| With so many feral cats roaming our streets and | | | | working with her, is aware that this is a feral cat. |
| countryside it is becoming important to spay or | | | | She will need to be treated very differently from |
| neuter as many as possible. They can then be | | | | domestic cats. Firstly she will be very scared as |
| returned to their habitat to carry on the work | | | | she may have had little, or no, human contact let |
| they do in keeping the rodent population down. | | | | alone visits to the surgery. Secondly, if the staff |
| Although we have a problem with the | | | | are not aware that she is wild then they may |
| overpopulation of cats, we would have a huge | | | | receive quite nasty injuries from trying to be |
| problem with the overpopulation of rodents | | | | friendly with her. The treatment that she receives |
| without our colonies of feral cats! Therefore the | | | | during the course of her operation and aftercare |
| trap/spay/release programme is now being widely | | | | may well affect her recovery time. Considering |
| used. There are some points that you should | | | | when to release spayed feral cats must take into |
| know about prior to getting a humane trap for | | | | account how quickly they have recovered from |
| your local feral cats and taking them to the vets. | | | | the shock of their visit to the veterinarian and |
| Once they have had their operation you will need | | | | their operation. The more they are stressed the |
| to know when to release spayed feral cats back | | | | longer it will take. When you have her back with |
| into their environment. | | | | you, keep a cover over the cage to keep her |
| A feral cat is probably not very good when it | | | | calm until you can release her. |
| comes to social skills. They are not used to | | | | She should be kept in the cage for 24 to 36 |
| human contact and you would be foolish to think | | | | hours following the operation, assuming that all has |
| that they will be cuddly like a fully domesticated | | | | gone well. If you think that there may be a |
| cat. If you undertake the responsibility of trapping | | | | problem, take her back to the veterinarian for |
| a feral cat and having her spayed, you will have | | | | immediate attention as you need to have her well |
| to consider what you are going to do until she is | | | | and back in her community as soon as is possible. |
| fit to be returned to her life out on the streets. | | | | This is only a guideline for when to release spayed |
| Not only do you need to think about when to | | | | feral cats. Obviously if she is unwell and at risk of |
| release spayed feral cats but also her care whilst | | | | infection this time limit must be extended. You |
| she is with you. | | | | must not release her if you fear she could be at |
| Once you have your feral cat in a humane trap, | | | | all unwell. |
| make sure that the veterinarian and everyone | | | | |