Cats can, however, carry the disease for the very short time it takes them to die from it themselves. Feral cats are a very minor player in the rabies chain in America. As if Rabies, being eaten by large predators or shot by game wardens isn't bad enough, American ferals have a bad image. The view was that feral cats live short brutal lives in the wild and should be destroyed for their own good. However, this view could be taken to its logical conclusion in which case all American wildlife, from deer to racoons, should be destroyed to save them from the suffering of short, brutal lives in the wild.
Feral cats are wild animals and are adapted to the wild environment.
Altered ferals in managed colonies may achieve life spans equalling that of a housecat. In a climate of pet cat overpopulation, ferals present an unwelcome drain on the resources of some humane organizations. In such a climate of overpopulation, it is often impossible to place domestic kittens in homes, let alone tamed feral kittens. American veterinarians report no adverse effects of early neutering. A network of organizations, including the Feral Cat Coalition, is making available information about feral cats' habits and about humane methods for controlling the cats.