Feline Friends of Destin
Our Mission:
"Humanely control the feral cat population in our area through Trap-Neuter-Return & Maintain which will prevent the killing of healthy companion animals due to surplus."
What is a Feral Cat? - A domestic (friendly) feline that has been abandoned, lost or neglected and forced to live and survive on its own, is called 'Stray.' The offspring of these stray cats, raised without human contact, develop a natural fear of people and become 'wild.' The wild offspring of domestic animals are called 'Feral.'
Why Do We Have Feral Cats? - This phenomenon is most often attributed to uneducated pet guardians who do not spay or neuter their pets, allowing them to roam and breed freely. And, by others who cruelly abandon or neglect their unwanted pets. Simple fact, human indifference is the root cause.
How Do Feral Cats Survive? - Though there is a high mortality rate amongst feral cats, they struggle for survival eking out an existence any way they can. They live and congregate anywhere there is a food source (dumpsters, behind restaurants and cafeterias, even our own backyards). All cats are territorial, and even though forced to live in the wild, feral cats are social and emotional beings that seek interaction and companionship with other cats, and, with humans. They form and live in what we call "colonies." Many Positives...Great hunters, feral cats can help us in many ways, one of which is to help contain the rodent and vermin population. They also act as a buffer between human and rodent disease such as rabies and the plague.
Is There Really Humane Feral Cat Control? - Yes, Trap-Neuter-Return & Maintain (TNR-M) is a humane method of population control, which first began in England in the late 1970's. Studies have proven Trap-Neuter-Return to be the single, most effective method of stabilizing and maintaining healthy feral cat colonies, with the least cost to government and residents. At the same time, it provides the best life for the cats themselves, and creates harmony and goodwill within communities.
Can YOU Prevent Feline Overpopulation? - Yes, spay or neuter your pets. Educate others as to the benefits of spay/neuter. Help stop pet abandonment and report those who do this inhumane act.
Stop the Killing... As long as killing and abandonment are considered acceptable solutions, all cats will be deemed as disposable and having life without value. By implementing a positive method of population control, we can live in harmony and be proud to have humanely stopped the suffering of abandoned, feral and homeless cats.
