No matter where you live, there are probably feral cats nearby. We live 20 minutes from downtown Los Angeles, and we have a few in our neighborhood. There is a new one the humans have seen on our patio a few times, a young calico. She’s pretty, but awfully thin, and always runs off when she sees the humans. My human wishes she could help her, but her visits are sporadic enough that she is not sure she could trap her.
Behind every feral cat there is a past that no one will fully know. There is also a future that relies on the kindness of strangers. That is what National Feral Cat Day is all about. The only difference between a feral cat and a housecat is that the ferals are not friendly to humans. They see them as a danger and a threat… and they are often right.
There are a lot of cruel humans around who wish them harm. Some of these people are in positions of power, or are working to keep “catch and kill” the norm for the feral cat population. They don’t believe that Trap, Neuter and Return (TNR) works, but they are wrong. TNR stabilizes, controls and over time, reduces feral cat populations. The cats no longer reproduce, and because their colony is managed, they are healthier because they are looked after. They don’t carry diseases like rabies because they are vaccinated. If you see a cat with an ear tip, you know that 1) it is a feral, or community cat, and 2) there is someone looking out for her wellbeing.
What can you do to to help? Of course, you can volunteer for a local organization that does TNR, or you can donate to nearby groups, or to Alley Cat Allies, the national organization that advocates for feral cats. Those are the most obvious. But there’s more, and if you don’t have the time to volunteer, or money to donate, believe me, it is still every bit as important: you can make sure feral cats are safe in your community! How? By being a local advocate for them. Find out what the laws are regarding feral cats in your area, and if TNR is not being promoted, work to make it the norm. Educate yourself so you can speak eloquently and convincingly about the value of TNR and feral cats. The ability of local feral groups to care for the cats in their community relies on good laws that allow them to do so.
To find out more about National Feral Cat Day, visit the official website.
To learn more about helping feral cats, and what you can do, visit the Alley Cat Allies website.
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We have seen the alley cat angels at work in our area:)
Very well stated. We have a new cat in the neighborhood…a very gorgeous oriental of some type. None of us know where it came from and suspect it was dumped…not a feral or stray but a well-socialized cat. I haven’t been able to find any postings on line or any signs in the neighborhood about a lost cat. My neighbors are now feeding it and will adopt it if no one comes forward to claim as their cat. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo
Our feral Fluffy must have known about this day because after almost a year since we trapped her she came out of her room! On her own and not looking terrified. Such a big step. One day we hope that she will be a regular part of our household.
Excellent post. Our local TNR the UCFCC is going about it all wrong. They’re trying to “catch flies with vinegar and not honey.” A few years ago our mayor donated $1000 to the TNR and relations have gone downhill since then because UCFCC’s head is crazy. Yesterday he held a protest outside the mayor’s house. Sigh. That’s no way to get someone to assist you.
I remember as a kid, my family always adopted as many ferals as we could and, when we couldn’t, took them to no kill shelters or tried to find them forever homes amongst our friends.
We highly respect Alley Cat Allies. We’re so very thankful for people like them who help to educate and advocate for ferals everywhere – and to promote TNR.
Thank you for this post!
Educating people about feral cats is one of the most important things we can do as feline advocates!
I was so disgusted to find that most municipalities in the area have an “extermination†policy … kill, no questions asked. It actually made the news because one city partnered with a rescue and adopted TNR. Even worse? The comments on the story complained about “nuisance†cats – and supported killing all ferals. Completely disgusting. I don’t know if I’d go so far as to claim Bear was feral … but he saved my life and he was one of those homeless “nuisance†cats when we met – so this topic is close to my heart.
Wonderful post!
Hope you are having an easy Sunday.
XOXO
Great post. We are going to share your post on FB and Twitter. Nicely done Summer!
Great post Summer. We miss our feral Squatty but we hope everyone works to decrease the number of kitties that must live a feral lifestyle.
Great post ! We think too that TNR is the best way to help ferals. Purrs
Great post Summer, thanks so much fur sharing this really important message!
Purrs
Basil & Co xox
We have no ferals near my home and I no longer work where I had ferals to feed, so lately I am feeling a bit like I am not doing enough to help.
Well done, Summer. Thank you for an amazing post about this important issue. Feral cats need us to be their champions and advocates, and TNR totally works.
Great post pals. We’re pretty proud of our little community. They encourage keeping feral cats around because they really help with the mouse problem we have around here.
Excellent post, it is important for us to be their voice. A friend of mine had a step father that wanted to move feral cats that “lived” in the apartment complex near their house. I told the feeder of the group and someone spoke to him- needless to say, we are not such good friends now, but I don’t care- cats are more important.
Thank you for the important post.
Alley Cat Allies is the group who helped me TNR all our cats. Great post guys.
Happy Feral Cat day and may each be loved and care for it the way that best suits their nature. We know some don’t like to be inside.
Yep mom keeps my skylight cover with a screen in the summer. The noon sun pours in that room about 2 hours
Hugs madi your bfff
Great post Summer!!!! First we want to apologize that your comment accidentally got deleted from our post. Second we would like to invite you to come back and link to our post as we have created a Blog Hop for National Feral Cat Day. Our silly secretary didn’t think about doing it until today.
This is such a great post. I’m a little annoyed that Mommy didn’t get it together in time to do a post for today. We have a lot of ferals in our neighborhood. Mommy feels so bad for them, but there’s nothing she can do because we live in a building. In the winter she goes around and leaves food where she can.
Feral cats can make great pets. But they are not lap cats. And it is so rewarding when one begins to trust the human. And once that happens, it is just great.
Feral cats are members of our community, just like owned cats, and they deserve support and respect. We’re so glad that Alley Cat Allies is helping make that possible!
Wonderful message! I was born a feral cat, and to stay warm one night I crawled into a car engine. I took a couple of rides in the car engine before I cried loud enough for the humans to hear me. Thankfully I was not burned or injured. These humans were not able to keep me and took me to an animal shelter. I got shots and got my ear mites taken care of and I was estimated to be 9 weeks old. I was taken to an adoption fair and that is where my lady found me. She says that she saw the orange spot on the back of my head and wondered if I was a tortie. When she walked around the cage and saw my face with my interesting face…. Well I went to my forever home that day. And I have been training her ever since.
Thank you Summer for spreading the word on this day. Mom contributes to Alley Cat Allies. She is a strong believer in this movement. Our little furrsis Olivia is a former feral kitten that we adopted. There were actually 3, homes were found for all. Mom’s sis has Olivia’s sis Belle. They are both black kittens. Thank you to all the humans out there that care. We love you! Purrs
Humans are responsible for homeless cats and humans should do as much as possible to care for them!
Purrs Georgia and Julie,
Treasure and JJ
You’re right, Summer. We all need to look out for the feral cats. They depend on us.
That was a most wonderful message beautiful Summer! Our Feral Cat Day was delayed because Dad was doing the TNR thing.
We all must do whatever we can. This Feral Cat Day is extra special this year because of a cat name Pepper.
We honor this day especially because I was a little abandoned feral kitten when found under an old house and taken to the shelter……I was one of the lucky ones and got a forever home…….so many ferals need our help to just survive and TNR programs help make sure they are healthy and also keep the population from growing and growing.
Love, Sammy
Thanks fur the great post. We think TNR is the best way. Happy Sunday.
We miss our sweet feral boy, Trav, each and every day.
Thank you for passing on this impawtant message. We don’t know about Leia, but I was born outside and could have become/stayed a feral myself.
We were all adopted from a group that does a lot of work with feral cats – in fact, Angelique was born into a feral colony.