How to Care for Feral Cat Colony

Some feral cats will choose you. Other cats will just come for the food that you put out for them. It is as if the feral cats broadcast to the colony that you have the best cat food on the block. All I know is at one time I was a caregiver for 30 feral cats.

Feral cats will sit in your yard waiting patiently for their food. As a cat colony caregiver, you will set up regular feeding station and give cats shelter from rain and snow. You will also be responsible for getting the feral cats medical care and sterilization.

Taking care of a colony is not for everyone, before you commit you must realize that these cats depend on you. Here are some tips on how to care for a feral cat colony.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Trap
• Newspaper
• Can of tuna
• Blanket
• Litter box
• Dry cat food
• Outdoor shelter
• Straw

1. 
   Cat looking for food

   Look for feral cats. If feral cats are in your yard, they are probably seeking food. Purchase an all-purpose dry cat food such as, a complete formula for cats of all ages.

2. 
   Old shed feeding station

   Select a feeding area that is away from your house, in an area that is secluded from sight and offers shelter if it rains. This will be your feeding station.

3. 
   Feral cat coming for food

   Feed the cats twice a day, a bowl in the morning and a bowl at night. Good time to feed them is at 7am and 6pm. Do not miss a feeding, if you cannot feed your cats at a specific time ask a neighbor to put out the food. Continue to feed the cats daily. By doing this, the cats are growing dependent upon you. After two weeks, the cats will be more comfortable in your yard.

4. 
   Kittens comfortable on patio

   Contact your local animal control and inquire about the usage of a trap or purchase a medium size trap. You will need to trap the cats in order to take them to the Veterinarian The cats need medical care, spay/neuter, tests for feline aids, worm treatment and rabies shots.

5. Contact your veterinarian and let them know that you are a caregiver to feral cats and that you plan on trapping the cat for medical care and sterilization. Inquire about their procedure. My veterinarian will take the feral cats as soon as I trap them. I schedule my trapping for Monday – Friday during the day only.

6. 
   Trap with cat

   Do not feed the cat the night before you trap. On the day that you set up the trap, the only food available will be inside the trap. Line the trap with newspaper. Drop tuna fish down the center, the smelly fish will lure the cat into the trap. Place the trap close to the feeding station is an area where you can view the trap.

7. Trapping may take up to a week. The last kitten that I trapped took me two weeks. Be patient the trap will close. When the trap door closes, cover the entire trap with a blanket. The blanket will comfort the cat. Bring the cat inside your house and place the trap in a quiet room or take the cat directly to the veterinarian’s office.

8. Ask the veterinarian to clip the cats left ear. This universal symbol indicates to animal control workers that the cat is part of (TNR) trap neuter and return program.

9. When cats return from the veterinarian office, the female will need to stay inside for medical care for 3-4 days, release the male cat to the same area in which you found him. Allow him to regroup with the colony.

10. Provide shelter for the cat colony with a wind and waterproof shelter. A utility shed, or an over sized flat roof doghouse could be used as a shelter. Cats need two doors, one in the front and one in the back. The back door is the escape door. Place straw inside the shelter. The straw will keep the cats warm.

Tips & Warnings

• Share the responsibility of the colony with a neighbor or friend. They will help in the feeding shifts, and food and medical expenses. Check with various cat networks for coupons for sterilization.
• Domesticating adult feral cats does not happen overnight, however, they can be tamed and the will socialize with your other pets. I have three adult feral cats, and one ten week old kitten. . My adult feral cats are the most loving cats that I have ever owned. They play with my boxer and they sleep at the foot of my bed. The time, effort and the love for these wild cats was well worth the effort.
• Allow no children close to the feral cat
• Never yell or be impatient with a feral
• Move slowly around feral cats
• If raccoons are in your area, refrain from trapping at night.

Resources

• More Cat Care Tips

[my52cents]

on 8/22/2009 Very good article, very helpful information. It takes someone with a huge heart to be able to care for feral cats. It's very sad that people don't spay and neuter their cats and that so many are dumping animals, especially these days.

[ladybella]

on 8/3/2009 Great article on caring for feral cat colony!

[joanhaines]

on 8/2/2009 The first time I saw a feral cat colony was in Rome in some of the ancient ruins. I don't know if anyone was caring for them. The cats you care for are lucky.

[rjpfletcher]

on 8/1/2009 I love kittens and cats, but unfortunately my landlord doesn't allow them. This article was really tender and loving. What I thought was interesting, is how you could see and sense the difference between your domesticated cat, and the feral ones. His legs all stretched out, to me signals, "I'm with my family, and satisfied." Great article! Recommended you and added as a friend!

[maggiedarr]

on 7/23/2009 Especially good information right now--from what I understand the shelters are inundated with kittens. I think with the bad economy, people are dumping their unneutered pets and some are going wild or giving birth to kittens, some of which who grow up wild. I have a family of 4 kittens and a mom I'm trying to get into a trapped/neutered/released (TNR) program. 5*s