National Feral Cat Day
/October 16 is National Feral Cat Day.
This day focuses on raising awareness about the various issues facing feral cats, promoting Trap-Neuter-Return programs and recognizing the numerous compassionate people who care for feral cats in many neighbourhoods.
It also aims to end the practice of euthanizing these cats and to reduce the number of unneutered cats. This is a day to celebrate cats of all stripes, no matter where they call home.
What is the difference between a feral cat and a stray cat? The feral cat has become wild as it has had no social interaction with humans. They survive on their own outdoors. They are fearful of humans making them more likely to sleep during the day and become active at night.
Though not traditionally considered pack animals, feral cats sometimes live in groups called colonies. In some areas, there are also managed colonies, in which a human provides food, water, shelter and health care for the cats.
The Ontario SPCA has 3 innovative programs in place to help feral cats and their caregivers.
Feral Cat Trap Depot Program. The Society loans cat traps to Feral cat caretakers at no charge, in an effort to trap, neuter and return the stray cats to their colonies.
Free Feral Food Bank. This food bank provides a support of food to colony caretakers. Without the participation of the Ontario SPCA, dedicated Feral cat colony caretakers use their own personal funds to provide food for these abandoned cats.
Feral Cat Shelters. A limited amount of shelters are made each fall by volunteers for caretakers to provide a safe, warm place for their colonies during our cold, harsh winters. A cat shelter should be designed to provide two main elements - good insulation and limited air space. The insulation is needed to trap the cat’s body heat, turning the cats themselves into little radiators.
For instructions on how to build your own Feral Cat Shelter - click here.
Fun Facts about all Cats
Cats can rotate their ears 180 degrees.
The first year of a cat’s life is equal to the first 15 years of a human life.
The hearing of an average cat is at least five times keener than that of a human adult.
Domestic cats spend about 70% of the day sleeping and 15% grooming.
A cat cannot see directly under its nose.
Most cats have no eyelashes.
Cats have 5 toes on each front paw, but only 4 toes on the back ones. It’s not uncommon for cats to have extra toes.
Cats can jump up to six times their length.
Cats’ claws all curve downward, which means that they can’t climb down trees head-first. Instead, they must back down the trunk.
Cats have the largest eyes relative to their head size of any mammal.
