Animal Chronicles

Born To Be Wild: Fixing Marin's Feral Felines

by Carrie Harrington


They live in urban alleys, rural parks and even in 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. It’s a fact that one female cat and her offspring, left not spayed or neutered, can produce 420,000 cats in just seven years. (That is not a typo.)

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 a free spay/neuter and vaccinations at participating veterinarians. Finally, the cats are returned back into their original habitat with a willing caretaker.

While feral cat spay/neuter and return programs (also known as TNR for trap, neuter and return) are widely recognized as the most effective, non-lethal and humane way to reduce feral cat populations, the public remains divided on the issue 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 an adult feral cat to share our home when her every instinct tells her to avoid human contact. It may seem like we are saving a feral cat from the dangers of outdoor life by bringing her into our house, but 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” 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. “Trap and kill” is also widely considered to be inhumane. Unless a feral cat is truly problematic, why should she be put to death simply for not living with a human companion?

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 resources, caring for them is difficult.”

Kerri and her colleagues know that trap, neuter and return is a practical method of stabilizing the feral cat population in Marin. “Our new voucher program, in conjunction with the feral cat caretakers, is the most effective, humane way to manage the existing feral cat population in our county.”

Trap, neuter and return 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.

The spay/neuter voucher program began in January thanks to a charitable bequest from the Estate of Forrest Leonard. To date, more than 50 vouchers have been issued. To continue to be successful, the voucher program will need to rely on the community’s support and participation. Please call the Spay/Neuter Feral Cat Hotline at (415) 506-6228 for further information.

Carrie Harrington is the MHS public information assistant.