what to do with feral cats?

Question

they cause people to get sick.they bite children . they kill wild animals and songbirds

Answer 1

If a cat is feral normally you can't get near them. In the last 5 years or so we have caught about 20 feral/drop off cats here with a live trap. We are lucky enough to live across from a vet who then spays them. If the are not totally wild we then release them. If they can be tamed we find homes for them. The ones that are way to wild are put to sleep by the vet. Not sure what you mean by the make people sick and bite children. The only time they are going to bite is if cornered.

Answer 2

TNR
Trap Neuter Release
TNR programs will provide you with a trap to catch the animal. After capturing the animal they will test the animal for disease (FIV/FelV). If the animal is negative for disease (if positive they euthanize) they will neuter it, and give it vaccinations (usually a 3 year), and clip the ear to let people know the cat is neutered but has been taken care of.
A neutered and vaccinated animal is much less likely to bite and spread disease. Most feral cats are more scared of humans than we are of them and will not bite unless you try to pick them up. Children should be taught not to touch animals they do not know and what feral means.
As for killing wild animals. Well, cats are carnivores. Wild animals are killed all the time by other wild animals. In a controlled feral cat colony (IE they are all neutered) they make little impact on the wild animal population. It is in highly multiplying colonies that cats put a damper on wildlife.
Cats will kill birds regardless but you can help prevent it by placing birdhouses away from where cats normally roam.

Answer 3

Ok, I don't know where you get your information but cat diseases don't transfer to humans, they can't make you sick.

Ferals are afraid of people, so they can't bite unless they're cornered and are so panicked they think they have to fight for their lives. If you have a STRAY who is half tame or trying to find a home, they can come up to you, yes, but most learned the hard way that people are dangerous.

A cat won't bite unless it feels it's life is in danger. It's not it's fault kids grab and squeeze. Don't blame the cat.

Yes, they kill small rodents and birds--it's what they're evolved to do and that's how they feed themselves when they can't get food from people. They live on whatever they can get, otherwise they'd starve.

It took me 3 years to get a true feral cat to accept me enough to be able to pet his head. A full year for a half wild stray to let me close enough to stroke him once. These cats don't trust anyone to get in reaching distance without a LOT of calm interaction to prove you can be trusted.

I've fed the strays here for 10 years, done TNR so they don't reproduce, and haven't had any claws or teeth directed at me except for the ONE time I reached to pet a new guy who was sitting close as I was puling catnip off the stems, I totally forgot I stunk of catnip and he grabbed my wrist with his claws out, but let it go immediately. It was a catnip high, not aggression. Usually strays/ferals will not voluntarily touch you.

Answer 4

Support spay and neuter programs. I think you are a bit wrong about them causing people to get sick and biting children, but they can be a serious problem. But if people are required to get their pet spayed or neutered, that ends the generation right there, so if they are irresponsible, or let their cat roam, a new generation will not be the result.

Answer 5

let them alone..I had a feral cat..I gained his trust and I was the only one that could approach him....

Answer 6

Call the shelter. They will spay/neuter them and relocate them.

Answer 7

....contact your local council,they will arrange a ranger or someone in the knowhow who deals with this sort of thing.....