Farm & Feral Cats
Feral cats are once domestic cats, or the descendants of once domestic cats, and their offspring, who are now living in the wild. They have little or no contact with humans – they won’t come up to you and you can’t pick them up – they just like to hunt and eat. They should not be confused with stray cats, who are cats who were raised as pets, but have since become lost or been abandoned.
We will assist in relocating farm and feral cats where possible, neutering them first.
We need to find homes for them first before we trap them as it is not possible to put them in a pen. We are therefore always looking for farms, small holdings and stable owners who are willing to take a cat or two on a permanent basis. Having a small colony of feral cats in such environments is mutually beneficial – they take care of ‘Rodent Control’ and you supply them with a safe home.
We can lend cat traps to catch unhandleable cats. We tend to put the cat in a stable or outbuilding whilst it gets used to its new surroundings. But if they are kittens aged under 8 weeks, it is usually possible to get them used to people and their company and rehome them in a domestic environment.
If it is not possible to find a new home we will arrange for them to be neutered and returned
Neutering
It is important for all cats to be neutered, as not only does it prevent unwanted kittens being born, it also helps to prevent the spread of disease and can make male cats less aggressive and prone to fighting. We offer free neutering for farm, feral and outdoor living cats. We will also assist with costs for neutering domestic cats. Cats would need to be taken to our nominated vet.
We can lend cat traps to catch unhandleable cats. We will also arrange for them to be given a free health check at the same time as being neutered.
If you have a cat in need of neutering then contact us to find out details of the schemes
Neutering Facts
- One female cat can be responsible for over 20,000 kittens in five years
- Female cats can get pregnant from just 4 months old
- A female cat can have up to 3 litters of kittens a year
- Neutered male cats are less likely to roam and get into fights, and less likely to spray
- Neutering a cat does not affect its hunting ability
- It is not beneficial for a female cat to have a litter of kittens before neutering
For more information on cat neutering take a look here.
Lost Cats
We know how heartbreaking it can be if your cat goes missing. If you have lost your cat, here are some suggestions of things to do:
- Ask neighbours to check all sheds and garages, making sure they open them up to look
- Check houses of neighbours who have recently gone on holiday
- Check kerbs and hedges in case of an accident
- Go out into your garden and around the immediate vicinity of your home late at night, call for your cat and take time to listen for a reply. If your cat is shut in somewhere nearby, this is when you are most likely to hear him
- Check with vets and rescue centres and let them know your cat is missing
- If your cat is Microchipped, call Petlog on 0844 4633 999 so that they can flag your cat as missing, and also to check any ‘found cat’ reports in your area
- Ask the postman to keep a look out for you
- Put up posters containing a photo around the area (not just in the immediate vicinity)
- Contact the local newspaper – the Citizen advertise lost and found for free
- If there is a school close by, contact the headteacher. Children are very observant and like being detectives
If you find your cat, don’t forget to contact everyone to let them know.