PAW’S CORNER 10/13/11

PAW’S CORNER

Are Strays a Threat to Housecats?

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: We have several apparently stray cats that can be seen wandering the neighborhood in the early morning and at night. I’m not sure where they came from, but there is a large stand of pine trees and scrub behind our subdivision. I’m afraid to let my cats out even during the day, as I worry they could come in contact with or be attacked by one of these strays. What can I do? — Gary in Tampa

DEAR GARY: Contact your local animal-control office about the stray cats. They may be a colony of feral cats — cats that have lived their entire lives apart from humans. If so, they most likely can’t be socialized.

This is an ongoing problem in Florida, particularly, as feral cat colonies grow in suburban areas. And yes, it makes going outside somewhat dangerous for your housecats. If possible, keep them indoors at all times. If you have a screened enclosure, they can hang out there, as long as the screen has no holes that would allow them to escape.

Keep your cats’ immunizations up to date, as diseases like FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) and rabies are common among feral cat populations. If one of your cats is attacked or you see it in contact with a feral cat, take your cat straight to the vet.

Now, it is possible that animal control will not trap the cats wandering your neighborhood. Or, they may catch them, yet you’ll see more cats turn up. What some animal welfare groups are doing — since shelters are full already — is trapping the cats, having them spayed or neutered and given immunizations, and then releasing them back to their colony. The hope is that fewer breeding cats will reduce the feral population.

Send your question or comment to ask@pawscorner.com, or write to Paw’s Corner, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. For more pet care-related advice and information, visit http://www.pawscorner.com.

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