|
|
 |
| |
|
 |
 |
 |
- |
|
- |
For All
Interested and Concerned Persons |
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
This educational information is being distributed with the intention
that it will bring understanding and tolerance, save lives and
prevent unnecessary suffering.
 The
Department of Animal Services estimates there are 3 million
feral cats and kittens in the Los Angeles area alone. Feral
cats (sometimes referred to as strays) are the sad result of
irresponsible adults who have not spayed or neutered their domestic
cats. They have been allowed to roam freely or are abandoned
in neighborhoods, resulting in unwanted kittens and homeless
adults. Succeeding generations are born in our cities, under
the most horrendous conditions. With little opportunity to bond
with humans, they struggle for survival, reproducing at random.
Contrary to popular belief, cats do not fend well for themselves.
Many will gravitate to humans for relief from starvation and
some will become household pets.
 Random
surveys in our cities, by recognized organizations, have concluded
that in any given area, four to fifty feral cats or more live
in close proximity throughout our neighborhoods, public and
industrial areas. Statistics over the past years have revealed
that no one has successfully removed all feral cats in any one
area, in an attempt at eradication. Every possible inhumane
way that man could devise has been tried to exterminate feral
cats and kittens, and all have failed miserably. Feral cats
and kittens form colonies (families) near humans and raid garbage
cans, eat discarded food, beg for food or prey on rodents. They
are present everywhere throughout our cities and many industrial
sites keep them for rodent control without
population control.
There is only one proven, successful
way to reduce the population and dramatically reduce births,
and that is the method of humane non-lethal, trap, neuter and
return, with managed long-term care by a caretaker.
 In
a national survey by the Humane Society of the United States,
it is estimated there 60-100 million feral cats in the U.S.,
with approximately 17 million people feeding about half of them.
The remaining millions are left to suffer, reproduce, starve
and be randomly destroyed in a desperate and inhumane attempt
to reduce the population. Since feral cats and their offspring
have had little opportunity to bond with humans, they are considered
unadoptable and are routinely euthanized in our city shelters.
However, some of the feral cats and most of the kittens are
adoptable. As of this writing, there are few places where feral
cats and kittens, can find a safe and caring home. There is
an urgent and overwhelming need for safe relocation, shelters
and land.
In an attempt to "get rid of the cats", trapping and killing
is usually the first line of defense. However, not every cat
can be trapped and other cats in the immediate vicinity will
claim the vacated territory. The surrounding areas are also
home to feral cats who were born there. Some of the cats in
the immediate areas will also include unaltered, owner-owned
domestic outdoor cats that have not been spayed or neutered.
 Since
is not possible to remove all cats from any territory, those
remaining and the new cats entering the territory, who have
not been spayed or neutered will continue to reproduce. In a
short period of time with no humane population control in place,
the area will be repopulated. This unsuccessful, uneducated
approach has resulted in the endless and needless suffering
we now have in our cities. A no win situation occurs when feral
cats living in well managed colonies, that have been spayed
and neutered, are trapped and destroyed. Cats have been here
for centuries and will continue to be here. It is up to us to
address their plight with responsible compassion.
In London, caretakers and animal organizations, trapped, neutered
and returned cats on a block by block basis until they had the
situation under control. Reference Alley Cat Allies, Washington,
D.C. Animal organizations that understand the necessity and
success of spay, neuter and return, will not trap cats or kittens
to be killed in the shelters. They know it is inhumane and IT
DOES NOT WORK to control overpopulation.
Dan C. Knapp, former General Manager of the Department of Animal
Services, Los Angeles, CA., the California Veterinary Medical
Association and numerous other concerned agencies throughout
this city and the nation have endorsed the only proven humane
non-lethal, successful method of bringing the feral cat population
under managed control. It is termed TRAP,NEUTER
AND RETURN WITH RESPONSIBLE LONG-TERM CARE. This method
has been successfully implemented in the United States as well
as other countries throughout the world.
 Michelle
S. Chappell DVM, wrote A Model for Humane Reduction of Feral
Cat Populations, as published in California Veterinarian September/October
1999 "The Feral Cat Coalition (FCC) in San Diego is a prime
example of one of these types of programs. Founded in 1992 by
Dr. Rochelle Brinton and feral cat caretakers, the FCC has since
sterilized over 10,300 unowned cats. Euthanasia of cats at the
county shelters was at an all time high at the inception of
this program, with each feline internment costing an estimated
$121. After just two short years, and with no other explanation,
the total number of cats brought in dropped by over 35%, and
euthanasias dropped 40%, instead of the usual 10% increase.
The estimated tax savings for fewer cats euthanized was calculated
to $795,976. These numbers clearly indicate the positive impact
a trap, alter and release program can have on feline euthanasias
and tax dollars. It is the opinion of the author that similar
programs are needed and would be successful in any community""
The majority of all kittens born are from feral mothers and
only 2% of cats who enter the shelters are reclaimed by their
owners.
HOW DOES IT WORK? If required,
in private residential areas, a permit to trap is obtained from
the local shelter. Follow the guidelines of the trapping permit
as to dates prior to trapping, etc. The permit is posted throughout
the area where trapping will occur. It is also a good idea to
inform your neighbors that you will be trapping. Check with
your local authorities when trapping in public, industrial or
non-residential areas with large populations of feral cats,
as to their guidelines. It is important
they understand that the cats are being returned to their original
location and not to the shelter to be euthanized.
 TRAPPING
- Traps are usually placed near locations where the cats are
being fed. Persons who are feeding are an important resource,
as they usually stay involved in the caretaking. In a situation
where the person who has been feeding is no longer available
or the home site is being destroyed, those persons in close
proximity, whether private property owners or businesses, should
be contacted to help. Organizing locations for feeding stations
and observing if there are shelter areas available, would be
of immediate concern, as well as persons available for feeding.
It is important that the colonies (families) remain intact and
close to their original home site. There may also be options
of moving present feeding stations at their home site, to places
that have less human traffic, or are in more sheltered and less
exposed locations. This has been accomplished quite successfully
on numerous occasions. However, it must be done within the guidelines
of our criteria for feral cat caretaking. Refer to Managed
Care, Negotiating and Relocation.
 Engage
those persons who have cared enough about the cats to feed them,
to become involved, to some degree, in this endeavor. Once the
trapping is accomplished, the cats are taken to a veterinarian
for spay, neuter, immunization against disease and Rabies vaccination.
They are given a physical examination and treated for ear mites,
worms and fleas. The right or left ear is nipped off 1/8 to
1/4 of an inch for identification purposes as being sterilized
and vaccinated. Feral cats that have a Rabies vaccination create
a barrier against Rabies from wildlife to domestic life. Ear
nipping is a well-known identification for animal control agencies
and veterinarians. After the cats have recovered from surgery,
which can take 1-2 days for males and 3-7 days for females,
they are returned to their home site for long-term managed care
by a caretaker or caretakers.
Caretakers will need to establish a regular feeding schedule,
providing nourishing food, fresh water, maintain shelters and
keep the area clean. There are specific guidelines for long-term
managed care of feral colonies and it is important that those
responsible for their care are instructed properly. Scheduled
trapping continues throughout the life span of the colony to
insure humane population control.
IT IS ESSENTIAL, that following
surgery, the family (colony) be returned to the original home
site (provided it is safe and managed). Feral cat colonies can
have as few as 3-10 cats in the backyard to 10-100 plus in public
and industrial areas. When the colony remains intact, the cats
being very territorial, will usually discourage newcomers from
entering. Feral cat colonies are families. They look out for
each other, play together and form close bonds. Nourishing food,
water and adequate shelter should be available at the home site.
Shelter is important, especially in cold and rainy weather.
It will keep them warm and discourage them from gravitating
to parked vehicles or unsafe places. If kittens are present,
arrangements should be made, in advance, for their welfare,
such as foster homes, permanent placement, etc. We recommend
that any kitten that is trapped, should not be returned back
to the home site, unless special sheltering and caretaking arrangements
have been made for their safety and care.
 ONE
EXAMPLE of special sheltering and caretaking arrangements,
is an agreement we made with a high profile communications organization
in the city of Los Angeles. Initially, they had spent considerable
time and money in an effort to "get rid of the cats", and were
completely frustrated when we began our discourse. Through educational
materials and meetings, we offered them a successful and humane
way of controlling the feral cat population. Part of the agreement
was to build a shelter on the premises, as the cats were scattered
over a large area without adequate shelter and food. A substantial
amount of money and labor was spent to build a warm and cat
friendly shelter to house 40 plus cats.
Feeding stations were set up within the shelter and a good quality
of dry food was provided, as well as water and wet food five
times a week. Volunteers, who work on the premises do the caretaking
and we coordinate the ongoing trapping. Two 6 month old kittens
were trapped near the shelter. After thoughtful consideration
and consultation, we felt that they could be released back to
their home site following surgery, vaccinations and boarding.
In this instance, they had a safe and warm shelter and plenty
of nourishing food, with concerned persons looking after them.
This type of commitment should be considered
by any persons or organizations that have feral cats on their
property, whether it is two or three cats in their backyard
or sixty cats in a public area.
Without adequate managed humane population control, as is presently
the case in our cities, we now have 3 million plus homeless,
neglected, suffering feral cats and kittens trying to survive
in our storm drains, alleys, yards, under houses and apartment
buildings, abandoned buildings, industrial and public areas,
or anyplace where there are rodents, discarded food or a kind
person providing same. Contrary to popular opinion, cats will
not remain healthy and good hunters on a diet of rodents alone.
If rodent control is one of their duties they need supplemental
food to continue their job.
 Those
who think there will be no more cats and kittens, if the feeding
stops, are in for a stark reality check. Based on my personal
experience I have found that people cannot be forbidden to feed
feral cats and will do so under the most extreme conditions.
I have heard stories about persons who have been threatened
with job loss, and other types of intimidation, including bodily
harm, that have become even more committed. There are persons
who feed from their cars, late at night, drive around parking
lots to feed homeless cats and so on. Not many people can endure
the sight of a hungry cat or kitten. Untold numbers of persons
in neighborhoods throughout our cities feed feral cats under
extraordinary conditions. In Los Angeles, the homeless and indigent
persons share their meager food with the feral cats and kittens.
However, no one needs to feed ferals cats for them to reproduce
and form colonies for survival.
Debilitated and hungry cats will reproduce,
as will humans under similar conditions, with tragic outcomes.
Following surgery, the males stay closer to home, spraying is
reduced or ceases and confrontations are few. The females no
longer come "in heat", which discourages other males from entering
the area. There are less unwanted kittens being born and the
atmosphere becomes one of humane control, compassion and responsible
management. This does not happen overnight.
There may be persons who will not understand the importance
of what is being accomplished. But, if those persons who are
interested in a proven, successful, humane method of population
control are willing to assist and support this very urgent and
important endeavor, eventually even the most skeptical individual
will see positive results. This has been demonstrated in countless
situations that seemed insurmountable.
An intelligent, humane solution is at
hand for feral cats as the success of managed colonies is now
being recognized and implemented nationally. This can only be
accomplished with cooperation from all concerned parties.
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT AND UNDERSTANDING IN THIS MOST IMPORTANT
ENDEAVOR. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR
WISH TO KNOW HOW YOU CAN HELP. PLEASE CALL US AT (310) 820-4122
OR EMAIL US AT info@feralcatcaretakers.org.
Dona Cosgrove Baker President and Founder, Feral Cat Caretakers'
Coalition |
|
|
