Chances are you have seen homeless cats (called ferals) roaming your neighborhood. You may even be feeding them. If so, you are not alone. All over Austin, the country, and in cities around the world people have become attached to these wild creatures. Feral cats are born wild, have never been a pet, and cannot be tamed after they mature.
Colonies develop when an unsterilized pet cat is left behind after a move and begins breeding with other cats, both wild and tame. The kittens, having no human interaction, are wild feral cats. They breed and so the cycle begins. It is estimated there are roughly 150,000 feral cats living in Austin.

Last year SpayAustin, a group of citizens along with Animal Trustees of Austin, Austin Humane Society, Austin Pets Alive!, Town Lake Animal
Center, ShadowCats, EmanciPet, participating veterinarians at Feathers and Fur Animal Hospital, Century Animal Hospital, Manchaca Village
Veterinary Clinic, and Brodie Animal Hospital, teamed up to address the problem of thousands of feral cats being euthanized in Austin every year.

SpayAustin began a citywide effort to trap, spay or neuter, vaccinate, and release these cats back into their normal habitats. The practice,
known as T-N-V-R, is widely advocated as the most effective method of population control. By returning the cats after they have been sterilized, they continue to occupy their territory without breeding, reducing the number of kittens, and discouraging new cats from coming
in and taking over the territory.

Feral cat colony caregivers manage colonies all over the city by providing basic necessities like food, clean water, and shelter as well as making sure the cats are spayed or neutered. Kittens under 10 weeks are taken into foster care, socialized, and adopted into permanent homes as pets. SpayAustin organized the sterilization of
over 600 feral cats in 2004, with the goal of organizing colony managers and trappers, lending traps, providing education, advice, and
resources in 2005. Trapping classes are held the 3rd Monday each month at Town Lake Animal Center. Space is limited so call Mary Ellen at 459-6417 to make a reservation.

January is Spay/Neuter Awareness Month, and the 13th of January 2005 is officially Spay/Neuter Awareness Day as declared by the Austin City
Council. If you are currently feeding a feral cat colony or know of colonies in your neighborhood and want more information on how SpayAustin can help, visit our website at www.spayaustin.com or call 417-8673. We look forward to helping you help the cats.

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