Pages

October 16, 2016

A Special Angel Sammy Selfie - Feral Cat Day

Today's selfie comes all the way from the Rainbow Bridge. It's our beloved Angel Sammy, who's taken a beautiful picture to accompany his very important message! So, what's on your mind, Sammy?

::whispers:: Thanks for the intro, Dad. I love you and Mom lots. (We love you lots, too, Doots. Be sure to tell Moosey, Maggie, Graphite, Bitsy and Lady Madonna we love them, too, okay?)

Hi everybuddy!  It's me, Angel Sammy, sharing a really important message from the Rainbow Bridge! Guess what today is? It's National Feral Cat Day, the day launched in 2001 by Alley Cat Allies, the national advocacy group for feral and stray cats. I actually know LOTS about feral cats (you know, those kitties who aren't socialized to humans that you probably see around your neighborhood), because I used to live in a feral cat colony before I ended up at PAWS (where Mom and Dad adopted me!). Here are a few facts you might not know:

1. Feral cats have lived alongside humans for more than 10,000 years! They are the same species as pet cats, but are not socialized to people, so they are not adoptable. Ferals live in groups called colonies and can thrive in all kinds of settings.

2. Trap-Neuter-Return - a humane approach to managing and caring for feral cats - is the only effective method of stabilizing feral cat colonies. With TNR, cats who live outdoors are humanely trapped and checked out medically, spayed or neutered and given their shots. Some of these cats are found to be friendly (like lucky me!), and are put up for adoption. The ones who are truly feral are re-released into the areas from which they came, with volunteer caregivers providing a managed food source and monitoring the colony to aid sick or injured cats. Because they are spayed and neutered, the feral kitties don't have to deal with stuff like territorial fighting, mating and pregnancy, and no new kittens are born.

3. In the last decade, the number of local governments with official policies endorsing TNR for feral cats has increased tenfold, with 100s of cities and towns successfully carrying out TNR.

4. Sadly, in many municipalities, cats are still caught and taken to animal pounds and shelters where they are killed. The shelter system is the number one cause of death for cats in the United States. That’s why it’s so important for people to consider feral kitties today and every day, to help change society and create compassionate communities for cats.

===


We're participating in the Sunday Selfies Blog Hop, hosted by our great friends at The Cat on My Head. Be sure to stop by, to see who's hopping along (or to join in the fun)! :)

43 comments:

Cathy Keisha said...

Angel Sammy, nice to see you again and what an important message. They kinda ignore feral cats in our town. Our animal control is a joke. Everything is left up to TNR groups like UCFCC that TW works with. They get no funds from the town but the fake animal control get over $300,000 a year.

Erin the Cat Princess said...

Hi Angel Sammy, I agree it such an important message to share and you have spelled it out very well. Just because they are wild doesn't mean they can not be cared for and cherished as an important part of our society. purrs ERin

Summer at sparklecat.com said...

National Feral Cat Day is SUCH an important day - I'm so glad you're spreading the word!

Kitties Blue said...

Our mommy really needed to pawticipate in this and had planned to. We are disappointed that she didn't, but so happy you did. We hadn't met Sammy before. Thanks for letting him do this very important post so we could meet him. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calsita Jo

Little Miss Titch said...

That is an important Message to get out there My Grandpa in the US takes care of the local community cats by TNR ,providing food ,shelter and water and he even socialises and rehomes those that he can too,xx Speedy

Momma Kat and Her Bear Cat said...

You are so right, Sammy. I was so disgusted to find that most municipalities in the area have an “extermination” policy … kill, no questions asked. It actually made the news because one city partnered with a rescue and adopted TNR. Even worse? The comments on the story complained about “nuisance” cats – and supported killing all ferals. Completely disgusting. I don’t know if I’d go so far as to claim Bear was feral … but he saved my life and he was one of those homeless “nuisance” cats when we met – so this topic is close to my heart.

The Chair Speaks said...

Angel Sammy, purrs and headbutts from us for spreading these words!

Anonymous said...

Ive rehomed a few homeless animals over the years, so always appreciate all the good work volunteers do xx

The Whiskeratti said...

We agree, this is a very impawtant message.

Marg said...

Oh Darn, we didn't know it was National Feral Cat day.Sorry we missed this. The feral cats are very nice cats as long as the person has ton of patience. They do make wonderful pets.Thanks for that wonderful post Angel Sammy.

Memories of Eric and Flynn said...

It's lovely to see you again, Angel Sammy, and with such an important message.

www.shelter-cats.com said...

Kisses, dear Sammy.
TNR is the only and most humane solution for feral cats. Our Mickey Mouser and Rufus came from feral colonies.
xxoo
Maggie

Brian's Home Blog said...

That was a wonderful and most important message Angel Sammy! Our Feral Cat Day was delayed because Dad was doing the TNR thing.

The Island Cats said...

Sammy, it's so great to see you today. And thanks for sharing this important message about feral cats.

Lola The Rescued Cat said...

Thanks for posting about such an important topic. Unfortunately we didn't get it together in time to write about it. Now that winter is approaching, Mommy starts to worry about the ferals in our neighborhood.

The Menagerie Mom said...

It so wonderful to see you, Angel Sammy! And thank you for sharing this incredibly important message with us. We are so lucky in that our community has at least one rescue group that focuses primarily on trapping and neutering ferals, as well socializing those that can be and adopting them out. We also do what we can for the ferals in our neighborhood, and they hold a special place in our heart. Thank you again for spreading the word about this, Angel Sammy!

Savannah's Paw Tracks said...

Good to meet you Angel Sammie. Community cats aka feral cats are wonderful and deserve to be treated humanely. Thank you for you post today.

Mickey's Musings said...

So many cats benefit from TNR.
WE purr more cities will adopt this and see the benefits.
Humans domesticated cats and are therefore responsible for them.
At least we wish more humans were.

Purrs Georgia and Julie,
Treasure and JJ

wildcatwoods said...

Sorry - wrong comment. Thanks for a great post Angel Sammy.

The Daily Pip said...

Thank you for sharing, Angel Sammy. Say hi to Angel Buddy for us (we wrote about him today).

Anonymous said...

Grate message Angel Sammy Kat!!!!
Fankss fur sharin this an it iss a pleasure to meet you all thee way frum Pure Land!
Sinseerlee, Siddhartha Henry =^,.^=

The Swiss Cats said...

Great information, Angel Sammy ! Purrs

Tamago said...

It's lovely to see you, Angel Sammy, and thank you for the important message! Feral kitties deserve to live a safe and happy life. TNR is a wonderful program!

Basil and The B Team ~ BionicBasil ® said...

Angel Sammy what a truly fab post with such an important message, thanks fur sharing and we did too!

Purrs

Basil & Co xox

Anonymous said...

Great posty.

Luv ya'

Dezi and Raena

Danielle L Zecher said...

Hi Angel Sammy, thank you for the reminder to help out the feral cats.

Melissa, Mudpie and Angel Truffles (Mochas, Mysteries and Meows) said...

What a beautiful way to share such an important message on this special day! Your words to each other in italics has my eyes leaking :(

pilch92 said...

Excellent post, it breaks my heart knowing all the cats that are euthanized daily. I hope TNR becomes the norm everywhere.

ANGEL ABBYGRACE said...

Hi Angel Sammie!!! What a great post and we couldn't agree more with you!!!

Pip said...

Very good message, angel Sammy!
You've 8avery good thing.
Your pals, TK and Pip

Marvelous Marv said...

Sammy! Darling! Its so good to sees your smiling face!!! Wes is BIG advocates of TNR and realize how impawtant it is - especially for feral cat colonies. Thanks so much for your special announcement and please tells everyone (and especially Moosey, Maggie, Graphite, Bitsy and Lady Madonna) mes is sending them dream kisses!
Kisess
Nellie

Clooney said...

Aw Sammy, so good to see you...what a sweet pic of you! Such an important post!

A Tonl said...

aw Angel Sammy, that's such an important message! Thank you fo sharing, dood!

Anonymous said...

Thank you to bring such an impawtant message, Sammy. We have to make sure that it reaches everyone in the world. Pawkisses for a Happy Day :) <3

Gattina said...

Sterilization helps a lot to reduce the number of feral cats ! We too have organizations here to help them.

Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty said...

What a great post, Angel Sammy! So sad about the cats that end up getting killed in shelters but we're glad there are wonderful organizations working to help feral kitties.

Purrs xx
Athena and Marie

Connie - Tails from the Foster Kittens said...

Thank you for sharing the message

Colehaus Cats said...

You shared it right, angel Sammy! Kisses to you and to all the ferals out there needing help and compassion.

Photo Cache said...

Great job on this post Angel Sammy.

Emma and Buster

Anonymous said...

This made me both smile and cry. Thanks for posting this in such a special way. We have taken in so many ferals over the past 35 years, and loved so many more. They are all with us still. And they drive us to help others. HUGS.

Three Chatty Cats said...

What a great post, Sammy. Thank you for spreading awareness about National Feral Cat Day.

Unknown said...

Beautiful angel Sammy. Thanks for sharing this vital message. And tell my bridge kitties Eamon and Troy hello for me. Troy was living as a feral boy for awhile himself, so he'll have a lot to share with you!

Dash Kitten Crew said...

Hello Angel Sammy we are very pro TNR and think people are stupid NOT to do this. LONG LIVE #FeralCatDay