​Stray & Feral (community) Kitties

A Stray kitty is one which has been socialized to people at some point in her life, but has left or lost her indoor home, as well as most human contact & dependence. She can become feral as her contact with humans dwindles and she is left with no choice but to fend for herself and scavenge for food. Under the right circumstances she can become a pet cat once again. Stray kitties that are reintroduced to a home after living outdoors may require a period of time to re-acclimate may be frightened & wary after spending time outside away from people.

​A Kitty's PURRsuit of Happiness allows all healing time necessary and has successfully homed several hundreds of kitties who are now living very happy, spoiled lives - as they should! Please like and join KPOH's Facebook page where the majority of our rescues are presented and helped - you too can be part of the success story for one or more of these fortunate fur babies. That would be so pawesome!

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​Feral Kitties & Colonies

​A Feral kitty is one who has either never had any contact with humans or her contact with humans has diminished over time. She is not socialized to people and survives on her own outdoors. ​Most feral kitties are not likely to ever become lap cats or enjoy living indoors.  A feral kitty can live safely within an enclosed outdoor sanctuary if she is lucky enough to be treated to such. However, most live on the dangerous streets. Usually, it's very difficult to assess whether a kitty is a true feral, or just a very scared stray. If she is a stray, once she learns that she is not in harm's way, she will become less afraid and will learn to trust and accept human interaction.

Some take longer than others which most Animal Services sadly do not have the time to discern, and kitty mistakenly gets euthanized and never gets the chance for another home.

Please keep your kitty indoors so that this does not happen. Do not leave them behind when you move as abandonment is not only cruel, but criminal. Please have a heart and leave food & water in a safe place for the kitties that have been let down by irresponsible people in society. There are many very affordable low cost spay/neuter clinics available. Please do a search for one in your area. Ignoring them will only result in having more kitties suffer. Please always try to help.

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TNR (Trap, Neuter & Release)

TNR is the humane, effective approach for feral kitties. They are humanely trapped (we use and recommend the Tru-Catch live traps) spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and ear tipped (the universal symbol of a neutered and vaccinated cat), and then returned to their outdoor home. Kittens can be socialized for adoption to indoor homes. The colony’s population stabilizes—no more kittens! TNR improves their lives and their relations with the community, and the behaviors and stresses associated with mating stop.

​Not returning a feral kitty but instead taking her to any form of Animal Services will more often than not, result in the needless loss of her life, and others will come in to take her place (known as the vacuum effect). THIS IS TRUE OF ANY WILD ANIMAL - PLEASE DO NOT CALL PEST CONTROL ETC - THEY WILL TRAP AND KILL (including raccoons, opossums, etc). CULLING DOES NOT WORK. Please leave them be, they have a right to live. 

Taking the kitty (or any other wild animal) to another location other than which you have found her will cause the kitty to be lost and she will roam trying to find her way back "home" where she is familiar. Sadly, this too results in death due to starvation, illness/disease, being killed and all other hazards of being outdoors in an unfamiliar area. The kindest thing you can do if you have several cats outdoors is to TNR them, provide a means of shelter to the best of your capabilities, and to provide food & water on a daily basis. Take clandestine measures in doing so to keep them safe from humans who do not like kitties. Please be compassionate - help feral kitties as they shouldn't have to suffer because of previous irresponsible humans. 

The Community Cats Podcast is an excellent resource for individuals and communities with ALL situations in regards to what to do and how to help outdoor cats!

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Another kind thing that you can do even if you don't see any kitties outside (they are more
​than likely there whether you see them or not). Please leave out some clean water.
Kitties need at least 3 oz and more per day & it's really difficult to find that in most places.
Please, all it costs you is a few minutes of your time, but is life or death for
them and other animals trying to survive..

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​STRAY CAT PRAYER 

​Dear God, Please send me somebody who’ll care….
I’m so tired of running and sick with despair.
My body is aching and filled with such pain,
And I pray for a cure as I run through the rain.

That someone will love me and give me a home,
A warm cozy bed, and food of my own.
My last owner left me alone in the yard…
I watched as they moved, and man that was hard.

So I waited awhile, then went on my way,
To rummage in garbage and live as a stray.
But now, I’m so tired and hungry and cold,
And I’m so afraid that I will never grow old.

They’ve chased me with sticks and hit with straps,
While I run through the street just looking for scraps.
I’m really not bad, please help if you can.
For I have become just another “victim of man”

 I’m wormy, I’m starving and ridden with fleas;
And all that I want is an owner to please.
If you find one for me, I’ll try to be good.
I won’t scratch the carpet, I’ll do as I should.

I would love them, play their games and try to obey.
I would be so grateful if they’d only let me stay!
I don’t think I’ll make it too long on my own,
Because I’m getting weak and I’m so all alone.

Each night as I sleep in the bushes I cry,
I am so afraid that soon I am going to die.
I’ve got so much love and devotion to give,
Couldn’t I be given a new chance to live?

So Dear God, please hear me, please answer my prayer,
And send someone to me who REALLY WILL CARE.

~ Author Unknown ~

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