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Thankfully, four years later, we still had very few feral cats in this particular colony. But we decided something really needed to be done. Cats can breed at an alarming rate if the conditions permit it. A single pair of unaltered cats and their offspring may produce as many as 420,000 cats in the space of seven years. We've all seen that statistic, haven't we? But maybe you don't know that cats are what is known as "induced ovulators", like rabbits--this means that the act of mating causes a female cat to ovulate. They just don't miss! As soon as a litter is born, the female can again become pregnant and the cycle begins anew. A female cat can literally have a litter of kittens every 63 days--she can even get pregnant while she is still nursing. Clearly, we were fortunate that we didn't have over a hundred cats by the time we chose to take action. Why are feral cat colonies a problem?An unmanaged colony may be viewed as a problem by humans due to the sheer numbers of cats and the possiblity of spreading disease. Most colonies are subject to abuse because they are considered a nuisance as well as a possible threat to people from rabies. As long as a food source is available, the cats will continue to breed and exist in a particular environment, but feral cats generally live very short lives. They are frequently the victims of disease, nutritional deficiency, or they may be killed by vehicles or become prey for other animals. Often, feral cat colonies are "managed" by trying to eliminate them, either by relocating them or euthanizing them. This method, however, is seldom successful. One reason cats move into an area in the first place is that conditions are favorable enough to support them. An established colony will protect its territory from intruders, but if the colony is removed, other cats will simply move in to take its place and the problem continues -- and there are always other cats. But there's a more humane, effective alternative known as the "Trap, Neuter, Release" method of management, and this was the way we elected to control our little feral colony. Trap, Neuter, Release (or TNR) is exactly what it sounds like--it is a method of controlling the feral population by trapping and neutering or spaying the cats, then releasing them back into their environment. In addition, these cats may be tested for FIV/FeLV, and vaccinated against rabies and distemper to protect the health of the colony as well as that of the humans and pets with which they may come into contact. With the advice and support of SADSAC a pet rescue organization located in Northern Virginia, I began my TNR campaign. How can you manage a feral cat colony?What do you do if you become aware of a feral cat colony? For starters, spay and neuter your own pets! Too often a feral colony begins or grows when an unaltered pet slips out of the house and comes across another unaltered cat. Sometimes owners may move and simply leave their cats behind. Be a responsible pet owner and avoid contributing to the problem. Anyone can care for a feral cat colony, but it requires a commitment on the part of the care-giver and the support of family members. Begin by finding out what the law allows in your county or particular area pertaining to the numbers of cats. Are rabies shots required? Are there any zoning restrictions? Check with your local shelter or a volunteer-run ASPCA or Humane Society to see if you can borrow a live trap. You can also purchase a trap from some stores such as Southern States or Tomahawk Live Trap Company. Check with your local vet to obtain contacts for rescue groups for help or advice. Find a local vet who will spay and neuter feral cats, and make arrangements to drop the cat off for surgery. Establish a feeding station, and after a week or two, skip a meal so they are really hungry. Try some canned food to lure them in. Place it in the trap (read the directions) and move a cat-safe distance away. Once the cat is trapped it WILL panic! Give it a few minutes to calm down before approaching it. Approach slowly and don't look the cat in the eye. Bring a sheet or large blanket to cover the trap with the cat still in it. It will feel more secure with the blanket blocking its view of the big scary world. Do not attempt to remove the cat from the trap, and never leave a trap unattended. A trap may be stolen, and who knows what could happen to the trapped feral! A feral cat will presume it is fighting for its life and will do anything to protect itself or get away. Once the cat is trapped, put it in your car (still in the trap) on a large piece of plastic, as it is not unusual for a frightened cat to urinate or defecate on the way to the vet. Leave the cat in the trap and hand the cat in the trap to the veterinary assistants. They will take it from there. If you intend to continue to manage the colony, maintain records on each cat trapped. These may include vaccinations and tests performed on the cat, gender, physical description, date of surgery--any information that will identify the cats and reassure officials that the colony is under control. My FeralsEarly in June 2001, I began to feed the ferals. I put food out twice a day and they began to gather and wait for me when feeding time was approaching. After about two weeks when the cats were used to the schedule, I set up my first appointment for surgery and the night before I set my trap. My first capture was a young male, J1 (my colony was refered to as the "J" colony by SADSAC and our vet in order to differentiate them from other feral colonies being treated at this clinic) and later named Smoky. He was tested for FIV/FeLV, neutered, vaccinated against rabies and distemper, ear-notched (this is the universal symbol of a managed feral colony), and returned to me the evening of his surgery. I kept him confined through the night and released him the following morning. Happily, I have seen him often since the surgery and he looks hale and hearty. And I feel good knowing I've helped him be as healthy as possible while preventing him from contributing to the feral population. Since Smoky, I've trapped seven more feral cats. One of these was a kitten of only 3 or 4 months (pictured above). After her surgery, she was accepted by a local pet store. The staff there will work with her in the hopes that she can be tamed. Another even younger kitten was fostered by SADSAC and has been placed in a wonderful home. I fostered two others, placing one and ultimately adopting the other myself. Feral kittens that are captured at an early age stand a reasonable chance of becoming good pets. Even some adults, given enough time and patience, may eventually become comfortable with humans although many are too wild ever to make the transition to house cat. The five months I spent controlling my feral colony were more successful than I could have hoped. I reduced the breeding population of this colony to zero and have ensured that the cats are as healthy as possible under the circumstances. The only other thing I could ask for is that owners spay and neuter their pets and not permit them to roam. We need to put a humane end to feral cat colonies, which can only be done with responsible ownership.
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It was perhaps in 1997 that we noticed the first of the feral cats. It wandered through the yard from time to time, minding its own business, on the prowl for food. Later that same year, it began to bring kittens. And the population grew.
