ferals and rescue

We are fortunate to have cat lovers from across the globe share successful rescue stories here on the forums. Here's a small selection, based on a recent call we made for rescue stories with a happy ending.

There are a number of reasons to volunteer at the local animal shelter, but people find ways to talk themselves out of it. Reasons include: It will be too sad, I’ll want to bring them all home, I don’t know what to do. If you think it will be too sad, volunteer at a no-kill shelter. When you...

Why Adopt a Stray Cat?A stray or abandoned cat is in danger from predators, cars, stray dogs and unfortunately, people. Food can be hard to come by and in winter, fresh water is frozen over. A warm place to sleep might be under someone’s car. Adopting a stray is a gift for both the human and the...

The rates to adopt a shelter cat can vary widely, depending on how much care the cat has needed and what tests are done before he’s ready for adoption. In general, between $50 and $150 is common. You can expect the cat to be spayed or neutered or you’ll be given a certificate for the surgery at...

During October 2012 we held a writing contest focusing on feral cats as a theme. This is the winning story, submitted by our member jiskefet. A cat called Dustbin ( A Dutch feral rescue story) When the neighborhood cats took over our garden from our resident cats, we decided to adopt a young...

Here at TheCatSite.com, we have a special place in our hearts and on our website for these special, and often misunderstood, felines. Feral cats are domestic cats, not wild animals, and we have a responsibility, as cat lovers and human beings, to try and help them. They may not be pets, but...

TNR stands for Trap, Neuter and Release. These three words describe the recommended protocol for managing a colony of feral cats. Let us walk you through the ABCs of TNR in this special article. The more you know about feral cats, the better you can help them and advocate for their welfare...

As one of the most adaptable mammals on earth, the domestic cat can revert to his wild state and form social colonies to live in. Many un-spayed/un-neutered (referred to as "intact") animals become lost while searching for mates, wandering too far from home. They often band together to form a...

Hand Rearing Kittens: What You Need To Know To Save A Newborn's LifeDo you have a newborn kitten that you're trying to rescue? Maybe more than one? Worried on how to take care of these tiny creatures? You should be. Hand rearing kittens is time consuming and demanding. But we're here to help...

So - You Have a Wild Kitty Trapped.. What Now?For whatever reason, you suddenly find yourself with this wild, spitting, hissing feral. She is trapped in a cage, or a trap, or a box. Both of you are looking at each other from very different eyes. You are looking at her thinking warm, fuzzy...

Over the years of dealing with cats I have come across too many cat owners who would still let their cat reproduce. "At least one litter… and I have good homes for all of the kittens!" Anyone who has volunteered at an animal shelter knows the bitter truth. Finding homes for kittens is easy...

For many people, feral cats are invisible, transparent as glass; going unnoticed in their daily struggle to survive, surrounded by folks who don't give them a second glance. Some cat lovers notice feral cats. They invest their time, money and energy into taking care of these cats, but for most...

Hines Hospital is a sprawling medical complex on the outskirts of Chicago. At one time, the grounds hosted a racecar track and an airstrip. Charles Lindbergh flew mail runs out of an old hanger located here. This multi-acre facility contains numerous buildings, fields, trees, bushes, and hedges...

Feral cat colony caretakers face many challenges: trapping for spay/neuter, paying for veterinary and food expenses, attempting to socialize the cats and kittens and finding good and loving homes for those that are adoptable. The legal issues surrounding caring for feral and stray cats rarely...

Jace, a cross-breed Maine Coon is the focus of this story. Rescued and adopted off the street by a first-time cat owner, who then allowed a vet to persuade her to not only neuter Jace but also do a front paw declaw at the same time… Jace’s story might have ended where he went home to recover...