| There is a lot of talk going on about what to do with | | | | They shouldn't be left to their own devices nor should |
| the issue of feral cat population.Some measures have | | | | they be discarded like disposable lighters. Similar to any |
| been proposed which will allow residents to kill what | | | | wayward teenager of a family, special measures and |
| they perceive to be feral cats on their property. This | | | | tolerances have to be adopted in order to get the |
| suggestion has caused a bit of a stir, and amongst cat | | | | loved ones through a difficult time in their lives and bring |
| lovers, it is quite understandable. Cats are natural | | | | them back into the fold of family unity. Cats are a bit |
| wanderers and a treasured feline may make a | | | | different in that they are "wayward children" for life, |
| mischievous dash out of its home only to find itself | | | | however, they can be conditioned to accept a |
| hunted quarry in a neighboring property.There are | | | | house-bound lifestyle. Having them spayed or neutered |
| more humane solutions being practiced right now | | | | (we're talking about cats now - not teenagers) will help |
| which entail trapping feral cats, neutering and then | | | | temper their wanderlust a little, and there are some |
| releasing them back to their environment (TNR). Critics | | | | great outdoor "playpens" and containment equipment |
| of this method maintain that the problem of cat | | | | designed just for the benefit of felines. Some cats can |
| predation on local small animal populations still exists | | | | be trained to walk on a leash for nightly jaunts, |
| after neutering, and that a continuous supply of stray | | | | however, that may not be particularly healthy for you |
| cats are finding their fertile way into these feral | | | | or the cat if there are too many unleashed dogs in the |
| communities every day. Thus, any positive gains | | | | neighborhood.Do what you can to help alleviate the |
| realized by the TNR program are being constantly | | | | problem of cats turning feral. The animal welfare |
| negated by the actions, or inactions, of irresponsible pet | | | | organizations and volunteers are doing what they can |
| owners.There doesn't appear to be any immediate, cut | | | | to deal with the current populations by using TNR, |
| and dry solution to feral cats except to keep | | | | rescuing and adopting of cats. But the flow of new, |
| employing the TNR program and educating the public | | | | fertile, domestic cats into the feral communities must |
| about how to be accountable for their cats. Local laws | | | | be stopped at the family, neighborhood and regional |
| can be enacted to impose fines on owners whose | | | | level. This is accomplished through public awareness |
| cats are caught wandering on a frequent basis. Social | | | | campaigns, teaching school children about responsible |
| pressure can be fostered in the form of campaigns | | | | pet ownership, social pressure and individual |
| that suggest it is absolutely not cool and downright | | | | involvement. It's a long uphill road, yet it can be |
| irresponsible to have unneutered or unspayed cats | | | | accomplished, one or two kitties at a time.Cris |
| wandering around. This, of course, would not be | | | | Mandelin-Wood owns several websites covering |
| applied to owners of show and working cats where | | | | domestic animals as well as Web information services |
| planned breeding is necessary for their specific breed.It | | | | and products. Animal welfare issues are of special |
| comes down to the fact that over 64% of U.S. | | | | interest. To sign up for the monthly Critterbytes Ezine, |
| households have pets, and the majority of these pets | | | | go to and select the state you live in. Once there you |
| are considered as family members. Cats are the | | | | will find a listing of local animal welfare organizations |
| rebellious, independent members of the family unit. | | | | and a sign up box for the ezine. |