This month Dr. Jacqui writes about Helping Homeless Cats

Unfortunately, not every cat enjoys curling up in front of a warm fireplace, unlimited access to yummy meals and affection on demand. Homeless cats have to scavenge or hunt for food, endure inclement weather and fight to survive. Homeless cats exist in every community across the United States whether urban or rural, affluent or impoverished. There is no way to accurately measure the population of homeless cats due to their cryptic (secretive) lifestyles but the United States is estimated to have millions of homeless cats.

Who are these homeless cats? There are two main categories of homeless cats: feral and stray cats.

What is a feral cat?

A feral cat is an untamed or “wild” cat. They were either born to a feral mother and therefore had little or no human exposure during their sensitive socialization period or they were abandoned or lost cats that reverted to a wild state. They are usually very scared of people and tend to avoid human contact. Often they are the “invisible” members of the feline community and only seen when they are scavenging for food.

What is a stray cat?

A stray cat is a cat that has strayed from its home and become lost. A stray cat may also have been intentionally dumped or abandoned by its owners. These cats tend to be more social with people but over time may become very wary and even frightened of people. Offspring (kittens) of stray cats that have little or no contact with humans may grow up to be feral cats.

How can you help?

• Protect your cat against becoming homeless
  • Make sure your cat has some form of identification (microchip/ID tags) to aid in a successful reunion if your cat ever gets lost.
  • Keep your cat indoors and provide an enriched indoor environment so your cat has no desire to leave the safe confines of your home.
  • Have your kitten/cat spayed or neutered — intact cats will often stray from home in search of mates; cats as young as 4-5 months of age can reproduce.
• Be a cat advocate
  • Educate your neighbors, friends and family about being a responsible pet owner.
  • Share this website with others: www.freshstep.com.
  • If you witness feline neglect or abuse, take action.
• Volunteer at a local shelter or feral cat organization in your community
  • If your community doesn’t have any animal services, you can start something!
  • Make a donation to a shelter or feral cat organization.
• Provide aid to stray cats
  • If a stray cat wanders into your life, don’t ignore it — provide immediate care in the way of food/water/shelter and then take steps to reunite the cat with its owner.
  • Always exercise caution with unfamiliar animals — frightened cats may scratch or bite; animal control agencies should be contacted if the animal is dangerous or ill/injured.
• Become a caretaker of a feral cat colony
  • Caretaker responsibilities include feeding, providing rudimentary shelters and arranging neutering (reproductive sterilization via a trap/neuter/return program) of the cats.
• Adopt a homeless cat
  • Visit your local shelter to find an appreciative new feline companion!