October 16th is Feral Cat Day! There are millions of feral cats in North America. Although cats are very good hunters, homeless kitties still lead pretty rough lives. Read on as a Fayetteville, NC vet offers tips on ways you can help feral cats.

Basics

In winter, you can make little shelters for feral cats out of plastic storage totes. Just cut a hole in one side, and put newspapers or blankets inside it. Providing fresh water can also help. Feeding kitties is a wonderful act of kindness, but be careful: this is illegal in places, and can also attract rodents. Ask your vet for more information.

Spay/Neuter

Pet overpopulation is a serious issue, and is one of the main reasons that animal shelters are so full. Did you know that just one pair of kitties can have 2,072,514 offspring in just 8 years? Those are some pretty mind-boggling numbers! This is why it’s so important to get your own pets fixed. Even if you find homes for Fluffy’s kittens, there’s no guarantee that their own offspring would fare as well. Plus, your feline buddy will be calmer, healthier, and better-behaved after being fixed.

Support TNR Programs

Many communities offer TNR (Trap/Neuter/Release) programs. With TNR programs, kitties are caught, spayed or neutered, and released back into the wild after a few days. This helps reduce the amount of unwanted litters, which in turn helps fight pet overpopulation. Consult your vet or a local animal charity to find out how you can help.

Adopt

Not all feral cats are good candidates for adoption. One reason for this is that cats who were born and raised wild don’t always take to using litterboxes. They may also be too skittish or wary. That said, some feral cats are former pets that have been left to fend for themselves. In these cases, adoption may be feasible, especially with kitties that are friendly and sociable. Cats that aren’t suitable for being adopted may also do just fine as barn cats, where they can earn their keep by catching rodents.

Spread Awareness

If none of these options work for you, you can still help homeless kitties. Simply spreading awareness about feral cats can make a difference. Even sharing posts on social media can help. Please reach out to us, your Fayetteville, NC vet clinic, anytime. We are here to help!