Just to clear up a couple of things about feral cats.  Someone asked
where feral cats come from, and I think the answer about giving a kitten
to a young child, and then not getting the kitten spayed, pretty much
sums it up.  And yes, 6-month-old kittens do give birth to other kittens.
 
**Feral cats are not a separate species.  They are just cats who, because
they live without human contact, have become totally afraid of people.**
 
Many of the cats that people call "feral" were once someone's cat who
was lost or, more likely, dumped.  Many people still perpetuate the cruel
myth that cats can survive just fine on their own.  Cats who are
abandoned--even if they have been tame--very often appear "feral": that
is, they become totally afraid of people and will not let you near them.
These cats can become tame again once they have been adopted, though it
may take several months.
 
Many feral kittens are born to cats who used to be someone's pet.
Kittens who are born outdoors with no human contact, even if their mother
is 100% tame, start out "feral." These kittens can also become pets but
it takes a lot of love and care to get them to trust people.
 
And finally, there are kittens who are born to feral cats.  These cats
have the least chance of survival because they are born to adults alreay
prone to disease, starvation, etc.
 
Most "feral" cats are at most only a few generations away from someone's
pet cat who was dumped.
 
Can you adopt a feral cat?  Yes, absolutely.  I like adopting ferals
because they often get along well with other cats, and they also tend to
be very sweet cats.  I know someone wrote about an attack from a feral
cat--yes, a feral cat can attack you if you corner them or pick them up.
So can a tame cat, or any animal who is cornered and afraid of people,
or injured--even a ferret.
 
It may take many months for a feral cat to become used to living in your
home, and obviously, that's not for everyone.
 
Fortunately, the thinking about feral cats is changing, and many people
are helping them.  The primary way to help is to spay not just ferals,
but all cats and dogs.  Even one litter of kittens or puppies greatly
adds to the overpopulation problem.
 
Feral cats are 100% the product of human failure to spay pet cats.  It is
not a cat's fault that they are born outside where they become victims of
disease, starvation, injury or abuse.
 
If you want to help, Alley Cat Allies is a great place to start, and many
local groups are now actively helping feral cats.
 
Ronnie
[Posted in FML issue 4265]