What to Do with a Feral Cat

So, you've found a cat in your area, what do you do?

First, determine if it's a feral or a stray. The easiest way to do so is to put some food down near you and see what happens. If the cat comes bounding over and doesn't mind eating next to you, or for that matter, being touched by you, you've got a friendly stray cat.

If the cat bolts and won't come near you no matter how much tuna you've put on the plate, you probably have a feral. Other signs you have a feral: they don't make a sound and they only come out at night. Trapping a feral cat and taking it to a shelter will lead to automatic euthanasia, so Trap-Neuter-Return is your best option.

Alley Cat Allies has great tips on how to go about it.

• Set a feeding schedule and always provide water. Twenty-four hours before you plan to trap, withhold food.
• Get a trap. "Alley Cat Allies recommends using humane box traps that have a removable back door," Becky Robinson of Alley Cat Allies tells Paw Nation. "This guillotine-style door makes it easier to remove the cat after it is anesthetized at the veterinarian, and can make providing food and water easier while the cat is recovering from surgery." Alley Cat Allies gives trap recommendations, as well as demonstrations on their site.
• Set up the vet appointment ahead of time, and make sure the clinic you choose has experience with feral cats. Also, ensure you can cancel the appointment at no cost if you can't trap the cat.
• Practice with your trap. Robinson of Alley Cat Allies tells Paw Nation, "[Alley Cat Allies Feral Friends Network] includes individuals and organizations in your area who can help walk you through Trap-Neuter-Return, and many have traps to lend to people as well."
• Prepare traps away from the trap site by lining with newspaper, placing a tablespoon of tuna on a small plate in the back, and drizzling a bit of tuna oil along with small pieces of tuna leading into the trap.
• Set the traps, remove twigs and debris from the surrounding area, and cover the back portion of the trap with a towel. Then, watch from a distance; do not leave the trap unattended. Make sure the trap is tagged so you know where to return the cat after the appointment.
• Cover the trap once the cat is trapped in order to calm it.
• Do not feed the cat after 10 p.m. the night before surgery.
• The cat should recuperate in the trap at least 24-hours post-op. However, lactating mothers need to be returned to their kittens sooner. Make sure the newspaper within the trap doesn't show any signs of blood before releasing the cat.
• Traps should always be cleaned with a non-toxic disinfectant before using again.

Now, you might be wondering about the cost. After all, veterinary appointments aren't cheap!

Robinson tells Paw Nation, "Alley Cat Allies' Feral Friends Network includes veterinary resources across the country that will treat feral cats. In addition, a significant number of veterinarians will give a discounted rate if you explain you are helping stray and feral cats. It's always worth asking."

The ASPCA and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) also offer Trap-Neuter-Return assistance in some areas, so check with your local organizations to see what low cost feral cat services they offer.

In addition to spay/neuter, Alley Cat Allies recommends getting a rabies vaccine and an eartip for identification. "While the cat is under anesthesia for surgery the tip of the cat's left ear is removed. Only about a quarter inch," Robinson explains. "This makes it easy to identify cats that have been neutered from those that still need to be trapped, and it signifies that they are part of a managed colony."

Before and after surgery, it's important that you properly care for the cat. "We recommend keeping cats in a basement or heated/cooled garage," Robinson tells Paw Nation. "Keep the traps covered with a towel to help keep cats calm. When cats are recovering from anesthesia, they are unable to regulate their body temperature, so it is vital that they are kept in temperature controlled conditions."

Robinson also tells Paw Nation that, while you shouldn't try to adopt a feral cat as a pet, there's really no reason to be afraid of disease: "A significant amount of studies show that feral cats are just as healthy as pet cats.

"In the current animal sheltering system, over 70 percent of cats that enter U.S. pounds and shelters are killed," says Robinson. "The first step to bring about change in the sheltering system is educating people about feral cats, and recognizing that their needs are not met by the current animal control policies. Together we can bring change in every community."

Tags: feral, feral cat rescue, feral cats, how to get rid of feral cats, national feral cat day, trapping feral cats