Do you live near a feral cat colony?
This could be an indicator that you live close to a feral cat colony, a place where feral cats gather to live in packs in order to survive.
What to do with non-feral cats in the wild?
What to do with non-feral cats. In many cases, cats found in feral colonies are not feral yet. When we find kittens and cats that are simply strays, they can easily be re-located and can be put up for adoption or cared for in a cat sanctuary.
What kind of animal does a feral cat live in?
A feral cat is an un-owned domestic cat (Felis catus) that lives outdoors and avoids human contact: it does not allow itself to be handled or touched, and usually remains hidden from humans. Feral cats may breed over dozens of generations and become an aggressive apex predator in urban, savannah and bushland environments.
How long do feral cats live without food?
Although the often-heard claim that these cats live only about two years is supported to some degree by studies of unsterilized cats living without any apparent reliance on food from humans [ 9–11 ].
What do you need to know about feral cats?
Feral cats are not stray cats. Strays are homeless pet cats, while Ferals were born in the wild, and were never socialized to humans. Some feral cats can be tamed (socialized to humans) but this takes time and effort and is more suitable for kittens than adult cats. Feral cats often live in colonies, forming groups around food sources.
How long do feral cats live in the UK?
Moreover, there are many countries in which harming and ill-treating cats is punishable by law, such as in the case of the UK, where the Animal Welfare Act 2006 is also applied to ferals. Feral cats live on average 2 to 3 years if living in a completely unsupported environment as they get run over, contract common diseases in cats, etc…
This could be an indicator that you live close to a feral cat colony, a place where feral cats gather to live in packs in order to survive.
How are feral cats classified by the Australian Government?
The Australian government categorizes cats who have no interaction with or assistance from humans as feral, and unowned cats who rely on humans as semi-feral or stray.
Can you adopt a feral cat from Alley Cat Rescue?
Cats who live outdoors either used to live indoors or are truly feral and were born outside. It is important to understand that socializing a truly feral cat is usually more difficult than socializing a stray cat (one who previously lived indoors). Alley Cat Rescue does not recommend trying to adopt every feral cat who lives in your colony.
Moreover, there are many countries in which harming and ill-treating cats is punishable by law, such as in the case of the UK, where the Animal Welfare Act 2006 is also applied to ferals. Feral cats live on average 2 to 3 years if living in a completely unsupported environment as they get run over, contract common diseases in cats, etc…
Can a feral cat be trusted by a human?
At first a feral cat will likely be terrified of you. A bond will not form overnight; it may take months or years for a feral cat to trust humans. It is important not to rush or push a feral cat into trusting you.
Cats who live outdoors either used to live indoors or are truly feral and were born outside. It is important to understand that socializing a truly feral cat is usually more difficult than socializing a stray cat (one who previously lived indoors). Alley Cat Rescue does not recommend trying to adopt every feral cat who lives in your colony.
Can a colony of feral cats go missing?
It would be unusual for the whole colony to up and leave but not unheard of, usually they scout out new locations for a while so you notice them gone for a while during the day but they know there is food so they come back. I have had one or two of mine go missing but never anywhere near 6 at once.
Can you move a feral cat to a new home?
So decide carefully before you relocate that cat you feel sorry for. It works if you take the time to acclimate him to his new home, but it is NEVER, EVER guaranteed. Unless you are adopting a working cat from a shelter or rescue, you may be trapping the cat to move him to your farm or colony.
How many feral cats have been lost in one day?
We lost six ferals and our own indoor/outdoor former feral cat, Tower, all in one day three years ago. I have never seen any of them ever again, even though I regularly walk every evening.
What happens to kittens in a cat colony?
Kittens that are taken away from their families when they are too young will usually be socially incompetent in adulthood. Female cats in a colony will often band together to repel other animals, including lone cats and cats from other colonies that encroach on their territory.
How are cat colonies formed in the wild?
Most cat colonies are actually formed by females and their litter, resembling female lion pride, which is why males are generally only found in bigger cat colonies where there are even several of them overlapping, as they usually stay in the peripheral areas of the center of colonies.
What is the social structure of a feral cat colony?
In feral cat colonies, females usually act as midwives during the birth of one another’s kittens and cooperatively raise their young, nursing, nesting, guarding, and grooming communally, as well as teaching kittens how to behave appropriately among other cats.
Most cat colonies are actually formed by females and their litter, resembling female lion pride, which is why males are generally only found in bigger cat colonies where there are even several of them overlapping, as they usually stay in the peripheral areas of the center of colonies.
How can you tell if a cat has been returned to a colony?
Cats in colonies that have undergone the TNR campaign and have been returned to their colony have a distinctive mark on their ears to identify them. These cats have had their ears clipped (a procedure that is completely pain-free for the cat) for better identification.
When to leave a kitten in a colony?
If you can not commit to the time and care to socialize kittens, leave them with their colony and spay/neuter them at about 12 weeks. If you go on a trip or move arrange for a new caregiver or neighbor to handle colony duties. Remember! The cats depend on you and it is better for them to stay where they are currently living.
Do you have to take care of a feral cat colony?
Proper management of a feral/free-roaming cat colony is a long term, year round responsibility and should not be undertaken lightly. If you cannot commit to proper care and long-term management, do not put food out for any cat. Once you put food out you become a “colony manager” and the cats become dependent on you.
When do feral cats become dependent on You?
Once you put food out you become a “colony manager” and the cats become dependent on you. The following guidelines and suggestions will help you provide proper care to your feral cat colony.
Can a cat die from being in a colony?
Cats can get frostbite on their ears, nose and paws. They can die from exposure. A shelter doesn’t need to be expensive or elaborate. There are many types of shelters you can build or buy pre-made. Be on alert for any new cats which might enter the colony. Immediately trap, sterilize, and identify them before returning them to the colony.
When is the best time to move a feral cat?
Kittens will be the easiest to socialize as they are still growing and are capable of socialization before 6 months old. Relocating feral cats is also important in cases where they are living in abandoned buildings that are going to be demolished, near roads, etc… However, this should be done by your local cat organisation.
Once you put food out you become a “colony manager” and the cats become dependent on you. The following guidelines and suggestions will help you provide proper care to your feral cat colony.
Is there such a thing as a feral cat?
While this may seem like an oxymoron, feral cats are still domestic cats; they just live their lives without direct interaction with humans (and prefer it that way). A genetic link has recently been found in feral females wherein a percentage of their kittens will be feral no matter how much human interaction they have, even from a very young age.