FERAL CATS: THE TRAP, NEUTER AND RETURN SOLUTION
The Monday Garden, August 15, 2004, Issue 125
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The frequently over-looked feral cat is one denizen of the suburban/urban environment who desperately needs our help and understanding. This special edition of The Monday Garden created in collaboration with Stamford's Friends of Felines is dedicated to Stamford, CT's wild cats and the awesome volunteers who care for them.
THE ANCIENT COMPACT. Some 4,000 to 7,000 years ago Homo sapien and Felis catus formed a lasting mutual aid compact. The so-called "house cat" has been keeping our vermin in check in return for a warm bed, supplemental food, and, of course, a few pats. Humans have given Felis catus free transportation from their original home in West Africa to virtually every piece of dry land on the planet. After thousand years of co-habitation, they're cousins of a sort. In fact, they're part of the family in 34% of USA homes.
Half our cats are homeless. In the USA, we have a staggering 60 to 100 million cats living without the benefit of the ancient compact between our species. The numbers show that, despite millions of "waste" cats being put to death every year, half our cats are on their own.
The USA numbers:
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HOMELESS AND FERAL CATS: Many of these millions of non-domestic cats were born within the compact but became homeless after being lost or abandoned. However, many are the homeless ones' wild children. These children are truly feral, no more accustomed to humans than a raccoon.
Homeless cats, born within the compact, welcome a new human family, once they re-learn trust. Feral kittens can be brought within the compact. However, after a certain age, the born-wild ferals can not adapt to the ways of our tribe and can only be happy, living on their own, with their own kind.
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