Feral Programme

Achievements to Date

Freshfields would like to thank Cats Protection for their continued financial support. Our neutering programme would not make the impact it does without them.

Since the programme began in earnest annually around 500 feral cats have been trapped and neutered with most returned to their colonies. Some we were unable to return return due to the likelyhood of Pest Control companies being called in and the cats, neutered or not, classed as vermin and faced with certain destruction. With this in mind we started a feral cat relocation programme that extends all over the NorthWest, and groups of 2-6 have been moved to equestrian centres and farms in Yorkshire, Cumbrian, Leicester, Oxon and Wales.

The types of home we look for are stables, smallholdings, farms, anywhere with land and outbuildings in which the cats can live. We welcome all enquiries, simply let us have your postcode. One requirement is that we insist that the site is lived on. All our feral groups are neutered, vaccinated, blood tested for both FIV-status and Lukaemia and are ear tipped. In the main, they are young groups removed from unsafe locations. We have successfully introduced groups to over 15 commercial agricultural enterprises including McKinsley Organic Herb Growers of Wigan, Croft Riding Centre at Warrington and Leptol Stud Farm of Chorley.

We provide an advice service and everything needed to effect a safe release. To many stables etc feral cats can be an easy form of pest control and from the cats point of view as long as they are fed (one of our requirements) it is a much better life than we could give them.

If you have a feral cat problem that needs our attention, please fill out the booking form and send in to us. We will be in touch. We do have a sizeable waiting list of households needing our presence so ask that you be patient.

Feral Cats - A Moral Persepctive

Introduction

• Liverpool, Sefton and Knowsley have long had a major feral cat population problem. The choice of response has always been between destroy or neuter.

• The R.S.P.C.A. in all areas has completely refused to accept feral cats as either a welfare issue of a pest problem. The Cats Protection League, whilst consistently recognising the welfare issues of ferals, generally does not provide a trapping service although they will loan traps to householders for neutering purposes. Many of the smaller animal rescues in Liverpool operate trapping and neutering programmes. Freshfields Animal Rescue Centre neuters up to 500 feral cats annually and will not destroy except on veterinary advice.

The Background

• Our definition of feral is simply this: a kitten that has developed without the handling, the touch, the smell, and the co-existence of humans, handling being the all-important factor. The mother cat may have been domesticated but if her progeny have been left without human contact, they will be feral. If kittens fail to experience frequent human handling within seven weeks of life, it is a struggle to domesticate them.

• All over Merseyside there are groups of 5-30 ferals on housing estates, factories, colleges, waste ground and derelict buildings. Left unchecked, one finds spiralling numbers, inter-breeding, poor health and a potential nuisance value.

• Many householders actually tolerate/support small feral colonies by feeding/co-operating with our humane policies/donating towards our work/advising our rescue centre when a cat requires veterinary attention. Confidence in our organisation engenders the development of such relationships which have been built up over a number of years and have been led by our example and our ability to work with and for the community at the behest of residents. We work for no profit but with the specific goal of containing colony size, ensuring colony health and providing essential back-up and support services. As no one else provides such comprehensive facilities, we have developed our special expertise in this field.

• Ferals can support themselves in the wild, feeding on our waste at trade and household sites (the provision of wheelie bins is paramount in this respect) and hunting-the catching of prey such as large seagulls is common. Ferals breed indiscriminately but often reject their young in disturbed situations or stressful/poor health environments. To some extent, therefore, they limit their own numbers. In a limitless feeding regime, however, where there is refusal to countenance/seek a consistent neutering scheme, colony size will become a major problem for local residents. Education is vital in such circumstances; ignorance of a proper response to escalating numbers can only be tackled effectively by means of a proactive, energetic initiative.

The Questions

• Are ferals a pest? Without a doubt, if there is no input from organisations like ourselves, they can be. Properly managed, however, with the emphasis on community support, we do not recognise them as a pest at all. Our work with the community ensures that the ferals’ potential to become a pest is not realised.

• Left unmanaged, the outcome is sadly predictable - over-breeding, interbreeding, diseased animals, potential fatal pockets of FIV/Leukaemia infection, infestations of parasites – the list is endless. The policy of this charity addresses all these issues.

• The Question of killing does arise. Some diseased animals are routinely put to sleep on veterinary advice by all charities. Sometimes there is no choice – but it remains our last option. Some households/businesses absolutely refuse to grant us permission to enter their property to trap and neuter cats – they prefer to call in pest control operatives – killing is the routine here but this charity will not engage in such activity.

• Our experience of operations conducted by pest control controllers/local councils/even some dubious welfare operatives are less than reassuring. Motive seems to be the defining factor. This charity has an intense conviction, almost as an obsession, about neutering because we recognise that we face a simple difficulty, an unsolved problem across Merseyside that is, over-population of cats and dogs. Once called in to assist with a colony we have a single aim - the elimination not of life but of the ability to reproduce. It has been our experience that without the dedicated application of this driven, single – minded goal, 100% removal of the colony is not achievable – twelve months later the pest potential is still present, because breeding adults have been missed.

The Answers

• There is absolutely no doubt that nation – wide colony neutering provides the only really practical solution. Freshfields immediately responds to all initial feral calls with a site visit by our staff. Face to face, all problems can be aired, all feral feeders contacted and their co-operation gained, site surveys completed and numbers and health of ferals checked. In addition, an overall assessment of site suitability is made. Given a choice of kill or neuter, few sites will opt for destruction.

• Usually, we have a choice of three methods of ensnaring cats. Virtually everybody else relies on one method only. This restriction drastically reduces their effectiveness. Most commonly used are automatic tunnel cage traps that rely on the cat depressing a pedal in its attempt to get food. These traps are indiscriminate in which cats (or other animals)! they trap. The second method, Jackson traps, is used by no one but us. They are constructed by us and operate by hand. This not only allows the trapping of two adults at a time but also permits the selection of individual cat/s wanted (perhaps a pregnant female/the colony matriarch/the most nervous therefore the most difficult to catch etc.). Thirdly, with the correct safety gear we catch cats in enclosed areas by hand – not to be recommended but perfectly safe if one is experienced.

• This charity does not simply neuter and then turf out all ferals in colonies. We are very conscious of the health risks they pose. All are treated for possible parasites prior to release (worms/fleas/lice/ticks). Those deemed at risk or exhibiting symptoms giving cause for concern are routinely FIV/FELV tested. FIV is feline aids, a predominantly male disease in un - neutered colonies but rife in small pockets. FELV is feline leukaemia. We no longer remove feral kittens from colonies.

• The service that we provide to the community of Sefton, Knowsley and Liverpool is unparalleled. We make no charge whatsoever, we incur large veterinary/transport/wage bills and the service is a constant drain on our limited resources. Some householders are eligible for CPL funding, this partly pays the veterinary bill but the size of our operation is consistent with its needs and the importance we attach to it.

• If you have a feral cat problem that needs our attention, please fill out the booking form and send in to us. We will be in touch. We do have a sizeable waiting list of households needing our presence.

• We strongly recommend consultation with the following three national cat advisory/consultative groups whose experience and wisdom has benefited our own charity:

Cats Protection League, 17 Kings Road, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 5PN
Celia Hammond Animal Trust, 233 Lewisham Way, Peckham, London, SE4
Cat Action Group Trust, The Old Smithy, Rattery, South Brent, Devon TQ10 9LE