Homeless feral cats are a sad fact of our community.  Numerous kittens that are not old enough or suitable for adoption are euthanized each year as a result of unmanaged feral colonies.  In recent years Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) programs established in various locations throughout the San Francisco Bay Area are becoming an important part of the solution.

According to the ASPCA, “a feral cat is primarily wild-raised or has adapted to feral life, while we [the ASPCA] define a stray cat as someone's pet who has become lost or has been abandoned. Stray cats are usually tame and comfortable around people. They will frequently rub against legs and exhibit behaviors such as purring and meowing.  In contrast, feral cats are notably quiet and keep their distance. Stray cats will also often try to make a home near humans—in car garages, front porches or backyards. Most are completely reliant on humans as a food source and are not yet able to cope with life on the streets.”

Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) is a humane way of trapping of domestic cats that live in the community without formal homes and survive by gathering food and shelter where they can.  The trapped cats are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, sometimes treated for other medical issues, and micro chipped.  Their ears are notched so that they may be identified as spayed/neutered.  They are returned to a colony in the community.

The ASPCA writes, “TNR helps the community by stabilizing the population of the feral colony and, over time, reducing it. At the same time, nuisance behaviors such as spraying, excessive noisemaking and fighting are largely eliminated, and no more kittens are born. Yet, the benefit of natural rodent control is continued.  Jesse Oldham, ASPCA Senior Administrative Director of Community Outreach and the founder of Slope Street Cats, an organization dedicated to feral cat welfare, notes, “TNR also helps the community's animal welfare resources by reducing the number of kittens that would end up in their shelters—TNR creates more space for the cats and kittens who come to them from other avenues.”

According to The Cat Resource Center, a Santa-Clara based cat rescue organization, additional benefits of TNR include: “Sterilizing cats saves tax dollars, vaccination prevents disease, and TNR is the most effective and humane option for feral cats.”

TNR begins with various rescue groups, individuals, and in some cases, compassionate businesses. Often these dedicated people trap and provide veterinary care and food for the colonies (often paying for the procedures themselves).  At times they partner with local shelters or veterinary hospitals that volunteer veterinary procedures.  Available funds (from limited budgets, grants and donations) determine how many procedures a shelter can contribute to TNR.

Policies vary among organizations and shelters regarding the fate of surrendered kittens.  Kittens must weigh two pounds before they can be spayed/neutered, yet this procedure is required by law before kittens can be adopted from a rescue group or shelter.  The availability of foster families will play a key role in the number of neo-nate kittens a shelter or organization can accept for adoption.  Without foster families it is impossible for organizations and shelters to provide the care these tiny babies require, thus some precious lives may not have a chance.  Before surrendering neo-nate kittens, check with organizations and shelters regarding their policies.

The following are organizations gleamed from various sources that serve the feral cat colonies in different ways.  SJAA provides these links to aid you in finding a resource that may be of help to you.  SJAA is not affiliated with these organizations, nor is recommendation implied by their listings here.

The Cat Resource Center (http://www.catcenter.org)
Town Cats (Feral Freedom) (http://www.towncats.org/article?id=268)  
Alley Cat Allies (http://www.alleycat.org/)
Silicon Valley Friends of Ferals (http://www.svff.org/services.html )
Stanford Cat Network  (http://www.stanford.edu/group/CATNET/ )
Second Chance Cat Sanctuary (http://www.secondchancecats.org/feral-cats.php )
ASPCA Feral Cat FAQs (http://www.aspca.org/adoption/feral-cats-faq.aspx#strayferal )
Fix Our Ferals (http://fixourferals.org/home/?page_id=87)

I've always wanted to foster kittens, but something had been holding me back.  I'm not proud of this fact since I have become sadly aware of the extreme shortage of foster parents for local animal rescues and shelters.  How could I promote being a foster parent to others having not experienced it myself?   What was I worried about?

My resident pets:   My husband and I are the proud pet guardians of three lucky kitties (ages 17, 3 and 1).   We have worked hard to achieve balance with our tribe, and they are all healthy.  Bringing in a kitten could upset this balance and I was concerned about any health issues from the foster that could be passed on to my healthy kitties.

Attachment to kitten:  I am a huge cat lover, so I knew I would fall in love with any foster kitten(s) we took in.  I was worried I wouldn't be able to give them up, and at the same time I knew that our three-kitty tribe could not absorb another member.

The foster experience:  It just happened.  A friend contacted me for help: some neighborhood kids had dropped off a kitten who had been living in their back yard.  My friend needed help and didn't know who to turn to.  She had three kitties of her own and probably had the same concerns I did about fostering.  Nevertheless, my compassionate friend took in this tiny orange tabby with the hope of getting him to someone who could find him a loving forever-home.

I sought out the expert guidance of Itty Bitty Orphan Kitty (IBOK) volunteer Linda, and she walked me through the steps I needed to take to provide a safe loving environment to this homeless kitty.   At 2 pounds and 12 ounces, this little orange tabby, now named "Opie" took up residence in our bathroom, separate and isolated from my resident tribe.  Opie was thrilled with his food (especially canned kitten food), and the couple of toys I picked up at the store.  His little face glowed with gratitude for being saved, and he immediately repaid me with pure, innocent kitten love.  He played, he ate, he napped and he learned to snuggle. 

Time to say goodbye:  Before I knew it, it was time for Opie to attend his first adoption fair.  He is a very lucky boy because he met a loving couple who were very taken by he and his new buddy, Camper (another 10 week old orange tabby).  They were looking to bring some "orange" back into their household and found the right little pair.

The aftermath:  How did my tribe do with this temporary visitor?  The answer is just fine.  Opie had his own small space and there was no need to integrate him with my other cats.  We took certain safety precautions including washing our hands after handling Opie and vice versa.  With his immature immune system, Opie really was the one that could be at risk, not our healthy adult tribe.  My kitties knew there was a visitor in our bathroom, but I kept telling them that they could share a little space for a fellow rescue.  My initial worries were unsubstantiated.

Would I foster again?  Yes.  Would I recommend fostering to others?  ABSOLUTELY!  I can't emphasize enough how many kittens are not given a chance at life because of overcrowding at local shelters.  Animal rescue groups and their dedicated volunteers can only do so much.  We need to all think about how we can make a little room for a kitten, cat, puppy, dog, bird or bunny and offer them a chance at life.  I believe our community is very resourceful and compassionate and really wants to make a difference in the lives of animals!

Opie found a loving home due to the love and compassion of a few neighbors.  It takes a village to save these animals.  Won't you help?  Read more about fostering here, and contact ANY one of the organizations in our directory and let them know you have space in your home and your heart to give a deserving companion animal a chance to beat the odds. 

Please share your foster stories with us so we can share with the community.