NC Feral Cat Coalition

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NC Feral Cat Coalition's mission is to reduce cat overpopulation through trapping and spay/neuter services, therefore improving the lives of feral, stray and community cats.

18/11/2024

📢 How to encourage an outdoor cat to use a shelter...

In most cases, cats will figure out how to use shelters on their own. Here are a few things you can do to attract them if it doesn't seem like your cats are using the shelter:

▪️ Be patient. Some cats need a lot of time to get comfortable with a new shelter.
▪️ Loosely fill the shelter ½ to ¾ full of straw, NOT HAY. Replace the straw every year.
▪️ Remove any door flaps on the shelter. While doorway flaps help keep cold air out and warm air in, they should not be added until after your cats are used to going in and out of the shelter.
▪️ Do not place food in or near the shelter. Cats instinctively avoid sleeping near food as it attracts other cats and wildlife (predators).
▪️ Location is important. Place the shelter where your cats are already hanging out. More feral/less social cats typically want to shelter farther away from humans. The more secluded the shelter, the more likely cats are to use it.
▪️ Place the shelter near natural cover, as opposed to out in the open where your cats may not feel safe. Cats prefer to move along walls, hedges, or other natural barriers and boundaries. Place the shelter under or up against a building, fence, tree, porch, bush, or some type of overhang.
▪️ Place the shelter with the entrance facing away from the wind, rain, and snow.
▪️ Make sure the shelter is on a flat surface. A wobbly shelter could discourage cats from entering.
▪️ It’s possible that your cats have another shelter where they feel safe. They may already have a shed, crawlspace, or some other shelter they prefer.
▪️ When all else fails, try a new location, but only after giving your cats plenty of time to explore and get used to the current location.

(We thank FeralVilla.com for this great advice!)

💛 THANK YOU to the caregivers who have taken the time to build a feral cat shelter. Protection from the elements is critical, especially during the cold months, and your thoughtfulness will no doubt save many lives this winter. 🐾❄️









(source of photo unknown)

NC Feral Cat Coalition is non-profit! Your donation goes toward the spay/neuter, vaccination, and eartip of the thousand...
17/11/2024

NC Feral Cat Coalition is non-profit! Your donation goes toward the spay/neuter, vaccination, and eartip of the thousands of free roaming cats in Cumberland and surrounding counties. ❤️🐈‍⬛🐱🐈

The end of the year is coming!

17/11/2024

Here's to the colony feeders and good Samaritans who venture out every morning -- and sometimes every night as well -- to care for community cats, holiday or no holiday! Generous, selfless, dedicated and caring don't begin to describe these people. They are out seven days a week in all kinds of weather to ensure the cats are fed and comfortable and many forego vacations to ensure their charges don't miss a meal. We're grateful for them -- and thank them -- today and everyday! 🙏

Keep their plate warm; they'll be right back! 🍽 🦃





(Graphic courtesy of ChickinBoots)

17/11/2024
16/11/2024

Is Diatomaceous Earth Safe for Cats?
May 29, 2020 by David Fields

No one likes fleas, ticks, bedbugs, ants, and other creepy biters that invade your home. If you have a cat or multiple cats, you’re likely to attract these nuisances. Perhaps you have tried to rid your home of these bugs with the latest bug killer, but you’re worried about the poison harming your cat.

Diatomaceous earth is an effective way to get rid of bugs without poison and could be the answer you’re looking for. Yes, the good news is diatomaceous earth is completely safe and even beneficial for most cats if used properly.

What is Diatomaceous Earth?
Diatomaceous earth (also known as DE) is made from the fossilized remains of tiny, aquatic organisms called diatoms. A diatom’s skeleton is called silica. Over a long period of time, diatoms collect in a body of water’s sediment, and when exposed to oxygen and water, they chemically react and become silicon dioxide.

The silica deposits are then mined from these sediments because of its natural defense against bed bugs, cockroaches, crickets, fleas, spiders, ticks, and other pests. Diatomaceous earth resembles a white powder and can be found at most pet and gardening stores.

Here’s how it works: Diatomaceous earth emits glasslike silica shards to cut through and dry out an insect’s exoskeleton. The microscopic glass edges are so tiny and harmless to anything bigger than a bug. DE does not emit noxious vapors or harm anything that it comes in contact with.

Diatomaceous Earth Grades
Diatomaceous earth is commercially sold in four grades. IT’S IMPORTANT YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCES so you can know how each one is made. They are Pure Food Grade DE, Crawling Insect Control DE, Pool Grade DE, and other DE blends.

THE ONLY ONE that is SAFE FOR CATS is Food Grade DE.

Is Diatomaceous Earth Safe for Cats?
Yes, most of the time. Kittens, who are less than two pounds, should not be exposed to DE. DE can be used to kill fleas and other bugs both internally and externally, as a supplement in your cat’s food, and even in cat litter.

Diatomaceous Earth for Fleas on Cats
First of all, make sure you use food grade DE for flea control. It’s an effective, all-natural pesticide against anything with an exoskeleton. Also, insects cannot build up a resistance to DE like they can a chemical pesticide, and it won’t lose its effectiveness over time.

All you do is sprinkle DE on your carpets, bedding, furniture, and anywhere else you may have fleas. Let it sit for three days and then vacuum it up. (Don’t worry; it won’t stain.) You should repeat this process every week for 30 days to ensure that the eggs and larvae are destroyed, as well as the adult fleas.

If your cat already has fleas, you can apply DE to her coat. Put some on your palm and then rub your hands together. Then rub the powder onto your cat’s head, avoiding her nose, eyes, and mouth. Apply it behind her ears, and then down her neck to her chin. Massage the powder down her back, on her tail, legs, and belly. Fleas normally die within four hours of application, but don’t bathe your cat for 48-72 hours. After 72 hours, bathe your cat to get rid of the dead fleas, and use a flea comb to brush off any remaining fleas or eggs. You can repeat this process twice a week for a month to ensure that all the fleas are gone.

Diatomaceous Earth as a Supplement for your Cat
While DE is more commonly used for flea prevention, many cat owners add small amounts to their cat’s diet. There are numerous benefits here. DE contains calcium, magnesium, and other trace minerals that contribute to a healthier coat, improved appetite and metabolism, and better digestion. Also, DE can be given to your cat as a natural way to get rid of worms and internal parasites. Contact your veterinarian for recommendations and dosage information.

How Much Diatomaceous Earth for Cats
To supplement your cat’s diet, use only food grade DE, as other types are not safe for consumption. Your cat’s size will determine the DE dosage:
* Small cats and kittens (2-6 ½ lbs.) should get ½ tsp of food grade DE
* Full grown cats (7-13 lbs.) should get 1 tsp of food grade DE
* Large cats (more than 13 lbs.) should get 1 ½ tsp of food grade DE

DO NOTE that if kittens are still nursing, DON’T add DE to their diet until they move to solid food. If your cat eats canned food, simply mix DE in with it. Dry food may be a little trickier, because cats may not eat it if there’s white powder covering their food. In this case, you could either mix the DE in with the dry food in a Ziplock bag and shake it up, or mix the DE with a quarter cup of water and then pour it over the cat’s dry food to coat it.

Diatomaceous Earth to Remove Cat Litter Odor
DE is also a great odor control for cat litter. In addition, it is more absorbent than clay-based litter. You can look for cat litter that already has it in there, or you can simply spread a thin layer of food grade DE to the bottom of the litter box before you pour in the litter. Your cat’s litter will stay fresher longer while decreasing odor.

Are There Any Risks with Using Diatomaceous Earth?
As long as you use food grade GE, there are no known risks in using it for cats. When applying it to her coat, use a minimal amount the first time and make sure you don’t get it in her eyes. Also, since it is so absorbent, it may irritate the skin, eyes, and lungs, but it is not harmful.

CONCLUSION
Diatomaceous earth has wonderful, beneficial uses for your cat’s overall health. MAKE SURE YOU PURCHASE FOOD GRADE GE and use as directed.

16/11/2024

Community cats are generally not socialized to people or adoptable. In shelters without lifesaving programs, these cats could be killed. In any shelter environment, community cats are highly stressed and very susceptible to disease.

A community cat should only enter an animal shelter as part of TNR. In some TNR programs, cats are spayed or neutered at the shelter’s clinic!

Join us to : alleycat.org/TruthAboutCats

16/11/2024
Read this. The cat's life may depend on it.
16/11/2024

Read this. The cat's life may depend on it.

Feline Fact Friday ...

What is a feral cat?
-A truly unsocialized cat that will typically run and hide from humans.

Please be careful not to label every cat you see outside as 'feral.' Many outdoor cats were once owned pets and are now scared/uneasy about trusting humans. We wish all cats could have homes, but unfortunately, that just isn't possibly right now!

Please be kind to stray and feral community cats as all they're trying to do is survive. Provide food, water, shelter AND make sure they receive essential vet care. Feeding community cats is not enough - we must end the suffering many face because they aren't spayed/neutered & vaccinated.

Bringing in a stray cat to some shelters may allow that cat to get adopted. But bringing in a cat you label feral or that is truly feral to a shelter will more than likely get that cat euthanized.

Learn about trap/neuter/return (TNR) do you can help both stray and feral community cats - https://www.friendsofferalfelines.org/how-to-tnr.

16/11/2024

There’s no way to stress ✨how important✨ it is to get ahead of spring litters‼️ Fall (and even winter, depending on your temps) is a great time to TNR.

🐾 Don’t be the person who waits until there are unwanted kittens to do something about it. Take care of the problem NOW, before it gets difficult; before it gets overwhelming.
🐾 If there’s a waiting list for spay/neuter appointments in your area, make sure you’re on it.
🐾 If you think you are unable to afford it, look for resources now.

As we head into cooler weather, you should always check the forecast in your area for trapping day and return day. If dangerous conditions are on the way, wait for a longer stretch of milder weather before starting TNR at all.

Yes, they will neuter, vaccinate, and eartip feral cats too!  Message us or the clinic for guidelines and resources rega...
15/11/2024

Yes, they will neuter, vaccinate, and eartip feral cats too! Message us or the clinic for guidelines and resources regarding TNR for feral cats.

15/11/2024
15/11/2024
Are you in or near Wilmington, NC? If so, be part of the solution - learn more about Trap-Neuter-Return here!
14/11/2024

Are you in or near Wilmington, NC? If so, be part of the solution - learn more about Trap-Neuter-Return here!

Message our page to reserve your spot for our free TNR Seminar this Saturday!

14/11/2024

Should Feral Cats be Prioritized Over Tame Cats at Spay / Neuter Clinics?

Recently, somebody made this comment on a post about some kittens taken to a low-cost spay neuter clinic.

"It makes me so mad when rescuers take young kittens or tame cats to the low-cost clinics. It should be for feral cats only because they don't have any other options. They are making it impossible for us to get all the feral cats fixed. It isn't fair!"

Many of these clinics were created to meet the needs of community cats and some of them specifically target unsocialized cats. But most of clinics in our area make no distinction between tame or feral. In the CCC, we encourage the spay / neuter of any cat and don't make an effort to distinguish between tame or feral.

Why not prioritize ferals?

1- The main reason we don't prioritize feral cats is that it can be difficult or even impossible to distinguish tame cats from feral cat when they are living outside or when they are scared in a trap. Some colonies are a mix of both tame and feral cats, and it wouldn't be practical to trap and fix only the unsocialized cats. I know of one woman who brought a feral mom cat into a clinic created for ferals. Although the cat was completely untouchable, she didn't "act" feral in the trap, so they said she didn't meet the criteria. She was one of those cats who curl up in a ball when scared instead of hissing, biting or striking out. But she WAS a feral cat, and she demonstrated just how wild she was when she was taken to a regular vet clinic instead. She scaled the walls and cleared a shelf full of just-delivered vet supplies on the way down.

2- Feral cats come from tame cats. And tame cats are often more prolific than their less socialized cousins. Why? Tame cats are more likely to have food and shelter, and both of these increase the likelihood of the kittens surviving to adulthood. So, fixing a tame cat can have an even larger effect on population size in an area.

3- Community members who feed stray cats in their neighborhoods or at their worksite may not differentiate between unsocialized or tame cats. How many times have you gone out to facilitate the trapping of "feral cats" who wind around your ankles and beg for pets as you bait the traps? If those tame ones aren't fixed because they are "adoptable", they will soon have kittens who won't be without human involvement.

4- When members of your community have easy access to low cost spay neuter, they are more likely to take care of spay/neuter independently. Tame cats can be easier to corral and get into a carrier without any cat or trapping experience.

Remember, it only takes one lost or abandoned cat to start an entire colony. Nature doesn't discriminate, so fix them all!

14/11/2024

Maybe your candidate(s) of choice came out on top in the recent elections. Maybe not. Win or lose, though, they probably left a whole lot of campaign signs in their wake. These signs usually end up in the trash - but Kelly Boodry, a retired engineer, has come up with a way to transform discarded corrugated plastic sheets into snug winter cat shelters. Learn more and find step-by-step instructions at https://www.popsci.com/diy/how-make-campaign-sign-cat-shelters/ Now that's a win-win!

13/11/2024

From frozen water to fussy neighbors, become a master colony caretaker this weekend! Are ants invading your colony cats’ bowls? Are slugs turning your feeding station into a slimy mess, or have raccoons decided they’re invited to dinner too? Struggling to keep water from freezing in the winter? Or maybe you're trying to calm a frustrated neighbor whose flower bed has become a litter box? This webinar is for you! - https://mailchi.mp/communitycatspodcast/news-from-the-community-cats-podcast-6677383

13/11/2024

When you're trying to stop the unwanted litters, please do not overlook the males. Neuters are a fraction of the cost of spays & the recovery is much faster. One unneutered male can father 2500 kittens a year. You may not be having to deal with the kittens, but your neighbors within a 5-mile radius will. Be part of the solution! 💜

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Feral Cat Coalition of Cumberland County

The Feral Cat Coalition of Cumberland County is a group of volunteers whose mission is to help connect Cumberland County residents with resources for feral, un-owned, and stray cats. We promote Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR), including access to a low cost spay/neuter clinic.