How to Care for Feral Cats
Feral cats are wild cats. They are like homeless people; foraging for food wherever they can find it--roaming around restaurants, shopping centers and neighborhoods. Thousands of cats in America are killed or die needlessly because of the actions of humans. Some people fail to have their cats spayed/neutered and allow them to reproduce again and again, and the kittens are never tamed. Others abandon their pets when they move or leave them when they go on vacation .
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Instructions
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What You Can Do
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Have your pet cat spayed or neutered if you haven't already done so. If you can't afford to have your pet spayed/neutered, get in touch with the animal control agency nearest you. Ask if there is a program in your area that provides the service at no cost to you.
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Check to see if there is an agency in your community that operates a catch and release program. If you notice cats around your neighborhood, near stores or shopping centers, call the agency. They have programs that trap feral cats, spay and neuter them and then release them. If such an organization exists in your community, contact them to ask for their help.
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Start a catch and release program in your community if there isn't one already. Your local animal control agency may be able to tell you how.
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Make a donation to a spay/neuter and release program. These organizations depend on donations to help them continue their work.
If a Cat Family Adopts You
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Contact a community organization or veterinarian that can tell you what to do if you have seen a cat or cat family on your property. Sometimes a family will make a home under a shed or under your house. Put food and water near the place where you have seen them. The cats will be afraid of humans, but you can still help them. If you decide that you want to keep the cat or cats who have adopted you, make friends with the cats by feeding and leaving water out for them. Try to get closer to them as they are feeding. This will take some time, but eventually, they may start to trust you.
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Borrow a trap from a catch and release program to catch the cats. You will need to put food inside the trap and set it. It may take several tries, especially if you have more than one cat. Once you can catch them, they must be spayed or neutered.
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Take the cats to the organization that provides help. If there is no such organization in your community, take them to a veterinarian to be spayed or neutered. The vet will examine them and give them the shots they need. If you continue feeding the cats, they will eventually become less afraid. Some of these 'wild' cats even become tame enough to be petted, and will allow you to pick them up.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear heavy gloves if you handle a feral cat, unless you've had them long enough for them to be tame. Their claws and teeth can injure you,
