ABOUT COMMUNITY CATS
What is a Community Cat?
A community cat is an unowned cat living near humans, in any kind of setting. Typically they hunt and scavenge for food, but they also often have one or more "feeders" - community members who intentionally offer food. Community cats can be anywhere on the spectrum of sociability. A feral cat is one that has never been handled or socialized by humans. Typically these cats will remain feral if they are not socialized as kittens. A stray cat is one that did have human contact at some point in their life, and was even possibly a pet, but is now unowned. Strays can remain social, or can become more feral the longer they live without human contact.
Where do these cats come from?
Some community cats were previously pets that ran away are were abandoned. However, 80% of all cats born in the U.S. are born outside. Cats typically live together in groups called colonies. If there is a steady food source and opportunities to mate, they're not likely to leave a location. The more food that is available in a given area, the more the population will increase. Good samaritans leaving food out for hungry cats often unintentionally create more mouths to feed. This is why it is so important to spay and neuter community cats so their population does not grow out of control. It is also important to spay and neuter your own pet cats so they do not mate with these outdoor cats.
Community Cats and Wildlife
One of the main concerns people have about community cats is that they are introduced predators in an ecosystem. This is of course an issue, particularly when living in areas of significance for threatened species. However, cats have lived near humans for over 10,000 years. In fact, until 1940 with the invention of kitty litter, very few cats lived indoors at all. Studies show that in most environments cats do not have a significant impact on wildlife when compared to human activities. Even so, by assisting with colony management you are helping reduce the wild cat population over time in a humane and sustainable way. This benefits all species.
Is it safe for these cats to live outside?
Domesticated cats have been living outdoors for thousands of years. They are typically more adept at survival than your average housecat. Even so, community cats are subject to predation, traffic, disease, and violence. Colony management is the only proven effective way to reduce the overall community cat population. By spaying and neutering, we are eliminating the endless cycle of kittens born in the spring, only to become snacks for coyotes and other predators. Unowned cats, especially kittens, are prone to Upper Respiratory Infections (URI), Panleukopenia (Feline Distemper), Rabies, and other diseases. When cats are brought in for TNR, they receive vaccinations which will protect them, other cats in the colony, and your pet cats. Unfortunately, community cats are often subject to inhumane methods of removal by homeowners who see them as a nuisance. We find cats that have been shot with bb guns, caught in lethal traps, and attacked by dogs. By managing their numbers we are decreasing the possibility community members will resort to these actions. Additionally, male cats that have been neutered are much less likely to fight with other cats, which leads to injury and the spread of disease.