If you feed stray cats, you'll likely be asked for a feeder's permit . This is a proposal that 's starting to be implemented in some towns in Spain, such as Torrevieja (Alicante) and El Vendrell (in the Baix Penedès region of Catalonia) , in order to avoid fines and problems.
Unfortunately, many provinces prohibit feeding stray cats, imposing fines on those who care for them. However, with this permit, you can continue doing so without any risk.
What is the cat feeder card for?
Who else who least knows that the stray cats that live in cities or even in the towns do not have anything easy to move forward. There are many dangers that they must overcome on a daily basis if they want to survive, and I am not only referring to cars, but also to people who harm or poison them, to fights with other animals, to cold or heat, to abandonment,…
Fortunately, many volunteers care for them and feed them. But they have a problem: in many towns and cities it is forbidden to feed these cats, and in many others they can only do it in certain places.
With this in mind, the cat feeder's license is undoubtedly a brilliant idea, because on the one hand it allows volunteers to care for felines legally , and on the other hand it also helps city councils - and their caretakers, especially - to know how many cats are in the colony and where it is located.
What requirements must be met in order to request it?
Not many, actually: to apply you must be of legal age, registered as a resident in the city or town, and not have been sanctioned for violating animal-related regulations . Then, you just have to go to the town hall of any locality where this new measure has been implemented, and they will take your information and give you the card.
At the moment it can only be obtained in the provinces of Malaga, Valencia, Lleida and Tarragona, but it is to be expected that more municipalities will join this initiative.
What kind of food can you give them?
Previously, and even today, stray cats are often given any kind of food (dry or wet), which can lead to complaints from neighbors due to the accumulated mess. However, to obtain the required permit, they can only be given dry food.
In addition, if the cats go to an enclosure (such as a farm or an abandoned building), it is necessary to keep it clean, that is, they will have to remove the stools and clean the feeders / drinkers daily.
How to choose feeders for stray cats?
Stray cats are cats, after all. They have whiskers, often long ones, so I recommend using the widest possible food bowls . This way, they won't feel uncomfortable at any time, which can encourage them to eat more.
And no, you don't need to buy special cat feeders. The saucers used under flowerpots are ideal for them , as they are shallow and have a good diameter.
Besides, we can't stop talking about the price: while a medium-quality feeder can cost about 5 euros, a simple pot plate in any store where they sell everything can cost less than 1 euro.
Choose those made of plastic or stainless steel, and wash them daily , especially if they're left outside all day. Just in case.
Cats safety while eating
It is very important that the feeders are in a safe place , for example, among small trees, or even better, inside a shed or some other place whose owner has given you permission.
If you have furry friends in the garden, don't hesitate to build them a little house, whether it's a brick house or a cat house.
Is it a crime to feed stray cats?
It shouldn't be . The problem is that there's a cat overpopulation, and people still think that letting them starve to death or having them euthanized will solve the problem. And that's certainly not the case.
It has been shown that castration (that is, the removal of the reproductive organs) of both female cats and cats helps much more to reduce the feline population, and incidentally, to ensure that these animals have a better quality of life. When they are sacrificed, what happens in a matter of a short time is that new cats appear that fill that 'void'.
The animal shelters with which the agreement to issue these special cards has been reached are also dedicated to the identification and control of colonies, to carrying out castration campaigns to prevent more cats from ending up living on the street, and, ultimately, to ensuring that these furry friends have a good quality of life.
However, you should know that if those cats go into your garage or garden, or the garden of a friend or relative who doesn't mind them, even if you live in an area where it's prohibited, nobody can say anything to you , because those furry friends are on private property. It would be a very different matter if you fed them in a public place; then you could be fined unless you had a cat feeder's permit.
How to help stray cats?
Feral cats or stray cats: we have many names for the mysterious felines we sometimes see peeking out from under our porches or darting into abandoned buildings. However, most of them share a single fate: short and difficult lives. Fortunately, helping feral or abandoned cats isn't difficult. And you can do your part.
How the problem of wild cats multiplies
First, what is a feral or stray cat? A feral or stray cat is any cat that is too poorly socialized to be controlled and cannot be placed in a typical pet home. They are often descendants of cats that were lost or abandoned by their owners and grow up unsocialized with humans.
Because a cat can become pregnant as early as 16 weeks old and have two or three litters a year , the population of feral cats and the problems associated with it grow and perpetuate themselves.
The life and health of stray and wild cats
Stray cats often live in vacant lots, dodging cars and eating from garbage cans; they suffer from facial infections, diseases, and an endless cycle of pregnancy. They endure extremes in treatment and weather. The life of a feral, stray, or abandoned cat is often short, sometimes lasting only two or three years.
Of course, feral cats also leave problems at the human doorstep, including noisy fights, odor, urinating to mark territory (also known as "spraying" or "marking"), flea infestations, and the inevitable breeding that creates even more unwanted cats. Many experts agree that one of the best ways to help feral cats and groups of cats, called colonies, is through sterilization programs.
Why Adopting Feral Cats Is Not An Option
Many experts agree that wild cats simply cannot be domesticated . They are wild animals, like raccoons, and while they can be cared for, their freedom must not be denied. They can be caught to be spayed or neutered and dewormed, but then released back into their natural home, the street.
They tend to stay away from humans, hide during the day, and are very difficult to socialize when adopted. Just like you would never try to control a raccoon, you should never try to keep a wild cat.
But young kittens, especially those under 8 weeks old, can often be socialized. Abandoned and lost cats can also be reintroduced into domestic life. It's adult stray cats that may have the most difficulty socializing.
How can you tell a stray cat from a wild cat?
Lost or abandoned felines are generally comfortable around people and will often try to live near humans, under porches, or in garages, sheds, or backyards.
We're not talking about neutering cats and then abandoning them. What we're really talking about are managed colonies, with a human feeding the cats, caring for them, providing them with medical attention and shelter . In this way, cat colonies wouldn't be a problem, and cats and humans could coexist without having to remove cats from the streets.
5 Ways You Can Help Stray and Wild Cats
From small to large, there are many ways to help feral and stray cats. Here are some tips that you can start doing today:
- Don't contribute to the problem. It goes without saying that you should spay and neuter your own cats. You also need to keep your cats indoors, not only for their safety, but also to prevent them from getting lost and becoming part of a wild colony.
- Don't feed and forget the wild cats. Feeding stray and feral cats is generous, but they also need medical attention. If you can't manage ongoing care, at least spay the cat.
- A little bit of money. With a little money you can help cats a lot, for spaying or neutering. Donating money to animal centers or cat associations will help them help cats more each day. You can also donate money to animal welfare groups through an inheritance or will.
- Volunteer your time. Associations are often run by non-profit organizations that depend on volunteer help. If you can't help out in a clinical setting, you can get involved at the community level, contacting local veterinarians and businesses, writing letters, raising funds, or hiring a booth at a community event.
- Become a colony keeper. In a managed colony, cats can live between 12 and 16 years. If you think you can provide ongoing shelter, food, or medical care to a group of stray cats, contact an animal welfare group to find out how to get started. But before you do, understand that committing to caring for a colony is a huge responsibility. The colony will depend on you, as would a house cat. If you are leaving or moving, it is vital that you find someone else to care for the cats in your absence.
As part of living in a civilized society, it is our obligation to care for the weak, the sick, or the powerless . Our responsibility includes our domestic animals, whom we take from nature and who depend on us.
With all this, we want to say that for the care of stray cats, deworming, sterilization, shelter, food and medical care are essential. You can ensure that a colony of cats can live happily for many years. As long as you commit to their care and that nothing happens to them. These cats will love you as if they were a domestic animal ... even if they prefer to live in freedom.