Rescue Cats

Abandoned cats that have to live in the wild are known as feral cats. They often form a colony and their population grows rapidly when they breed. Offspring often grow up with a fear of humans. Feral cats main food source is garbage, mice and insects.

If the kittens of feral cats can be rescued (caught or trapped) early enough, they may be able to be tamed and then put up for adoption. Most cities have Humane Organizations that are dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and eventual adoption of abandoned cats. There are millions of cats and dogs that are destroyed every year, for lack of adoption homes. These Humane Groups work very hard toward finding homes for these unfortunates, rather than graves.

These organizations will also trap feral cats, neuter, spay, and vaccinate them and in the case of adult cats, which rarely are re-tamable, return them to the colony with no fear that they will contribute to growing the population. The overwhelming need of cat rescue groups and shelters is help, both volunteer and financial. Volunteers are needed to be shelter workers and/or caretakers of feral cat colonies. They would provide food for these colonies and coordinate with the local shelter in trapping programs for the kittens that would provide future opportunities for adoption and adults that would be returned to the colony after neutering or spaying.

Cash donations are the next biggest need, and the fund raising efforts of shelters is a continuing challenge. Many adoptable cats are rescued before going wild. These often make exceptional pets for someone willing to adopt them and provide a loving home.