By Alisa Mullins

National Feral Cat Day is this month, and I am reminded of a feral cat I knew years ago. When the cat first appeared on my front porch, he had long, silky fur. I started feeding him and trying to earn his trust. But as the months passed, he got into fights with other cats and developed enormous abscesses that refused to heal. Finally, after several unsuccessful attempts, I managed to trap the cat and whisk him to a vet. Sadly, the big, once-handsome cat tested positive for FIV, the feline equivalent of AIDS. The disease had ravaged his gums and teeth, most of which had fallen out. Even worse, an infection had spread from his gums to his heart, doing irreparable damage.

It was all over. The injection was painless, making this poor cat’s death more peaceful than much of his life had been.

Deadly infectious diseases such as feline AIDS are just some of the many dangers that feral cats face. These forgotten cats do not die of “old age.” They are attacked by other animals, are hit by cars and die of exposure or starvation. During winter months, automobile engine fans slice through cats who seek shelter under warm car hoods. Continue reading Don’t turn your back on feral cats →