Feral Cats
We Like to Call them Community Cats
If you are feeding stray or feral cats in Barrington and you do not know if they are spayed or neutered please contact us RIGHT AWAY at info@barringtonpaw.org for assistance! Female cats can begin reproducing at around 6 months of age and can have up to 3 litters of kittens a year! The cats WILL BE SAFE! Barrington PAW practices "TNRM" (Trap-Neuter-Return-Manage/Monitor) for feral cats. This means that if the cat is feral they will be returned to your area (its territory) once spayed/neutered & vaccinated as long as there is a dedicated caregiver willing to provide food, shelter and on-going monitoring of the cat. In the case of kittens we work to tame them and then find them great homes! It is important to check stray/feral cats for microchips, to ensure they are spayed/neutered and vaccinated and to treat them for any injuries or medical issues.
There is a difference between feral cats and stray cats! People finding cats outside often refer to them as feral - but all outdoor cats are not feral (in fact the vast majority of cats found in Barrington end up not being feral at all!). Stray cats are never returned outdoors by Barrington PAW. Any cat that can realistically live indoors should. Learn more about how to tell the difference HERE.
Barrington PAW strongly believes that whenever possible cats should reside indoors only! This is for their safety and well-being as well as the well-being of area wildlife. An unsually high number of cats go missing in Barrington each year - the dangers are many...predators including coyotes, foxes, fisher cats and birds of prey - cars, poisons, injuries, becoming trapped and more all pose substantial threats to free roaming cats. However, we do recognize that some cats simply cannot be tamed and/or live indoors, and in this case we advocate responsible management that includes; spay/neuter, regular food, good shelter, on-going monitoring and on-going veterinary care if possible. By ensuring that these cats are spayed/neutered the population will reduce humanely over time.
In Loving Memory of "Bobby" - Barrington PAW's first feral cat...
THE WILD ONE
(Winifred Thorn)
If there be gods above whose care they are,
The primitive, the fallen and the maimed,
Grant him a gentle death, his pride intact,
His independence haltingly maintained.
Aggressive, yes, and beautiful he was,
With feline arrogance, he ranged alone,
Scorning alien ways, he yielded not,
Nor offered up his ego for a home.
Except for sustenance when nature failed,
Disdaining all our gifts - we offered much -
Repulsing, cruelly too, if we should seek
To breach his citadel with friendly touch.
Now that he falters, do not humble him,
Or force him, nearing death, to ask for aid,
Grant him a quiet passage, curling round
In solitude, unconquered, unafraid.
Learn more about Feral Cats and their care at the following websites:
http://amby.com/cat_site/feral.html
For additional helpful information review the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary Feral Freedom Guide!