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| Introduction |
| What is TNR? |
| Dispelling The Myths |
| Frequently Asked Questions |
| What You Can Do |
| Ginger's Story: Living With FIV |
| Bangor's Story: FeLV Survivor |
| Download Free Information |
| Links |
 Feral Cat Network is dedicated to Charlie and his colony. |
Who Is A Feral Cat? Homeless cats who are afraid of humans and cannot be easily approached or handled are referred to as "feral." Feral cats have generally had little or no human contact, causing them to develop a natural fear of humans. Not all homeless cats are feral; some may be strays who are lost or have been recently abandoned by humans. The only difference between a housecat and a feral is that the latter has a strong fear of humans. Ferals are erroneously labeled as "wild cats." A bobcat is a wild cat; a feral cat is a homeless domestic cat. Feral cats exist due to the public's failure to adopt, spay/neuter, and its reluctance to make a lifetime commitment to cats in their care. Killing the victims of such negligence should not be a consideration. For decades, the public has been apathetic regarding the plight of homeless animals. It is time to take responsibility for the tragedy we have created. Traditional, agency-run attempts to trap and kill cats have historically resulted in greater numbers -- and greater suffering for that reason alone -- of feral cats, than have well-planned systems to trap, neuter, and return cats. TNR, in conjunction with public education and low-cost spay/neuter clinics, stabilizes numbers and facilitates the eventual elimination of colonies of homeless cats. Our goal is to end the homeless cat crisis. Feral cat caregivers have been directly responsible for the prevention of hundreds of thousands of cats. We are actively working to address the root of the problem. We acknowledge that the safest place for cats is indoors; however, because of the overpopulation crisis, there simply aren't enough sanctuaries or available homes to house the tens of millions of feral cats estimated to be living in the United States alone. The only humane and effective way to control the feral cat population and give the cats a chance at healthier lives is through TNR and managed colonies where food, water, shelter, and medical care are consistently provided. The public can choose to rely on unethical, ineffective trap and kill attempts, or we can work toward our goal by implementing an organized, proven-effective, cost-efficient method of population control. We have made our choice. We hope you will join us. |   | |
"Responsible Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is the most effective way to care for feral cats while at the same time ensuring that the size of the colony decreases to zero. The Animal Spirit is the national leader in educating the public about TNR as part of an overall abolitionist approach to animal rights. I support The Animal Spirit. It does great work." ~ Gary L. Francione, Professor, Rutgers University School of Law | ||
Feral Cat Network is a Public Outreach Program of Homeless Animal Lifeline (HAL). If you live in New Jersey and would like to become more involved with feral cat advocacy and Trap-Neuter-Return, please contact HAL at RescueHAL@aol.com. If you live outside of New Jersey, please click here for a listing of feral-friendly organizations throughout the United States.
The information provided on this site is for educational purposes. Feral cats are very afraid of humans and their behavior when trapped or cornered is unpredictable. Do not attempt to handle a homeless cat before consulting with an experienced rescuer! Injury can be caused to you and/or the cat.
| HAL promotes responsible caretakers and properly managed colonies. Cat food should not be left out for free feeding; extra food and debris should be promptly removed after feeding times. Feeding areas and shelters should be kept clean and neat. All cats within a colony must be spayed or neutered. HAL encourages caretakers to work with community members, including those for and against the cats; compromise that ensures the safety of the cats as well as harmony within the community is the goal. |