FAQ About Feral Cats
What is a feral Cat?
A feral cat is a freely ranging wild-living domestic cat that avoids human contact. It usually does not allow itself to be handled or touched.
How does the feral cat population get so large so quickly?
Feral cats have an average of 1.4 litters per year, with an average 3.5 live births in each litter. A pair of breeding cats and their offspring can produce 420,000 kittens over a seven-year period.
What is a feral Cat Colony?
A colony is a group of cats that live, eat and reproduce in an area. Most colonies start with a few cats but can grow very quickly. Colonies often form around a food source (ie. a dumpster or a person who feeds them).
Why can't a feral cat/colony be relocated?
It is VERY difficult to relocate a cat or colony. These animals have learned to survive in a specific environment. If a cat is simply dropped off in a new location it will try either try to make its way back to the original colony or will not be able to adapt in the new area. A cat introduced to an established colony is rarely accepted and is either killed or run off by the other cats.
A feral cat is a freely ranging wild-living domestic cat that avoids human contact. It usually does not allow itself to be handled or touched.
How does the feral cat population get so large so quickly?
Feral cats have an average of 1.4 litters per year, with an average 3.5 live births in each litter. A pair of breeding cats and their offspring can produce 420,000 kittens over a seven-year period.
What is a feral Cat Colony?
A colony is a group of cats that live, eat and reproduce in an area. Most colonies start with a few cats but can grow very quickly. Colonies often form around a food source (ie. a dumpster or a person who feeds them).
Why can't a feral cat/colony be relocated?
It is VERY difficult to relocate a cat or colony. These animals have learned to survive in a specific environment. If a cat is simply dropped off in a new location it will try either try to make its way back to the original colony or will not be able to adapt in the new area. A cat introduced to an established colony is rarely accepted and is either killed or run off by the other cats.
How is ACF helping?
Animal C.A.R.E. Foundation offers a monthly transport on which feral cats can be spayed/neutered and given a rabies vaccine for $10. We offer humane live traps that can be borrowed (with deposit) to trap, training on how to use these traps, and assistance with difficult to catch cats. We also have a dedicated group of trappers who work in the community trapping and assisting with large colonies.