What Do I Do With a Feral Cat Colony When I’m Moving?
Leave feral cats behind when moving – though it can be heartbreaking, as they are not part of your household – however it is usually better for their wellbeing if left in an environment where they can continue living their natural lives as wild animals.
To help them settle into their new environment, confine a cat for at least two weeks (feral cats may take longer). Provide an accessible feeding area such as a tack room, garden shed, or even just an upside-down Rubbermaid tote with hiding spaces and privacy.
Trapping
Feral cats are defined as those born into the wild without families to care for them, living without human interaction and no social structure of any sort. As such, they can become fearful around humans and react swiftly when any perceived threats exist. Feral cats reproduce quickly; one feral can grow quickly into dozens over a short time span.
Relocating a feral cat colony can be very distressful for the animals involved, so it is crucial that it is handled carefully. Finding an animal shelter willing to assist will help with this process, providing guidance on trapping and transporting as well as setting up and feeding stations.
Ideal, you should find a veterinarian willing and capable of spaying or neutering feral cats, but if that is not an option you should utilize TNR programs or find an experienced vet with feral cat experience. Make sure the colony becomes used to being fed at the same time each day in an undisturbed location away from traffic noise and noise pollution; additionally lining each trap with newspaper will prevent walking on wires while also helping absorb any mess left by cats trapped inside it.
When trapping feral cats, use either a box trap or cage-type trap. Once food has been placed inside, use a trip plate to close it by placing it on top of a metal piece known as an access hatch; when cats step onto this hook-encrusted plate they release its hook, closing off access hatch. Make sure the entrance of your trap remains blocked as this process will only cause stress to the cats involved.
After you have relocated the feral cats, remove any feeding stations on their previous property in order to reduce the chance of new colonies forming. Also ensure regular talks take place between new caregivers and yourself regarding providing regular food and water.
Relocating
Feral cats are territorial, making relocating a colony an inherently risky, time-consuming, and frequently unsuccessful endeavour. Relocating can also prompt new feral cats to move into their territory resulting in trapping and killing on an endless cycle. Therefore, feral cats should only ever be relocated when their lives are seriously threatened where they currently reside.
Ferals tend to be wary of people, even familiar caregivers that they’ve spent time interacting with since they were kittens, as they don’t like change. Any attempt at domesticating feral cats as indoor pets would likely only cause stress and may even endanger their well-being as many have not been taught basic survival skills and might need access to outdoor spaces for survival.
Relocating a feral cat colony should only be undertaken if an appropriate caretaker can be found to manage them for the long-term and the new site meets all their requirements. Your cat should have access to an enclosure (such as a barn, shed or garage) where she can be safely kept, be away from heavy traffic, and offer protection in case of inclement weather. An ideal cat enclosure should also serve as a place where a caregiver can go to regularly provide food, water and clean (or scooped) litter to the cats within its confinement. Feeding canned food during confinement will help your cats adapt to their new environment, and after release they can transition over to dry food. Offering hiding spots such as bales of hay or cardboard boxes as possible refuges may be useful should potential predators emerge and threaten them in any way.
Feral cats must be quarantined for three weeks to help them adjust to their new environment, and it is best for them to move with other members of their colony so that when released they have someone they can turn to for support when released back out into the wild. Regular contact must also be maintained with their new caregiver so as to ensure food, water, litter supplies are made available on a daily basis to keep the felines safe.
Rehoming
Caretakers of feral cats often find it heartbreaking to leave them behind when moving, having grown attached to their purring faces and meows of appreciation. But there are ways they can reduce their impact on both themselves and the colony they take care of.
Rehoming feral cats is one option for moving them. Rehoming involves gradually acclimating a feral cat to their new outdoor environment and can take weeks or months before it adjusts fully; for this reason it is vitally important that any cat be housed safely and securely within an enclosed structure like a barn tack room or fully kitted-out shed.
Once a cat has adjusted to life in the outdoors, it should be gradually released so as to prevent it from returning to their old home and becoming sick or injured while searching for it. Relocating all food sources away from its old spot also discourages feral cats from returning there.
If someone is willing to feed the colony of feral cats in their new location, they can be relocated using a trap-neuter-return (TNR) system. When doing so, contact should be made with local veterinarians for advice and supplies as well as having a plan in place for ensuring their health in their new homes.
At first, it may be beneficial to contact or visit the new caregiver regularly in order to check on how the cats are faring, encouraging them to remain dedicated while building trust within the colony. They can also serve as contacts for future relocations. It may also be wise to remove all original food sources and shelters from their old location to discourage unsterilized cats from moving back in – this phenomenon is known as the Vacuum Effect.
Adoption
If you have been caring for a colony of feral cats and are moving, passing over their care could be beneficial to all involved. Doing this would ensure the cats continue receiving adequate attention; just ensure the people taking over have agreed to provide food and water daily as well as having any veterinary work (spay/neuter and vaccinations) completed before taking on responsibility.
Relocating feral cats is often very stressful for them, particularly if they were born there. Cats become very attached to their homes when born there and know every corner and cranny as familiar territory – safe sleeping spots, hiding places and food sources are familiar areas they know well. Being taken away from this familiar territory to a different one where the layout and other cats may be foreign can cause panic-stricken cats to attempt the dangerous journey back there – some may even become injured or die as they attempt to return there!
Due to this reason, it is in the best interests of cats’ health and welfare that post-TNR feral or semi-feral cats be returned to their original locations after having undergone Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). Doing this reduces stress for both the cats and kittens involved. A community cat colony often thrives where it first started.
Feral mothers will mourn their relocated kittens at first, but eventually move on and find other babies to nurse. Community cats too will eventually adapt. Relocating an entire colony can be dangerous for these community cats; but sometimes relocation is necessary due to construction or other circumstances. When relocated, all food sources should be removed so as to prevent new feral cats from moving in; this helps avoid overpopulation issues in future and allows a new caretaker to begin TNR program again when ready.
