National Feral Cat Day 2015

Wow, another year has gone by since my last National Feral Cat Day post. It is hard to believe we are at the beautiful autumnal season again. I feel like it was just May when I was in Nashville for BlogPaws.

Welcome back to Sandpiper Cat Blog's 5th annual year of celebrating National Feral Cat Day. NFCD is sponsored by Alley Cat Allies - who created the event in 2001.

I love promoting and celebrating NFCD because one of my cats, Vickie, was a feral cat before we adopted her from our local rescue. In fact, oru three most recent adoptions - Bobby, PHolly and Charlie were trapped, neutered and rescued (not returned) in Cape May, NJ!

There are lots of misconceptions about what a feral cat is - and NFCD is out there to debunk rumors. My cats that were trapped, are domesticated and socialized to humans. True feral cats, are not socialized to humans.

The most basic information about this special day, that I want to reiterate, is what a feral cat (also referred to as a "community cat") is in fact.

Feral Cat Facts

• Cats have lived alongside humans for more than 10,000 years. They are part of the natural landscape. Feral cats are the same species as pet cats. Feral cats, also called community or outdoor cats, live in groups called colonies and can thrive in every landscape. They are just as healthy as pet cats, but they are not socialized to humans and are therefore unadoptable.
• Trap-Neuter-Return—a humane approach to managing and caring for community cats—is the only effective method of stabilizing cat colonies. In the last decade, the number of local governments with official policies endorsing TNR has increased tenfold, with hundreds of cities and towns successfully carrying out TNR programs.
• However, in the majority of cities, cats are still caught and brought to animal pounds and shelters where they are killed. The shelter system is the number one cause of death for cats in the United States. About 70% of cats who enter shelters are killed there, including virtually 100% of feral cats. That’s why it’s so important for people like you to join us for National Feral Cat Day®, and every day, to help change society and create compassionate communities for cats.

Read our past posts: 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011.

Spread the word and use #FeralCatDay!

Thanks for tuning in!

Architects of Change for Cats - National Feral Cat Day 2013

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you thought you knew a lot about something but in reality you only knew a little bit? Well, if that is how you feel about feral cats and trap-neuter-return, this is the post for you.

I am an advocate for National Feral Cat Day 2013! What exactly is National Feral Cat Day (NFCD)? NFCD is a day to educate the world about Feral Cats. Read some facts of the truth about feral cats here.

I want to educate my community about community cats. The nation's animal shelter system is the #1 cause of death in cats. Let's work together to change that today!

Here are some facts brought to you by Alley Cat Allies:

• Cats have lived outdoors for more than 10,000 years
• More than 70% of all cats who enter shelters are killed there, including virtually 100% of feral cats
• Feral cats can have the same lifespan as pet cats (And I have known many who have! - see this post about feeding cats on my local college campus here)
• More than 40% of Americans have fed an outdoor cat
• More than 80% of Americans think it is more humane to leave a stray cat where he is to live out his life than to have him caught and killed

I am an advocate for National Feral Cat day. Will you join me?

Watch Jackson Galaxy, star of Animal Planet's My Cat From Hell, talk about Trap-Neuter-Return!

Please spread the word about National Feral Cat Day! Share this graphic with all of your friends. If you use Twitter, use #NFCD2013 in your tweets! Tag me, @sandpipercat for a retweet! Share this post! We are the advocates who have to go out and cause change!

 Read past National Feral Cat Day Posts Oct. 2011 & Oct. 2012.