Help us look out for London’s feral felines.
A recent study by Mayhew* revealed that only 51% of Londoners truly understand what is meant by the term ‘feral cat’. But due to the devastating effects of the coronavirus pandemic, these elusive felines are in need of our support now more than ever. We’re launching our campaign, Feral AdvoCAT, to encourage our community to help look out for London’s feral cats.
*Survey of 1,000 adults living within the M25 of London, conducted June 2020.
Unneutered female cats are able to reproduce from just four months old and can have two or three litters a year, with an average of four kittens per litter. At Mayhew we run a Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) programme to help contain and control the local cat population in London, but sadly during lockdown these services had to be temporarily put on hold. Due to this, we predict that the feral cat population is likely to have spiralled this year.
The increased numbers of cats means that there is likely to be a strain on their resources. Many feral cats scavenge scraps from restaurants, and with lots of them closed right now, this food source will be limited. As colonies grow, there is more chance of cats coming to harm, through fighting, malnutrition and the spread of diseases such as Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV).
How you can helpFeral cats are wild, unowned outdoor cats who often live in groups called colonies. These cats have typically had very little, if any, contact with humans and so are scared of people, much like foxes. Over the years, they have become integrated into London wildlife and our local communities. To truly be a Feral AdvoCAT, understanding feral cats and their unique needs is key.
Learn moreFrom simply understanding and acknowledging their unique needs, to providing water and shelter, there’s a few simple ways you can help your local feral cat colonies.
Become a Feral AdvoCAT
Helping feral cats doesn’t just have a positive effect on the felines, we’ve experienced instances where cats have saved human lives too.
Doreen Beresford has been helping her local feral cat colony for years. She’s bonded with her neighbours over the cats and has seen first hand how caring for them has given some of the vulnerable people in her community a sense of purpose.
Please help us share our campaign on social media using the hashtag #FeralAdvoCAT so that we can spread awareness and encourage more people to look out for feral cats.
To help control and contain the feral cat population in London, our Animal Welfare Officers run a Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) programme. If you know of feral cats or feral cat colonies in your area, please call us.
Contact us
Shop
Donate