October 16, 2010 marks the tenth anniversary of National Feral Cat Day (NFCD). It was launched in 2001 by Ally Cat Allies, the national group that defends the feral cat and advocates TNR (Trap/Neuter/Return). To us at Catalyst, it will be a time of reflection and a renewal of our pledge to help stem the breeding of these cats in our county.

I have written before on this subject, but it is not always a bad thing to repeat oneself when trying to get a point across. Cats are my passion, and having a voice and a channel to reach the public is a responsibility that I take very seriously.

So often have feral cats received bad raps for having the audacity to leave evidence of their very existence (urine marking, fighting, breeding, dead rodents and birds…), that NFCD is a good time to be reminded as to just where these animals fit into our community. Once they are spayed/neutered, they have their place just as do we.

Public understanding of the role these animals play out at the fringes of our society is not always accurate. Most people only glimpse one aspect of a cat’s life on the streets or around the barn when it crosses their path. The ferals and strays are not even remembered unless their meeting is viewed as an annoyance, and then listen to the public outcry.

Just because you don’t see mice, rats and the like, doesn’t mean they are not in your house and yard. The main service the hunting cat provides is obviously rodent control. A feline in your yard is a greener approach to dealing with unseen infestations rather then setting out traps and poisons. Even though the cat doesn’t always eat everything it catches, it is the natural way, so it is better to invite one in rather than chase it away.

The difference between a feral and a stray cat is that the former does not interact with humans, and is rarely seen during the day when it sleeps, unless it is hungry. The stray is either a lost or abandoned pet that now survives on its own, is out during daylight hours and may approach a person. Both live on the streets and form colonies where they socialize with each other and breed. It is this breeding that we TNR groups address, as too many felines in any given area make for an out-of-balance eco system.

If a feral on the streets is picked up by Animal Control and taken to a shelter, it will most likely be killed as it is not adoptable. The only chance to continue living is for the cat to be relocated to a barn. Luckily we often get calls for “mousers” from businesses and ranchers. We frequent the feral cat rooms at the shelters and are able to give these animals another chance. Working together with Animal Control is a win, win, win…for the community, the animal, the ranch.

The next time your life is touched by a feral or stray cat, remember that tolerance and understanding are not just for getting along with fellow humans. These should extend to our human/animal relationships as well.