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Feral Cats

Feral cats are the 'wild' offspring of domestic cats and are primarily the result of pet owners' abandonment or failure to spay and neuter their animals, allowing them to breed uncontrolled. Feral cat 'colonies' can be found behind shopping areas or businesses, in alleys, parks, abandoned buildings, and rural areas. They are elusive and do not trust humans.

Many people assume their animals will survive when they move away and leave them behind. Contrary to popular belief, domestic animals do not automatically return to their "natural" instincts and cannot fend for themselves.

The resulting feral cats require a certain type of home, usually in stables where they have shelter and food. The cats enjoy the shelter and freedom and in return they keep the mice and rat population under control.

Croydon Animal Samaritans have set up a feral enclosure which is a secure haven where some of our rescued feral's can live. We currently have 16 cats in this small feral enclosure. These cats are elderly ferals who could no longer live on the sites where they came from. It is not our policy to keep young feral cats in the enclosure as we do find homes in stables for these cats where they are much needed.

Inside the enclosure there are sponsored Villas where the residents can sleep on comfy and warm bedding and on cold days they are heated. There are cat scratch posts and toys for them to play with and plenty of toilet facilities.

The enclosure is partly shaded by overhead trees but the sun filters through so they can still enjoy a sunbathe. It is hoped in the future that we can install a system used by some sanctuaries to make fences virtually inescapable, and if we can surround the grounds with this it will mean that once they have time to get used to things in the enclosure many can then move out into the grounds with more sponsored "Villas" dotted around the grounds in which to live. This will be a big project but very worthwhile for the freedom with security it will bring the rescued feral's.