What do you think about feral cats?
What do you think about them? What do you think should be done about/to them?
I think it’s interesting to see what different people think, and tell me a bit about your background too – where do you live, what pets do you have, what experience/knowledge do you have with/of feral cats.
I find your answers interesting, I’m assuming you are all in America, here in Australia we veiw them a lot differently, and the norm is to catch and euthanise, rather than spay/release. I’m trying to figure out why, I think something like we care about our native wildlife more, like our culture is based on it or something … Neuter and release would still result in 20 or so animals dieing every night at the claws of that cat. I used to be for the killing of them, but then I saw it happening, and the poor thing was crouching scared in the cage – it was horrible. But now I am stuck with conflicting ideas … because I still care about all them native animals…
Obviously I can’t chose a best answer on your opinions, so yeah …
Filed under: Cat Behavior
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Part of me feels sorry for them and another part of me is annoyed by them. I live in Cleveland and I have two dachshunds who think they should keep cats (and squirrels) in their places. The neighbor feeds feral cats, which is fine, but then they come and tease my dogs, which isn’t fine.
feral cats should be trapped, neutered and released back to where they came from. feed them. i know a lot of people who do volunteer work with them in Seattle. My parents had about 30 feral cats and thanks to the volunteers, they have all been neutered or spayed and are living a happy life. Quite a few have even been socialized and adopted.
I think that humans are too cruel to the animals to begin with.
We decide for them. Why?! They are living things just like us…
I would not touch any animal at all just try to live with them.
Cats are the same. No kill policy for me here.
I’m a volunteer at my local humane society. I work with feral cats all the time and have the cuts and scrapes to show it. I have been trying to get my MPP (member of provincial parliament, kind of a congressman for Canadians) to pass a law stating all cats and dogs would have a free neuter/spay. That way, they don’t make anymore of themselves. Instead, what do they do? Initiate a law stating any animal cannot be sterilized until it is inspected, licenced by the owner (who can only have three maximum) and cannot be operated on until after it’s first shots. Meaning, even household cats can’t be sterilized without jumping through hoops. In the old days, I used to catch, feed, groom and neuter or spay cats in my neighborhood. Now I can’t. And kitten populations on the streets is getting larger and larger each year. In a few years, we’re going to have a huge population of feral cats out there that we can’t stop. They won’t be properly fed or taken care of and they’ll spread disease, giving the anti-animals crowed out there more fuel for their fire.
I work at a university and there are cat colonies all over campus. The local Humane Society traps the cats and spays/neuters them then releases them back on campus. The staff feed and care for them. In fact a friend fosters kittens so she can give them away to good homes when they’re old enough. She spends her own money doing this.
We actually have 3 cats that hang around our building. We all take care of them by buying food for them. We had 4, but one was actually adopted and she now lives in a good home where she is loved! Our cats are very affectionate and friendly.
It’s very unfortunate that there are so many feral cats, but it’s not their fault. We just try to do our part to give them a good life.
Best wishes!
I am from Indiana (USA) and I have 2 cats and a dog. Recently I went away for a week vacation and came home to a feral kitten living in my house. Once we caught him and started the taming process he is as friendly, if not more so, than a regular cat. I am for the TNR approach. (Trap, Neuter, Release)
Before this however, I never really thought much about feral cats.