| > | | | | neutering them and returning them to the area. This |
| Information regarding the widespread feral cats. So | | | | approach, apart from being more humane, is also |
| what's the deal with feral cats? why is there so | | | | more successful and cost-effective than repeated |
| much fuss about them and why are they a burden | | | | attempts at extermination since the area of killed |
| upon environment and resources worldwide? A feral | | | | cats is soon taken over by other ferals. During TNR, |
| creature is referred to as a wild, untamed, savage | | | | cats are also frequently immunized and one of their |
| animal that has gone from a state of domestication | | | | ears nicked to identify them as being inoculated and |
| to a wild presence. Feral cats are typically kittens of | | | | neutered.Whilst feral cats have had devastating |
| domestic cats that were left, disowned, discarded by | | | | ecological influences on biodiversity of certain species |
| their owners. Un-habituated to humans, they live in | | | | like the extinction of huitas from the Caribbean and |
| colonies in urban areas...in alleys, malls, garbage | | | | the Guadalupe Storm-petrel from Pacific Mexico, they |
| disposal areas etc. If they manage to stave off | | | | are also believed to be of use in controlling over |
| starvation and death from other predators like | | | | growth of populations of certain animal species. An |
| coyotes, foxes, dogs, they thrive and breed at a | | | | example is their removal from Macquarie Island where |
| prodigious rate - producing over half a million | | | | the number of rats and rabbits grew exponentially |
| offsprings in their lifespan. A burden on resources, | | | | and had harmful influences on local ecology including |
| millions are spent annually to control them.There are | | | | the native seabirds.Debate is going to continue on |
| two approaches commonly advocated to deal with | | | | feral cats and how to best deal with them, |
| this problem. One is merciless euthanasia of every | | | | meanwhile the take home message for pet owners |
| captured feral. The other, which is more sensible and | | | | is to neuter their cats - not only to avoid having to |
| what I also advocate, is TNR i.e. Trap, Neuter and | | | | deal with a litter of kittens every few months - but |
| Return - this involves capturing the stray cats, | | | | also for the health of the cats. |