Feral Cats
Giving medication to a cat can be difficult under ordinary circumstances. When that cat has spent much of his life living outdoors, avoiding human contact, and depending on his instincts for survival, administering a simple pill may become a considerable challenge.
For years, an older feral cat may have lived in the same neighborhood, appearing at familiar feeding stations, sleeping beneath porches, and keeping a cautious distance from the people who provide food.
Bringing an outdoor cat inside can look simple from the human side of the door. There is food, warmth, safety from traffic, shelter from weather, and access to medical care.
Seeing an outdoor cat who is clearly sick or injured creates an uncomfortable problem.
When people first encounter a cat living outdoors, it is easy to assume every cat can eventually become a lap cat with enough love. I used to believe that too.
Bringing a semi-feral cat indoors is one of the most challenging and rewarding things a pet owner can do. It is not a quick process, and it is rarely linear.
Some cats don’t arrive in our homes with confidence. They don’t stroll out of the carrier, tail up, ready to inspect every corner of the house.
Cats living outdoors are often grouped together under a single label, but not all outdoor cats share the same background, behavior, or needs. Two terms commonly used are feral cats and stray cats.
Senior feral cats occupy one of the most misunderstood corners of animal welfare. These cats are often invisible to the public, quietly surviving on the edges of neighborhoods, industrial areas, farms, and vacant properties.
Bringing a feral cat into your home can be one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences in pet ownership. Feral cats, unlike strays or surrendered pets, are truly wild at heart.
