What is a feral cat?
Feral cats are outside cats that were either domesticated at one time but have reverted back to their wild state, cats that have been born outside to stray or abandoned cats, or cats that have been born to feral cats that have lived in a wild state for several generations. Most feral cats have not been exposed to sufficient human contact so they should be approached with caution, if necessary. Most commonly, feral cats live in groups known as colonies. These colonies can be found wherever there is sufficient shelter and food.
Why are feral cats a problem?
Each female cat can have 3 litters of approximately 4-6 kittens every year. One female cat and her offspring could produce 420,000 cats in only 7 years. Therefore, feral cat overpopulation is a daunting problem that our society faces today. ISU Feral Cat Alliance works to humanely reduce the feral cat population through our monthly TNR clinics.
Both feral cat overpopulation and insufficient resources (food, water, and shelter) in an area can increase the spread of diseases amongst colony members and, therefore, increase mortality rate.
What is the solution?
FCA holds monthly clinics at ISU College of Veterinary Medicine. The purpose of our monthly clinics is to stop the birth of kittens through spaying and neutering feral cats; in addition to decreasing the spread of diseases throughout feral cat populations (colonies). Cats are anesthetized, surgically sterilized (neutered or spayed), vaccinated for feline panleukopenia (distemper) and rabies, given a topical dewormer, ear tipped, physically examined, and receive an ear cleaning. All cats have the top ¼ of their left ear removed for immediate identification of their surgical sterilization.
FCA provides these services to members of the central Iowa community for no charge. However, FCA is a non-profit organization that depends solely on donations of at least $25 per cat for the continuation of this program to control feral cat overpopulation.
Humane live traps are available to feral cat caretakers to use for a $50 deposit per trap. These traps are offered on a first come, first serve basis with reservations made at time of clinic scheduling. Deposits will be returned when traps are returned to ISU FCA.
Feral cats are outside cats that were either domesticated at one time but have reverted back to their wild state, cats that have been born outside to stray or abandoned cats, or cats that have been born to feral cats that have lived in a wild state for several generations. Most feral cats have not been exposed to sufficient human contact so they should be approached with caution, if necessary. Most commonly, feral cats live in groups known as colonies. These colonies can be found wherever there is sufficient shelter and food.
Why are feral cats a problem?
Each female cat can have 3 litters of approximately 4-6 kittens every year. One female cat and her offspring could produce 420,000 cats in only 7 years. Therefore, feral cat overpopulation is a daunting problem that our society faces today. ISU Feral Cat Alliance works to humanely reduce the feral cat population through our monthly TNR clinics.
Both feral cat overpopulation and insufficient resources (food, water, and shelter) in an area can increase the spread of diseases amongst colony members and, therefore, increase mortality rate.
What is the solution?
FCA holds monthly clinics at ISU College of Veterinary Medicine. The purpose of our monthly clinics is to stop the birth of kittens through spaying and neutering feral cats; in addition to decreasing the spread of diseases throughout feral cat populations (colonies). Cats are anesthetized, surgically sterilized (neutered or spayed), vaccinated for feline panleukopenia (distemper) and rabies, given a topical dewormer, ear tipped, physically examined, and receive an ear cleaning. All cats have the top ¼ of their left ear removed for immediate identification of their surgical sterilization.
FCA provides these services to members of the central Iowa community for no charge. However, FCA is a non-profit organization that depends solely on donations of at least $25 per cat for the continuation of this program to control feral cat overpopulation.
Humane live traps are available to feral cat caretakers to use for a $50 deposit per trap. These traps are offered on a first come, first serve basis with reservations made at time of clinic scheduling. Deposits will be returned when traps are returned to ISU FCA.