Petfinder.com forums :: View topic - Ferals & TNR w/Alley Cat Allies! June 20-26th [ ]

Last edited by Petadmin on Tue Jun 21, 2011 8:51 am; edited 2 times in total

June is Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat month! You don't have to be able to pet the cat you adopt to help our feline friends, consider adopting a feral cat (or colony) to ensure she or he is spayed or neutered, rabies vaccinated and well cared for!

This month during the week of June 20th- 26th, we are thrilled to have Becky Robinson from Alley Cat Allies! Becky Robinson is president and co-founder of Alley Cat Allies, the nation’s only advocacy organization dedicated to the protection and humane treatment of cats. Based in Bethesda, Maryland, the mission of Alley Cat Allies is to end the killing of cats and lead the movement for their humane care.

Robinson co-founded Alley Cat Allies in 1990, after she realized that there was no national organization providing education and resources to the thousands of Americans caring for the outdoor cats in their communities. Under Robinson’s leadership, based on years of hands-on investigation and expertise, Alley Cat Allies established the first best-practice standards for Trap-Neuter-Return in the United States. Today, with more than 260,000 supporters all over the world, Alley Cat Allies is the recognized authority on feral cats, and the leader of the movement to protect and improve the lives of cats everywhere. Her organization promotes Trap-Neuter-Return (a program in which outdoor cats are humanely trapped, altered, vaccinated and returned to their outdoor homes) and accessible, affordable neuter services as keystones of humane cat care for the country. Further, Alley Cat Allies is working on a national level to reform animal pound and shelter policies that kill more than seventy percent of cats who enter.

Robinson has advised veterinarians, communities, and feral cat organizations on the domestic cat species and its relationship to humans. She has also helped many communities across the country launch or improve proactive life-saving programs, including Washington, D.C.; Cape May, New Jersey; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Buffalo City, Wisconsin. She and her team have provided support to thousands of caring individuals and grassroots groups, and have guided them in carrying out Trap-Neuter-Return for feral cats.

Robinson has more than a decade of experience running large-scale feral cat programs, including humane and safe feral cat trapping, successfully mediating with people in business, industrial, and residential settings so that humans and cats peacefully coexist, and establishing three spay and neuter clinics in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area that serve as models for feral cat veterinary care. She regularly speaks at conferences in North America and Europe.

Robinson holds an M.A. in Public Administration from the University of Missouri and a B.A. in Social Work, from Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas. She lives with her husband and five cats in Arlington, Virginia where she also cares for a colony of cats.

Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 12:34 am Post subject:

There are several cats that I regularly see outside along my street. My question is how do I know when they are feral or someones pets?

Becky's Answer:

That’s a great question Sonia! And a great starting point for a discussion about feral cats.

A feral cat is a cat who has either never had any contact with people or her contact with people has diminished over time to practically nothing. Most feral cats are not likely to ever become lap cats or enjoy living indoors. When you see one outside, she is also not likely to approach you, talk to you, or allow you to touch her. If she is a part of a Trap-Neuter-Return program, she will have an eartip—the removal of the tip of the cat’s left ear (while she is under anesthesia).

Cats who are friendly to you are likely to be either a stray cat (a cat who has been socialized to people at some point in her life, but has left or lost her indoor home) or someone’s pet. A non-feral outdoor cat is likely to be vocal, friendly, and not too skittish around you. If she looks particularly dirty and disheveled, she is likely someone’s lost pet.

Determining a cat’s socialization level is really not a black and white process—each cat and her circumstances must be taken into account. You might find our illustrated guide helpful: Feral and Stray Cats—An Important Difference.

Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 8:41 am Post subject:

Hello Becky! Welcome and thank you for joining us this week! I’d like to kick off the forum by asking how you got started in feral cat programs?

Becky's Answer:

I got my start working on behalf of cats in 1990 one evening when I was on my way to dinner here in Washington, DC. I came across a colony of 54 beautiful tuxedo cats in an alley. They weren’t friendly toward me—in other words, I knew I couldn’t scoop them up and take them home with me.

I honestly wondered what could be done for them. I left them in the alley that evening, but I quickly returned ready to do something to improve their lives. I soon learned that there were no services for these cats. I also learned that most government entities thought that the cats shouldn’t be there at all—that they should be removed and killed. I guess you could say I had a profound reaction to that!

Along with a few others including our Vice President Donna Wilcox, I trapped, neutered, and returned that first colony of cats, all at a time when the very idea of doing that was considered crazy. With no information, no help, we learned the ropes and started advocating for the lives of feral cats. That was over 20 years ago! In 2007, the last surviving member of that colony in DC—Randy—passed away at the ripe old age of 17. We’ve carried on the basic principles of what we learned with Randy and his colony. Today Alley Cat Allies is a national organization working to protect and improve the lives of cats, educating others about Trap-Neuter-Return and promoting humane care.

Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 6:20 am Post subject:

How do you handle people who see out door cats as pests? The town I live in is very resistant to trap neuter release programs even though our cats are cared for and don't cause any problems.

Becky's Answer:

One thing we’ve come to understand over the years is that an important component of any Trap-Neuter-Return program is education and outreach. I always say, if you’re caring for the cats, you’re also their best representative to the public.

We have produced a lot of information to arm people with the facts when they are representing the cats in a situation like yours that may not be entirely friendly. You can use our educational materials available at www.alleycat.org/CommunityRelations and these research-backed responses to clear up any misconceptions people may have in your town:

· Outdoor cats have existed alongside humans for 10,000 years and in our country since it was discovered. They are a natural part of every landscape.

· Feral cats live healthy lives. Scientific evidence shows that they are as healthy as house cats, have the same lifespan as pet cats, and do not spread disease to people.

· Trap-Neuter-Return is the only effective approach for feral cats. Scientific studies prove it benefits the cats and the community.

· Feral cats are not adoption candidates at shelters because they are not socialized to people; nearly 100% of feral cats who enter shelters are killed. When people advocate for “no more cats outdoors,” it is a death sentence for cats.

· Most Americans don’t want cats killed. In Alley Cat Allies’ research, we found that more than 80% of Americans would rather a cat be left outside to live out her life than be caught and killed.

· Catch and kill doesn’t work. Decades of these failed practices show their futility. The vacuum effect caused by this method creates an endless cycle of trapping and killing.

· Anti-cruelty laws make it illegal to kill a cat in every state and the District of Columbia. That means any cat—pet, stray, or feral.

We also suggest that people involved in Trap-Neuter-Return programs do some proactive response work with people who may have specific concerns about cats in their yard, for example. Try these tips for finding a solution that works for everyone—cats included, of course.

· If you learn that cats are hanging out in areas where they are not wanted—like neighbors’ gardens, yards, porches, or vehicles—perform property assessments. Set up appointments with concerned community members, visit their property to gauge the situation, and talk to each person about where they are seeing cats.

· Offer to provide and install humane deterrents, at your own expense if you can. Remember, not all deterrents need to be high tech or expensive! Some easy fixes are very affordable, such as lemon peels, coffee grounds, chopsticks, and rocks.

· Also hand out some How to Live with Cats in Your Community brochures, available at http://www.alleycat.org/Deterrents">www.alleycat.org/Deterrents.

· Trap-Neuter-Return is a strong bargaining chip. Often times, neighbors’ concerns are put to rest simply by explaining to them that the cats are neutered or that you are actively working towards that goal. Explain how this benefits the community: there will be no more kittens and mating behaviors like roaming, fighting, yowling, and spraying will stop.

Lastly, if you are experiencing push-back on a greater scale, this is when we suggest that you network with other like-minded individuals and organize within your community to make effective change for cats. For suggestions on organizing your community, go to http://alleycat.org/organizing">http://alleycat.org/Organizing.

In our experience, we have found that this two-tiered approach of education and outreach can not only turn around negative opinions about the cats, but also build goodwill in the community. Good luck!

Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2011 3:33 pm Post subject:

I know there are a bunch of outdoor cats that come through my property, I'm pretty sure they fend for themselves. I don't know how to catch them and get them fixed but how do I help them?

Becky's Answer:

You’re right about outdoor cats being able to take care of themselves—feral cats have been living and thriving outdoors on their own for thousands of years. If you do want to help, there are lots of great ways to help cats. First of all, the thing not to do is call animal control. You may think that is the best way to help them, but in many communities, feral cats are killed at animal shelters because they are not adoptable.

Trap-Neuter-Return is the best way to help the cats in your community; it improves their health and stabilizes the colony while allowing them to live out their lives outdoors. TNR is easy too—thousands of people all across the country have done it.

To successfully trap, neuter, vaccinate, eartip, and return feral cats to their outdoor home, you need a plan, and we can help. Alley Cat Allies’ guidelines for humane trapping, available in the How to Conduct Trap-Neuter-Return section of our website will get you on your way!

There you will find:

Step-by-step instructions on how to do TNR.
A helpful video that shows a trapping operation from start to finish.
The equipment you will need and where to find it, including slideshows demonstrating how to set traps.
Where to download or order our trapping guide booklet.
Tips for how to trap that hard-to-trap cat.

If you’d like some help at the local level, you should check out our Feral Friends Network—volunteers who have agreed to provide local advice and guidance to others working to implement Trap-Neuter-Return for feral cats. To request a list of Alley Cat Allies’ Feral Friends, please return to our online form.

And, there are other ways you can help outdoor cats. You can check out these other resources on our website:

Our Colony Care Guide will provide tips for feeding, sheltering, and providing ongoing care.
Our Community Relations Center provides you with the tools and information to help you bring about widespread change in your community, and ensure that it continues to be a safe and happy home for both the cats and the neighbors.
Our Veterinary Resource Center is the place to go to learn more about the special veterinary approach for feral cats that takes into account their unique needs and the fact that they are unsocialized to people.
Our Socialized Cat Guide will help if you have found kittens or socialized cats.

Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 9:56 pm Post subject:

Can these cats ever become house pets? do you recommend ever bringing a outdoor cat inside?

Becky's Answer:

Because cats in different environments all look so similar, it is easy to imagine that a feral cat is, or wants to be, a creature much like the cat curled up on your sofa. In truth, feral cats are very different from the cats we easily share our homes with. Feral cats are unsocialized to humans. I know that it is inherent in human nature to want to nurture and care for those we perceive to be in need—to make them warmer, cozier, safer, and therefore happier. It is an admirable trait, but not always appropriate. The impulse to bring every feral cat “in from the cold” reflects our human needs, but it isn’t best for the cat or what the cat wants.

Feral cats have lived their entire lives without direct human contact other than, perhaps, daily feeding and monitoring by a caregiver. Their arsenal of survival instincts includes wariness of humans in general and a sharp fear of confinement.

I also know that a cat’s level of socialization and behavior is not always black and white, particularly for feral cats who recognize their caregiver. They may show signs of familiarity, such as a tail up or hanging out on a caregiver’s porch, but these behaviors are usually limited to the cat’s interaction with the caregiver and only develop after building a relationship over time. One thing I always remember: this does not mean that the cat is a good candidate for living indoors.

I know that some have been able to socialize their feral cats and bring them into their home. The ideal window for socializing feral kittens is 12 weeks of age or younger—beyond 12 weeks, feral cats may never socialize completely or at all. As a result, I do not recommend attempting to socialize feral cats older than 12 weeks—it is dangerous and stressful for both you and the cat. Feral cats live healthy lives in their outdoors homes and the best thing you can do to help them is Trap-Neuter-Return. Outdoor cats that are friendly and socialized to people are called stray cats, and they can be re-homed.

You can find out more about why Alley Cat Allies doesn’t recommend bringing feral cats indoors here: http://www.alleycat.org/Page.aspx?pid=715

And you can find more information about the difference between stray and feral cats here: http://www.alleycat.org/Page.aspx?pid=712

This has been a lot of fun answering your questions! Thanks to petfinder for hosting me. I invite you to check out our website at www.alleycat.org for more information and answers to all of your burning questions. We also have an interactive online form that can automatically answer many of your questions: http://www.alleycat.org/Page.aspx?pid=444

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