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February 2001
Homeless Cats “101”

A “How to” Guide

 


Alley Cat Allies serves as a clearinghouse of information for caretakers, veterinarians, policymakers, the media, and many others. Founded in 1990, Alley Cat Allies is part of an international effort working to promote, foster, and develop humane, non-lethal programs for feral and stray cats. The goal is to reduce the number of feral and stray cats through sterilization programs. Alley Cat Allies respects the sanctity of life, and the rights of individual animals, and embraces proactive preventative control methods, i.e. Trap-Neuter-Return. The following is an excerpt from the “Frequently Asked Questions” section of their excellent and informative website (www.alleycat.org).

How can I tell if a cat is stray or feral?
Unfortunately, it can be difficult to tell the difference between a frightened stray and a wild feral cat, at least initially. A feral cat is one that is born and raised outside and has had little or no human contact. Fearful of humans, adult feral cats are very difficult to tame and most content outside. Because a cat will react with his teeth and claws, you should never attempt to corner or grab an unknown cat. Feral kittens, under the age of eight weeks, on the other hand, stand a good chance of being tamed but must be trapped with a box trap and never caught by hand. Most outdoor cats, whether stray or feral, adult or kitten, will inflict injury if they are cornered and feel threatened. This can cost the cat her life.

A stray cat is a domestic cat who has been abandoned or has “strayed” from home and become lost. A stray cat may be skittish in your presence, making it hard for you to decide if he is stray or feral. Because stray cats were once companion animals, and thus know human companionship, they can usually be re-socialized and re-homed. You should attempt to find the cat’s original human companion.

The safest and most effective way to capture an elusive cat (tame or feral) is to use a humane box trap. Once you have trapped the cat, you can evaluate her disposition without getting bitten or scratched. Do not remove her from the trap until she sees a veterinarian. Frightened strays often calm down once they realize you will not cause harm, but a feral cat will remain terrified and react by cowering in the back of the trap. Do not attempt to pet her through the trap. Also, talking to her will not calm her down. She will most likely feel threatened and will growl, hiss, or even lunge at you through the bars of the trap.

I discovered some cats outside. Who can I call to come and get them?
The first step is to find out if the cats are tame or wild (see above). If tame, then be sure to visit the Pets 911 “Found Pets” section and enter the cats there (see sidebar above). Tame cats can and should be adopted into loving homes. If you take them to a shelter, be sure it is a “no-kill” shelter.

If wild, then the cats you found are probably the offspring of stray or abandoned domestic cats, meaning that they are feral. There is no agency or organization that will come and retrieve feral cats. Animal control may come and trap them. However, they will likely kill the cats. Shelters, even “no-kill” shelters, find feral cats impossible to adopt out because they are wild.

Wild or feral cats live in family groups called colonies and congregate near food sources. The traditional approach in dealing with feral colonies has been to trap and kill them, and most shelters and animal control facilities still kill feral cats relinquished to them.

However, there is a humane solution! Feral cats can be managed with a non-lethal method called Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). Cats are humanely trapped, neutered or spayed, and returned to their colony site where a caretaker provides them with food and water.

Non-lethal management is more effective than trapping and killing. When cats are removed, new cats move in to fill the vacuum and soon another colony forms. Conversely, sterilizing stabilizes the population and improves the cats’ health and eliminates annoying behaviors associated with mating, such as spraying and fighting.

Where can I find a veterinarian who will treat feral cats, preferably at a reduced rate?
A good place to start is to ask your own veterinarian if he or she would be willing to work with feral cats. Explain what you want to accomplish and ask about the possibility of a fee reduction for “rescuers.” Remind the veterinarian that you are volunteering your time to serve your community at the same time as enhancing the lives of the feral cats. If your veterinarian is unfamiliar with the concept of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), contact ACA and give him/her Alley Cat Allies’ fact sheets for “Feral Cat Population Control: Implementing a Humane Sterilization Plan” and “Guidelines for Veterinarians Treating Feral Cats.” If you cannot work out an arrangement with your own veterinarian, do not be discouraged.

Try contacting other veterinarians in your area until you find someone willing to work with you at a reasonable rate. Ask local rescue groups or humane societies to refer a veterinarian who provides low-cost spaying and neutering, and who will be supportive of your plan. In addition, both Spay/USA and Friends of Animals have national veterinary network systems. For more information, reference the Alley Cat Allies website and click on the Link button.

Once you have found a veterinarian, discuss in advance what has to be done and establish a protocol so that the veterinarian provides the services you need: spay (with dissolvable sutures) or neuter with an injectable anesthesia, eartip, full exam, ear cleaning, three-year rabies vaccination, and deworming.

How to Choose a Trap
There are a variety of humane traps available. ACA recommends traps from two different companies: Tru-Catch and Tomahawk. All are live box traps and require baiting with food to coax the cat inside, but there are subtle differences.
The Tru-Catch traps are made of brown coated wire and come in three sizes (prices range from $38 to $75). The trap door closes very quietly. Tru-Catch offers a lifetime warranty on all equipment. Tomahawk traps are quite similar but made with galvanized steel mesh and also come in three sizes (prices from $40 to $65). The Tomahawk is lightweight and economical and allows for several to be carried in a vehicle at one time. See the ACA website for detailed descriptions.

This excerpt is reprinted with kind permission. Contact: Alley Cat Allies, 1801 Belmont Rd., NW, Suite 201, Washington, DC 20009-5164; www.alleycat.org; Tel: 202-667-3630; Fax: 202-667-3640.

 


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