Do you remember that cute little kitten from the litter down the street that you just had to take home? You took her name, named her Patches, and bonded with her. You loved playing with her, enjoyed her sleeping in your bed, and loved the way she purred when you rubbed her ears.
You never did get around to having her spayed as you promised, however, when she first came into heat you keep her indoors to ensure she did not get pregnant. She was a sweet and adorable kitten that loved to be held, cuddled, and depended on you for not only love and affection, but also shelter and food.
About the time Patches turned a year old, you were transferred to another state, so you and the family packed up and moved. You left behind Patches, watching you in wonderment as you drove away never looking back. You explained to the kids, that Patches would be able to fend herself or that another family would take her in as part of their family.
Want to know where she is today? You left her without a family to protect her or feed her. She spent her first few days sitting by the door hoping you would let her in to eat and have a warm place to eat, but you never came. New people moved in and certainly did not want a cat as a pet. She was shooed away and even kicked a few times by the new owners hoping to rid their home of this pest.
Now, a year has gone by. Patches lives on the street, digs in trashcans in the hopes of finding food. She has no home and no one to care for her. She has had two litters of kittens in the wild and her kittens are now known as feral cats. Feral cats are born to domesticated cats that do not have homes. She is cold, her ribs are showing from lack of food, one of her ears has been injured and is infected, and she longs for the home she once had with her family.
If this sounds like something, you have done in the past to a cat or kitten, then now is the time to think before you leave another cat to fend for themselves.
In the United States, it is estimated that around 15 million homeless cats are killed every year in shelters across America. Stray cats if they have a home have a chance to be joined with their family; however, Patches and especially her kittens have no chance at all. Her kittens are not use to human contact that will run at the sight of a human. If brought to a shelter or pound they will be put to death as they cannot be adopted.
The solution is not to kill these cute adorable and loving cats, but find a safe and humane way in which to stop these feral cats from having more kittens that cannot be provided with care and love. The answer is through organizations such as Alley Cat Allies that help to protect our nation’s cats from certain death. You can help! It is never too late to start the process to care for stray cats and feral cats in your community.

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