_jfif.jpg)
GOT MICE? WE HAVE A SOLUTION.
In the course of our rescue work, occasionally feral cats are encountered
who cannot be socialized and are not suitable for adoption. Some of these
cats need to be relocated from their outdoor homes due to dangerous
conditions such as: traffic on a busy road, construction, demolition of their
shelter, or predators in the area. Once these cats have been rescued and
assessed to be unsuitable for an indoor home, they are relocated to carefully
scrutinized outdoor homes through our Feral Cat Relocation Program (FCRP).
The FCRP provides cats free of charge to qualified applicants.
Cats available through the FCRP are feral, meaning that they are not
socialized. While they may feel comfortable being in close proximity to
humans, there is no expectation of being able to touch them. These cats
come fully vetted. They are examined by a veterinarian, treated for any
injuries or medical conditions, spayed or neutered, and vaccinated. When
possible, feral cats are adopted out to outdoor homes in groups of at least
two.
Adopters looking for an outdoor cat must agree to provide a suitable outdoor home (such as a barn, shed or garage) as well as food and water on a daily basis. They must treat the cats in their care humanely, agreeing to keep the cats safe and provide any follow-up veterinary care required to keep the cats healthy.
Adopters are required to adhere to OSCatR’s settlement process which starts the day you receive the cats and lasts a minimum of two weeks. During the settlement process, the cats must be confined to a large crate or room as directed by OSCatR volunteers. The area must be safe from predators and protected from the elements. During this time, the adopter will be responsible for providing the cats with an adequate amount of food, water, and litter. Keeping the cats contained during the settlement process will significantly increase the likelihood that they will stay in the area once released.
Stray/ Community Cats in Your Area?
What You Can Do:
Trap-Neuter-Release
Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) is a community-based program. It involves concerned citizens trapping or working with trappers to catch free-roaming cats in the neighbourhood, bringing them to a clinic or program to get them spayed or neutered, and then returning the cats to the exact spot where they were trapped (assuming food and shelter are available). For more information on our TNR program, see oscatr.ca/tnr/.
Provide Outdoor Cats with Food
Unlike wild animals, cats living outdoors cannot survive without an adequate food source, especially during cold winter months. If you notice stray cats in your neighbourhood and would like to help, consider providing them with food and water. If there is an electrical outlet handy, a heated water dish can be used to prevent the water from freezing.
Provide Outdoor Cats with Shelter
Cats living outdoors are no match for the cold and snow, and cannot survive without adequate shelter during winter months. Luckily, winter cat shelters can be simple to make. In fact, a winter cat shelter can be made in under an hour using a plastic storage bin, Styrofoam insulation (e.g. a Styrofoam cooler), and some straw.
We recommend placing food a safe distance from the shelter so that it’s easily accessible for your cat, but far enough away so as not to put your cat at risk from predators. Also keep in mind that you may never see a cat in your shelter, even if it’s getting used. Cat-sized depressions in the straw will let you know 'the cats are in' when you're not around.
It is important to position your shelter somewhere that will prevent snow drifts or snow piles from trapping your furry friends inside their home.