How to Help Feral Cats in Your Community

Do you have a lot of feral or stray cats in your community? Do you want to help them, but you know you can’t take all of them in?

If you’re a cat lover, it makes sense that you’d want to help. It is, however, important that you do so properly.

How to Help Feral Cats in Your Community

The first step you should take to help feral cats in your community, is to see if your city or community has a program in place already. Some areas practice a catch-and-release type system for feral cats where they are collected, spayed or neutered, tagged and released back into the wild. This allows them to live out their natural life, but prevents them for overpopulating, which is not good for the cats or for the community.

If a cat has been spayed or neutered, they may have a tipped or notched ear. You also want to be sure the cat is actually feral and not someone’s lost pet. If it is a lost pet, you will want to do all you can to help reunite them with their owner.

Identify a Feral Cat From a Lost Pet

Here are some ways to identify a feral from a lost pet:

• First, be sure it’s actually a stray. If the cat has identification, try to contact the owner.
• If you are able to get the cat into a carrier, take them to the vet for possible identification and microchip reading.
• You can also contact pet shelters, vet officers and rescue groups to let them know you found a cat. 
• Post signs and flyers in the neighborhood that you found a cat. Include a photo whenever possible.

Usually a feral cat will not approach you, unless they are extremely hungry. Even then, they might be timid and skittish. You should never try to handle a feral cat. Most of these cats will be very afraid of people. If you’re sure the cat is feral and not just a lost pet, what can you do?

Here are some ways to help a feral cat in your community:

• Find out if you have a TNR (trap-neuter-return) program already in place in your area.
• If there is no TNR program in your area, you can practice TNR yourself, if you learn how to do so safely and properly.
• Providing food and a safe place is vital to helping the feral cat community. Be kind to all animals.

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