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A feral cat is either a cat who has lived his whole life with little or no human contact and is not socialized, or is a stray cat who was lost or abandoned and has lived away from human contact long enough to revert to a wild state. Feral cats avoid human contact and cannot be touched by strangers. Adult feral cats usually cannot be socialized and will not adjust to living indoors.
What is Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR)?
TNR is a full management plan in which stray and feral cats already living outdoors in neighborhoods are humanely trapped, then evaluated, vaccinated, and sterilized by veterinarians. Kittens and tame cats are taken into foster care and permanent adoption is sought for them. Healthy adult cats too wild to be adopted are returned to their familiar habitat under the lifelong care of volunteers (Taken from Five FAQs About Stray and Feral Cats published by Alley Cat Allies). With permission, shelters and feeding stations are set up on the property of local businesses, homeowners or public developments.
Can feral cats get adopted?
The reality seen from years of trial and error trying to tame feral cats reveals that is it to the benefit of the cat and the greater good of all cats to be TNRed. There is little success when forcing a feral into an environment they are scared of and uncomfortable in. The quality of life spent outside with a feeder, shelter and good care is better than them hiding in fear under a bed. Your time and generosity is best spent sterilizing the ferals, who would live unhappily inside, and helping those who simply cannot survive outdoors.
What is an ear tip?
Feral cats that have already been TNRed will have an ear-tip - the tip of the left ear will be clipped flat to indicate that s/he has been sterilized and vaccinated. An ear-tip is done while the cat is under anesthesia. Ear tipping is extremely important as it indicates to the public that the cat has been sterilized and has had a rabies vaccine and should not be trapped again unnecessarily. Colony feeders will be able to identify when a new cat enters their colony, as both ears will be pointed. These newcomers should be trapped.
There are kittens in my area. What should I do?
Kittens, when trapped under 8 weeks, can easily be socialized and become loving indoor cats; with the proper fostering no one would know that they were feral! CRA has special drop traps that are available to trap an entire litter of kittens and mom at once. It is just as important to trap the mother as it is the kittens, as she needs to be spayed so she does not reproduce again. If you see kittens, it will be extremely important to contact CRA immediately to have them taken to a vet. Kittens, like newborn babies, have fragile immune systems, and it is important to ensure their health.
How do I become a colony caretaker?
The first step in caring for a colony is to identify if there is a feeder and if so, who is feeding. There are usually one or more feeders. You may find shelters, food or water bowls on their property. Approach the feeder to let them know that you would like to help. Discuss TNR, and make sure that all of the cats are ear-tipped. If they need TNR, contact CRA. If there is no one feeding, you should begin now. Be sure to provide water - this is the most commonly forgotten necessity! Contact us and we will set you up with traps, training and vet appointments. We can also provide you with shelters if available, or resources for you to with make inexpensive shelters. If any new cats that are not ear-tipped enter the colony in the future let us know!
Where can I learn more about TNR and cat colony management?
Alley Cat Allies is a national feral cat resource for TNR programs. On the Alley Cat Allies website, you can find a host of research, technical support and advocacy material available free of charge.
Neighborhood Cats is based in NY and is an expert on working with community members and their feral cats.
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