ANIMAL Be part of the Solution

Have your cat spayed or CONTROL neutered Feral Cats Do not allow your cat outdoors unsupervised

Ensure that your pet is properly identified using a collar and tag, and a . microchip or tattoo Information contained herein is provided courtesy of Cat Care Society, Ensure that your cat’s CFA Policy Statement on Feral Cats (1998) vaccinations are always up Save a Dog Save a Cat (SADSAC) to date. Tufts University, Center for Animals & Public Policy

PORTSMOUTH ANIMAL CONTROL Animal Control Officer (603) 610-7441

Portsmouth Police Department

Animal Control Officer

603-610-7441

What is a feral cat? food. A feral cat has adapted to or they may be killed by vehicles or conditions and is likely to be well become prey for other animals. A feral cat is one that may or may not groomed. If you put food down for a have started out "domesticated" but is no I would like to find good homes feral cat, he will wait until you move for the feral cats I have been longer comfortable with or around away from the area before approaching feeding. Is this possible? humans. A feral cat is considered to be the food. wild as it once was in its natural state. These cats will run frantically when Can a feral cat be tamed? Generally, no. Adult feral cats usually cornered and may become extremely cannot be socialized and will not adjust to aggressive. It really depends on the cat and the living indoors. A great deal of time and caretaker. Generally speaking, the effort can go into attempting to tame an Is there a difference between a younger the cat, the better the chances of adult feral cat, with no assurance of success. feral cat and a stray? domesticating. The degree of domestication will vary from cat to cat. If you have adult feral cats near where you Yes, a stray cat is called a stray because Some become friendly, some tolerate live, you should call Animal Control. Traps no one knows where he/she belongs and human presence, and very few become can be set for the animals and they can then who his/her owner is. A stray cat can extremely friendly, again depending on be transported to an animal shelter. become feral. They are also called the individual cat and its situation. Sometimes it is possible for the shelter to re- "strays" because they have strayed or home adult feral cats into ‘barn’ situations, wandered from home or were Why are feral cat colonies a but unfortunately, often there is no suitable abandoned. problem? placement and they are humanely euthanized. How can I tell if a cat is stray An unmanaged feral cat colony can be or feral? viewed as a problem by humans due to Stray cats and kittens up to eight or ten their sheer numbers and the possibility Observe the cat's appearance and behavior. weeks of age can usually be socialized and of spreading disease. Most colonies are placed in homes. If you should find a litter A stray cat is likely to approach you, subject to abuse because they are viewed although usually not close enough for you to of feral kittens you should contact Animal as a nuisance and as a possible threat to Control so the kittens can be brought to a touch him. If you put food down, a stray cat people from rabies. will likely start to eat it right away. A stray shelter and placed into homes. cat is often vocal, sometimes talking As long as there is a food source Feral cats can also be a hazard to other insistently, and may look disheveled, as if available, the cats will continue to breed animals, pets, humans, and bird life. The unaccustomed to dealing with conditions on and exist in a particular environment. most common threat can be Rabies, but the street. A stray cat may be seen at all They are unable to "take care of feline leukemia and feline hours of the day. themselves" and do not know how to immunodeficiancy has been found to be A feral cat is silent, will not approach control their population. Feral cats carried by feral cats. humans, and generally will be seen only generally live very short lives, often the from dusk to dawn, unless victims of disease, nutritional deficiency, extraordinarily hungry and foraging for