How to help in cat colonies?

Cats, like other animals, have inhabited cities for as long as cities have existed. In the past, cats kept rats and vermin at bay and, in return, people fed them and gave them shelter: it was a win-win symbiotic relationship, but as we explained in another article in our blog, cats that have to live in the street are exposed to multiple dangers on a daily basis.

What are controlled cat colonies?

They are a group of cats that live together in an urban or rural space and are fed, sterilised and have a series of necessary care to ensure the welfare of all, both felines and humans.

Often these colonies tend to be seen as a nest of diseases, dirt and problems for the area where these cats live, but this is not the case in controlled colonies.

These colonies are usually formed as a result of two situations: firstly, the abandonment or loss of unneutered domestic cats on the streets; and secondly, the unwanted litters of these abandoned or lost cats that have not been sterilised. All the cats that make up the colonies are domestic cats and belong to the same species, although most of them are considered feral.

These colonies are usually cared for by shelters and people who selflessly lend their help. They are provided with food and everything they need. In order to keep the colony under control, the CES (Catch-Neuter-Release) is applied to avoid overpopulation. These cats are usually under veterinary control to avoid diseases that could cause serious health problems for the individual or the colony

The benefits of a controlled colony are many:

We will avoid excessive reproduction,
We will avoid animal diseases that can be transmitted to humans,
Screams and fights between the cats during the mating season,
Marking of the area where they live,
Reduction of mice and rats in the area,
Improvement of the state of health of the cats that make up the colony.
It avoids flea infestations, as the cats are cared for and dewormed by their managers and caretakers.
Prevents cats from wandering around hungry, begging for food to survive.
It gives the stray cat dignity as a living, feeling being.

If you have ever considered helping with a controlled cat colony, you can do so by talking to the shelters in your area. You can help by donating cat food and accessories such as food bowls and kennels to provide shelter for the cats

Manage your own colony

It is a very common situation where someone starts feeding one cat on the street one day and before long they are feeding several cats. Or someone has gone from feeding 4 kittens to a number of kittens that is already overflowing.

If this has happened to you or you know of someone to whom it has happened, this article is of interest to you, we give you the information you need to know how to act: How to control a colony?

First of all, find out which is the nearest shelter and get in touch with them.
The most important thing of all is to capture them to sterilise them and return them to the colony, they will teach you how to capture them with trap cages and put them in a carrier to take them to the vet.
Take photos of the colony and report the situation to your local council. It is necessary for the local council to be aware of the number of cats and colonies in their area and the need for a sterilisation plan.
Sterilise them all: the breeding process is very fast and in a short time, if you have any left, the colony will grow again. While they are asleep, ask the vet to mark their ears (this way they can be distinguished so that no one will ever catch them again to sterilise). Ear-tagging is a world-wide badge.
Always return cats to their colony except for docile cats and kittens up to 8 weeks old.
Find homes for docile cats and kittens. You can do this with the help of the shelter that will publish it and will manage the adoption contract or foster home with the corresponding follow-up to know the state of the animal and its adaptation to its new family.
Deworm with pipettes the cats that allow themselves to be touched, take advantage of when they eat. To medicate stray cats, take advantage of the wet food to introduce the crushed and mixed tablet.

Feeding colonies

It seems easy to help stray cats by leaving them food near where they live, but if this is not done carefully it can be dangerous for them; or it can cause a public health problem in the neighbourhood where the cats live.

NEVER give cow's milk to cats and NEVER give it to kittens.

If there is a colony near where you live and it is not controlled by anyone (shelter or individuals) you can start to control it. If it is already controlled, contact the shelter or the person in charge before feeding them.

To feed these cats you must take into account:

The food should only be dry food (feed). Do not feed them wet food unless it is very necessary and, of course, do not feed them leftover human food. Wet food attracts insects, rats and other pests, while leftover human food can also be toxic or harmful to cats.
Remove dishes or spoiled food when you leave. Don't litter where cats live, for their comfort and for the sake of public health. Feed cleanly. Do NOT litter the streets.
Every time you go, change the water you have left for them with fresh water. Don't let it stagnate, because the cats won't want to drink it or they will get sick.
If there is any leftover food, leave it hidden and out of reach of passers-by before you leave. Some heartless person might pour poison on it, spread it around and spoil it; or some other animal might eat it.

Sterilisation of colony cats

Part of the responsibility of colony control is the sterilisation of colony members. Through CES projects feral cats are trapped, sterilised and returned to their colonies. It is the most difficult and most expensive part of maintaining a colony, but it is the only way to prevent new births and to keep the colony growing.

The more cats that are neutered, the fewer offspring in the breeding season. Neutered cats also stop having territorial or heat fights. Neutering cats increases their quality of life and greatly reduces the risk of accidents. You can help to sterilise cats in a colony by making a donation towards the cost of sterilisation.

Cold weather shelters

There are different types of solutions to help feral cats in the colder weather. We know that you have to check your car engine before you start it. However, within the colonies we can create comfortable shelters to help the stray cats to sleep more comfortably. There are plenty of tutorials on how to make them.

The suggested shelter is usually made from two large plastic boxes, one larger than the other. A hole is made in each of the boxes, one is placed i

nside the other and the space between the two is filled with straw. This way, the air space between the two boxes will help to insulate the box where the cats will sleep.

Another option is wooden boxes, so that the cats can take shelter inside. Some controlled colonies have them, but they are less economical or homemade than the plastic box shelter.

The responsibility of local councils

Legally, cat colonies should be managed by local councils, which in turn can hold the cat feeder and colony manager responsible for the management of the colony. However, this is not always the case; it is usually private individuals or associations that take care of the colonies and assume all the financial costs to ensure the welfare of the cats. This is why it is very important that individuals inform their local councils when they detect a colony so that the institutions are aware of the magnitude and the need to help in the management of existing cat colonies in their locality.

We hope you have found it useful and that you are encouraged to lend a hand in the colonies around you.