SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – Spring remains in full speed, and you may be seeing more animals out and about. Feral cats are no exception.
Spring is mating season for lots of cats, which indicates they’ll be out and about in your areas. Marci Bowling, creator of Watching Over Whiskers, a regional cat rescue, says it’s important to be knowledgeable about the feral cats in your location.
“Some people may realize that when all the flowers are springing, so suddenly are all the kittens and puppies, right, that are outside,” said Bowling. “So that’s why in the spring you’ll see more cats out and about.”
It’s crucial to note a feral cat is various than a roaming cat. If the cat bolts when you come up to it, it’s most likely feral and chooses living outside.
“Feral cats are really, truly community cats who live outside, have never been socialized, do not have families, and a lot of times do not have caregivers or a regular place where they eat and sleep,” said Bowling.
That doesn’t indicate you can’t help the cat though.
Bowling says among the most crucial things you can do is record the cat to get it made sterile or neutered. Watching Over Whiskers has a TNR program, or trap, neuter, return. You can get traps from them or from other regional shelters to record cats and take them to a regional veterinarian to get repaired.
“Our motto is if you feed it, you fix it,” said Bowling. “Feeding without fixing is failing, because you’re allowing them to fight if they’re boys, or breed if they’re girls.”
After getting the cat repaired, it’s important to still watch on feral cats. Bowling suggests making certain they have food, water, and shelter.
“Feral cats deserve love and everything too. They don’t ask for that life, they don’t pick it,” said Bowling. “So if you’ve got feral cats in your area, your neighborhood, your community, behind a business that you work at, provide them shelter and food and just kind of watch over them. Be good stewards, be kind as we say.”
If you’re not able to take care of feral cats personally, you can constantly help economically, says Bowling. Whether you chip in to help purchase food, or assist with veterinarian expenses, assisting economically can likewise help take care of the cats.
If you have feral cats in your location and are searching for more resources on how to manage them, you can call Watching Over Whiskers here.
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