Feral Cats

A feral cat is one who has reverted in some degree to a wild state. Feral cats originate from former domestic cats who were lost or abandoned and they learned to live outdoors or in environments involving little human contact. In most cases, feral cats are not completely wild because they still depend on people for their food source, whether it is a caretaker who comes by daily or a dumpster outside a restaurant. Relatively few feral cats subsist only by hunting.

TNR (Trap/neuter/return) respects a feral cat's wild state. The Humane Society of Tampa Bay supports TNR and is trying to help the situation. Thankfully, we're not alone. Many people in our community locate colonies of feral cats, trap them, bring them to our Spay/Neuter Clinic to get spayed or neutered, vaccinated, tested for FeLV/FIV, and ear notched, then release them back to the colony. Once all the cats are spayed and neutered, the caretakers continue to feed and care for the colony allowing the cats to live out their lives without reproducing.

In 2006, Hillsborough County euthanized 29,248 animals; 18,266 were cats. There are an estimated 200,000 feral cats in Hillsborough County.

HSTB offers a large discount on services for feral & free roaming cats in order to help reduce the overpopulation epidemic. Pending receipts of grants from foundations, corporations, or individuals, prices may be reduced even further.

For more information or assistance with Feral Cats, please contact the Petra Gearhart, our Feral Cat Coordinator, at her cell phone (813)625-0910 or cat.spay@hotmail.com.