Feral Cats

Feral means having returned to a wild or untamable state from domestication. It occurs when animals are dumped out to fend for themselves them give birth to offspring. Those offspring are deemed feral because they know nothing of people and are therefore afraid of them.

 

Unfortunately we have all seen them. Hunched near dumpsters, skittering across the street, dead along the side of the road, hanging out behind businesses where someone is feeding them. This group I just happened upon. They live at the back of a BP gas station. Not a place you expect to find them because there is no shelter or hiding area. The only cover they have are these bushes seen above. Right behind the dumpsters is another parking lot and building and about 40 feet to the left is the major Highway in our area, Bypass 17!!! Seen here is the family, there were 6 total that I saw but when my friends we there earlier in the week there were 13!! Of the 6 that I saw, 3 were about 5 month old kittens. They are not scared of people and that can be good and bad. Good for us because they will be easier to catch and rehome once everything is done to them, vaccines, FeLV/FIV test, spays and neuters, dewormed, etc. Bad for them because, especially in our area, not everyone likes kitties or for a good time when you are drunk, lets go torture some kittens!!

These cats cannot live here!!! Any normal person can understand that this is not a good place for cats to live. But then what to do for them?? Trap them and take them to the Humane Society? They will euthanize them without a second glance because they are feral or semi-feral and there are already too many happy, affectionate kitties in the shelter systems. Why waste time and money on a cat that may not be adoptable without lots of hands on time. Feed them and let them live as they are? They will continue to reproduce with about 60% of them succumbing to their environment, i.e. hit by a car, attacked by other animals, succumb to diseases like FeLV or FIV. Our answer is this: Trap and catch these cats, from the wildest of adults to the skittiest of the kittens, do not leave one cat there because it will start all over again. Once you have one, take it to get an FeLV/FIV test. Most of the time they need to be sedated to draw the small amount of blood needed so plan on spaying and/or neutering at the same time. This test is essential because no matter what you are going to do with this cat if it is sick then it has the ability to pass these diseases along to all other cats it comes in contact with. Some rescue groups out there do not believe in wasting money on testing these animals. They feel that the most important issue is reproduction and if they are diseased they will just die off quicker and that means one less mouth to feed. These diseases weaken their immune system and make these animals more prone to other problems, Upper respiratory infections, Urinary problems, etc. Left untreated these infections are a horrible, drawn out way to die that includes lots of suffering. Haven't they had enough!! If they test positive, euthanasia is the best solution because of the factors listed above. If they test negative, Hooray!! Most probably the whole colony is negative because it is so easily passed, bite wounds, intercourse and from mother to kitten. But all cats still need to be tested because there can always be some surprises. The next step is Spaying and Neutering. If planned correctly they are already sedated for the test and can get done right away. If they are Feral cats the best long term plan for them is release so now, while they are sedated/anesthetized, is the time to do the basics. Our feral cats that get released at farms get only a Rabies vaccine because there is no way to catch them again for the boosters on the other vaccines. It would be nice to deworm them as well but that is usually impossible unless you can get them to eat the dewormer in food when they are awake. Most veterinarians will know to use absorbable suture material but be sure to tell them. Notching the ear is practiced in some areas but our cats are only released in managed areas, like a farm type environment, so the caretakers know them and know they are all spayed and/or neutered.

Now it is time for release. We do not just let them go because after all that they have been through there is a chance they will run and never look back. We keep them in a large cage where they have a chance to chill out and see that this is not a bad place. They do not try to bother me, they feed me and give me fresh water, I have shelter from the elements, this is ok. They stay caged for 1-4 weeks. After being caged 99% of the cats remain in the area they are released and with the people they see constantly they can become affectionate, lovey cats. Some will always distrust people but that is okay because we have done what we can for them. We, society as a whole, have put them in this position and we need to help them along.

Here are two of the kittens in their wonderful home

 

For the semi-ferals and the kittens the testing is the same, along with the spay and neuter as long as they are old enough. But these guys are not going to be released, at least not yet, so we get them all their vaccines and dewormed. Then they go into foster care. They need to go into a small room or a large cage where they cannot hide from us. We start by talking to them, constantly. Then, trying to touch them. This can be scary. If they are older, I usually use big leather gloves, for my safety, and go very slow!!! All cats are different but if they are kittens they can usually be turned around. When you are getting to know them in their environment, prior to catching them, they talk to you, not growl or hiss but meow at you, they are usually going to be tamable as well. It is so rewarding to see them go from scared, wild kittens to lovable, happy kittens that people want to adopt.

Eating from the trough

More food and water left by "good doers"

What a lovely shelter!

 

If everyone does something to help, this can be done. From giving the ferals a place to live, a farm setting being ideal, to foster kittens, to donating time and money, there is something you can do. Kitten season starts in March and runs thru November. Please talk to your friends and neighbors. Everyone knows someone with a farm and farms always need some good mousers and snake scarers. Feral cats are great mousers and if they go through this type of program they wont give you babies, which then don't need to be found homes or buried when they are found dead.

Please contact us to find out more information or what you can do to help.

 

Sacred Vision Animal Sanctuary does not recommend handling feral cats without experience and cannot be held liable for any injuries or damages that occurs while handling cats.