Feral Cats and Cold Temperatures

Poster: eburgess... I think there is a MUCH higher percentage rate of them NOT being able to keep warm OR find enough food to keep even slightly comfortable. I figure, I got several meals today, and I am warm and comfortable(and am very thankful for this!) So, I go and feed a colony of feral cats at the edge of our town and bring very warm water and warm food every day when the weather is so bitterly cold. I also brought cat box shelters for them and they ARE using them! So, I know it won't help the stray and feral cats in the entire world, but in my little corner of the world, I am doing what I can, to at least make their lives a little better, in whatever way I am able....

**Edited for a typo!

That's very nice of you to feed those cats. I never said anything about letting them starve or stuff like that. I never said you're a horrible person to do that. It's when oragnzations catch them, then try to adopt them out the problems occur. These cats don't want to be cooped up in a house with people. They can be very aggressive (unless you catch them with they are still kittens). Most do not make good pets and end up back at the shelter, vet's office or woods. Most likely ferals can find food and what not on thier own, that is why they are feral, and continue to be so. You know that "call of the wild" stuff??? ferals answer to it just like deer and racoons and whatever else. feral cats can largely take care of themselves, they wouldn't of survied this long if they couldn't. And if they can't manage it, they would sit at out doors begging for food and attention and all the perks of being a house cat. But that's wishful thinking. And if you have read other post you would know that i suggested to a fellow poster to heat her shed that is currently housing some ferals.

Originally Posted by TNR1

GratefulBear629..I wouldn't put it off too long...kitten season is right around the corner. Just a reminder....February is the month where there are lots of spay/neuter-a-thons because of the Doris Day's national spay campaign.

Katie

Click to expand...

Do you know of a website that would list all the events going on? If there was one in my area I would love to take part.. even if I can't catch a little critter I would certainly like to volunteer.

Where exactly is Hamilton? I tried to find it on an atlas...I did find this from another forum:

If anyone out there lives in the Jersey City area, Liberty Humane
Shelter is under new management and encouraging TNR. You can get a
male or female neutered, rabies/distemper shots, flea treatment, ear
tipped for $25. You just need to make an appointment. Not free but
much better than the $200 my neighborhood vet quoted me.

Also:

NEW JERSEY
New Jersey Dept of Health & Senior Services
Pet Overpopulation Control Fund
PO Box 360
Trenton, NJ 08625
609-292-7837
When and if state funds are available, spay/neuter surgery is very low cost for pets of people with low income. Check the web site for more information about eligibility requirements and/or call by phone. Many veterinary clinics around the state are participating.
Monmouth County SPCA Spay/Neuter Clinic
260 Wall Street
Eatontown, NJ 07724
732-542-3125
Low cost spay/neuter, vaccines, and flea products.

East Coast New Jersey Spay Clinic
732-929-9449



Animal Welfare Association
Voorhees NJ
856-424-2288
Low cost s/n for ferals and pets.

People for Animals
Hillside, NJ
908-964-6887

Feral to Friendly Felines
P.O. Box 344
Washinton, NJ 07882
Phone: (908) 453-4496

Stray Katz, Inc.
33 Shelburne Drive
Trenton, NJ 08638-2723
Phone: (609) 883 5869


Katie

"Most likely ferals can find food and whatnot on their own, that is why they are feral and continue to be so". Actually, feral cats become feral because of irresponsible people who don't bother to spay/neuter their pet cats. They are the offspring of cats who have been allowed to procreate and become feral out of the necessity to survive, and many don't. They do not remain feral because they CHOOSE to remain feral - they simply have no other choice. Most have had no contact with humans and do everything they can to avoid them out of fear. It's the rare feral cat that will sit on someone's doorstep waiting for a handout.

The fact that there continue to be ferals is not due to their longevity or ability to survive - the life of a feral cat who receives no help from people is very short. The reason that the feral population exists is because people consistently contribute to it by not getting their cats S/N.

Ferals are cats first, feral second. Like all cats, they need to stay warm, have food and water on a regular basis. In some parts of the world this is easier than in others. But for most ferals, hunger is constant, fear is constant, and shelter difficult and sometimes impossible to find. Feral cats are not wildlife, like deer and raccoons.
But thanks to the human race, they are forced to live as if they are.

a am possitive if you take a 5 yr old feral cat and try to adopt it out it will NOT work. The point I am trying to make that everyone seems to be missing is that many of these cats are beyond help and people should NOT try to adopt these cats out. Yes feed them, yes, netering them, yes aid them, but understand they are never going to be house pets. and Yes ferals can be born that way.

Thanks Hissy for remind me that if they die from hypotermia it is at least a peaceful passing..really.
As consolations go it's better that total frustration in knowing that they are dying from the cold..

<<But thanks to the human race, they are forced to live as if they are.>>

Well put KTLynn..I've a hard time trying to tell that to people..they say " yeah..but there's nothing you can do"

And of course there's much we can do..oh-well, it's one of those things you just DO and explaining can or not be useless.

I agree that taking a 5 year old, unsocialized feral cat directly from the outdoors and putting him up for adoption is foolish. No one here disagrees with that or is missing that point. The problem is with the words "beyond help". If what is meant by that is that feral cats can't be socialized, that is untrue. Though not all can become house cats, MANY can. The difficulty is that there are very few resources for this. Most animal organizations and shelters do not have enough people who can foster and socialize feral cats. This is why virtually all feral cats who are brought to shelters are euthanized. Though many have the potential to be socialized, they won't get the chance. The shelters already have their hands full trying to adopt out the domesticated cats.

Feral cats are "born that way" if they are themselves the offspring of a feral cat. Cats only become feral if they have no human care. A feral mom cat will give birth to kittens who will certainly be feral too IF no human intercedes. The kittens of a lost or abandoned domesticated cat will also be feral if they have no contact with humans,
no matter how friendly their mom was with people. As Katie pointed out previously, cats will only REVERT to being feral in order to survive. Please keep in mind that the feral cats out there now are the result of irresponsible PEOPLE who started the feral population by refusing to S/N their cats.

Ok you people are making me out to be some witch who could care less about all cats but herown. geez... I am only saying what I have learned. I know many people who work with or are vets personally, ie my cousins and sister. I am telling you what they have told me and my personal experiences. The fact is, many feral cats are beyond the point of rehabillitation and are better off left alone. Yes feed them, medicate, whatever. Do Not pick up a feral to take it to the vet and say "adopt him out" This is all I'm saying. That's it.... don't read anymore into it.

Eburgess, I've just read over the posts in this thread, and nowhere do I see any comment that would lead you to think anyone here is "making you out to be some witch". Please understand that all we have to communicate with each other are the words we post here - we don't have the benefit of seeing someone's face or hearing their tone of voice. When you write things like "beyond help" it sounds harsh to those of us who have been caring for ferals or care about them. Using the words "beyond help" without clarification implies that nothing can be done - that it's useless to even try.
People experienced with ferals know that in many cases, that's untrue.

As I said in a previous post, I agree with you that taking a feral straight from the outdoors and to a vet to be put up for adoption is absurd. I personally don't know anyone who has done that, and having dealt with many vets over the years, I've never met one who had a client request this of them. If people you know who work in veterinary medicine have had this situation, I would say that it is rare, and I can't believe that any vet would agree to take a totally feral cat and put it up for adoption anyway.

To be fair, many vets are not very knowledgable about ferals and how to handle them when they need medical care. I'm not being disparaging when I say this - I mean no offense to vets who aren't familiar with treating ferals. Having taken care of ferals for many years now, the first question I ask when I need to have a feral vetted is if the vet is comfortable treating feral cats. I've already had to tell one vet how to sedate a feral in order to remove him from the trap for an exam.

Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. But like the general public, most vets don't have a lot of experience with ferals and there are still a lot of misconceptions about feral cats. I know we all agree that though some of these cats can be socialized and some can't, they all need to be cared for and cared about.

***Quote:But like the general public, most vets don't have a lot of experience with ferals and there are still a lot of misconceptions about feral cats. I know we all agree that though some of these cats can be socialized and some can't, they all need to be cared for and cared about.

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I agree with this so much! And eburgess, I do NOT think you are witch at ALL!! I guess, if you could see the poor little faces on the little feral/stray kitties up at the mill, on those bitterly cold days, when I slog up around up there, with my jugs of warm water and warmed-up cat food, just so they can have a little something warm to eat and drink... We do work VERY hard at trapping the newer little ones, (finding them homes after getting them neutered or spayed) and you are right, the earlier, the better... I get so upset at people who dump their cats out the door as they move away to another neighborhood (and it does happen SO much!) and say "Well they are related to wild animals, so they will get along just fine...." UGH!!! If they only knew the misery they have inflicted on their poor little cat!
So, please know I am not lashing out at you at all! I would not do that on ANY posting board really!
**Edited for a typo--since I am typing this at 3:15 am!!!