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Feral cats should be helped, not shunned
marshallnewsmessenger ^ | September 27, 2009 | Laverne Hughey

Posted on 09/27/2009 8:17:57 AM PDT by JoeProBono

It is estimated that there are about 60 to 100 million feral cats in the United States according to recent information provided by Alley Cat Rescue. These are very high numbers but can be reduced, and should be, by trapping the cats and having them spayed or neutered.

Alley Cat Rescue also estimates there may be about 17 million people feeding about 35 million feral and stray cats in this country. Thank goodness for the people who help care for the ferals and strays. Unfortunately, there are too many people who could help decrease the feral cat population who simply do not want to be involved.

Feral cats are often found on college campuses and on military bases where students or military personnel abandon the cats when they move. It is hard to understand why anyone would feed and take care of cats or dogs and when they graduate or transfer, they just pack up and instead of making arrangements for the animals, the people move on, leaving the hapless animals to fend for themselves.

Virtually every city, whether large or small, will have colonies of feral cats around restaurant parking lots, hotels, parks and even campgrounds that are food sources.

This column has provided several articles about feral cats, so many readers already know what a feral cat is. In the event you may not know, a feral cat is described as a wild, undomesticated, cat that is not accustomed to being around people. They are not like the occasional stray cat wandering the streets, hoping for a tasty handout. A stray cat may have wandered from its yard, become lost, and is not yet afraid of people.


TOPICS: Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: cat; feralcats; kittyping
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1 posted on 09/27/2009 8:17:57 AM PDT by JoeProBono
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To: JoeProBono
Feral cats should be helped, not shunned

Agree. I have a friend that devotes a lot of her spare time to helping feral cats and raising money to find them homes.
2 posted on 09/27/2009 8:19:18 AM PDT by mysterio
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To: mysterio

Rescuer here. We support some of the trap and release programs around Long Beach.


3 posted on 09/27/2009 8:21:13 AM PDT by Retired Greyhound
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To: JoeProBono

The coyotes love them here.


4 posted on 09/27/2009 8:23:20 AM PDT by Tijeras_Slim (Live jubtabulously!)
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To: JoeProBono

There is no need to help them. Feral cats perform a function on farms, etc., keeping the rodent population down. They take care of themselves.


5 posted on 09/27/2009 8:24:07 AM PDT by Brilliant
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To: mysterio

6 posted on 09/27/2009 8:30:19 AM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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To: Retired Greyhound

7 posted on 09/27/2009 8:32:09 AM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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To: JoeProBono

8 posted on 09/27/2009 8:32:11 AM PDT by WVKayaker (Futility: trying to slam a revolving door!)
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To: Tijeras_Slim

9 posted on 09/27/2009 8:33:40 AM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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To: JoeProBono

10 posted on 09/27/2009 8:36:06 AM PDT by Daffynition (What's all this about hellfire and Dalmatians?)
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To: WVKayaker

11 posted on 09/27/2009 8:36:31 AM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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To: WVKayaker

I certainly hope you’re not serious about that graphic. If you are, better put on your flame retardant suit.


12 posted on 09/27/2009 8:36:48 AM PDT by EggsAckley (There's an Ethiopian in the fuel supply. W.C. Fields)
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To: JoeProBono

I’ve been feeding scraps to our local feral feline. I’m a little mad at it right now, it killed our garden bullfrog friend.


13 posted on 09/27/2009 8:37:15 AM PDT by P.O.E.
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To: JoeProBono

Time for Obama to appoint a feral cat czar.


14 posted on 09/27/2009 8:37:44 AM PDT by dr_who
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To: JoeProBono
Responsible cat owners usually have their cats spayed or neutered.

Since my next door neighbors have not neutered their male cat, we suffer a huge ferral cat population in my neighborhood.

I have been cage trapping them and calling the city animal control to pick them up.

Irresponsible cat owners are to blame for this mess.

15 posted on 09/27/2009 8:39:00 AM PDT by gitmogrunt (More of what's coming our way...pass the popcorn ,then pass the ammo.)
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To: EggsAckley
I certainly hope you’re not serious about that graphic. If you are, better put on your flame retardant suit.


16 posted on 09/27/2009 8:39:51 AM PDT by WVKayaker (Futility: trying to slam a revolving door!)
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To: WVKayaker
Feral cats are a danger to the environment, to responsible animal owners, to humans and upset the natural balance because they overpopulate way too easily. I think every touchy feely bleeding heart should encounter a feral rabid cat so they can experience the naturalness and loving tenderness of nature.
17 posted on 09/27/2009 8:39:58 AM PDT by vetvetdoug (FUBO....a fashion statement for Conservatives.)
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To: JoeProBono

We are rescuers also and have taken good care of many over the years. We are also involved in dog rescues.


18 posted on 09/27/2009 8:40:08 AM PDT by SamiGirl
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To: Daffynition

19 posted on 09/27/2009 8:40:12 AM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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To: WVKayaker

My thought also,but then all the cats we’ve had were called Cat.


20 posted on 09/27/2009 8:40:35 AM PDT by silentreignofheroes
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