Feral cats are also known as alley cats, neighborhood cats or wild cats. These undomesticated felines may have been born in urban parks or neighborhoods, but they were never socialized; they were not around people at the crucial time in their development. They are wild animals. Sometimes, though, these little guys are domesticated; they have been abandoned by people.

A feral cat’s life is not easy. Feral cats only live on average about 18-24 months.   These cats depend on the kindness of strangers. You can help. Find a location where feral cats tend to scavenge and set out food and water. Volunteer to help at a feeding station someone else has started. Or pick your own location free of danger from dogs or other animals and set up a feeding station.

Feral cats tend to form colonies. You may be surprised to learn these cats in time police their colony and limit its numbers. 

Feral cats have been widely excoriated by government agencies, animal control, and others; they have been blamed for destroying songbirds and habitat of other animals. These accusations are largely unfounded. It is humankind that has destroyed habitats and allowed these wild cats to flourish.  It is misguided for government agencies to destroy these special animals.  Efforts to destroy and remove these little animals do not reduce their population. Instead, when these cats are removed and destroyed in a particular area, it simply creates room for more feral cats to move in. 

There is a movement that is gaining popularity as a humane way to reduce the numbers of these feral cats. It is called Trap Neuter Return. Basically, the cats are trapped, neutered and then returned immediately to the wild or the area where they were found. This humane approach allows these animals to live and at the same time prevents them from reproducing. TNR has been wildly (no pun intended!) successful in reducing feral cat populations!