4 Reasons to Celebrate National Feral Cat Day
Please Spay / Neuter and Save Lives!
Get ready to celebrate your local community cat colonies and their caretakers...October 16 is National Feral Cat Day!
National Feral Cat Day was founded to change the stigma and provide education about feral (community) cats. According to Best Friends Animal Society, the national holiday raises awareness about free-roaming cats and promotes trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR), a healthy way to manage feral cat populations.
We would like to share four reasons why you should participate in National Feral Cat Day. The community cats are there due to irresponsible guardians who abandon their pets and do NOT spay / neuter. If you cannot keep your pet, please surrender him or her to a reputable shelter and give them a chance at a loving home.
- The holiday raises awareness for feral (community) cats.
Many community members may believe there’s not much they can do to improve feral cats’ lives. However, National Today states that feral cats have an average of 1.4 litters each year. This averages to 3.5 kittens in each litter and up to 420,000 kittens over seven years! By participating in National Feral Cat Day, you can raise awareness of these numbers and promote TNVR.
- National Feral Cat Day introduces trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) to the population.
Trap-neuter-vaccinate-return is a humane approach to managing feral cat populations. Through TNVR, neighborhood cats are humanely trapped, brought to a veterinarian to be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, ear-tipped, and then returned to their colony; which is their home. The TNVR method is suggested by many as the best way to manage feral cat populations and prevent disease, suffering and killing of healthy cats.
- National Feral Cat Day promotes adoption.
While TNVR is a great method for managing feral cat populations, the holiday also promotes adoption! Many community cats were abandoned and of the felines that were born outside, many can be socialized with patience and love and become loving pets. Animal shelters will encourage adoptions on October 16 for National Feral Cat Day. Contact your local animal shelter to see how you can help volunteer or adopt!
- The holiday saves cats’ lives!
According to Kitten Coalition, 1.4 million cats are euthanized each year. Through events such as National Feral Cat Day, awareness is generated for feral cats. As awareness spreads, more people will be interested in saving feral cat populations and understand the benefits for their communities.
Don’t forget to celebrate National Feral Cat Day by volunteering or adopting from your local animal shelter or taking part in a TNVR effort. You can even celebrate by sharing information about feral cats to your friends and family. By spreading awareness, you are giving feral cats a voice and saving lives!
SPAY / NEUTER…SAVE LIVES!