Thursday, October 14, 2010

National Feral Cat Day

Once upon a time, if you told someone you were feeding a feral cat you probably would have heard “Better not do that – the cat will hang around forever.”

Thankfully, things have changed!

October 16, 2010 is the tenth anniversary of National Feral Cat Day. We are fortunate to have many wonderful organizations dedicated to educating people about the best way to help feral felines.

My four cats started out as feral kitties. It was spring 1998, and I saw a black mama cat carrying kittens in her mouth as she came and went from my yard.

My dog, Jake, found them, and instead of having them for dinner he brought them in and raised them.

The thought that these sweet furballs could have been left to fend for themselves brings me to tears. But that’s what happens to outside cats – they’re on their own, unless we help them.

Whether you want information on TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) or how to help a feral cat in need, here are some online resources that might be of interest to you:

Feral Cat Coalition
Alley Cat Allies
The Humane Society

My four feral kitties became the feline loves of my life. I can't imagine what life would have been like without them. So the next time someone warns me not to feed a feral cat because it might hang around forever, I know exactly what to tell them:

"I certainly hope so."

Purrs,
Chris

http://www.lightheartedpress.com/

3 comments:

Marg said...

All the cats that live here are feral cats because their Mother is a total feral and it took me two years to catch her but I finally got the Spaded. And they are all wonderful cats.Some of them are still a little on the feral side but I can touch every one of them except the Momma kitty but she comes every day to eat and will follow me around but I cannot put a hand on her. Take care and have a good evening

Chris Davis said...

Marg, all those kitties are so lucky to have you in their lives. I suspect YOU may be the REAL Momma Kitty!

Tammy said...

Great post!

We, thankfully, don't see many kitties roaming near us. And the ones we do see don't appear to be feral. I have taken in and cared for a couple of feral cats in the past. Melvin (as I called him) hung around my house for about 2 years. He would let me pet him, but just me - no one else. I thought about trying to capture him and have him neutered, but it never happened. He was a wild man, and he just stopped coming one day.