When you're dealing with stray and feral
cats and the people who work to care for them, it's helpful to
know some of the terminology -- the "lingo" of cat care,
rescue, and advocacy. Here's a little glossary you can refer to:
Trap-Neuter-Return-Manage:
This is a full management plan in which stray and feral
cats living outdoors are humanely trapped, evaluated, vaccinated,
ear-tipped, and neutered by veterinarians. Kittens and tame cats
are adopted into good homes. Healthy adults feral cats are returned
to their colonies and given food and shelter for the rest of their
lives, by their caretaker.
Feral
Cat: A feral cat is a second-generation domestic abandoned
cat who was born outside and has had little or no human contact.
Ear-Tip:
The results of this practice are the universal symbol of the spayed/neutered
feral cat. Just the tip of the left hear is clipped off, straight
across. It is an easy-to-see form of identification and will prevent
a colony cat from being trapped twice and going through unnecessary
surgery. The procedure is done under anesthetic, at the time that
the cat is neutered, and causes no problem for the cat. Click
here to see an ear-tipped cat.
Colony:
This term applies to an established group of feral cats,
living outside in a specific location. Cats form these colonies
on their own, but when managed by a human caregiver, can be a
decent living arrangement for a cat that cannot be socialized,
or "homed". A colony caregiver traps new colony arrivals
and gets them spayed/neutered, sees to their innoculations, and
provides food and any necessary veterinary care throughout all
the colony cats' lives.
Want
to learn more? Check out these two books:
Community
Approaches to Feral Cats: Problems, Alternatives, & Recommendations
by
Margaret R. Slater. Purchase through the Humane Society of the
US, at www.hsus.org.
Maverick
Cats
by
Ellen Perry Berkely. Click here
to purchase this book from Amazon.com.
Stay
tuned for more terms and information -- the "Lingo"
list will grow over time.
