According to recent estimates, there are between 500,000 and a million feral cats in Toronto. This is the result of people failing to spay and neuter their pet cats and then abandoning the kittens on the streets.
Cats are resilient and resourceful, to a point, and these ferals live long enough to have several litters. One cat can have multiple kittens, and each of these can do the same, so you can see easily how the cat population has exploded.
Tragically, despite their excellent survival skills, these feral cats have terrible lives. They freeze in the winter, starve all year round, and die of injuries, disease and exposure. While the average lifespan of an indoor cat is 18-20 years, most ferals don’t make it past 6.
They were originally bred to be domestic animals, and are no different than our beloved house pets, other than the fact that they were unlucky enough to have been born in the wild.
When I moved into my current house, I quickly noticed a small colony of feral cats hanging around nearby. It’s been several years that I’ve been feeding the cats, but equally importantly, I’ve been trapping them each spring in safe traps, and bringing them to the vet to be spayed/neutered and vaccinated.
You can help the feral cat population in your community as well. Feed the cats who live near your home. It really doesn’t cost that much. Erect, as I did, shelters for them to spend the winters in, and by all means, make sure to spay and neuter as many of these cats as you can.
There are local cat rescue societies who can locate vets in your community who will care for these cats at a discount, and if live in Toronto, you can register your colony and obtain free medical care, including spaying and neutering for the cats.
I work with the Toronto Cat Rescue people, or TCR, and they’re a very good resource for ordinary people who want to help out. They also rescue some of the feral cats and place them for adoption. If you’re looking for a loving cat who’d be immensely grateful for a good home, try TCR or your local cat rescue society.
I own a lovely little Yorkshire Terrier, and never planned on getting a cat, but last summer, Sweetface walked into our home. Strangely enough, the two of them get along great, and she’s become a valued addition to our family. We’re all in the thrall of “cat love.” If Beny the Yorkie is enjoying living with a happily rescued feral cat, maybe you would too. Before going to the breeder or a pet store for your next kitty, try adopting a rescued feral cat. Sweetface is the most affectionate, interesting and amusing cat I’ve ever known.

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