4 Ways To Help Feral Cats

Tomorrow, October 16th, is Feral Cat Day! There are far too many homeless kitties out there fending for themselves. If you’re an animal lover, like we are, you probably wish you could help all of them. Unfortunately, that’s too big a job for any one person. However, there are some things you can do to make a difference. Here, a Tipp City, OH vet lists some ways to help feral cats.

TNR stands for Trap Neuter Release, which also sums up how these programs work. TNR organizations catch feral cats, fix them, and then let them go again. The point is to help control pet overpopulation by preventing unwanted litters. Given that one pair of kitties can have up to 11, 606, 077 descendants in just 9 years, it’s easy to see how TNR programs help!

If you’ve had your own kitty (or kitties) fixed, then you’ve already taken steps that will benefit feral cats. Pet overpopulation is one of the main reasons there are so many sweet kitties out on the streets. If Fluffy hasn’t been spayed or neutered yet, we recommend getting this done as soon as possible.

Are there feral kitties in your neighborhood? Set out emergency shelters for them. These don’t have to be fancy: a storage tote with a hole in the side and some newspapers stuffed in the side will do. You may also want to consider leaving food and water out, though you will need to check local ordinances. Some cities, towns, HOAs, and/or subdivisions don’t allow feeding strays. Ask your vet for more information.

While not all feral cats make good pets, some of them actually do adapt to having humans. It really just depends on the cat. It’s worth noting that there is no physical difference between domestic, stray, and feral cats. It’s all about Fluffy’s demeanor. Strays are kitties that have been around people before. They’re often quite friendly, and, many times, are former pets themselves. Feral cats are completely wild, and usually avoid people. In time, stray cats can become feral. Feral cats that aren’t well-suited to being pets often make excellent barn/farm cats. After all, they’re great at catching mice!

Please contact us, your Tipp City, OH vet clinic, for all your kitty’s veterinary care needs. We are here to help!