They live in urban alleys, rural parks and suburban backyards. In fact, it's estimated that tens of millions of feral cats populate communities in the United States, and Marin County is no exception. Feral cats are the offspring of once domesticated cats who were lost or abandoned by their human companions. Removed from regular human contact, they become completely unsocialized after several generations. Left unmanaged, feral cats reproduce rapidly, contributing to an already staggering cat overpopulation crisis.

Without human intervention, it doesn't take long for a local feral cat population to spin out of control. Just one female cat and her offspring, not spayed or neutered, can produce 420,000 cats in just seven years.

To help reduce the number of feral cats in Marin County, the Marin Humane Society recently introduced a free feral cat spay/neuter voucher program. The program relies on members of the community to help manage the county's feral cat population. Interested parties can humanely trap feral cats and then obtain a voucher from MHS for vaccinations and a free spay/neuter at participating veterinarians. Then the cats are returned to their original habitat with a willing caretaker.

While trap, neuter and return (TNR) programs are widely recognized as the most effective, non-lethal and humane way to reduce feral cat populations, some people still question it due to two prevailing thoughts.

Can't all cats be domesticated?
We may like to imagine that every cat is capable of being happy and healthy in a loving home, but, unfortunately, that's not the case. It's unreasonable for us to expect adult feral cats to share our home when their every instinct tells them to avoid human contact. For a feral cat, being forced into a confined area is an extremely frightening experience. Only very young feral kittens can learn to adjust fully to living with people. Beyond kittenhood, a feral cat will usually not make a successful transition to domestic life.

If feral cats can't be domesticated, shouldn't they be euthanized?
Some people feel that euthanizing feral cats is the best way to control their numbers. But this solution has proven ineffective and objectionable on several fronts. "Trap and kill," along with being widely considered inhumane, does not work to reduce feral cat populations because new cats move into areas from which other cats have been removed and the breeding cycle continues.

But this doesn't mean that we should leave feral cats to fend for themselves. After all, part of the reason there are so many feral cats is due to human neglect. As such, their care is our responsibility and warrants a humane approach. Which is why the Marin Humane Society has implemented the spay/neuter voucher program.

MHS animal services officer Kerri Bright knows firsthand the challenges associated with managing the feral cat population. "There are a lot of people in our community who are concerned about the welfare of these animals," says Kerri. "But without community resources, caring for them is difficult. Our new voucher program, in conjunction with the caretakers, is the most effective, humane way to manage the existing feral cat population in our county."

TNR programs work on several levels. Most importantly, they reduce the feral cat population because fixed cats are no longer able to reproduce. In addition, nuisance behaviors associated with breeding, like howling, spraying and fighting, decrease drastically. And, of course, spayed and neutered cats are better protected from disease and live healthier lives.

To date, more than 50 vouchers have been issued. To continue to be successful, the voucher program relies on the community's support and participation. For further information, please call the Spay/Neuter Feral Cat Hotline at (415) 506-6228.

Tails of Marin appears every Saturday in the Home & Garden section of the Marin Independent Journal