Community Cat Colonies at Risk
| community_cat_colonies_at_risk.pdf |
HCMT believes that the most effective and humane way to manage colonies of free-roaming catsis the practice known as trap/neuter/return (TNR), in which cats are trapped, spayed or neutered,
and then returned to their colonies to live out their lives.
However, not everyone is a fan of community cats (free-roaming or feral cats). It's not
uncommon for these cats to come under siege from neighbors and public authorities who may
not understand the concept of TNR. Establishing an open line of communication with the public
and working to address their concerns will make it easier and safer to provide for the long-term
care of a feral colony.
Keeping the peace
In order to keep peace with the neighbors, there are some tactics you can employ to make the
presence of a feral cat colony as invisible as possible.
A tip for maintaining a low profile is to set up (or move) the feeding station to a location that is
out of the way, hidden from public view. Colony caregivers sometimes feed feral cats right
outside their apartment door or just next to the dumpster, which aggravates other residents. By
placing the feeding area a few yards (or even a hundred yards) away and providing safe housing
for the cats a short distance from that new feeding station, you'll likely reduce the number of
complaints by neighbors.
If the station has to be moved some distance, do it gradually, over the course of a few days, to
allow the cats to adjust. Another key is getting full compliance from all the colony feeders - no
food outside the new feeding station, etc. You can use this strategy to move the cats off of
property where they are unwelcome and onto the property of someone nearby who is more
sympathetic. This relatively small change can help keep the peace even in cases where people
are threatening the cats.
You'll also want to educate residents about the benefits of TNR: Community cats tend to leave
behind "gifts" by urinating or defecating on people's property, but once the cats are neutered, a
high percentage of them will stop spraying. Spay/neuter also helps cut down on nuisance
behaviors such as yowling.
Additional suggestions can be found at:
Alley Cat Allies – www.alleycat.org
What to do if tensions escalate
People who don't understand TNR, or who just don't like cats, may threaten to hurt or eliminate
the cats in the colony; to them, it seems like the best way to solve the problem. Start by asking
them what their concerns are regarding the cats, empathizing with their issues, and offering some
possible solutions. It's important for you to remain polite and calm, since your goal is to defuse
any tensions over the cats and ensure that they can safely remain in their established colony.
If cats in the colony are being abused or even killed, immediately contact your local humane
officer for guidance. Animal Friends and the Western PA Humane Society have resident
humane agents.
Getting community support
This is vital to TNR success, so you may also want to consider starting a petition in support of
saving the cats. Whoever you approach, be sure to defend the cats in a rational and calm
manner. Know your facts about feral cats and present them clearly; it's easy for people to write
off an overly emotional or hysterical plea.
Involving the media
If you have not done so already, you may want to go to the press on behalf of the cats. A
sympathetic TV or newspaper reporter can get the word out to rally support for the cats. If a
property owner is threatening to injure cats, the prospect of negative media attention may deter
them. Most businesses are concerned about their public image and will take steps to avoid
adverse reactions from the public.
Click below to download this information as a two-page PDF.
and then returned to their colonies to live out their lives.
However, not everyone is a fan of community cats (free-roaming or feral cats). It's not
uncommon for these cats to come under siege from neighbors and public authorities who may
not understand the concept of TNR. Establishing an open line of communication with the public
and working to address their concerns will make it easier and safer to provide for the long-term
care of a feral colony.
Keeping the peace
In order to keep peace with the neighbors, there are some tactics you can employ to make the
presence of a feral cat colony as invisible as possible.
A tip for maintaining a low profile is to set up (or move) the feeding station to a location that is
out of the way, hidden from public view. Colony caregivers sometimes feed feral cats right
outside their apartment door or just next to the dumpster, which aggravates other residents. By
placing the feeding area a few yards (or even a hundred yards) away and providing safe housing
for the cats a short distance from that new feeding station, you'll likely reduce the number of
complaints by neighbors.
If the station has to be moved some distance, do it gradually, over the course of a few days, to
allow the cats to adjust. Another key is getting full compliance from all the colony feeders - no
food outside the new feeding station, etc. You can use this strategy to move the cats off of
property where they are unwelcome and onto the property of someone nearby who is more
sympathetic. This relatively small change can help keep the peace even in cases where people
are threatening the cats.
You'll also want to educate residents about the benefits of TNR: Community cats tend to leave
behind "gifts" by urinating or defecating on people's property, but once the cats are neutered, a
high percentage of them will stop spraying. Spay/neuter also helps cut down on nuisance
behaviors such as yowling.
Additional suggestions can be found at:
Alley Cat Allies – www.alleycat.org
What to do if tensions escalate
People who don't understand TNR, or who just don't like cats, may threaten to hurt or eliminate
the cats in the colony; to them, it seems like the best way to solve the problem. Start by asking
them what their concerns are regarding the cats, empathizing with their issues, and offering some
possible solutions. It's important for you to remain polite and calm, since your goal is to defuse
any tensions over the cats and ensure that they can safely remain in their established colony.
If cats in the colony are being abused or even killed, immediately contact your local humane
officer for guidance. Animal Friends and the Western PA Humane Society have resident
humane agents.
Getting community support
This is vital to TNR success, so you may also want to consider starting a petition in support of
saving the cats. Whoever you approach, be sure to defend the cats in a rational and calm
manner. Know your facts about feral cats and present them clearly; it's easy for people to write
off an overly emotional or hysterical plea.
Involving the media
If you have not done so already, you may want to go to the press on behalf of the cats. A
sympathetic TV or newspaper reporter can get the word out to rally support for the cats. If a
property owner is threatening to injure cats, the prospect of negative media attention may deter
them. Most businesses are concerned about their public image and will take steps to avoid
adverse reactions from the public.
Click below to download this information as a two-page PDF.
| community_cat_colonies_at_risk.pdf |
