Help Feral Cats
"One cat just leads to another." -Ernest Hemingway
Becoming aware of the plight of cats is a start. One may be confronted by a cat in need of assistance as was my case and may naturally be an animal lover and want to do something to help.
If you observe stray cats in your own area - you might begin putting out food and clean water regularly to establish a feeding station. Learn to identify individual cats, what they may be using for shelter and whether they may be pregnant or have kittens they are nursing. Provide shelter (insulated and dry) especially if the weather is cold. Begin trapping (TRAP-NEUTER-RETURN) according to Alley Cat Allies website's detailed instructions. The goal is to halt reproduction and let the existing ferals live out their lives in the wild state and environment that they have adapted to.
"Our county has a tremendous stray cat problem — hundreds and hundreds live in the streets," according to Ursula Miller of our local Humane Society. Over 2,000 stray or unwanted cats are brought into the shelter each year and most are destroyed. There are no funds available to remedy this tragic situation. One organization estimated there are as many as 10,000 stray cats roaming Muskegon County! The numbers are similar nation-wide. Don't Litter! Spay and Neuter.
If ferals are brought in to animal shelters they are simply killed. Ferals are not able to be placed in homes as pets. They are wild and untamable - unless they are worked with when they are still young kittens to be socialized. And even then, if they are many generations feral, taming may not be successful.
BREAKING NEWS:My feral cat colony is growing. We have new mouths to feed.
Fall/Winter 2010:
We had a big orange visitor: the kittens' daddy! We named him "Pumpkin-Daddy." He was not neutered and was spraying all over the place, marking his territory. In our driveway, there was a terrible cat fight and Pumpkin-Daddy incurred deep bite wounds. He stuck around long enough for us to get him neutered and vet care. (The tabby male he was fighting ended up dead on the side of the road - hit by a car?)
Spring/Summer 2011:
- Black & white, TAME young female cat named "Sparkles" was spayed, treated for tapeworms and severe earmites. Adopted to an inside home.
- Orange & White Kitten named "Goliath" - relocated from unsafe environment. Neutered and ear-tipped. TAMED - Adoption to an inside home.
- Another huge male at large - looks like a young version of Pumpkin-Daddy. TNR planned soon.
This is what we currently feed the cats:
- PETGUARD CAN FOOD
- HALO SPOTS STEW for Cats - CHICKEN or SALMON (Dry)
- PETSMART AUTHORITY Dry and Can Kitten Food
- HALO VITA-MINERAL Supplement added to can food
- Canned Alaskan Pink Salmon
- Raw venison burger and nutritious table scraps
We are accepting donations and saving funds to be able to provide ongoing care (surgeries, food, and shelter) for feral cats.
If you would like to help out our feral cat colony.
NOTE: Street Kitties does not have 501c3 status, so donations are not tax deductible however, all monies donated go to the care of feral cats, with a large portion going to spay/neuter costs.
Donations to help feral cats are greatly appreciated and you will receive (if address is provided) a printed copy of my true story:
