About Feral Cats

Feral cats are not owned or tamed and exist in the wild. They have been born from misplaced or deserted pets. Feral cats are often called "stray" or "alley" cats. These terms actually describe abandoned pets that were once domesticated. Most feral cats cannot be domesticated unless socialization begins in the early weeks of life. Many people help to take care of feral cats located all around the world.

  1. Geography

    • According to the website "From-Feral2Domestic," feral cats have been present in Australia earlier than European settlements. Rome, Italy has the biggest amount of feral cats anywhere. It is believed to be more than 250,000 cats in a few thousand colonies. Canada has feral cats that live in Parliament Hill that are known as the "Canadian Parliamentary Cats." Many other countries around the world, including the United States of America, have large populations of feral cats as well.

    Effects

    • Feral cat colonies left in the wild can have lasting effects on the area's ecosystem. Feral cats often kill small animals in the region like birds and small mammals. They also become prey to wild dogs, coyotes, birds and other animals. When feral cats are cared for, the effects can be lessened.

    Size

    • Most feral cats survive in groups known as "feral colonies."When these colonies are left alone to breed, they can increase dramatically in size. One feral female cat can produce two or more litters of kittens a year. This can end up being more than 400,000 kittens in a little over five years. The lifespan of a feral cat averages only two years.

    Considerations

    • When feral cats are discovered, it is best to contact a local group or organization for assistance. You can find information about these groups from the Humane Society and other such groups. It is helpful to provide food, water and shelter for them, but this is only a short-term fix. The life of feral cats can be improved when their population is reduced and they are treated for diseases.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Several organizations help feral cats survive. A program known as TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) is implemented to improve the existence and to decrease the amount of feral cats. The cats are humanely trapped and taken to a veterinarian. They are neutered (or spayed), given rabies and other vaccinations, examined, ear-tipped and then returned to the wild. Most of these feral cats are monitored and cared for afterward.