Alley Cat Allies and National Feral Cat Day
Alley Cat Allies is the only national organization dedicated to protecting and improving the lives of cats. More than 600,000 people worldwide support Alley Cat Allies and the mission to protect all cats. National Feral Cat Day is observed on October 16 every year and this years theme is “All Cats All Communities”.
Alley Cat Allies launched National Feral Cat Day on their 10th anniversary in 2001 to raise awareness about feral (also called community) cats, promote Trap-Neuter-Return, and empower and mobilize the millions of compassionate Americans who care for them. Since 2011, more than 2,773 National Feral Cat Day events and activities have taken place—spreading the word and helping cats all over the country and the world.
This year’s poster features real cats with real stories that embody the “All Cats All Communities” theme! Meet the poster cats: Inky, Pearl, and Pie!
Find Actions and Events Near You!
Feral Cat Facts
- Cats have lived alongside humans for more than 10,000 years. They are part of the natural landscape. Feral cats, also called community or outdoor cats, are the same species as pet 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 is the only humane and effective approach to caring for community cats and stabilizing the cat population. From 2003 to 2013 the number of local governments with official policies endorsing TNR increased tenfold, with hundreds of cities and towns successfully carrying out TNR programs. That number continues to grow every year.
- In many cities, cats are still caught and brought to animal shelters and pounds, where most are killed. In fact, the shelter system is the number one documented cause of death for cats in the United States. About 70% of cats who enter shelters are killed there, and that number rises to virtually 100% for feral cats. That’s why it’s so important
- to join Alley Cat Allies for National Feral Cat Day®, and every day. Together, we can change policies and create compassionate communities for cats.
Alley Cat Allies Facts
- Founded in 1990, Alley Cat Allies is the only national organization dedicated to protecting and improving the lives of cats.
- Over 600,000 people worldwide support Alley Cat Allies and champion our mission to protect all cats.
My daughter’s black cat “Baby” passed away about a year ago, and she was heartbroken! In a bank parking lot next to our condo she saw a black cat. She came home and said she had seen a little black cat and it followed her a little way. She wanted to take it something to eat. The cat followed her home a few days later, and she asked me to look at the kitty. When I saw the clipped ear I told her it was a feral cat and probably wasn’t going to be a pet. A month later she is living in the house, splitting her time between my bed and my daughter’s, and we couldn’t be happier. She is such a sweetie, loves everyone, still adjusting to Hunter, and playing with Tigger, the resident cats who had missed Onyx and Baby. One more off the street before bad weather sets in!
I have fed a colony for over 20 years. (actually I feed 2 but the one I am talking about is the one closest to home)
TNR is the ONLY answer. I have seen the colony go from 30+ to 3. The oldest cat is either 17 or 18 now.
I really like ferals, and each and every cat has a name.
It’s so important to look out for our feral brothers and sisters!