National Feral Cat Day

National Feral Cat Day®

Alley Cat Allies launched National Feral Cat Day® in 2001 to raise awareness about feral cats, also known as community cats.  The goal at Alley Cat Allies is to promote Trap-Neuter-Return and empower and mobilize the millions of Americans that have compassion and care for cats.

National Feral Cat Day is observed on October 16 every year, and this years theme is  “The Evolution of the Cat Revolution.”

Every year more people respond to the call to action and celebrate National Feral Cat Day. Since 2011, more than 1,500 National Feral Cat Day events have taken place helping cats by spreading the  word all over the United State and now there are some international events.

Feral Cat Facts

In honor of National Feral Cat Day we wanted to share a few Feral Cat Facts with you so you can help spread the word about the community cats that share our world.

 

• Cats have lived alongside humans for more than 10,000 years. They are part of the natural landscape. Feral cats are the same species as pet cats. Feral cats, also called community or outdoor cats, live in groups called colonies and can thrive in every landscape. They are just as healthy as pet cats, but they are not socialized to humans and are therefore unadoptable.

• Trap-Neuter-Return—a humane approach to managing and caring for community cats—is the only effective method of stabilizing cat colonies. In the last decade, the number of local governments with official policies endorsing TNR has increased tenfold, with hundreds of cities and towns successfully carrying out TNR programs.

• However, in the majority of cities, cats are still caught and brought to animal pounds and shelters where they are killed. The shelter system is the number one cause of death for cats in the United States. About 70% of cats who enter shelters are killed there, including virtually 100% of feral cats.

This is why it is so important for  you to join and be a voice for cats on National Feral Cat Day®, and every day, to help change society and create compassionate communities for cats.

To learn more about Alley Cat Allies and for downloads and templates to help you participate in  National Feral Cat Day pounce here:  Spread the word.