9/1/2023 0 Comments Feral cats nocturnalWe vet these animals before they are put up for adoption, as Cat Matchers requires. We also work with Cat Matchers, especially when we have kittens. These cats do much better as pets in homes.Īfter first trying to find a stray cat’s owner, we do make the cats we take in available for adoption through the volunteer group. They do not know how to find shelter, do not know area predators, and are ill-equipped for survival in the wild, even just the “wilds” of campus. These cats are attached to humans and do not have the survival skills that true ferals have developed. Occasionally a cat will turn up in one of our colonies that is clearly not a feral cat. If taken to an adoption facility or Dallas Animal Services, ferals will be euthanized. A true feral, however, cannot be handled like a common house cat and is not a candidate for adoption. If you can foster, Cat Matchers is a good group for help in homing animals. If you have a stray, a cat that easily allows you and others to pet and handle him/her, by all means, take the cat to the SPCA of Texas in downtown Dallas, Operation Kindness in Carrollton, Second Chance SPCA in Plano, or another adoption facility. It's known as the “vacuum effect.” Maintaining sterilized cats in their own territories is a much more effective management technique.Īdoption facilities in the area do not work with ferals. Unknown cats are only occasionally accepted into an established colony.Ĭats chased away from the new environment are often injured in their attempt to return to their "home" environment.Ĭats left in an unfamiliar environment will not know local predators, places for shelter or sources of food.Įven if cats are removed from the area, other unsterilized cats will simply move in and start the process all over again. Here’s why:įeral cats are extremely territorial. Besides increasing the campus cat population, it doesn’t work. Neither does any other reputable feral cat organization. Some people contact SMU's program thinking we will trap and "take in" their cats, essentially re-locating them to our campus. If you don't own property nearby or can't establish a permanent feeding shelter, impromptu feeding works just as well. SMU gets shelters and feeding stations from FeralVilla. Or, you can get fancy with more permanent wooden shelters. Large, Rubbermaid-type tubs make excellent shelters for bowls of food and water. If you provide food and water for your cat neighbors, you may want to consider a dedicated shelter to keep their bowls out of the rain and hot sun. Alley Cat Allies, a national organization, offers tips on successful trapping. (Some veterinarians will handle feral cats, but most do not.)įeral Friends is an excellent local source of Trap-Neuter-Return support. Cat rescue groups can lend humane traps and will provide or help you locate low-cost or free spay/neuter and vaccination services for financially qualified local residents. Unless you can safely handle one of these cats, you must trap it and transport it to a qualified vet or the SPCA. To keep a population healthy and their numbers controlled, cats need to be spay/neutered and vaccinated. This can consist of something as simple as feeding and instituting a TNR program. You can manage a feral cat colony, should you wish to do so. But if you’d like to take on a colony, read on. They have learned specific survival skills for that area. If you are not prepared to manage a feral cat colony, you should leave the cats as they are. They are naturally nocturnal, so you may not notice them for years. Many people who contact the Feral Cat Group at SMU about cats in their own neighborhood for advice on what to do.įirst of all, know that feral cats are everywhere – from the campus to the Katy Trail to your back alley.
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