Maintaining Feral Cat Colonies in Brief

Proper management of a feral cat colony is a long-term, year-round responsibility and should not be undertaken lightly. Are you up to the challenge? If so, here are some guidelines to follow:

• Adhere to the Trap, Test, Vaccinate, Alter and Release (TTVAR) method, which provides humane care while gradually reducing the colony’s numbers. Before trapping, make sure your veterinarian is comfortable handling feral cats. Try to negotiate a lower price for the entire colony. Basic veterinary care for each cat should include a physical exam, tests for worms, earmites and contagious diseases such as leukemia and Feline AIDS, vaccinations and alteration. For easy identification of altered cats, ask the veterinarian to notch the ear tip of each cat during surgery. Try to find homes for any cats who appear to have been socialized.
• Keep a record of each cat. Include: description, gender, age, date when altered, vaccinations and, if possible, a photograph.
• Create a feeding site and feed and monitor the colony on a daily basis.
• Leave feral kittens with their mothers until they are weaned at approximately 8 weeks, at which time you can capture them and commit yourself to finding homes for them.
• Be alert for any new cats who enter the colony. Immediately trap, test, sterilize, inoculate and identify them before returning them to the group.
• If you have to go away on a trip, move or leave the colony for a long period of time, arrange for a volunteer to handle these duties. If you need to relocate the colony, consult a feral cat expert.