Ferals

A pair of breeding cats, which can have two or more litters per year, can exponentially produce 420,000 offspring over a seven-year period.

Many people assume their animals will survive when they move away and leave them behind. Contrary to popular belief, domestic animals do not automatically return to their "natural" instincts and cannot fend for themselves. United States animal shelters are forced to kill an estimated 15 million homeless cats and dogs annually.

Feral cats (and dogs) , are the 'wild' offspring of domestic animals and are primarily the result of pet of pet owners' abandonment or failure to spay and neuter their animals, allowing them to breed uncontrolled. Feral cat
colonies' can be found behind shopping areas or businesses, in alleys, parks, abandoned buildings, and rural areas. They are elusive and do not trust humans.

Feral populations are swollen by the breeding and dumping of unwanted pets, 5 million cats and dogs are 'dumped' annually according to the US Department of Agriculture while American surveys suggest that between 36% and 60% of unaltered male cats become feral within 3 years.

Alley Cat Allies estimates the current U.S. figure to be between 60 million and 100 million feral cats, the U.S. is not alone in the pet overpopulation problem as Australia and Singapore also struggle with problems related to feral cats.

Trap - Alter - Release programs for management of feral cat colonies have seen the long term effect as positive for all concerned.