Pet Nutrition Q & A: Feeding Ferals
A stray cat comes into my backyard every day. What can I feed her?
―Sally
In general, Sally, we recommend that you choose a high-quality cat food. Good brands are available at grocery stores and pet supply stores, and you can also order them through veterinary offices. You should also make sure that clean, fresh water is available to her at all times.
It is important to remember that, if you do decide to feed this stray, it means that you are taking responsibility for her, and also need to supply her with veterinary health care and shelter. Some cats can do well if they are kept strictly outdoors, but cats generally live longer and healthier lives when kept indoors.
If you are not currently able to care for the cat yourself, you should consider taking her to a good shelter where she has a strong chance for adoption into a good home.
Sally, thanks again for contacting us, and please feel free to email us again if we can be of further assistance.
More Pet Nutrition Questions...
―Sally
In general, Sally, we recommend that you choose a high-quality cat food. Good brands are available at grocery stores and pet supply stores, and you can also order them through veterinary offices. You should also make sure that clean, fresh water is available to her at all times.
It is important to remember that, if you do decide to feed this stray, it means that you are taking responsibility for her, and also need to supply her with veterinary health care and shelter. Some cats can do well if they are kept strictly outdoors, but cats generally live longer and healthier lives when kept indoors.
If you are not currently able to care for the cat yourself, you should consider taking her to a good shelter where she has a strong chance for adoption into a good home.
Sally, thanks again for contacting us, and please feel free to email us again if we can be of further assistance.
More Pet Nutrition Questions...
Labels: Pet Care
posted by ASPCA at 4:09 PM PERMALINK
6 Comments:
I agree, these feral and/or stray cats need a higher quality of food then a indoor cat with the priviledge of full medical care and love.
If it is indeed truly a "feral" cat then chances of catching her to bring her to a GOOD QUALITY shelter are nill.
If you do catch kitty then PLEASE bring her to a good place not just some hole in the wall city run place. UNLESS your town/city happens to have a good facility.
I personally have seen city run shelters that are disgusting. The poor kitty's and doggy's would be better off outside. Now THAT'S bad.
I have used "Friskies" in the purple bag it contains "Carnation milk balls". You'll know it when you see it.
I also set out wet food 1 or 2x a week for the extra boost of protein. Especially if it is a girl and she may be un spayed and we all know where THAT leads.
Please try form a bond with your stray and if you can't keep her personally then try to bring her to a place where she will get another chance.
The answer to your question is: Yes, choose high quality pet food, BUT educate yourself about the food so that you don't inadvertently perpetuate animal abuse.
Up until last year I was happily unaware about what goes into pet food, and which companies produce unhealthy food. Then my youngest kitty got sick. After some very high vet bills, but no significant improvement, I did weeks of thorough research about possible causes of his urinary problems. That is when I stumbled upon truly disturbing facts about pet food, and found a holistic food, which worked for my baby.
There are a few high end, holistic pet foods out there, and I'm sure that any one of them would work well, and be as affordable as grocery store pet food.
If you'd like, you can go to pawsandthink.com to see what I feed all my animals -though you in no way have to use that brand-, but more importantly, to obtain great information about pet food ingredients, and comparisons between pet food brands.
Some say "tomatoe" some say "tomatoh" the old saying rings true in this article and the opinions that follow.
It IS great to feed feral kitty cats. In their short, turbulent life they KNOW of one place that will have consistency for them in one area atleast..Untill you STOP setting out food that is...
Some say if you feed kitty's in that situation morally if not legally (in some states) you SHOULD atleast get the cat in question the most basic of medical care. Fixing/vaccinations/flea collars every 60 days, ect..
It may be "cruel" in the long run to feed these poor kitty cats. What if you move? Will the next occupant be as charitable?
So, in the long run it is not about "special" "fancy schmancy organic kibbles" It is truly about kitty's well being and if you will step up to the plate to do that ONE extra step to "save" her/his life.
IF kitty is TRULY feral then please do the best you can to help it live a better, healthier, life.
I live way out in the desert. People are dumping their animals out here all the time. Absolutely disgusting! Most animals don't make it this far out, having been killed by coyotes, big birds, wild dog packs, starvation or whatever.
However, there are two boy kitties who did make it to my place.
And they are feral, I can't get too near them, but I feed them, and do the best I can for them.
They will come out and just talk away to me.
Oh, sure, I would love to get them vet care.
But I am 70 years old, and can't catch the little buggers and they hide from everyone else.
I figure any animal that makes it this far out, through all they must have gone through to get here, deserves the best I can give them.
I agree that of course the cat/kitten chances of survival are best in a shelter with the hopes of being adopted, however, from my present experience nobody is willing or able to help with taking 3 kittens that have been living outside of my apartment building for weeks now. I managed to find a Trapper who came and was able to trap 2 of the 3 kittens and they were TNR'ed with my own money. We are going to try to catch the 3rd one in a few more weeks.
I am just frustrated & I am not in a financial position to keep feed them every single day but somehow I have been managing.
I love cats, I do, but people that feed feral cats are really not doing these poor creatures any favors. I sometimes think these people are just doing this to make themselves feel good. A feral cat is subjected to disease, preadators, traffic dangers and they become a nusance to neighbors who have no desire to have a cat. They deficate is your neighbors yards andd carry fleas and disease. PLEASE do not feed these cats. It at best cruelty to animals. Traps are set out, cats are caught and then what happens to these poor animals. Feeding them helps them to procreate,have more homeless cats and become a bigger nusance.
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