Many cats are born in the wild and have very difficult time finding shelter food and water.  I have seven cats of which two (Jessie Jane and Michael picture left) are feral cats found as kittens in a neighbors barn.  Once I had the cats visit the vet to review their health, I had to contain them in the bedroom to keep them away the other cats.  I put food and water out, introduced them to the litter box and bought them toys so they wouldn’t get bored.   They both spent for about two weeks hiding under the bed, hissing, meowing and otherwise letting their displeasure be known.  Then came the time to start taming the pair of kittens to me and the rest of the cats.

Taming these lovely cats required talking to them.  Using a calming, soothing tone and talking softly.  I had to let them come to me not making any sudden moves.  Once they felt comfortable with me and the surroundings I started introducing them to the other cats.  This took almost two months of hiding, hissing and letting the other cats know of their displeasure.

Ferrel cats can make beautiful life time friends. Once your new Ferrel kittens are settled in, getting along with the family of feline friends, you will have a cat that will give you love for years. These cats can be standoffish or very cuddly. It depends on you and circumstances. The cuddly ones will be wonderful pets, and the standoffish ones will be very attached to you but won’t care for strangers at all. It will take time. How much time it takes will depend on the cat. Eventually, that cat who wouldn’t come near you or would bite and scratch if you got too close, will wrap itself around your legs and purr.

If you don’t ever adopt Ferrel the cats around your home, you should at least provide them with food and provide an out door cat house to protect them from cold weather in the winter.

We know how much you care about cats and want to help protect them. Now you can celebrate NFCD by reaching out to others with the message that feral cats are healthy and happy outdoors and that Trap-Neuter-Return improves cats’ lives. Get involved and show your support for stray and feral cats by distributing educational materials or hosting local events like workshops, fundraisers, or special neuter clinic days.  Here are some suggestions from Alley Cat Allies Read a list of events and activities ideas.

Several things you might try are Trap-Neuter-Return effort—in your backyard or throughout your community, or help your feral cat friends by providing an outdoor cat house for the winter.

With your help, we can truly make a difference in cats’ lives. You can be their voice—on National Feral Cat Day, and all year round.

I feel thankful that these feral cats are outdoors instead of in our nation’s animal pound and shelter system where they face certain death…I feel thankful that Alley Cat Allies can provide the advice to help caregivers care for the colonies that they love…And I feel thankful that our educational campaigns are teaching citizens across the nation about the best ways to care for feral cats this winter.

Yet as winter approaches, I am also terrified.  Terrified that well meaning citizens who haven’t heard the message people will trap and take cats to animal pounds, hoping to get them out of the cold.  Terrified that the flawed policies of shelters and local governments around the country will be carried out, and that cats will be killed instead of being allowed to live long, happy, healthy lives outdoors.

As you walk outside this week and the incoming cold breeze passes, I hope that you, like me, are thankful for the thousands of people who lovingly care for cats around this nation. And I hope you understand why we need to help these cats by providing a outdoor cat house on your property that will protect them for the winter months.