FERAL CATS and TNR
Patches, her kittens (the third litter this summer) and other cats live in a colony with well-defined territory. Some are feral (born in the wild) and some are abandoned or lost pets. They are called "feral" or "free-roaming." Feral and free-roaming cats are NOT homeless--they just live outside, in wooded areas, abandoned buildings, parking lots, and near restaurants.
Life is hard--limited food, increasing numbers, wear on females from constant mating, birthing, and nursing, with a high kitten death rate.
Mating behavior such as fighting, yowling, roaming, and spraying annoys residential and business neighbors. Hungry cats raid garbage bins. And the numbers grow and grow.
Their caretaker, who feeds the cats, love them, even ones that are truly wild. The knowledge of the caretaker is helpful for the TNR operation. They name the cats, usually from appearance or location--Patches is a calico, Chevy lives behind a Chevron station.
SO, what will happen to Patches and her colony?
Scenario I. Annoyed or hostile business and residential neighbors call Animal Control to trap the cats and take them away. Taking them away, of course, ends with euthanasia for most (or all). Or, they may shoot or (worse) poison them. It can be as simple as putting out a pan of antifreeze which attracts cats, but causes a painful and miserable death. Outside cats often come in to fill the vacuum.
Scenario II. A feral cat spay/neuter organization volunteer, or other interested person, traps the cats, transports them to a low-cost vet or clinic, where they are spayed/neutered and vaccinated against rabies. Other critical health issues are attended to. The left ear is tipped (cut across the tip) for future identification as a neutered cat. The cats are returned to their home territory, where the caregiver or a volunteer feeds once a day.
Freed from constant mating, giving birth, and mothering kittens, Patches and friends now live contented lives, perhaps not long for some, but happy. The human neighbors are also happy with the lack of nuisance behaviors. Natural attrition without repopulation and removal of attraction for outside tomcats results in fewer colony cats in a fairly short time. Even those who dislike cats benefit.
TNR is cheaper than killing. What? Well, volunteers and citizens do the work, and surgery is low-cost. Animal Control must pay salaries, maintain facilities, and routinely euthanize. They do not enjoy the cooperation of caretakers as do the spay/neuter volunteers.
info@helpferals.org
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