| Every town and city has a feral cat colony. Cat | | | | circumstances, kittens develop trust in humans |
| lovers immediately think of their own much-loved | | | | early, in the first two or three weeks of life. |
| cats with their cosy quarters and square meals. | | | | Some believe that even at six weeks the window |
| World-wide, dedicated volunteers have thrown | | | | for socialising kittens is closing fast. In practice, it |
| their efforts into helping these domestic cats living | | | | depends heavily on the individual cat. Some may |
| wild, assisting with programs ranging from | | | | resist taming even at a young age, whereas |
| sterilisation to re-homing. | | | | there are many success stories with |
| Ferals and strays - what's the difference? | | | | domesticating older ferals. It is true, however, |
| Stray cats are cats that have grown up with | | | | that the older the cat the longer it may take to |
| humans but because they have wandered or | | | | become accustomed to people and domestic life. |
| been abandoned are living wild and homeless. At | | | | The viciousness of a tiny ball of fur (and the |
| least to some degree, they have usually been | | | | damage small claws can do) can be truly |
| socialised to accept humans as benevolent. Feral | | | | astonishing, but is a measure of a kitten or cat's |
| cats may not have been fully domesticated for | | | | fear, not a sign of a malicious disposition. Many |
| generations. They establish colonies where they | | | | ferals are afraid of hands and handling. Hand |
| breed speedily. It is entirely possible for a new | | | | feeding helps them to develop positive |
| generation to be born every six months. These | | | | associations. Though it may take years of small |
| cats are socialised in relation to other cats, but | | | | steps, rehabilitated ferals can be transformed into |
| may have little or no experience of humans. In | | | | loving pets and amiable companions. It's not a |
| fact, they may have learned from other cats | | | | task for the novice or the impatient, but when a |
| that people are to be feared. Nevertheless, | | | | former tiger insists you provide a scratch and |
| depending on their personality, feral cats can be | | | | tickle, the hard work all becomes infinitely |
| friendly and trusting - or become so. Others are | | | | worthwhile. |
| shy and suspicious and resist handling of any kind, | | | | Tips for potential adopters |
| making them more challenging to re-home. | | | | The first task is to make sure your feral has |
| Management of feral cats | | | | been checked over by a vet, de-wormed, |
| Older policies for managing feral cat colonies | | | | vaccinated and if necessary sterilised. |
| focussed on simple extermination. Today a more | | | | It may not be a good idea to introduce them into |
| enlightened approach prevails, concentrating on | | | | houses with other pets. Though other pets cats |
| neutering and spaying, vaccination and disease | | | | may help in their socialising, if you have a bad |
| control. With breeding under control and health | | | | personality clash you may have to choose |
| boosted, colonies remain stable and eventually | | | | between them. This is unfair on the feral cat, |
| shrink. Sometimes colonies have to be moved. | | | | especially since they often may bond with a first |
| Feral rescue may involve relocating cats to rural | | | | owner but not with a second. |
| areas where they can live semi-wild around barns | | | | Don't push the agenda, especially with handling. |
| or stables. The most difficult option can be | | | | Persist with attempts to stroke and play with |
| re-homing, but it is possible and often very | | | | them, but back off if they object. They will trust |
| rewarding. | | | | you in their own time if you deal intelligently with |
| Re-homing feral cats | | | | their wariness. Your biggest allies in the process |
| Cat rescue authorities give varying advice on the | | | | are food, patience and faith that there's a great |
| issue of adopting feral cats. Under normal | | | | pet behind the fear. |