What is a feral cat?

Feral cats are the "wild" offspring of domestic cats and are primarily the result of pet owners' abandoning and/or failure to spay and neuter their cats, allowing them to breed uncontrollably. Without intervention, a pair of breeding cats can exponentially produce 420,000 offspring over a seven year period. Already, U.S. animal shelters are forced to kill an estimated 15 million homeless cats and dogs annually. The alternative to humane euthanasia for almost every stray is a violent end or slow, painful death. Many "throwaways" die mercilessly outdoors from starvation, disease, abuse or as food for a predator.

What is the Cat Haven Feral Program all about?

Cat Haven's Feral Program has two goals: First, to reduce the population explosion by spaying and neutering feral cats; second, to capture young feral kittens so they may be socialized and domesticated to be good pets. Our program utilizes the proven method of Trap-Neuter-Release (T-N-R). After trapping, each cat is spayed or neutered, given a rabies vaccination and treated for minor ailments. Each adult cat is returned to where they were trapped while young kittens are brought into our adoption program.

What does T-N-R mean?

Studies have proven that trap-neuter-release (TNR) is the single most successful method of stabilizing and maintaining healthy feral cat colonies with the least possible cost to local governments and residents, while providing the best life for the animals themselves. TNR is more effective and less costly than repeated attempts at extermination as costs for repeatedly trapping and killing feral colonies are far higher than promoting stable, non-breeding colonies in the same location. Vacated areas are soon filled by other cats who start the breeding process over again.

How is Cat Haven making a difference in our community?

We currently have 10 traps in use, taking anywhere from 1 hour to 4 days to trap a cat. Since it's inception in 2001, the Cat Haven Feral program has trapped over 2,000 cats. Of that number, 1,400 were TNR. The remaining 600 were moved into our adoption program where they found loving, permanent homes. Cat Haven targets specific areas in the effort to reduce the feral population by implementing the "neighborhood approach". We are currently working in Spanish Town and starting at Villa Feliciana in Jackson, Louisiana. This targeting approach will work in conjunction with the Cat Haven Adoption program.

How can you be part of the solution?

If you are interested in being part of the solution, visit our Contact Us link to email our Feral Coordinator. Cat Haven loans traps and offers assistance to those feral caretakers who are interested in stabilizing the feral cat population in the Greater Baton Rouge area. Our generous and gracious feral benefactors have contributed approximately 98% of the costs associated with the Feral Cat Program. Donations from feral caretakers account for the remaining feral revenues. A $35 donation for each feral cat assisted through our program would be greatly appreciated. This helps us to cover a portion of our veterinary costs and continue our work in reducing the feral population. However, a cat will not be turned away from our program, simply because a donation is not given. To learn more about feral cats and how you can help the strays in your neighborhood, visit Alley Cat Allies for more information.