Feral Colonies in U.K?

Hi, I know that this may sound like a silly question, but i'm going to ask it anyway. Are there a lot of feral colonies in the U.K? I have been to other countries in the world, for example, Greece, Singapore, India, Morocco and other places where it was very obvious that there were loads of stray cats all over the place. Heart breaking really but I never see that in the U.K. I just haven't seen a colony. I have lived all around this country, in cities and in the countryside and still, I have never seen even what would seem to be two stray cats together let alone a colony. Why is that? Does anyone know or am I just blind? I would definately try to help any cat or colony that needed it and have done with a pregnant stray in the past but nothing more. I just wondered really.

I honestly don't know the answer to that - but I do think it's a little bit different there for two reasons. 1) The Cats Protection League and similar orgs that offer assistance to owners and provide adoption and shelters, and 2) the basic mindset in the U.K. is to let kitties be indoor/outdoor, and I think there end up being "neighborhood" kitties that get taken care of.

I'm know there are ferals, and I have no stats, but I think perhaps spay/neuter rates are higher than in the U.S?

How about contacting these people? http://www.catactiontrust.org.uk/

Laurie

Thanks for the reply and I will get in touch. I would love to help out some feral kitties but I never see any! I did help one that was heavily pregnant, she ate me out of house and home She was looking to nest but too be honest, I wasn't confident enough to have her here and have the kittens in case anything went wrong. I had a really lovely lady come to get her and she knew her stuff. Also, she would keep them until they were a few months old with mum, which i thought was best and she was known to a vet who would neuter/spay. I suppose they find us don't they, like all the lovely people on here who acquire are little feline friends from knowhere! Thanks for the link

There certainly are - we currently aren't dealing with any, but hte ohter rescue I help are trapping a colony of 20. There are also a lot in Wales. I dont think they are seen as often as abroad due to the conditions, you have to be rather rural really, and factories are a big place for them. I am a volunteer for Cat Action Trust (although different to the website posted, there are two Cat Action Trusts in the UK - ours ends in 77), but I can't find our leaflet to see if there is a branch near you - I can pm you a list of rescues in your area if you like? Sometimes things like the 4mo kitten I took in on Fri is as much of a help as ferals, as it means he can't go on to impregnant lots of females and create feral cats.

At christmas i always send a large cheque to the cats protection so they can buy food for the strays and ferals that they look after. Their always trapping them to spay and neuter them as well.

I've seen pictures of the ones my local branch look after and their in excellent condition

Yes, I used to help look after a colony when I lived in London

T S Eliot's poem 'Jellicle Cats' is about a colony of mainly b/w cats that lived in his neighbourhood when he lived in central London.

The Song Of The Jellicles
T. S. Eliot

Jellicle Cats come out tonight,
Jellicle Cats come one come all:
The Jellicle Moon is shining bright—
Jellicles come to the Jellicle Ball.

Jellicle Cats are black and white,
Jellicle Cats are rather small;
Jellicle Cats are merry and bright,
And pleasant to hear when they caterwaul.
Jellicle Cats have cheerful faces,
Jellicle Cats have bright black eyes;
They like to practise their airs and graces
And wait for the Jellicle Moon to rise.

Jellicle Cats develop slowly,
Jellicle Cats are not too big;
Jellicle Cats are roly-poly,
They know how to dance a gavotte and a jig.
Until the Jellicle Moon appears
They make their toilette and take their repose:
Jellicles wash behind their ears,
Jellicles dry between their toes.

Jellicle Cats are white and black,
Jellicle Cats are of moderate size;
Jellicles jump like a jumping-jack,
Jellicle Cats have moonlit eyes.
Theyâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]re quiet enough in the morning hours,
Theyâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]re quiet enough in the afternoon,
Reserving their terpsichorean powers
To dance by the light of the Jellicle Moon.

Jellicle Cats are black and white,
Jellicle Cats (as I said) are small;
If it happens to be a stormy night
They will practise a caper or two in the hall.
If it happens the sun is shining bright
You would say they had nothing to do at all:
They are resting and saving themselves to be right
For the Jellicle Moon and the Jellicle Ball.