Do you have compassion for feral cats?

[missy]

I didn't quite understand the thread title, since I cannot imagine anyone would say "no".
My knowledge is extremely limited, since I've only seen any when traveling.

I researched a bit and it seems there are supposed to be millions in France, but where we live there are none. There was an unchipped young cat once at our stables, just turned up one day - the owners trapped it and send a message to all members and it was adopted the next day (by wonderful people who spay /neuter/vaccinate). But it doesn't seem it was really "feral" then...

Otherwise we have three cats crossing our yard all the time, but all have collars. We occasionally have people search their cats ( poster at local supermarket).

I have luckily not seen or heard of any cats that were victims of car accidents recently either (except my cousin's cat when we were children).

I do understand @Matata s points. She also comes from a point of care and compassion for animals. .
AND I agree that true animal lovers should take a very honest look at themselves, their families , their energy level before committing to any animal. I cannot wrap my head around getting an animal on a whim and then abandoning it.
I tend to overthink and yes, that's the reason I don't have an animal at the moment. But when we had animals it was always clear they are family.

Dear @kipari yes I know, it is unfathomable that there are people who have zero compassion for feral cats. Because they are a nuisance. Because they use their property/lawn to go to the bathroom. Because they meow and make noise. Many reasons.

Of course most people here including @Matata have much compassion for them. But there are too many people in this world who have no compassion whatsoever. Sad fact.

I wish everyone felt as you do.

Cats are sentient beings

here there is a big ugly push againist any introduced species
I know some do harm the environment and the ecosystem and saddly native animals and plants but no one asked them if they wanted to imigrate
The reasons seem stupid now but a lot were introduced for good reasons at the time

Humans have harmed the planet more than any cat
how about we get rid of the humans first

​

 

[doberman]

This is so damned hard. I love cats, I love all animals, much more than I love the human race. I'm a big believer in TNR, the main thing is to keep the population down. But I love birds too, and the bird population has been decimated in the last few years, IMO due to pesticides and plastics.

My views are rather severe, and anyone who is sensitive should stop reading now. But the best thing for our ecosystem would be something that cuts the human population down to no more than a tenth of its size.

Bleak? You bet. But I'm old and I've seen some depressingly awful changes in the natural world in just the last 20 years.

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

I am a cat person, and I love cats. So of course I have a lot of compassion for feral cats…. But at the same time, it’s not an easy question because they do cause a lot of damage to the wildlife of an area. I personally always would prefer to TNR/TNVR as much as possible; but I also do recognise that in some cases when the population starts having a high adverse impact on ecological balance/wildlife populations shelters or euthanasia become (distasteful but necessary) options. It’s complex. I would prefer a system where existing ferals are monitored to see whether they hunt independent of hunger, and if yes (and the impact on birds etc is high) then those specific cats are put down.

I’ll relate it to stray/feral dogs as that is what I have the most experience with. Growing up in India dogs are the most common stray animal you see. They can be really vicious and attack humans. It happens frequently. I know far too many people who have been attacked by strays and needed stitches/rabies shots etc. (Both expensive and extremely painful)! In the cities now you have many shelters that are attempting to spay the strays and return them to the streets to control populations, or trying to encourage people to adopt strays instead of buying animals from breeders. But sometimes those strays need to be removed from the streets, and if they are particularly vicious, need to be put down. It troubles me to think about it, but at the same time, I have a friend whose face was literally ripped into by a stray who attacked her while she was out for a run. She got away with stitches but her face is permanently scarred now. In that case I believe the shelter collected the dog and it was euthanised because it was quite aggressive. In that case, I support it.

Overall though, there’s no need for cruelty. Cases of people torturing/injuring animals (cats/dogs) makes me sick. Any activity taken should be done so humanely.

 

[Arcadian]

This is so damned hard. I love cats, I love all animals, much more than I love the human race. I'm a big believer in TNR, the main thing is to keep the population down. But I love birds too, and the bird population has been decimated in the last few years, IMO due to pesticides and plastics.

My views are rather severe, and anyone who is sensitive should stop reading now. But the best thing for our ecosystem would be something that cuts the human population down to no more than a tenth of its size.

Bleak? You bet. But I'm old and I've seen some depressingly awful changes in the natural world in just the last 20 years.

I do not disagree about the human population being too much, and I've happily done my part to not add to it!

 

[yssie]

This is so damned hard. I love cats, I love all animals, much more than I love the human race. I'm a big believer in TNR, the main thing is to keep the population down. But I love birds too, and the bird population has been decimated in the last few years, IMO due to pesticides and plastics.

My views are rather severe, and anyone who is sensitive should stop reading now. But the best thing for our ecosystem would be something that cuts the human population down to no more than a tenth of its size.

Bleak? You bet. But I'm old and I've seen some depressingly awful changes in the natural world in just the last 20 years.

I have similar views. I would not, in theory, object to demanding prerequisites for - and enforcing limits on - human procreation. In practice... I can't think of any way to make such a system both effective and humane, and doing so without those guarantees would be unconscionable... So...

 

[missy]

@AllAboardTheBlingTrain feral cats do not generally attack people. They are not like feral dogs. I am sorry about what happened to your friend.

My views are rather severe, and anyone who is sensitive should stop reading now. But the best thing for our ecosystem would be something that cuts the human population down to no more than a tenth of its size.

While I do not take such extreme views I don't disagree that there are too many people in the world and we are running out of resources and damaging the environment.

I do not disagree about the human population being too much, and I've happily done my part to not add to it!

Same.

I have similar views. I would not, in theory, object to demanding prerequisites for - and enforcing limits on - human procreation. In practice... I can't think of any way to make such a system both effective and humane, and doing so without those guarantees would be unconscionable... So...

Agree. A civilized society cannot place limits on how many children someone can have just as a civilized society should not "euthanize" aka murder healthy animals. :/

 

[OboeGal]

This is so damned hard. I love cats, I love all animals, much more than I love the human race. I'm a big believer in TNR, the main thing is to keep the population down. But I love birds too, and the bird population has been decimated in the last few years, IMO due to pesticides and plastics.

My views are rather severe, and anyone who is sensitive should stop reading now. But the best thing for our ecosystem would be something that cuts the human population down to no more than a tenth of its size.

Bleak? You bet. But I'm old and I've seen some depressingly awful changes in the natural world in just the last 20 years.

I totally agree with this. Human overpopulation and human behaviors and culture are by the far the worst threat to every other living being on this planet - no question.

It's not necessary to cull truly feral cats, as long as aggressive TVNR programs are pursued. The lifespan of a feral cat - even with vaccination and neutering and some food assistance - is still so short that, if enough of them get neutered, there won't be an overpopulation problem soon enough. It would be different if they had an average lifespan of 25 or more years, but they're lucky if they get 6 or 7 on average. The critical factor is getting them spayed and neutered - if that is pursued aggressively, the numbers will fall relatively rapidly, and songbirds and other wildlife will rebound. A few ferals will still be around, but that is necessary in keeping the birds and rodents from overpopulating themselves. That is actually a fairly easy problem to solve as long as the organizations doing that work can get the funding and manpower they need.

The harder problem is the human cat owners who insist on letting their cats roam, especially when they don't spay or neuter or vaccinate and/or end up just abandoning them to become feral. Whereas those already feral, if spayed/neutered, will not reproduce and will dwindle rapidly, pets who roam are a constant "resupply" that will continue to threaten birds and other wildlife, and I frankly don't know how to deal with this problem here in the US due to all the cultural attitudes. I even have this issue with DH - he is from the Netherlands, and according to him, when he was growing up, it was the culture that everyone let their cats roam freely unless they lived in a high-rise in the middle of a big city. They believed very strongly - and he still does - that keeping a cat indoors is subjecting them to a horribly unnatural, boring life and is utterly cruel, although I'm inclined to think that the attitudes in Europe are changing, considering they are ahead of the US in terms of consideration for environmental and wildlife impacts. (He does at least believe very strongly in spaying and neutering and vaccination, etc.) I, on the other hand, believe very strongly that they should stay inside, unless on a harness or with access to an outdoor "cat run," for the sake of protecting them and wildlife, as well as not being a nuisance to neighbors. This is in accordance with local ordinances as well that both dogs and cats are to be kept under control at all times, although it's only actually enforced in practice for dogs. This has been probably the biggest issue in our marriage, with me caving far too much, and just recently him caving with our current elderly cat - the last remaining of the five I had when we married - due to COVID and the risk to the kitty and us should he contract the virus from contact with cats roaming from other households - definitely also a problem in our neighborhood. It's the reason our current boy will probably be our last cat - I refuse to allow any future cats to roam, and I think when COVID is no longer the level of threat that it currently is, he will go back to insisting that they have to be allowed to roam. That will mean no more cats for us, which saddens me a lot. (Luckily he's completely reasonable about how we care for our dogs.) My husband is about the most rational person I know in other ways, especially around the environment and wildlife, so I just don't get this, and it speaks to how entrenched that belief is for a segment of the population. Clearly, I don't know how to combat that, since I've utterly failed in my own home. We constantly have neighbor cats all over our yard and gardens as well, and these cats are rarely neutered or spayed or vaccinated - even when the same owners are strict about neutering/spaying and vaccinating their dogs and keeping them behind a fence or on a leash. When people like them are challenged, you get that "freedom" line that is wrecking America - "don't you tell me what I can do with my own cat!" - that reflects the same complete disregard for how their choices are affecting other people that we've seen with COVID. Like, dude - your cat is coming onto my property and killing things and wrecking my garden! How would you feel if I came into your yard and left dead things and made your garden my toilet, and then tried to claim "American freedom"? But that's America - the prevailing cultural belief that each of us should be completely free to do anything we want anytime we want, and to hell with how it affects anyone else. That is what will need to be solved for us to save US birds and wildlife from cats in the long run.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

This is so damned hard. I love cats, I love all animals, much more than I love the human race. I'm a big believer in TNR, the main thing is to keep the population down. But I love birds too, and the bird population has been decimated in the last few years, IMO due to pesticides and plastics.

My views are rather severe, and anyone who is sensitive should stop reading now. But the best thing for our ecosystem would be something that cuts the human population down to no more than a tenth of its size.

Bleak? You bet. But I'm old and I've seen some depressingly awful changes in the natural world in just the last 20 years.

I think the kindest thing for the planet would be if humans became extinct

I often think do we deserve the bigger brain ? (No)
I also ponder quietly to myself what if crocs and 'gators were the dominate species ?- they certainly deserve to be as the most successful predator
But they are perfect the way they are

Why did we evolve ?
And why not even other species of human ?

People are so stupid and arrogant - we have a long history of it always assuming right now at this moment in time we know best
Even during my lifetime crocs were thought of as dumb killers - i just use that example but there are many others, when they are intelligent and thoughtful playful creatures who love and take care of their babies

we have done a real sh*t show of taking care of and being mildful of other species

My cat(s) are a thousand times better people than the vast majority of humans i have come across and i include Mr Mommy wild stray cat in that !

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

This has taken months and months of patients right back when she attached herself to the kittens who moved in to laundry
3 weeks ago we couldn't even pick her up
She has been inside since just before Easter
She is sitting on me as i watch tv
actually she's washing my arm - she must think im very dirty

This was a very timid very wild very weary kitten but i tried to endure she had at least one (preferably two) descent meals each day
I would not give up on her

 

[missy]

It is evident that there is no one correct solution to dealing with the feral cat overpopulation crisis. Being a fan of both cats and birds I believe there are humane solutions.

TNVR programs help reduce the feral cat population. There is documented evidence TNVR works.

Education is key. Ongoing public education programs that promote responsible pet ownership. Beginning at school age level. Teaching people/kids how to care for their pets responsibly and learning if they even have the resources to responsibly own a pet.

Essential to combatting the problem of cat overpopulation is learning the necessity of keeping domestic pets confined and not allowed to roam free outside.

Create legal reform to allow for the implementation of non-lethal methods as the primary means for managing the feral population.

Make it mandatory to chip all pets. We’d have fewer cats at large if all cats were chipped. Lost animals could easily be returned, and abandoned animals could be traced to those who dumped them. Make it mandatory to pay a small, onetime fee for each pet cat in the United States. An insignificant against the cost of a lifetime of cat food and that alone could generate billions of dollars to help the cause.

Ultimately, although there is no correct answer to this problem I believe incorporating a variety of methods will likely be the most successful. There are many different methods that, if taken together, may produce a significant effect in managing the problem.

No one who loves animals wants to leave this kind of legacy. We must do our best to care for our planet because we are the ones responsible. We can do better.

 

[doberman]

I think the kindest thing for the planet would be if humans became extinct

I often think do we deserve the bigger brain ? (No)
I also ponder quietly to myself what if crocs and 'gators were the dominate species ?- they certainly deserve to be as the most successful predator
But they are perfect the way they are

Why did we evolve ?
And why not even other species of human ?

People are so stupid and arrogant - we have a long history of it always assuming right now at this moment in time we know best
Even during my lifetime crocs were thought of as dumb killers - i just use that example but there are many others, when they are intelligent and thoughtful playful creatures who love and take care of their babies

we have done a real sh*t show of taking care of and being mildful of other species

My cat(s) are a thousand times better people than the vast majority of humans i have come across and i include Mr Mommy wild stray cat in that !

You definitely understand where I'm coming from. I value animal life over human life because animals don't waste. We do. I dont donate to a single charity that helps human life, my career as a nurse will have to suffice. All my charity goes to animal or environmental causes.

 

[Ionysis]

I didn’t read this thread because I thought it might upset me.

In my last house I lived on a compound where a lot of people dumped their unwanted pets. I ended up “adopting” half a dozen cats which I had neutered, used to feed and take care of their veterinary needs. But they were still outside semi-feral cats. One kitten I adopted opted of her own choice to become a house cat and negotiated a relationship with my dogs.

I also put food out for literally dozens of other cats and had a colony of perhaps 12 which visited our feeding station.

I wanted to move house for years but couldn’t bear to because I was so worried about whether anyone would take care of “my” cats. Eventually we had to move for a number of personal reasons and I took only my one “house” cat with me. Our very kind neighbour was as much interested in the cats as I was and promised she would keep feeding and taking care of them.

I think every day about the feral monsters that I rescued and fed and hope so much that they are OK. Certainly in our new house my husband finally gets some sleep because we don’t have cat fights every night outside but I miss my babies so much.

 

[missy]

And we now have 3 new feral cats. I don't consider them ours until they've been back multiple times

A black cat we are calling Cola
I don't have her photo

And these two little ones. Have not named them yet
The one in the foreground looks like Fresca but her eyes are in good shape whereas Fresca has one eye that is partially closed



All our other feral cats (9 of them) are neutered so now we have to get going on the new additions.
I hate doing TNR (the trapping is traumatic for the cats and us) but it is critical to do

 

[missy]

Some of our feral cats

Pepsi




Fresca






Sasha



Fresca again




Dr Pepper in on the table
and Pepsi and Fresca on the bench
These three often hang out together






Shasta waiting for us to get home and open her Chewy delivery LOL



Most of our photos are of Fresca and Pepsi and Dr Pepper because they are the least scared of us though they do run when we go out to put food down and then come back. All the cats we feed outside are truly feral cats. If they were friendly we would find homes for them. This is what makes them different than stray cats. Truly feral cats cannot be domesticated and are best suited to living outside despite the harsh environment and the fact they do not live as long as indoor cats. Even with our help. Though we estimate Fresca is at least 10 yo

 

[autumngems]

We had a feral cat that showed up about 4 years ago. She would go under our shed and we would feed her. Unbeknownst to us she was pregnant and had 3 kittens.. We fed them too and then they all disappeared, then the next two years she would show up again and have kittens. Last year our neighbor asked if they were our cats, I said they were feral. He was upset that they were defecating in his yard and his tiny dog would bark at night if he saw them out there. I didn't want him to hurt them so we trapped them and rehomed them. It was so nice watching the kittens each year.

 

[missy]

We had a feral cat that showed up about 4 years ago. She would go under our shed and we would feed her. Unbeknownst to us she was pregnant and had 3 kittens.. We fed them too and then they all disappeared, then the next two years she would show up again and have kittens. Last year our neighbor asked if they were our cats, I said they were feral. He was upset that they were defecating in his yard and his tiny dog would bark at night if he saw them out there. I didn't want him to hurt them so we trapped them and rehomed them. It was so nice watching the kittens each year.

I always say yes. They’re ours. Because we consider them part of our family. In our state as long as we neuter them and release them to our property we are ok. I spoke with animal control and they will not pick up a cat with a tipped ear because that signals someone is taking responsibility for them

Thank you for caring to help the poor cats. They’re not truly wild and it’s heartbreaking how so many don’t care. They’re living feeling beings and deserve better

 

[jeaniefish]

I started reading the early ,original posts in @missy’s thread and got so caught up in them that I didn’t even look at the dates! All the stories of rescued cats, whether tame or feral, just get to me like nothing else can. I love all animals, ( except feral hogs!) , we now have dogs # 10 and 11 in our rescue history ,but there is just something about those sweet cat faces. I have run out on the freeway to rescue a tossed out kitten. My dh and I have worked with neighbors to educate and help them TNR their outside cats., as well as doing TNR on our own property .I make sure to leave out food, water and warm bedding every time I see a new kitty roaming our area.
Everyone of you here on PS who are doing all that you can, and then some, are such a blessing to these cats. In our disposable society, non human animals mean nothing to so many of us humans and that is just heartbreaking to those of us who care, It is hard to feel so deeply for them, I know. My BIL tells me that “You can’t save them all”. but that doesn’t make me ( or my PS peeps) feel like we should just quit trying!

 

[missy]

I started reading the early ,original posts in @missy’s thread and got so caught up in them that I didn’t even look at the dates! All the stories of rescued cats, whether tame or feral, just get to me like nothing else can. I love all animals, ( except feral hogs!) , we now have dogs # 10 and 11 in our rescue history ,but there is just something about those sweet cat faces. I have run out on the freeway to rescue a tossed out kitten. My dh and I have worked with neighbors to educate and help them TNR their outside cats., as well as doing TNR on our own property .I make sure to leave out food, water and warm bedding every time I see a new kitty roaming our area.
Everyone of you here on PS who are doing all that you can, and then some, are such a blessing to these cats. In our disposable society, non human animals mean nothing to so many of us humans and that is just heartbreaking to those of us who care, It is hard to feel so deeply for them, I know. My BIL tells me that “You can’t save them all”. but that doesn’t make me ( or my PS peeps) feel like we should just quit trying!

Thank you Jeanie for doing all you do for the animals! We may not be able to save them all but every life matters and if every human could do the best they could we could (eventually) save them all. And I know I am preaching to the choir here but please...If everyone would spay and neuter their animals that would go a long way.
And this quote-so true

"Saving one animal won't change the world, but it will change the world for that one animal"

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

oh this thread was somewhat unpleasent to reread but Missy, im so glad you look out and love the ferrels
they look like house cats, they look loved and healthy

The Mommy cat Tom who used to live behind the shed just disapaired one night, he never roamed much at all
i feel bad i dont now what happened to him, he had just started coming into the kitchen for meals and letting me pat him, i think he was Fluffy's father, we were plannng on taking him to the vet for nutering now we could touch him

now we only have one true ferrel, he waits most night for dinner, he is very timid around other cats and he is so small, he needs someone to look out for him so i do
unfirtunatly while ive been sick ive only been able to take food out there once a day but he had a huge chicken dinner last night and he snoozes in Borris' old chair

Fluffy i reacon is still part ferrel, we are having dirt box trouble again and its not PuffBalls' fault, he goes outside
but Fluffy as friendly as she can be is a big flight risk
she is still a tiny girl comapired to the mountain lion sized neighbourhod moggies that live around here
im sure PuffBall lived in a house when he was born
Fluffy lived under the bushes when she was a kitten
.its not the strays or the ferrels fault
Gary loves birds too and my heart breaks at all the dead birds left for me out of love under the clothesline,
but how can you be a good brave cat for killing a big rat and a bad cat for killing a sparrow

 

[missy]

Thank you @Daisys and Diamonds for all you do for the feral cats and other animals.

It is unpleasant at times. You are so right.

For example we are missing two of our regular ferals and I am worried sick. We have not seen them for a long time and I don't know if they are dead or alive. Did our newest additions run them off? Or did they meet a worse fate?

This is the thing with taking care of feral cats. It is ALWAYS heartbreaking. Because ultimately they will meet with tragedy. Too many bad things happening outside for them to be truly safe. I cry daily over the situation with the outside animals and while we do what we can it is never enough. It just isn't.

I wish I could hold on to the fact we are doing the best we can but honestly I feel it is not about doing the best you can...rather it is about the results. And while I know their lives are better for having us there to feed and try caring for them to the best of our abilities it still doesn't feel like enough

Sorry for the gloomy post but I feel so sad about Sasha and Shasta. I pray they are safe somewhere. But feel something bad happened

I hope you feel better soon Nicky!!!! (((((Hugs)))))

 

[missy]

One of our newest additions. Cola




And two more..I need help naming these two. Any suggestions appreciated. They are probably girls if that matters

I posted these two above but will share again so you don't have to search
The one on the right on the porch is a Fresca look alike but we don't want to name her Fresca 2
And the one on the left looks a bit like our Bobby cat

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Thank you @Daisys and Diamonds for all you do for the feral cats and other animals.

It is unpleasant at times. You are so right.

For example we are missing two of our regular ferals and I am worried sick. We have not seen them for a long time and I don't know if they are dead or alive. Did our newest additions run them off? Or did they meet a worse fate?

This is the thing with taking care of feral cats. It is ALWAYS heartbreaking. Because ultimately they will meet with tragedy. Too many bad things happening outside for them to be truly safe. I cry daily over the situation with the outside animals and while we do what we can it is never enough. It just isn't.

I wish I could hold on to the fact we are doing the best we can but honestly I feel it is not about doing the best you can...rather it is about the results. And while I know their lives are better for having us there to feed and try caring for them to the best of our abilities it still doesn't feel like enough

Sorry for the gloomy post but I feel so sad about Sasha and Shasta. I pray they are safe somewhere. But feel something bad happened

I hope you feel better soon Nicky!!!! (((((Hugs)))))

its ok Missy
i cant find Mr Tabby ferrel this morning but he does often go off for a few days and then he comes back

 

[Lookinagain]

I must be living in a strange place because I've actually never seen a feral cat. Why would that be? I'm really curious.

 

[Antique_Charm]

I would be in SO MUCH TROUBLE LOL! The house would be filled with strays <3

I told myself that when it was time for a puppy. It would be one I find RIGHT off the streets <3 Also I wish I had a zoo

 

[missy]

I must be living in a strange place because I've actually never seen a feral cat. Why would that be? I'm really curious.

Interesting. Even when we lived in NYC I saw feral cats. So not sure why you are not seeing them but in an urban environment you might not see them as much. Or once you become aware maybe you will see them everywhere now. Greg and I carry cat food on our bike to feed any stray cats we see when we are cycling, They seem to be everywhere here at least.

I would be in SO MUCH TROUBLE LOL! The house would be filled with strays <3

I told myself that when it was time for a puppy. It would be one I find RIGHT off the streets <3 Also I wish I had a zoo

LOL I hear you. My dream would be to live on a farm where we have rescue animals and we can provide comfort, food, shelter, and love. That is a dream of mine. There is farmland near us too so it's not an impossible dream though I think we might need some farm hands because we are getting older. Wouldn't that be lovely? Housing all the animals in need.

 

[Lookinagain]

Interesting. Even when we lived in NYC I saw feral cats. So not sure why you are not seeing them but in an urban environment you might not see them as much. Or once you become aware maybe you will see them everywhere now. Greg and I carry cat food on our bike to feed any stray cats we see when we are cycling, They seem to be everywhere here at least.

I actually live in a suburb with lots of open space and conservation land. And I've been keeping an eye out for them when out and about and walking the dog, etc. since I started reading about them on PS. There are a lot of coyotes around here in the open spaces, could that be the reason?

 

[missy]

There are a lot of coyotes around here in the open spaces, could that be the reason?

Yes that could be the reason... if the coyotes are hungry they will eat the cats.
Though it's not their primary food source.
They will eat whatever is available and easiest to catch.
Including rodents, rabbits, and in some cases they will eat cats.