Such animals survive as best they can - near restaurants, shopping centers, parks, dumps, or in rural areas. Feral cats often live in loose groups, or colonies, and usually go out of their way to avoid human contact. A pair of breeding cats can have several litters per year, and their descendents can theoretically produce about 250,000 kittens over a five year period. No one knows the exact feral cat population of the United States, but it is estimated that there are millions of such animals. Most have short, painful lives and often die from disease, malnutrition, exposure, by car accidents, or predation.
Feral cats are almost impossible to socialize unless captured as small kittens.
Like other wild animals, they should not be handled. Many organizations have developed over the past several years to concentrate on saving feral cats. In addition, many individuals have made heroic efforts to help these animals. You can find out more by visiting the feral cat section of our companion animal links page. PAWS has humane cat traps available for rent at our Lynnwood facility.