Photo Hunt : Miniature & National Feral Cat Day

We call Artemisia Mini Meow because she is smaller then the rest of us and she has a tiny meow you can barely hear. You might say she is a MINIATURE kitty. While she may be a MINIATURE kitty she has a big mission today. She wants to tell you about National Feral Cat Day.


October 16 is National Feral Cat Day—a day for us to think about the outdoor cats in our neighborhood. We often see these cats ducking behind the supermarket or sunning in our backyards, and many of us dig into our wallets to feed them. Who are these cats, and how did they get here?

Feral cats exist in every community. These cats are the same species as domestic cats, but are not socialized to humans and can’t be adopted into homes. Instead, they live healthy and content lives in family groups called colonies.

The best and most humane way to help a feral cat is through a program called Trap-Neuter-Return, which ends the breeding cycle and helps cats and people coexist peacefully. Alley Cat Allies’ website (www.alleycat.org) is a great source of information on Trap-Neuter-Return and the importance of spay and neuter for all cats.

For those who object to TNR in the mistaken belief that feral cats harm wildlife. Numerous studies have repeatedly found that the primary cause of bird population decline is rampant development and related pollution, which destroy bird habitats and sources of food. An Ohio State University study released this year concludes that urbanization is the chief cause of declining populations of migratory birds. A 2005 study by the U.S. Forest Service estimates that six times more birds are killed annually by flying into buildings and power lines than by cats.

It is indisputable that being killed in a shelter is the number one documented cause of death for cats in the United States, due to failing and inhumane animal control policies that rely on catch and kill. It’s bad public policy based on bad science. Trap-Neuter-Return for outdoor cats is a humane method of care and a responsible program. I urge readers to visit www.alleycat.org for more information.

13 comments:

Old Kitty said...

Awwww beautiful Artemisia is small and gorgeous!!

Yay for National Feral Cat Day and yay for the TNR programme!!!!

Take care
x

SeaThreePeeO said...

All good things come in small packages!

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

Artemisia may be tiny in stature, but she is huge in beauty:)

Great program for the feral cats.

Woos ~ Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Mini Meow is so purry khute and appropriate!

Thanks fur pawing about NFC Day - we inkhluded a link as well -

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra
PeeEssWoo: Hi Fenris - we know woo are the opposite of miniature AND FURRY handsome too!

Gemini and Ichiro said...

We think that really good things come in small packages--our little formerly feral (and still a little bit) was pretty dog gone tiny when she was found: Gemini

Mark's Mews (Marley, Lori, Loki, and Binq) said...

Is Artemisia even smaller than me? I weigh 5.5 pounds...

Ayla

AFSS said...

Last time she was weighed she only weighed 3#, I think she has put on some weight since then. ~Alasandra

Brian's Home Blog said...

You are a cutie minature Artemisia!!!

Sweet Purrfections said...

Artemisia is such a cute little thing.

Quill and Greyson said...

Excellent post! Here's to fewer ferals and more homed kitties.

The Island Cats said...

Great post there, Artemisia! We are big fans of TNR!!

Miss Kitty said...

Greetings to you all,

We feel the work that Alley Cat Allies is doing is terrific and their program for TNR is vital in order to reduce the feral population which seems out of control not only in the US but also Europe.

Wishing you a great Sunday,
Miss Kitty and Egmont

HubbleSpacePaws said...

Excellent post, Miss Artemisia! Proving that important messages, as well as good things, come from small packages!