The lexicons of our age describe the term 'feral' to mean 'untamed', 'uncultivated' and 'wild' and at no time make any reference to 'malicious', 'dangerous' or 'threatening'. What a pity then that the word used to describe undomesticated cats carries a pronunciation of such dire misleading potential. There is nothing to 'fear' in feral cats, except perhaps if they happened to visit and refrained from using the sandbox at their disposal. Feral is not synonymous with rabid and although they aren't tame and will protect themselves in self-defence if provoked, feral cats are far from predators in the shadows waiting to attack with savage intent.

Nevertheless, there are organisations in this country that feel confident in their killing of these cats and free their consciences of any guilt by labelling these sprees of slaughter as 'culling'. Friends of the Cat (FOTC) couldn't disagree with this more strongly and subscribes to a proactive, long-term solution to ferals rather than a reactive short-term one.

Feral kittens that come into the custody of FOTC are cared for by volunteer kitten-minders until completely tamed, before being made available for adoption and external care. Feral adults, however, receive no attempts at taming them as this
is an exhausting and often futile process that requires great lengths of time. In most cases, we return them to their original habitat in a far more capable condition than in the one we first welcomed them in. However, should the cat have been under any threat in its previous home, we search for new surroundings and relocate them to a more peaceful residence, where we wish them good health and leave them to their own devices.

Contrary to the common misconception, they are quick to adapt, as ever since birth they've been migrating to areas of greater benefit, attracted and persuaded by food, shelter and the desire to mate

The lack of 'tagging' or follow-up sessions with past patients is often met with a raised eyebrow, but research by Professor Rudi van Aarde (Department of Zoology) indicates that 'Most cats living wild can fend for themselves and the establishment of artificially maintained feeding stations attracts these free-ranging cats to specific locations and is not a prerequisite for survival." Ferals have supported this theory with population figures, which serve as evidence that they can, and do, feed themselves and survive efficiently on their own. They share just as much in the danger of being run over or mauled by a neighbourhood dog as the common household cat does and their chances of survival are not that far apart. It would be unrealistic, if not naive, to assume that all wild animals have the worst end of the stick. Both environments encompass various pros and cons but at the end of the day they're relatively equal. The domestic relies on its keeper for food, warmth and survival and will probably never mate and the feral has no obstacles to stop instinct from kicking in to ensure it carries out its role in the evolutionary chain, including eating, mating and if necessary, being eaten.

In the greater scheme of things, regardless of our tireless efforts, there is no longer a choice of whether or not to encounter feral cats in our everyday lives. The only humane choice that does exist, and that we're acting upon, is whether the cats are sterile or fertile and thus whether their numbers will decrease to an acceptable equilibrium or continue to sky-rocket towards a population number that would constitute their existence as pests. Most importantly, we have to realise, acknowledge and accept that ferals are not a separate breed or species from our beloved kitties, but simply cats with different lifestyles, preferences and habits. This allows us no excuse to exclude them from the care we would afford any distressed creature in need and it is towards this admirable belief and aim that Friends of the Cat is so selflessly dedicated and so ambitiously striving to achieve.