Oct. 16 is National Feral Cat Day—a day to think about the outdoor cats in our neighborhoods. Feral cats exist in every community. They live healthy lives outdoors in family groups called colonies. They are the same species as domestic cats, but are not socialized to humans and can’t be adopted. Virtually 100 percent of feral cats brought to shelters or pounds are killed there. In fact, shelters are the leading cause of death for the nation’s cats.
Our community should know that Trap-Neuter-Return for feral cats is a win for the cats and their human neighbors. Santa Barbara-based Catalyst for Cats uses Trap-Neuter-Return to improve the lives of the cats. Trap-Neuter-Return makes feral cats healthier and ends the breeding cycle, which means no more kittens. It also ends a lot of common behaviors associated with outdoor cats. Yowling, fighting, spraying, and roaming—all of these are mating behaviors that stop once a cat is neutered.
A managed Trap-Neuter-Return program, with a set feeding area and schedule, further discourages roaming. Simple home remedies—citrus peels, decorative rocks or chicken wire—deter cats from digging in gardens. There are also a few useful commercial products available at most pet shops that humanely deter cats from areas like gardens and porches.
Outdoor cats have been part of our landscape for thousands of years, and always will be. Compassionate and effective solutions to help cats and communities coexist peacefully are readily available. I have seen the benefits of Catalyst’s services for feral cats, both in Santa Maria generally and in our specific neighborhood. Catalyst for Cats has provided support for me and my neighbors when 1) nursing kittens were abandoned by their feral mothers (two separate incidents); 2) adult feral male cats appeared in our neighborhood (five animals total), and 3) a sick geriatric cat was left to die beside the road. In each situation, a call to Catalyst safely moved the animals off the streets for care, neuter/spay, and vet services. I urge you to visit catalystforcats.org for more information about their role in Santa Barbara County. Their focus on feral cat rescue has certainly made our neighborhood and our community a better place.
This article appears in Oct 10-17, 2013.