Most nuisance behaviors – including males’ spraying, females yowling when in heat, fighting, and having countless litters – are related to reproduction and drop off or stop completely once the cat is spayed (females) or neutered (males). So Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is the first and best solution to try. If digging in gardens, leaving paw prints on cars, or other behaviors are a serious problem, there are easy and inexpensive humane deterrents that will make the cat avoid your yard.

Cats are opportunistic feeders – they eat the food easiest to get. For cats that have no choice but to hunt for food, this means ground-dwelling insects and rodents, not birds. For cats in a managed colony or neighborhood with someone who feeds the cats, this means food put out for the cats daily or more often.

Feral cats are afraid of humans and, unless cornered, will run and hide. Children should be taught to leave all wild animals alone, including wild cats. Very few diseases can be transmitted from cat to human, and most require close contact – something that won’t happen with a feral cat. Rabies, the most serious of diseases that can be transmitted from cat to human, is extremely rare in cats and requires a cat bite.

• Feral cat colonies can significantly minimize rodent problems and discourage new rodents from moving into an area.
• Feral cats can perform a valuable service as they fill a gap in current ecosystems resulting from over hunting or development of certain areas.
• An established, stable, vaccinated and sterilized feral cat colony will deter other feral cats from moving into the area.
• Cats’ territorial nature will decrease the risk that area residents will encounter an unvaccinated cat and virtually eliminate undesirable behaviors such as fighting and spraying.
• Medical studies have proven real health benefits just from observing animals.
• People who help to care for a feral cat colony can expect to enjoy the same benefits as having a companion animal, such as:

• Extended life expectancy
• Lower blood pressure
• Alleviated stress

• Many caretakers are elderly and live alone, a population at risk for depression, loneliness and isolation; cats can alleviate these conditions and bring a sense of happiness and purpose.
• Individuals who cannot take on the full-time commitment of adopting a companion pet but want to enjoy having animals in their lives can participate in a feral cat program.