#FeralCatDay #GlobalCatDay

Our friend Mrs Tammy cares for a semi-feral cat colony that lives where she works. As funds become available she tries to get the cats spayed and neutered. We are using the term semi-feral because while these cats do not have homes some of them are friendly and can be petted. Many of them were probably once someones pets but were abandoned at some point.

Yin and Yang 4 weeks old

Me (Yang) and Yin came from that cat colony so as you can imagine National Feral Cat Day is a cause very close to our hearts. You can read how we came to live with Mommy  at Yin & Yang (National Feral Cat Day)

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 in 2016 concluded 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.

Scylla and Charybdis 4 weeks old

Scylla was also was born into a feral cat colony and was rescued as a wee kitten. You can read her story Scylla Sunday Meowing About National Feral Cat Day here.


~Yang, reporting for ATCAD