There are billions of feral cats worldwide because of human
negligence. Feral is the cat that nobody wanted. These cats were abandoned by
their owners and left to survive on their own.
Some cats survived in areas close to a food source others perished.
These cats are living a life much like the wild cats of Africa. They are
competing for food water and shelter and just want to carve out space for
themselves so they can live a peaceful life with humans.
I have been a colony caregiver since 1999 and in that time I
have trapped, sterilized, and given the feral cats their vaccines, tape wormer, and
treatment for fleas, ticks, and ear mites.
All of the feral and stray cats that I have trapped were either
socialized for adoption or released to a controlled colony where they are safe from
human traffic.
My husband and I care for feral and stray cats. At the present date, we have 10 cats in our
colony. The colony where the cats reside
is on a side of a mountain ridge that is located in a forest of 25 acres. The
cats live in limestone cracks and crevices as well as large thicket dens or
hollow trees.
All cats are fed twice a
day and get fresh water at the feeding station.
In the winter the cats are welcome to sleep and get warm in my old shed. It is a drafty shed, however, it is dry and it does provide the cats with a good wind block and straw-filled beds.
Some feral cats will go where they go when the weather turns extremely cold or hot and these cats do suffer. They are too wild to realize that the shed has heat and an air conditioner.
The feral cats are terrified of the noise that the heater or the air conditioner so these cats will burrow into the leaves or the brush in the forest. For these wild feral cats, we will hike out to them to provide them with food and water. And when the snow is too deep we will make a path to them. (see the path my husband created for us to get to the cats or for the cats to come to us.)
It is not easy to be a feral cat, most humans fear them and believe they are vicious and diseased. Many humans think the best interest of the feral cat is to trap them and euthanize them, and this action is humane.
I have trapped and taken the feral cats in for sterilization, tested for feline aids or leukemia, and out of the 298 cats there was 1 sick cat and that cat was a neighborhood stray cat, very people friendly.
Feral cats did not ask for this life, they really had no choice as their human abandoned them long ago. They are feral because of human neglect, a human error that can only be fixed by the caregivers that dedicate their service to trap, spay or neuter and then care for the cats in colonies.
Feral cats deserve a better life, where they can co-exist with humans without being feared as dangerous animals, with no purpose on earth.
It ought to be a crime to dump a pet. The long-term consequences are so great to the animal, environment and community.
ReplyDeleteI am for laws of ownership for pet owners and advocate that cities laws must enforce that all pets be spayed or neutered, except for breeders and they must pay a fee yearly on all unaltered pets. Also all pets must have a city license. In addition, a community law that fines plus community service or jail time for pet owners accused of abuse or abandoned of an animal.
ReplyDeletePets are not disposable. I have met so many people that think I am nuts for caring for these cats…Many of them tell me “they are JUST cats." If one dies, get another. I reply…”what is wrong with you? Have you no sense of good and bad? These cats could teach you a thing or two…and the first thing you would learn is to think of others and not yourself.”
Virginia thanks for your comment.
Lucy is a beautiful cat.
ReplyDeleteI think that anyone who adopts and cares for at risk animals is truly a special person.
JK North: Thank you for commenting on this post. I agree people should adopt and care for feral cats. Especially if the cats can be socialized I trapped two feral cats when they were adults because they needed medical care. I had full attention to return them to outdoor colony but on the day of the release the weather was bad...that was two years ago. While it did take time to socialize feral cats, and it may take a year for them to trust you 100%, I can tell you that it is well worth the effort. My feral cats sleep with me on top of the bed and are very loving. I say "Adopt a Feral Cat or Kitten and Save a life"
ReplyDeleteYou are a true Human, who really cares for the mute creatures.
ReplyDeleteI am from India and like to share this with you that the stray kitten which took refuge in my home is more attached to me than any other Human, and avoids all other cats even if I try to leash walk her into a feral colony (a mission which needs more time).
Kittens which find love from us, would never cheat on us ever and remain our companions for life.
Poochu
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment and for taking the time to read my posts all the way from India.:) I have socialized many adult and feral kittens and I agree with you these feral cats appreciate human companionship and make loving and loyal pets. God bless you for caring for the feral cats.
Susan G
I'd read about Lucy in your writings, but did not know the story of her mother. How sad that some people have no compassion for living things. Lucy does deserve better than her mother's tragic end, and I pray you are able to continue to help her. God bless you Susan, for the good you do for these poor creatures.
ReplyDeleteSusan, I thought I knew all about Lucy, but I never knew about her mom. That is so awful, and you are right it is human neglect, not nature. People like to think that cats and dogs are really still wild creatures that revert if abandoned. What a lovely lie! They are 100% domesticated animals that do not really know well how to care for themselves. Researchers have found that cats generally do better on their own than dogs, because they have retained a little tiny bit of their wild nature -- but as you noted, their lifespan is extremely short. In fact, even a house cat that is well-cared for but allowed to go outside and roam has a drastically shortened life expectancy. It's very difficult to do the kind of work you do. The weight of the sorrow is overwhelming. Only people who are able to focus on the good they do, and still allow themselves to feel the pain of what they see (so they can heal somewhat) are able to continue working for years as you do. Most people either shut themselves off from their feelings and eventually become bitter and tired, or they allow their feelings to completely overtake them and then they are no help to the animals still in need. You are a wonderful balance.
ReplyDeleteAJ: I agree with you, people believe that housecats will be fine if they are left in a park like area. They think that they will know how to hunt and find shelter. I have observed two declawed cats that were left by my home, they sat in the field during a thunder storm because they did not know what to do. I went to get them and they ran because they were afraid. An indoor outdoor cat is subjected to incurable cat disease, cars that don't stop and stray dogs. It is not safe for an outdoor cat, unless there is an outdoor enclosure or a yard with a cat fence.
ReplyDeleteThanks AJ for your comment about being balanced...I have cared for the same feral cats for many years, I was able to save 15 cats by socializing them and getting them into good homes, but the remaining like Lucy and Bob...worry me..Even though I know they are feral and free and living the life they choose I still worry about them and look for them when they do not show up at the feeding station.