April 7, 2006

Ask the Animal Behavorist

Feeding feral cats

By Maureen Strenfel
Humane Society Silicon Valley

Q: I have been feeding a small colony of feral cats. My friend says cats can fend for themselves and I’m only encouraging them to hang around if I keep feeding them. What should I do?

A: Cats are domesticated animals (even if they are feral) and cannot fend for themselves. I commend you for providing food and water on a daily basis. A few things to keep in mind:

1. Feed the cats in areas as secluded as possible, away from people and centers of activity.

2. If possible, do not feed at night. Conflicts with wildlife are one of the primary reasons neighbors complain about feral cat colonies, and daytime feeding reduces the chance of wild animals helping themselves to the cats’ food.

3. Keep feeding areas clean. Change the dishes when they get dirty, and pick up trash even if it isn’t yours. Don’t leave empty cans or large piles of food. Dry food is less messy than canned, and if you only feed dry food, canned food will be a more enticing treat.

Please also be a responsible cat caregiver and have the cats spayed or neutered so they cannot reproduce. A pair of breeding cats can quickly lead to multiple litters and an out of control situation. Humane Society Silicon Valley offers low-cost spaying/neutering for feral cats and partners with community organizations like Peninsula Fix our Ferals and Alley Cat Allies that employ a program called Trap Neuter Return (TNR) to manage feral cat colonies.

TNR reduces homeless cat populations by sterilizing cats so they cannot reproduce. TNR, when accompanied by ongoing homeless cat management, is the most effective, humane method of reducing homeless cat populations. Cats are trapped, taken to shelters where they are spayed or neutered, vaccinated and have their ears tipped so they can be identified as part of a managed colony. Sterilization helps make cats better community citizens; the colony diminishes in size naturally and cat fighting is significantly minimized.

There are three good reasons you should follow the TNR guidelines:

1. It’s effective. Having the cats altered and returning them to their habitats is the quickest way to permanently reduce feral cat populations.

2. It’s humane. There are very few feral cat sanctuaries and even fewer volunteers seeking to adopt feral cats. If you trap the cats and take them to animal control shelters, they will be euthanized since feral cats cannot be adopted into homes.

3. You’ll be in good company. Thousands of compassionate people are helping feral cats by having them spayed or neutered. Join the crowd!

For more information on how to trap feral cats and where to find low-cost spay/neuter clinics, please visit Humane Society Silicon Valley’s website at: www.hssv.org/RESOURCES/FERAL_CAT/feralcats.htm.