnancy, fighting, and roaming. Not to mention that a step in the TNR process is vaccinating the cats as well. After TNR, the cats’ overall health improves, and the feral cat population will decrease if they can no longer reproduce.
For detailed instructions on how to TNR, read the Alley Cat Allies’ step-by-step guide.
Caring for a feral colony is a big undertaking and is not one that should be taken lightly. However, it is an undertaking that can be very rewarding. To quote Jackson Galaxy, “Whether you call them family cats, house cats, feral cats, community cats, alley cats…it doesn’t matter. They are our cats, our community cats, and they deserve our love and our protection.”
Thanks to Alley Cat Allies for sharing the above video with me.
About Alley Cat Allies
Alley Cat Allies is the only national advocacy organization dedicated to the protection and humane treatment of cats. Founded in 1990, today Alley Cat Allies has over half a million supporters and helps tens of thousands of individuals, communities, and organizations save and improve the lives of millions of cats and kittens nationwide. Its website is www.alleycat.org.
Summer says
I’m so glad you are helping spread the word about National Feral Cat Day!
Kwee Cats and Art says
We wish more people did more for feral cats. We always do what we can, and wish we could do more.
Austin Towers says
A very good post and necessary!
Brian Frum says
We love all feral kitties, especially the ones we care for every single day.
Melissa & Truffles says
Thank you for spreading the word. Great post!
Sammy says
There’s lots of ways to help ferals and it’s not “all about spending money” either…..we feed two ferals in our neighborhood and have a heated house on our porch for them and anyone who needs shelter in the winter……as a former feral kitten we think everyone can do SOMETHING – no matter how small. Also TNR is an amazing program………it’s easy to get involved in things like that! GREAT POST!
Hugs, Sammy
Bethany says
It is illegal to put food outside in our city but for good reason- it mostly ends up feeding (and making crazy territorial) raccoons as well as attracting disease carrying rats and squirrels. I had a neighbor who ignored the law and put out food anyways. Two of her indoor cats were killed when the mother raccoon she’d been feeding tore through her screen looking for more. On a lighter note, those shelters are amazing and in our city that is the best thing that can be done for the ferrals. Most of them fall prey to a coyote eventually but any protection they can get is a good thing. Many feral friends here are hesitant to trap and soya or neuter because the poor kitties also get their ears tipped. I don’t think fixing a feral cat is cruel, it’s the opposite in fact, but “tagging” them seems unnecessary. Thanks for the Jackson Galaxy vid- I love him!
The Swiss Cats says
Great post, paws up for spreading the word ! Purrs
Traveling Cats says
Lots of great advice to help those feral cats in need. Of course, we do everything we can to help them.
da tabbies o trout towne says
guys…grate post, thanx for sharin & thanx for de sampull shelter instructionz !!
happee week oh end two all, heers two dusky grouper ♥
Chelsea Price says
What a great and informative post! I definitely think it’s important to stress the TNR portion of the list – we have several neighbors who feed feral cats, end up getting dozens of them, and then, of course, all sorts of kittens are born. It’s sad, especially since we’ve seen several sick kittens over there, and I’m sure they can’t all survive. Sharing this post in the hopes that more people try to help feral cats, rather than just assuming they’re meant to be “wild.”
Kitties Blue says
This was such a good post. We are always missing the boat. Even though Mom has this print out of all the impotent cat days for the year, it doesn’t do any good as she forgets to look at it. Maybe we can shame her into doing better in 2015. Three of our angel sisfurs came from the engine compartment of Mom’s car. We had a neighborhood stray, years ago who dropped off four litters here. Mom wanted to keep every one of the kitties but only four were destined to live with us. The second two litters never got as far as the car engine. Sending oodles of love and a kiss for everyday that has come before now to the beginning of time from Astrid for Sampy. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo
Tamago says
What a great post! TNR is a great program to help feral kitties. I didn’t know about TNR until I started blogging, so I know this important post certainly raises awareness. I hope more people will know about it and get involved!
The kitty shelter made of bin is very nice. Great idea 🙂
The Island Cats says
What a great post! We hope more and more people learn about how they can help the feral kitties.
Caren Gittleman says
Hoping that the general public who isn’t aware of what to do (as we cat bloggers are), see this so that they learn! Great post!
Kjelle Bus aka Charlie Rascal says
Glad you are helping spread the word about National Feral Cat Day!
Me and my mom-person wish that moore people did moore for the feral cat´s !!
XOXO
M. K. Clinton says
What a great post! Thanks for the great ideas. Oh, thanks for joining the Pet Parade! ☺
Rachel Sheppard says
Great article…as winter is approaching, many people could use DIY solutions like #2
Clooney says
That is a really great, informative post…thanks for it.
Deztinee Izabella says
What a gweat posty. Weez purray evewyday fur da fewals. Weez just wish they and all da stways had pawsum homes and didn’t hav to liv outside like dat. Shame on da hoomans hoo made all this happen.
Luv ya’
Dezi
Deztinee Izabella says
Me furgot. Da foto wiff da plastic bed dusn’t work. Meez means you can’t click it fur da instwuctions. Weez seen it afur last winter all ovew facebook, but weez just fawt weez wuld let yous know.
Luv ya’
Dezi
Melissa & Truffles says
Thank you for spreading the word. Great post!
meowmeowmans says
Thank you for this great Feral Cat Day post. Those kitties need all the help we can give them!