| What is Feral | Feral Organizations | General Info | Trapping | Shelter | Colony |
A feral cat is an unsocialized cat. Either he was born outside and never lived with humans, or he is a house cat who has strayed from home and over time has thrown off the effects of domestication and reverted to a wild state.
Important facts about feral cats (source: Alley Cat Allies):Feral kittens can be adopted. Feral kittens can often be tamed and placed in homes, but they must be socialized in their first weeks of life. This is a critical window and if they aren’t handled in time, they will remain feral and therefore unadoptable.
Feral cats have about the same lifespan as pet cats.
And they contract diseases at about the same low rate. The incidence of disease in feral cat colonies is no higher than among owned cats.
Feral cats are not the cause of wildlife depletion. Studies show that the overwhelming cause of wildlife depletion is destruction of natural habitat due to man-made structures, chemical pollution, pesticides, and drought — not feral cats.
Trap and remove doesn’t work. Not only would you have to continue to remove cats, this process is extremely costly. Other cats simply move in to take advantage of the available resources and they breed prolifically, quickly forming a new colony. This “vacuum effect” is well documented.
Trap, neuter, and return does work. No more kittens. Their numbers gradually go down. The annoying behaviors of mating cats, such as yowling or fighting, stop. The cats are vaccinated and they are fed on a regular schedule. This ongoing care creates a safety net for both the cats and the community.
| National Organizations | |
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Alley Cat Allies |
www.alleycat.org |
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Humane Society of the US |
www.humanesociety.org/feralcats |
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Local/Regional Organizations |
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Ohio Alleycat Resource & Spay/Neuter Clinic |
www.ohioalleycat.org, or 513-871-7297 (biweekly trap-neuter-return classes, lends out humane traps free of charge, and maintain a food bank for colony keepers) |
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Indy Feral |
www.indyferal.org |
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Colony Cats |
www.colonycats.org |
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Pet Promise's City Kitty Program |
www.petpromise.org/feral.html |
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Capital Area Humane Society- Feral Cat |
www.cahs-pets.org |
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Other Areas Organizations |
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Feral Cat Coalition |
www.feralcat.com |
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Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project |
www.feralcatproject.org |
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Spay and Stay |
www.spayandstay.org |
| General Information: | |
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Complete Guide- How to Conduct Trap-Neuter-Return |
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Why Do Cats Do That? |
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Nuisance Prevention Tips from Indy Feral |
| Trapping: | |
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Trap Information and Equipment |
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Drop Trap Design |
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Trapping Guidelines |
| Build Shelter: | |
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Why cats need shelter |
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Ideas for building your own shelter |
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Feral Villa Shelter |
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Build A Shelter |
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Winter Shelters |
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Winter Shelter |
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Feeding Station |
| Additional Sites with Outdoor Cat Houses for Sale- these are just sites we have found and are not a sponsor or necessarily recommended by Purrfect Friends | |
www.petcarepalace.com |
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www.purrfectfence.com |
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www.catsfurnitureloft.com |
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www.catsplay.com |
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www.cozycatfurniture.com |
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www.outdoor-cathouses.com |
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www.angelicalcat.com |
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www.cozywinters.com/pets |
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Cozy
Cat Furniture- Our
cats just love their Outdoor Bungalow from Cozy Cat Furniture
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| Manage A Colony: | |
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Colony Care Guide |
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Colony Management Guidelines |
