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Care & Feeding

Homeless/feral cats range from cats that have never had human contact (feral) to semi-tame cats that were once pets. Often living in loose associations known as "colonies," they become well adapted to their territory and can live contentedly in alleyways, parking lots, vacant lots, backyards, and a host of other locations - urban and rural.

Determine if the cats are being cared for
Veterinarians usually notch or tip one ear to show the cats have been spayed or neutered. Unless all the cats have clearly clipped/notched ears, you should assume they are not yet altered.   If you notice kittens, there are cats that need to be altered.

Do you see evidence that the colony is being cared for such as food dishes, water bowls, or shelters? If someone is already feeding the cats, perhaps you can help to have the cats neutered.

Start Feeding
Feed the cats once a day. Dry food is preferable and should be left as inconspicuously as possible.
Place dishes under shrubs, behind bushes, or near walls.  If ants or other insects have contaminated the food, be sure to offer fresh.  Don't forget fresh clean water!   Stick to a regular schedule if you can. Consistent feeding will make trapping easier.

Spay/Neuter
Spay/neuter is the single most important thing you can do to help feral cats and is the most humane and effective way to control their populations. Not only does spay/neuter prevent more kittens from being born, it also decreases behavior like spraying, fighting, howling, and roaming. In addition, it greatly improves the cats' health.

Spay/neuter should take precedence over socializing and adopting. Even if you do not wish to continue feeding and caring for them, you should still have the cats altered and return them to their habitat. Decide where you will have the cats altered. 

Please call 408-262-2133 x 108 for currently offered programs through HSSV.

Managing the Colony
Minimize the number of feeding locations-fewer feeding stations means less work for you. It also makes it easier to keep an eye on the cats and to monitor the colony for newcomers.

Feed the cats in areas as secluded as possible, away from people and centers of activity. If possible, do not feed at night. Conflicts with wildlife are one of the primary reasons neighbors complain about feral cat colonies and daytime feeding reduces the chance of wild animals helping themselves to the cats' food.

Keep feeding areas clean. Change the dishes when they get dirty and pick up trash even if it isn't yours. Don't leave empty cans or large piles of food. Dry food is less messy than canned and if you only feed dry food, canned food will be a more enticing treat, making trapping much easier. Watch for newcomers, and have them spayed or neutered right away.

"Out of sight, out of mind" is the motto of many feral cat caregivers. Try to be inconspicuous in your feeding and trapping activities. If someone notices and asks what you are doing, explain that altering and feeding the cats will decrease their numbers quickly and humanely.

Share responsibilities. Do you have friends, co-workers, family members, or other caregivers who will feed the cats one day a week or colony sit while you're on vacation? Perhaps they can socialize a kitten or keep a cat for post-surgery recovery while you continue trapping.

The more people who participate in caring for a colony, the better off the cats-and you-will be.
Resources for help:
Local veterinarians: Ask if they can put you in touch with anyone else who is caring for ferals for advice and support. Do they have a humane trap you can borrow?

Animal Shelters: Do they offer free or low-cost spaying/neutering or medical care if you find a sick or injured cat? They may have humane traps to borrow or a volunteer who can teach you how to trap. HSSV rents traps in our Medical Center , please call 408.262.2133 x 108 for more information on humane  trap rental.

Pet supply stores: Find out if they have humane traps to borrow, rent, or buy, or referrals to volunteers or local feral cat groups. Tell them what you are doing, and ask for cat food donations, or request permission to set up a donation bin where customers can deposit cat food they purchase at the store.

Other helpful websites:
peninsulafixourferals.org
alleycats.org
catcenter.org

Please call 408-262-2133 x 108 for currently offered programs through HSSV.