Managing Feral Cats

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Managing Feral Cats

• Dave Pierson

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What is a Feral Cat?

• Feral cats are unsocialized cats who may be one
  or more generations removed from a home
  environment and may live in a group, or colony,
  of similar cats.
• Types of Ferals
• Class one - is true feral cat or kitten -- born
  to a cat that was born of a feral (i.e. 2nd
  generation.) Very afraid of humans -- will run
  from you.
• Class two - recently abandoned by owners and
  live on the streets. Maintains some distance
  from you but will come close when you bring them
  food.
• Class three - cats or kittens that have been
  abused and run away from the abusive owner.
  Terrified of humans, yet lack the knowledge of
  how to survive on their own. Often rejected by
  established colonies. These cats are the ones you
  don't generally see. They come out late at night
  to forage for food and will run at the slightest
  sound.

Cant be handled by humans
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Feral Facts

• Feral cats typically live with a group of related
  cats known as a colony. The colony occupies and
  defends a specific territory where food and
  shelter are available.
• Females stay very close to colony territory
• Males may roam to other colonies in search of
  mates
• Neutering causes males to stop roaming
• Females may become pregnant as young as 4 to 5
  months of age and may have 2 to 3 litters a year.
  More than half of the kittens are likely to die.
• Average life span of a feral cat is less than two
  years
• Life span of ferals in managed colonies is seven
  years

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Strategies for Dealing with Feral Colonies

• Do Nothing
• Colony grows and affects surrounding environment
• On-site Eradication
• Inhumane
• Temporary (rarely gets all the animals)
• Relocation
• Time consuming (three weeks confinement to
  prevent return to prior territory)
• Difficult to find sanctuaries
• Trap / Neuter / Return (TNR)
• Cats defend their territory and colony declines
  due to attrition

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TNR Colony Goals

• The goal of any feral cat management program
  should be to eliminate the existing colony over
  time through attrition while maximizing quality
  of life for the cats.
• Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR)
• Food, Water, Shelter
• Adoption of socialized cats

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Feral Management is a Team Sport

• TNR is a community activity
• Organizations and individuals work together to
  manage ferals.
• Management includes
• Subsidized sterilization
• Public education and outreach
• Adoption resources
• Dedicated colony caretakers

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A Colony Lifecycle

• Our neighbor died leaving behind 20 cats
• House was vacant for months and family didnt
  care for cats. Another neighbor took care of
  them but decided that eradication was the right
  answer
• We took control of colony of 12 remaining cats
• Shifted feeding location 100 yards and built
  shelters
• Trapped cats and took them for neutering
• Sponsored by Leavenworth Animal Welfare Society
• Couldnt capture one pregnant cat which had four
  kittens
• Handled the kittens regularly and removed to our
  house at six weeks of age
• Got two kittens adopted and kept two
• All kittens spayed/neutered at 20 weeks
• Colony was down to seven cats after a year and
  now, after two years, the colony is down to four
  cats

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LCHS TNR Program

• Identification of colony
• Dedicated colony caretaker
• Trap / Neuter / Return
• Subsidized by LCHS and No More Homeless Pets
• Get socialized cats adopted
• Long term care feeding of colony

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Identification of Colony

• Many colonies are already being managed just
  not very well
• To report a colony or to request assistance in
  managing one, call LCHS - 913-728-2881

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Dedicated Colony Manager

• Colonies need to be managed
• The do nothing approach will only increase
  colony size until it becomes a problem
• Somebody must be dedicated to managing the colony
• In many cases the person who reports the colony
  is the one who is willing to manage it.
• If no manager is available, options are reduced
  to Relocation or on-site eradication.

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Trapping / Neutering / Returning

• LCHS loans traps and provides advice on trapping
• LCHS arranges appointments for neutering with
  NMHP (2 opportunities per month)
• Call 913-728-2881 to schedule
• Ferals are trapped by colony manager and
  transported to NMHP pick up location or KC
  facility.
• LCHS may assist with trapping and transport
• LCHS may also assist with cost of neutering (15
  per cat includes ear-tipping and vaccinations)
• Ferals are picked up by colony manager at KC
  facility on the same day, or at pick up location
  the next day. After an evening in dry, sheltered
  area, they are released the next morning.

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Trapping Tips

• Set up traps at feeding time the evening before
  the neutering appointment
• Place strong smelling food in the traps (wet
  food) and stand back
• It might be a good idea to limit feeding the day
  before so cats are hungry
• Cats will get caught fairly quickly if they are
  going to be caught
• Release nursing mothers and kittens you can get
  them later
• Place a cover over the trap to minimize cat
  stress
• May want to move trapped cat to safer location
  like garage overnight
• When transporting, keep cage covered
• Keep the cage away from your body this kittys
  got claws!

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Spaying / Neutering

• Kittens can be spayed / neutered at 3 4 months
  of age
• During neutering procedure cat will also receive
  vaccinations and its ear will be tipped
• Cat will be placed back in cage after neutering
  for transport home or for delivery to pick up
  location
• If cat is picked up same day from facility, place
  cat in a secure location overnight (garage,
  basement, barn)
• If feasible place some wet food in cage for
  recovering cat
• Release the next morning
• If not feasible cat can be released after
  anesthesia wears off

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Long term Care and Feeding

• Cats need shelter
• LCHS has plans showing how to build cat shelters
  and can provide assistance with construction
• Feeding
• Dry food recommended (wet food attracts bugs)
• ½ to 1 cup dry food per day per cat
• Pick a feeding time good for you (not after dark)
• Dont forget water
• Adoption
• Attempt to handle new kittens. Remove kittens
  from colony at six weeks and take indoors to
  socialize. Get neutered at 14 weeks and put up
  for adoption
• Trap and Neuter new arrivals

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Shelter

• Structures
• a porch, a utility shed, an unused doghouse
• Improvised shelters
• Garbage can or Rubbermaid container
• Specially built cat shelters

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QUESTIONS?