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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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To: vetvetdoug
Don’t worry about feral cats. Worry about feral people.
21
posted on
09/27/2009 8:41:57 AM PDT
by
SamiGirl
To: EggsAckley
I certainly hope youre not serious about that graphic. If you are, better put on your flame retardant suit.My dog Spot no longer deals with cats.
22
posted on
09/27/2009 8:42:06 AM PDT
by
WVKayaker
(Futility: trying to slam a revolving door!)
To: dr_who
23
posted on
09/27/2009 8:42:59 AM PDT
by
maggief
To: SamiGirl
24
posted on
09/27/2009 8:45:52 AM PDT
by
truthkeeper
("Why oh why didn't I take the blue pill?")
To: JoeProBono
I know of at least 2 organizations just in one small community near me that works on trapping and spaying and neutering the feral cats. The woman who runs one lives across the road from me. Between us we have about 25 of them at any given time.
I currently have 11, but 3 of them are spoken for and will be going to their new homes within the next week or so.
25
posted on
09/27/2009 8:46:05 AM PDT
by
Gabz
(Democrats for Voldemort)
To: vetvetdoug
I think every touchy feely bleeding heart should encounter a feral rabid cat so they can experience the naturalness and loving tenderness of nature.
26
posted on
09/27/2009 8:46:56 AM PDT
by
WVKayaker
(Futility: trying to slam a revolving door!)
To: maggief
27
posted on
09/27/2009 8:47:16 AM PDT
by
dr_who
To: SamiGirl
Don't worry about feral cats. Worry about feral people.I use the same method for protection against either of them.
28
posted on
09/27/2009 8:47:31 AM PDT
by
vetvetdoug
(FUBO....a fashion statement for Conservatives.)
To: Diana in Wisconsin
29
posted on
09/27/2009 8:47:55 AM PDT
by
Gabz
(Democrats for Voldemort)
To: Slings and Arrows
PONG!
30
posted on
09/27/2009 8:48:43 AM PDT
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet)
To: JoeProBono
Those are mighty fancy looking 'burgers, sir. Too good for ferals. :-P
31
posted on
09/27/2009 8:51:09 AM PDT
by
Daffynition
(What's all this about hellfire and Dalmatians?)
To: JoeProBono
“Ahhhhhhh! I love free-range!”
32
posted on
09/27/2009 8:52:41 AM PDT
by
RichInOC
(No! BAD Rich! (What'd I say?))
To: WVKayaker
33
posted on
09/27/2009 8:53:17 AM PDT
by
Utah Binger
(Mount Carmel Utah, Where Thunderbirds Soar and Protect)
To: WVKayaker
34
posted on
09/27/2009 8:54:11 AM PDT
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet)
To: Utah Binger
35
posted on
09/27/2009 8:54:50 AM PDT
by
WVKayaker
(Futility: trying to slam a revolving door!)
To: WVKayaker
36
posted on
09/27/2009 8:56:05 AM PDT
by
Utah Binger
(Mount Carmel Utah, Where Thunderbirds Soar and Protect)
To: P.O.E.
Ive been feeding scraps to our local feral feline. Im a little mad at it right now, it killed our garden bullfrog friend. He was just being a cat. You know the old saying, "You knew darn well when you took me in that I was a snake", well it applies to cats and dogs also, they are what they are. Cats are among the best natural predators in the world, that is what they do. Sorry about your little frog friend but(well maybe not so little if he was a Bullfrog).
37
posted on
09/27/2009 8:56:54 AM PDT
by
calex59
(FUBO, we want our constitution back and we intend to get it!)
To: JoeProBono
A few years ago, there appeared a plague of pigeons in our area. It was starting to look the “The Birds”. Over time, however, the number of feral cats increased as did the number of random piles of pigeon feathers. Now we seem to have reached a balance with only a few pigeons in the neighborhood.
38
posted on
09/27/2009 8:58:59 AM PDT
by
AZLiberty
(Yes, Mr. Lennon, I do want a revolution.)
To: Utah Binger
Closest I've been is the Ruger Ranch in AZ...
We speak Winchester and Smith/Wesson here.
39
posted on
09/27/2009 8:59:14 AM PDT
by
WVKayaker
(Futility: trying to slam a revolving door!)
To: WVKayaker
Our neighbors must be kinfolk. On Halloween night back in 2001 I came across a burlap sack thrown out on the back road with blood and guts strewn everywhere. It looked like the kittens got out and were attacked by a pack of coyotes that did the bunch in pretty well. I was just looking around when a small male cream colored DSH kitten ran up to me as to say, Help!. Well, I put him in my truck and took him home and he's been there ever since. My daughter named him Tinchy after the pup from Song of the South. He's pretty wise and won't get too far from the house or barn..I say he respects coyotes pretty well.
40
posted on
09/27/2009 9:03:46 AM PDT
by
vetvetdoug
(FUBO....a fashion statement for Conservatives.)
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