Feral: adj. - Having returned to an untamed state from domestication.   There are about 60 million feral cats in the United States. These "wild" felines are the offspring of abandoned and lost pets. Feral and stray cats band together forming colonies consisting of 6 to 16 members found around food sources such as restaurants, shopping centers, colleges, abandoned buildings and rural areas.   Feral Cat Colony Facts: - Female cats spend most of their life pregnant. - Males fight & roam seeking mates. Many deaths occur from untreated wounds. -Half of all kittens born into a feral cat colony die soon after birth. - Death occurs from disease, starvation, abuse, cars or predators (i.e. foxes).   Most colonies depend on some human feeding. Local animal control often tries to elimate these populations by trapping and euthanizing. Research shows this only temporarily reduces the number of cats. New cats join the colony, quickly building it back to its previous population. Studies show trap-neuter-release is the single most successful method of stabilizing and reducing feral cat populations. This program also provides the cats with the best possible life and accomplishes this at the least amount of cost.

So far in 2008, MHF's Feral Cat Program:

...in association with the Fauquier SPCA, has trapped/neutered/returned over 330 feral cats in our bi-monthly Sunday spay/neuter clinic, where local veterinarians donate their time to help control the local feral cat populations.   We have improved the overall  health of the colonies and prevented the birth of  thousands of unwanted kittens. In the process, we have promoted humane treatment of animals and fostered a sense of compassion in the neighborhoods.