October 16 is National Feral Cat Day
Animals

October 16 is National Feral Cat Day


October 16 is National Feral Cat Day—a day for us to think about the outdoor cats in our neighborhood.

Feral cats exist in every community. These cats are the same species as domestic cats, but are not socialized to humans and can’t be adopted into homes. Instead, they live healthy and content lives in family groups called colonies.

The best and most humane way to help a feral cat is through a program called Trap-Neuter-Return, which ends the breeding cycle and helps cats and people coexist peacefully. Alley Cat Allies’ website (www.alleycat.org) is a great source of information on Trap-Neuter-Return and the importance of spay and neuter for all cats.

It’s time to put an end to animal control practices that rely on catch and kill, which is not supported by a majority of Americans. Cities across the country are realizing that rather than endless catch and kill, our tax dollars would be much better spent on Trap-Neuter-Return for outdoor cats and low-cost spay and neuter for all cats.

Feral cats do not harm wildlife. Numerous studies have repeatedly found that the primary cause of bird population decline is rampant development and related pollution, which destroy bird habitats and sources of food. A 2005 study by the U.S. Forest Service estimates that six times more birds are killed annually by flying into buildings and power lines than by cats.

Due to failing and inhumane animal control policies that rely on catch and kill being killed in a shelter is the number one documented cause of death for cats in the United States. It’s bad public policy based on bad science. Trap-Neuter-Return for outdoor cats is a humane method of care and a responsible program. I urge readers to visit www.alleycat.org for more information.




- Yin & Yang (national Feral Cat Day)
As you can imagine this is a cause very dear to our hearts. Feral cats are not socialized to people. And therefore, they are not adoptable. Feral cats don’t belong indoors and are typically wary of us. However, as members of the domestic cat species...

- National Feral Cat Day
Alley Cat Allies created National Feral Cat Day® a decade ago to promote humane care for feral cats. Their efforts to share information and educate others on the importance of Trap-Neuter-Return have been supported year after year by caring individuals...

- Help Feral Cats
A number of animal activists have contacted state officials in an effort to head off a potential reclassification of feral cats, which could end the growing number of programs that trap, neuter and return them back into neighborhoods or the wild, and...

- Scott Alls Wants To Kill Feral Cats
We missed this when it was first published in our local paper. Feral cats a health danger A proposal by the Humane Society of South Misissippi to trap, neuter and return feral cats to their environment was tabled by the Biloxi Council this week after...

- We Are Enraged At This Heartless Blogger
We all have tears in our eyes after reading Podunk Wisconsinites and the Feral Cat. In April 2005, my fine state supported a proposal to make feral cats an unprotected species, a classification that would allow them to be hunted and killed. Despite the...



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