TNR Handbook - Neighborhood Cats

The Neighborhood Cats TNR Handbook
Second, you need to assess the colony’s social structure. Feral cats have complex
relationships with each other. Couples may form which last a lifetime. There are also
hierarchies, and dominant and submissive roles. Removing a cat from the colony can
upset the balance and you may be depriving the cat of her closest ties.
Third, is the colony relatively secure or are they facing imminent danger? Will their
site be destroyed by new construction or are there hostile neighbors who have acted
violently towards the cats in the past? Certainly the presence of danger would weigh in
favor of introducing a feral to domestic life, while a secure situation would tend towards
leaving well enough alone.
Fourth, what about the cat himself? Is he old? Alone? Handicapped? Sometimes a
feral cat does well in his territory for many years, but as he gets on in age, can’t handle
the rigors of living outdoors as well.
If none of these factors point towards bringing in a feral, it’s always best to allow
other beings to live according to their true natures. A long, safe life hiding in fear under
your bed is not preferable to a shorter, free life roaming outdoors.
Socialization techniques for adult ferals
Realistically, the goal for socializing a feral adult is very different from what you are
trying to achieve when you socialize a feral kitten. Kittens can become adoptable – for
the most part, feral adults cannot. The aim for socializing an adult is not to be able to
pick her up, pet her and adopt her out to a stranger. Instead, a more realistic goal is to
teach her how to adjust and find her own niche in a domestic environment and avoid
having her hide and be in fear for years to come. Beyond this, how far the cat progresses
towards being a normal house cat will be up to her, not you or whoever takes her in. One
day she may decide you’re ok and come and sit next to you, allowing you to touch her.
But this may take years, if ever. This uncertainty must be accepted at the outset or the
experience can be a frustrating one - for you because the cat is not acting like you want
and for the cat because she’ll sense your frustration and not feel at ease. More than
anything, socializing an adult feral means learning to appreciate and love her for who she
is, and allowing her to develop as she chooses.
The key to socialization is how a feral adult is introduced into your home. All too
often, people let them loose right away with the predictable result that the cat finds some
obscure, unreachable place to hide. Then she only comes out late at night to eat. This
pattern can go unchanged for years. The way to prevent this is to start them off in a
cage, using the Feral Cat Setup described in Chapter 11.
The cage is vital because it gives the cat a place where she feels safe. Contrary to
many people’s belief, a feral cat prefers a covered, enclosed space to a wide-open one.
That’s why they go run under the bed, given the opportunity. By starting the cat off in a
cage, you choose their hiding spot, not the cat. This gives you control over the
socialization process, including feeding and training the cat to use a litter box. It also
gives the cat a sense of security because she’ll soon learn she’s safe when she’s in the
cage and separated from you by bars. Keep at least the back portion of the cage covered
with a sheet to increase her sense of comfort.
The cage should be placed in a part of the home neither too isolated nor too busy.
This gives the cat a chance to learn the new sights and sounds of a human home without
becoming overwhelmed. Remember, she has never heard a phone ring or smelled dinner
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