Reviewing The Problem Of Feral Cats In America And Possible Ways To Solve It
Cats are adorable creatures that make truly amazing pets. But, these wonderful pets are currently facing an overpopulation problem. Sadly, there are significantly more cats in the world than there are people willing to take them in. The purpose of this article is to address the problem of feral cats and offer answers on how to solve it.
What Is A Feral Cat?
The word feral (when describing an animal) is defined as existing in a wild state, especially after escape from captivity or domestication. According to ForgottenCats.org, a feral cat is defined as a cat that lives outdoors, is not socialized with people, and does not belong to anyone. Feral cats are born in the wild and can be dangerous as they do not have any vaccinations. Most feral cats are afraid of people and will rarely let anyone near them. We recommend not attempting to approach a feral cat as they could potentially bite or scratch you in the process. The better option is to notify your local animal control and let the professionals handle the situation.
Feral Cats Vs Stray Cats
It’s a common misconception to see an outdoor cat and assume it’s a feral cat. The main difference between feral cats and stray cats is how well socialized they are with people. Both feral cats and stray cats live outdoors, but under different circumstances. Feral cats are born in the wild and are not socialized with people. A stray cat once lived indoors and is well socialized with people. But, they were either abandoned, lost their home, or left their home. Stray cats are more approachable and are more willing to be pet, accept food, and receive attention. Eventually, a stray cat will become feral due to a lack of social interaction with humans.
T.N.R. Programs
The presence of feral cats is a direct result of overpopulation in domestic cats. The best way to combat this overpopulation problem is through T.N.R. (Trap, Neuter, Release) programs. According to VCA Animal Hospital, T.N.R. programs humanely trap feral cats and have them spayed or neutered at local veterinarian clinics. Some of these programs also vaccinate these captured cats for rabies and other diseases. Organizations like the Humane Society of the United States and the National Animal Control Association fully endorse T.N.R. programs across the country. These programs have helped reduce the number of feral cats, but it is not a permanent solution.
Responsible Pet Ownership
The best way to solve the problem of feral cats is to support responsible domestic cat breeding and to choose adoption over purchasing. There are millions of cats and kittens that enter animal shelters every year. Most of these felines are in desperate need of a good home and don’t always get adopted. Choosing to adopt a cat instead of buying from a breeder is a small yet effective way to help the overpopulation problem in domestic cats. If you do resort to a breeder, be sure to check their credentials to ensure their animals are well treated and not subjected to overbreeding. No matter how you approach the feral cat problem, we encourage you to be part of the solution, not the problem. Be sure to check out our other informative cat-related articles on the CoolCatsCatSitting website.