From explorebaltimorecounty.com
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Feral Cats
A feral cat is an unowned or untamed cat, that is born in the wild and has never been socialized with people or animals. They are different from strays because strays often are house cats that have gotten lost or run away.
A feral cat is an unowned and untamed cat separated from domestication. Feral cats are born in the wild and are never socialized, or may be abandoned or lost pets that have become wild. They should not be confused with the wildcat which are not descended from domestic cats. A stray cat (or alley cat) while unowned, still exhibits temperament similar to that of a pet. In popular usage, these terms are sometimes used interchangeably.
In Australia, the term "feral cat" refers to cats living and breeding entirely in the wild. Significant populations of Australian wildlife that are poorly adapted to this effective predator, including marsupials, reptiles, and birds, have allowed the establishment of stable feral cat populations across most of the country.
Adult feral cats that were never socialized with humans can rarely be socialized. Feral kittens can sometimes be socialized to live with dogs. The ideal time for capture is between six and eight weeks of age. Taming at this age may take only a couple of days. Older kittens can be tamed, but it takes longer. Also, an older kitten may bond only with the person working with him or her, which can make adoption difficult but not impossible.
Feral cats may live alone but are usually found in large groups called feral colonies. The average life span of a feral cat that survives beyond kittenhood is usually cited at less than two years, while an indoor domestic housecat lives an average of 14 to 20 years. However, feral cats aged 19 (Cat Action Trust) and 26 (Cats Protection) have been reported where food and shelter are available.
Urban areas, Australia, and North America are not native environments for cats. The domestic cat comes from temperate or hot, dry climates and was distributed throughout the world by humans. Cats are extremely adaptable, and feral felines have been found in conditions of extreme cold and heat. They are more susceptible to cold, damp conditions than to cold alone. In addition, they are vulnerable to predators such as dogs, feral pigs, wolves, bears, cougars, bobcats, foxes, crocodilians, birds of prey, and coyotes.
Source: Wikipedia
In Australia, the term "feral cat" refers to cats living and breeding entirely in the wild. Significant populations of Australian wildlife that are poorly adapted to this effective predator, including marsupials, reptiles, and birds, have allowed the establishment of stable feral cat populations across most of the country.
Adult feral cats that were never socialized with humans can rarely be socialized. Feral kittens can sometimes be socialized to live with dogs. The ideal time for capture is between six and eight weeks of age. Taming at this age may take only a couple of days. Older kittens can be tamed, but it takes longer. Also, an older kitten may bond only with the person working with him or her, which can make adoption difficult but not impossible.
Feral cats may live alone but are usually found in large groups called feral colonies. The average life span of a feral cat that survives beyond kittenhood is usually cited at less than two years, while an indoor domestic housecat lives an average of 14 to 20 years. However, feral cats aged 19 (Cat Action Trust) and 26 (Cats Protection) have been reported where food and shelter are available.
Urban areas, Australia, and North America are not native environments for cats. The domestic cat comes from temperate or hot, dry climates and was distributed throughout the world by humans. Cats are extremely adaptable, and feral felines have been found in conditions of extreme cold and heat. They are more susceptible to cold, damp conditions than to cold alone. In addition, they are vulnerable to predators such as dogs, feral pigs, wolves, bears, cougars, bobcats, foxes, crocodilians, birds of prey, and coyotes.
Source: Wikipedia
Jacksonville's cat lady is on the prowl.
Ever since P.C. Smith discovered a colony of feral cats in the center of Jacksonville in May, she's spent late nights and early mornings trying to capture them.
So far, she's caught six adults in traps. All have been taken to veterinarians where they...
- Feral Cats Pay No Property Tax Where Susan Kelo Used to Live and Pay (taxfoundation.org)
- Feral cats out of control in city's south end (thepeterboroughexaminer.com)
- Caring for Feral and Stray Cats in the Winter (change.org)
"In neighborhoods that have feral cat problems, the common lament is, "There were just two a while ago." But a female cat can have two or three litters a year for life. Her female kittens can get pregnant at five months. Before long the brood is hooking up with unfixed domestic cats, and a Malthusian nightmare has begun."
From digg.com
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- Birds 1, Feral Cats 0--Court Orders LA To Stop Controversial Feral Cat Program (birdchaser.blogspot.com)
- Feral cat program passes in 7-2 vote (charleston.net)
- Buff boys need home for the holidays (wickedlocal.com)
Denver, Colorado is home to tens of thousands of stray cats. They form colonies and breed uncontrollably. Destroying or relocating the cats only opens up space for more cats to move in. Local animal welfare groups are trying a different approach, but the job is overwhelming. Kristin Des Marais and Amy Angelilli of the Rocky [...]
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From neatorama.com
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Sam Hill is proof you can teach an old dog new tricks about cats.
By necessity, Hill, a 1st Ward alderman, has become educated about the trap, neuter and release program known as TNR to deal with feral cat colonies. He has been helping neighbors in the 1st Ward, where a cat colony has become a nuisance to homeowners. The situation "steered me to people involved in TNR," he said.
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From suburbanchicagonews.com
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Charleston County has taken the first step toward approving a controversial program that would legalize free-roaming cats and clear the way for an initiative to trap, sterilize and release feral cats instead of euthanizing them.
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From charleston.net
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For at least 15 years, the feral cat population on Daufuskie Island was managed by random trapping or shooting. In 2006, a group of residents recognized that the feral cat population was unsightly and caused nuisance behaviors. So the Daufuskie Island Feral Cat Project was born.
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From islandpacket.com
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FARGO, N.D. — City staff in Fargo are studying a proposal from an animal welfare group to have the city help pay for vaccinating feral cats and testing them for feline leukemia.
Minn-Kota PAAWS wants the city to chip in $20 for each animal.
PAAWS stands for People Advocating Animal Welfare Services. Clinic manager Carol Sawicki says there are as many as 500 feral cats living around Fargo's five mobile home parks and in its industrial areas...
From pets.kansascity.com
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- Fargo feral cat problem with proposed solution (valleynewslive.tv)
