It’s not uncommon for feral cats to end up in shelters, however, saving them from being euthanized can be a different story. The word feral can be a turn off for many people willing to adopt. If you plan to adopt kittens from your local shelter, you can rest assured that they have been handled properly and are acclimated to human contact. Shelters will not adopt out any animal that they do not see fit for normal house living. Adult feral cats are usually not adopted out seeing as they have had no human contact for too long.

Adopting does not simply have to mean bringing home a cat from the shelter. It also means caring for the feral cats you may have now. Simply providing them with regular food and water means you have adopted them into your life. A shelter can be provided by putting out a doghouse for them or allowing them to sleep in your garage at night. Acknowledging their presence and assisting them with their basic needs already shows that you have adopted them into your lifestyle.

Benefits of Feral Cats

Here are some ways feral cats can benefit you and your life.

Benefits of Adopting Barn Cats

Usually when feral cats are brought into shelters they are either put up for adoption as barn cats or simply relocated to local farms or ranches. When adopting a barn cat, typically the fees are much lower than a regular house cat. If you decide to adopt from a shelter, they will require you to spay or neuter your cat if they haven’t already. Feral cats are usually natural hunters which can benefit many people owning a farm or a ranch. They can assist in keeping the rodent population down and prevent a large number of crops from being eaten. They also prevent many field mice from entering into a persons household as well.

Feral Cat to Control Pest Control

Upon adopting a feral cat they can easily become a convenience for you as your personal pest control. This doesn’t just include mice, but squirrels, rats and other pests commonly seen outdoors. Some cats may even allow you to bring them indoors. It is worth noting that if you allow them into you house, you should be mindful of any other animals living indoors and how this may impact them as well. 

Businesses

Some businesses will often adopt feral or stray cats as their outdoor hunters. With businesses, having a clean environment free of pests is an essential part of their operation. In some cases, many have to hire pest control to prevent any further mice from entering their buildings which can be costly. By adopting an outdoor cat, this can save them the time and money. Some of the most common types of businesses that usually do this are small town restaurants. Simply having the presence of a cat can deter most rodents away from the property as a whole. If adopting from a shelter, setting up a small makeshift den outside as well as offering regular food and water will convince the new arrival to stay.

Having outdoor cats can be very beneficial in terms of keeping away vermin but in a way it can be personally beneficial as well. By realizing you are caring for them in terms of a regular meal and providing some sort of shelter, you can also see how they are repaying your kindness. 

Forming a relationship with your feral cat

Feral cats can have a taming process, which takes time and is similar to building a relationship with another human. Over time a mutual trust can develop and can become more meaningful. Animals in general are very appreciative and can tell when someone helps them out. Cats are usually very smart and can realize when they have a good home. In time you should see a change in your feral cat as they become more accustomed to their surroundings and your behavior.

This post was written by Melani at https://melani-scriptawriting.com