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| www.NationalFeralCatDay.org |
Cynthia: Happy Feral Cat Day!
Marcy: Didn’t we just do this last year?
Cynthia: Yes. Every year on October 16th we recognize feral cats and society’s efforts to help them.
Marcy: Why would you help cats that can’t help themselves?
Cynthia: That’s precisely why we do help them, Marcy. It’s not their fault they are living on the streets. In fact, you would have been a feral cat if someone didn’t help you and your two brothers.
Marcy: Gasp.
Cynthia: This year’s theme focuses on TNR which stands for Trap/Neuter/Return. Cats are humanely trapped, sterilized/vaccinated, and then returned to the area where they live.
TNR is the best, most effective, and humane way to reduce the stray cat problem. Once the cats stop reproducing, the colony gradually reduces through natural attrition until there are no more.
Marcy: I thought if one cat dies then another stray cat comes in to take its place.
Cynthia: Sometimes this happens but most often it does not. Two colonies I TNR’d and am able to monitor have not had this happen. One colony of nine cats is now down to two over a six year period and another colony of five cats is down to four over a two year period.
Marcy: You’re seeing other cats behind my back?
Cynthia: The resources out there for helping these cats are growing and growing. So if you see stray cats and kittens in your neighborhood and want to help them, simply do a Google search of cat rescues or TNR in your area. I bet you’ll find several groups that can help solve the problem.
| source unknown |
Marcy raises her Friskies can. Cynthia raises her martini glass.
Marcy and Cynthia: Happy National Feral Cat Day!
Marcy: And big slurpy kitty kisses to all those compassionate people helping to alleviate the suffering of society’s neglected and abandoned feline friends.
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13 Comments
Wow! Who knew Marcy could be so sweet 🙂 You always find the best pics Cindy!! And I'm always happy to see Jackson Galaxy!
Love Jackson Galaxy!
Yes – Marcy has a very sweet side that she tries to hide so she doesn't ruin her rep.
xo,cynthia
I love how I always learn something when I visit your blog. Sounds like a wonderful way to help. I don't think there are a lot of feral cats in my area (the cougars, coyotes and bears may have something to do with that…) but maybe I am wrong. Off to do some research…
It's probably the coyotes keeping down the feral cat population. Also, if you live in an area where people are responsible and spay/neuter their pets, that would have something to do with it too.
I just realized that I didn't put in a link to find more info describing TNR. I will do that now.
xo,cynthia
Congratulations on amazing success. Imagine how the colonies would have grown had you not done the TNRing. I'm guessing one hundred kitties or more?
Love those pictures!! I want to hang them all over my house.
Oh gosh – who knows. There is a crazy chart out there showing how fast two cats can multiply over a short period of time. I will have to look for it.
xo,cynthia
That is so cool, how you've been monitoring the colonies! It makes total sense to do it that way, I'd never heard of TNR before but it does seem like the best solution. My friend lives near a park with a colony like that, they're attacking the squirrels, and it's quite sad. I can't get her to help me trap them because she's extremely allergic (and all the more heroic for stopping one of them from killing a squirrel one time), and I don't know if TNR is a done thing over here… but I could look into it!
Hi Gwen! I do believe that TNR is done over there. If I am remembering correctly, London was one of the first cities to practice TNR and it was massively successful. You just need to find a rescue group or facility in the area and contact them to tell them the problem and see if they can help or point you in another direction of someone that can.. Just do a Google search first to see what you come up with.
xo,cynthia
Thanks for the info hon! I will get on the case! Like Sherlock Holmes! 😉
You are so amazing! I mean Cynthia, Marcy. I love all of the awareness you bring to the feline community. All we had when I was growing up were feral cats on my grandmother's property that she bought to get rid of vermin. The scars I still have from trying to cuddle those… Of course, they were fed like kings by my grandma and were tamer than most.
This was long ago and I assumed that feral cats were no longer being bought for those purposes but I saw a sign in a feed store not that long ago with them for sale. Back in my time I am not sure they knew of the perils of not neutering them. I wonder if the feral cats being sold for those purposes today are fixed?
Jenni
Oh no. The Barn Cat movement is going strong. Sometimes it is a great way to place ferals that are losing their home. It does take a lot of work to get them used to the area so I hope that feed store was doing it correctly. I also hope they weren't for sale. And I also hope that they are neutered!
What a sweet story about your Grandma. Well, except for the kitty scars of course!
xo,cynthia
Great post! I had no idea there was a feral cat day until i met you. 🙂 Congratulations on rescuing so many kitties…I told you about my TNR attempts…it's a worthy challenge!
Thank you, Merrie! Hope you are back from your trip and catching up on some sleep!!
xo,cynthia