As a post-TNR treat, these cats chow down on some wet food. Because ferals cannot be touched, the only way to administer antibiotics or worming meds is through wet food, so use it as a treat. The only exception? When a cat is ill and needs meds. are a healthy lot.” Serving canned food at feeding sites is unnecessary and costly, so invest in a good brand of kibble. Paul Glassner, award-winning writer, editor, and volunteer for Fix Our Ferals, feeds Science Diet to his colony because “outdoor cats need all the help they can get. Cats are obligate carnivores, so whatever food you offer regularly must be mostly protein to be of much value. Cats don’t care what food looks like as long as it smells good. Many types of kibble contain dyes and other additives detrimental to feline health. Ask them for a discount for services, tell them you will be introducing new clients to their clinics, through these colony caretakers.”įeeding the cheapest food is not necessarily a kindness. Louise Holton, president of Alley Cat Rescue, suggests, “Visit local vets and tell them you are working with communities to help cats and people too. Fleas and other parasites are a way of life for our feral friends. Establishing a connection with a local TNR group is essential unless you are prepared to pay the vet bills for spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, and parasite control. Be sure to check local ordinances before setting up a feeding site so as not to endanger yourself or the cats. You’ll need to follow certain guidelines to ensure the safety and health of the animals and to be considerate of the human community near the site. Feeding once a day at the same time will be sufficient, but feed twice if you’d like. If you know that no one is feeding them and want to do so yourself, be prepared to feed daily all winter, no matter what the weather, because it must be a commitment and not a hobby. You might be considering the welfare of the cats hanging around the barbecue pits in the park all summer. Coming out from the bushes, these sisters are waiting for dinner. But again, it must be done responsibly, because feeding feral cats who are intact or pregnant is bad news for the colony. Easy food is a great way to entice them, and feeding plays an essential role in managing the colony.
TNR is also an essential part of caretaking.
But cats are not indigenous to North America, so ferals’ breeding must be controlled through trap-neuter-return efforts. All creatures are part of the web of life, and, if native, part of a healthy ecosystem.
Feral cats have their place in our midst. I’ll say up front that feeding feral cats is a good thing - but it must be done responsibly.
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