OHS Position Statement: Feral Cats
A feral cat is an unowned, free-roaming cat that has never lived with humans. Feral cats are a domesticated species that now live as wild animals.
The OHS believes that feral cat colonies are a result of human neglect and therefore the care of the feral cat population should be managed in a humane way.
The OHS believes that the goal of feral cat management programs should be to gradually eliminate feral cat colonies by maintaining them in a healthy state and preventing them from reproducing, leading to the eventual attrition of members.
The OHS supports feral cat management programs that adopt a "stabilize and maintain" approach. This approach provides a multi-faceted way of dealing with the issue, including:
- The removal of suitable cats and kittens for rehabilitation and adoption.
- The maintenance of healthy cats deemed unsuitable for adoption using the TTVNR approach (trap, test for infectious diseases, vaccinate, neuter and return).
- The monitoring and care of feral cat colonies by community caretakers.
- The euthanasia of diseased cats whose health is deemed unrecoverable or illness poses a risk to other cats.
The OHS believes that feral cat colonies can be prevented through responsible cat ownership, including:
- Proper licensing and identification.
- Neutering to prevent roaming and unwanted kittens.
- Vaccinating to prevent the spread of disease.
- Only allowing cats outside on a harness and under owner supervision.
- Not feeding stray cats.
The OHS believes that the management of feral cat colonies should be a responsibility shared by the community. It is imperative that key stakeholders work together to manage the feral cat situation effectively in both the short and long-term.
For more information on feral cats, please read the OHS pamphlet on feral cats (PDF).
Approved by OHS board of Directors January 2008
