Feral Cats

Q. What is a feral cat?
A. A feral cat is a cat that is un-owned and free roaming. Many feral cats are wary of humans as they have very little exposure to human beings.

Q. Where do feral cats come from?
A. Feral cats are the result of people abandoning their unsterilized pet cats. These cats then breed, producing kittens that receive very little human contact.

Q. Can feral cats live without human help?
A. Although feral cats act in many ways similar to wildlife, they are the descendants of domestic cats. Some may seek out a meager existence without human assistance, but without man’s help, they do not thrive. In order for feral cats to thrive, they need cat food, fresh water, and shelter from the elements.

Q. Does Utah have a feral cat problem?
A. There is an estimated one million feral cats in Utah, although it is very difficult to determine the exact numbers. Many surplus cats come from the offspring of feral cats and many end up being euthanized in shelters. Cat euthanasia’s greatly outnumber dog euthanasia’s in Utah.

Q. What is being done to combat Utah's feral cat problem?
A. Historically, people have either ignored the problem or have trapped the cats and taken them to be euthanized. However, these methods have been shown to be ineffective and often times very costly. It’s just in the last ten years or so that Trap, Neuter, Return (or TNR as we will refer to it from here on out) has become an alternative method of dealing with feral cats in the United States. Now, thanks to No More Homeless Pets in Utah, TNR is easily accessible to Utahan— and inexpensive!

Q. How do I take advantage of the program?
A. The Feral Fix program allows Utah’s feral cats to be spayed or neutered for just $10.00 to $35.00. In order to qualify for the discounted surgery, the cat must be truly feral or “un-owned, free roaming”. The feral cat must be brought to a participating veterinarian in a humane trap, and a small tip of the cat’s ear will be removed while under anesthesia.

Q. What is a Trap Trading Post?
A. At your local Trap Trading Post you can: borrow a humane trap or traps, receive instruction on how to conduct a TNR program in your area, and receive answers to your specific questions regarding feral cat care and management. Some of the more common questions are touched upon here; however, your local Trap Trading Post can give you written materials that go into much more detail. E-mail us at feralfix@utahpets.org or call 1-866-PETS-FIX (1-866-738-7349) (738-7349) to be connected with a Trap Trading Post near you.

Q. Where are the Trap Trading Posts in Utah?
A. Currently Trap Trading Posts have been set up in the following counties: Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, Grand, Iron, Kane, Salt Lake, Sevier, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, Washington, Weber

Q. I'm so nervous about trapping the cats...does it stress them out?
A. There is sometimes a certain amount of stress involved in trapping the cats. This can include the cat, and in many cases, the caregiver! However, altering the cat will greatly increase its chances for a happier, healthier life! A just trapped cat will often panic a bit and may thrash around in the trap. The best way to minimize stress on the cat is to cover the trap with a sheet or large towel. When the trap is set to catch a cat, cover at least half of the trap but leave the area near the front door uncovered. When the cat is trapped, quietly and quickly cover the entire trap-this will immediately calm the cat. Take the cat to a quiet, temperate indoor location until you can get it to a vet. Read “Humane Trapping Instructions” available from your Trap Trading Post or on this website before attempting to trap a feral cat.

Q. I'm worried the cats will no longer trust me if I trap them. Is this true?
A. NO, many cats will remain hidden for a few days after trapping but in the experience of expert caregivers, the cats often become more familiar with their caregiver after they have been altered. Some TNR experts believe this is because, after altering, the cats tend to hang around their food source more and will actually get to know their caregiver a little better.

Q. Doesn't the ear-tipping hurt?
A. The cats are under anesthesia when the tip of the ear is removed. It is a bit shocking to some caregivers to see the tipped ear but it does not appear to cause the cat an undue amount of pain. Most caregivers indicate they were a bit shocked at first, but quickly become used to the “ear tipped” look. The ear tipping is very important as a way to quickly identify an altered feral cat. Tipped ears have saved many cats from undergoing an unnecessary second spay/neuter surgery! Even if the caregiver is very familiar with all the cats in a colony, you never know when a new all black cat might arrive onto the scene! Cats can live over 15 years, and if someone new takes over the care of the colony, it is an easy way for a new caregiver to identify altered vs. unaltered cats. In addition, many local ordinances are giving a certain amount of protection to feral cats. All such ordinances require the ear tipping as a way to identify, and potentially protect, a feral cat.

Q. My neighbors complain about the feral cats I feed. What should I do?
A. Most importantly, stay calm. If a disgruntled neighbor reports to the local animal control that the feral cats you feed are causing a nuisance, many animal control jurisdictions have it written in their animal control ordinances that they must respond to such a complaint. So, for the well being of the cats, it is critical that you try to work on solving the complainant’s issues without hostility. Simply spaying and neutering the animals can remedy many nuisance issues: no more late night howling, smelly urine, or kittens everywhere. Other issues related to feral cats include: cats eliminating on neighbors property, food left out is attracting wildlife, and cats climbing on cars. Refer to Making Feral Cats Welcome in Your Community as well as Alley Cat Allies fact sheet Solutions to Cat-Related Issues. Also check out AlleyCat.org.

Q. I heard it was illegal to feed feral cats. Is this true?
A. Different jurisdictions in Utah have varying ordinances regarding cats. Some ordinances ALLOW FOR TNR. OTHERS do not recognize feral cats at all since they do not fit into any traditional category. Some ordinances state persons can “own” only a certain amount of cats per household. They may assume, or it may be written, that by feeding a cat, you are claiming “ownership”. Some progressive ordinances allow residents to obtain a “feral cat permit”. Many progressive municipalities across the country are now writing ordinances that deal with feral cats, defining ferals as “un-owned, free-roaming cats.” Feral cats are unique in that they are not quite wildlife, and they are not owned pets and many municipalities are now recognizing that feral cats need to be dealt with in a unique but humane manner. Alley Cat Allies sells a nine-minute video entitled The Humane Solution, Reducing Feral Cat Populations with Trap-Neuter-Return. This video is a great way to introduce the issue with your city council, local animal control agency, and police department.

Q. I need to relocate some feral cats. How should I do it?
A. Relocation should be viewed as a last resort in dealing with feral cats unless you have a suitable relocation site and the time to properly handle a relocation effort. Many times, people can actually resolve the issues around the cats without having to relocate them. Really examine the reason for considering relocation and see if there may be alternative solutions. For example, it might be a lot easier to put up cat fencing or build a cat enclosure to ensure the cats cannot roam the neighborhood. Before considering relocation, read Alley Cat Allies fact sheet Community Benefits of Feral Cats as well as Guidelines for Safe Relocation of Feral Cats. If you must relocate cats, finding a suitable site can be a great challenge but not an impossible one! Many people assume ferals need to be relocated “on a farm”, but for small colonies, someone’s back yard can easily be a safe haven for a few feral cats.

Q. I found some baby kittens. What should I do?
A. Please refer to "Basic Kitten Care" for more information.

Q. The ferals in my area have runny noses and goopy eyes. What should I do?
A. A veterinarian should examine feral cats exhibiting any sign of illness. Upper respiratory infection is one very common and very contagious virus found in feral cat colonies. The symptoms are usually runny nose, congestion, sneezing, and mucous build up in and around the eyes. This virus can be deadly, especially in young kittens. If you are trapping the cats in order to have them altered, make sure you alert the veterinarian staff if you have noticed any of the above symptoms. Your veterinarian can advise you as to the best course of action. Some feral cat caregivers, on the advice of the veterinarian, will have the cats injected with an antibiotic shot, and, if possible, administer prescribed antibiotics by mixing the recommended dosage into a small bit of tasty bait such as fishy soft cat food or mackerel. Prescribed eye ointment is often used to treat upper respiratory infection in tame cats, but this should not be attempted with a cat that cannot be easily handled. If possible, treat the whole colony at once, so that they do not continually re-infect one another. Caregivers medicating a whole colony will sometimes set out a paper plate with medicated treats on each one, one plate per cat. If you attempt this, it is important to closely monitor the situation so one cat does not eat more than his recommended dosage. Some caregivers will be ready and waiting to give a fast eater more un-medicated treats in order to deter him from eating another cat’s medicated food. Spreading the plates out will help you to monitor the situation. This method will only work if the colony is roughly the same weight, as a kitten dosage differs greatly from an adult dosage. It is also important to follow dosage instructions and finish the entire amount of recommended dosages. Most situations will require 7-14 days of antibiotic treatments, usually requiring two doses per day. If a cat misses a dose, you can typically give it a little larger dose at the next feeding, but be sure to consult with a veterinarian about the best course of action in dealing with diagnosed upper respiratory illnesses in feral cats.

Want to learn more about feral cats? Visit the website of Alley Cat Allies, a nationwide resource for feral cat caregivers.

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