help and spread the word about stray and feral cats

Today I put a few brochures on some doors in my neighborhood. The brochure is called Do you believe she deserves to live… even though she is wild?

For a pdf file of the brochure click here.

The brochure helps “correct misconceptions about feral cats that too often lead to inhumane and ineffective attempts to confront the complex issues surrounding feral cats.”

The main reason I decided to do this today is because I recently learned that someone on our block has been calling domestic animal control for stray and feral cats (three times in one week is what I was told.) A few neighbors were upset and worried about their own cats. And I, of course, know what happens to feral cats once animal control gets a hold of them.

I used a bright red marker and circled the myth about animal control. I also marked the entry that reads “Because feral cats are wild and unadoptable, ‘removing’ invariably equals killing.”

It would be wonderful if our neighbor who is continuously calling animal control would stop and consider a better solution. But if he doesn’t and the brochure touches only one person in my neighborhood I will feel that I have made a difference.

And I did notice one person reading the brochure (I mean sitting down on her porch and reading it, not just looking at it) on my way back home. I thought that was indeed wonderful.

For more information visit Alley Cat Allies.

A feral cat is an unsocialized cat. Either he was born outside and never lived with a human family, or he is a house cat that has strayed from home, and over time, has thrown off the effects of domestication and reverted to a wild state. Feral cats avoid human contact. When pet cats are forced to fend for themselves outdoors, huge numbers die from exposure or accidents. The survivors often turn feral and, if they have not been sterilized give birth to feral kittens. The cycle continues.

They have a home – outdoors.

Adult feral cats are like wildlife. They usually cannot be socialized and are most content living outside. On the other hand, feral kittens up to 10 weeks of age can often be tamed and placed in homes (like my cats!)

Feral cats deserve our compassion.

Because feral cats are wild and unadoptable removing invariably equals killing.

Visit www.alleycat.org for ways to help. Support Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), make sure your own cats are spayed and neutered, and never let anyone abandon a pet. Learning (and reading) about feral cats also helps! Thank you.

There are cats all around us. But just because a cat lives outside doesn’t mean she is homeless. These alley cats, barn cats, or street cats —feral cats— are undomesticated and unsocialized, and call the outside their home, just as squirrels, raccoons, and birds do. Feral cats live together in colonies, and unless spayed or neutered, their numbers grow. Tomcats prowl for mates, females become pregnant, and the cycle of reproduction continues.

These cats deserve a chance.

Far too many people misunderstand feral cats. Far too many people, hoping to help the feral cats in their communities, turn to animal shelters only to learn, too late, (like I did) that they have unwittingly marked those cats for death.

Support Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) in your community.

For a pdf file and to see/read the poster click here.

These cats were born on the street (in the country, on the sand, in your neighborhood, etc.) they need to stay on the street (in the country, on the sand, in your neighborhood, etc.) in order to survive.

Until recently, I didn’t realize.

Click here to learn more.

You can take action NOW by sending a quick email:

Click here to send a quick email.

Thank you.