Feral cats need our help.
Feral cat colonies, although started by abandoned pet cats, do survive and become large populations quickly in many urban areas. Although stray cats do find enough food to live and raise kittens, without good medical care and a constant healthy food source, they are highly susceptible to disease and poor health. Many stray cat colonies around the country are cared for by cat-loving people, but this takes commitment and lots of help. Promoting the benefits of helping cats, such as reducing the population and preventing the spread of disease, will get more people involved in the effort.
Instructions
1. Trap for spaying or neutering and vaccinating as many of the stray cats as possible. You will have much more success gaining help for the cats if you are also working toward reducing the population of stray cats and preventing diseases such as rabies from spreading. Otherwise, feeding the cats will only increase their numbers and increase the risk of diseases spreading to other pets.
2. Contact veterinarians in the area for discounts and other assistance with providing medical care for the cats. Many veterinarian offices have donated funds set aside to help care for feral cats.
3. Contact local cat rescue organizations. These nonprofits are a valuable resource for providing guidance, homes for adoptable cats, volunteers and even funding.
4. Set up a volunteer schedule. The schedule needs to include who will feed the cats on what days and who will check traps and transport cats to the vet on each day. Also schedule volunteers to care for the cats following surgery.
5. Contact local businesses in the area, and ask for donations of food and money for spaying and neutering. Local businesses are often pleased to see that the feral cats are being cared for and willing to help.
Tags: stray cats, care cats, Contact local, feral cats, medical care