The Plight of Stray and Feral Cats

We all walk by cats, maybe even every day, thinking "Oh, someone's cat is out" or "It’s a stray, but it will be okay--it can hunt its food." We think that because it’s a prettier picture than the alternative--that it’s a stray cat, without enough food and water, starving from either not enough food or worms that have infested its body, and now facing near freezing temperatures, where it may make it through the hunger and cold if it’s lucky enough to find shelter, or it may freeze to death. The life expectancy of a stray cat is 2-3 years if it is alone, and 5 years if it is in a colony. Those short years are spent sleeping with one eye open, wondering where their next meal will come and searching for fresh food and water (they won't typically drink from lakes, ponds, puddles, as you may think).

Recently, we were made aware of a devastating situation in southern Jersey. A small colony of cats had taken up residence behind a busy shopping center. A Pathway to Hope has been donating food to cat rescuers Alisa and Elizabeth, because their resources are SO limited. They spent what little they had on shelters for them, and Elizabeth goes every day and feeds them. Last Friday, before the snowstorm, they went to check on the cats and realized someone had stolen all of the cat shelters. Elizabeth was there until 4am with the cats, beside herself. Today, the cats are disoriented, and some are missing.

Alisa and Elizabeth are amazing...they rescue like us, and won't place the cats unless they know it’s a good home. Alisa is so passionate about these cats, "we feed them religiously because we know what it’s like to be hungry."

A Pathway to Hope contacted an amazing friend, the only one that they knew who would help in situations like these. And, she agreed to take in these cats. We are going to send these cats with as large a donation as we can from our rescue budget, but if you can assist us with supporting these cats and this AMAZING rescuer, please donate online (make a note that the donation is for "Cat Rescue") or via mail: A Pathway to Hope, PO Box 165, Hawthorne, NJ 07507. All donations will go directly to this rescuer (who also is a 501c3 rescue) and towards the care of these cats.

And next time you pass by a cat in your neighborhood, take notice. Does that neighborhood cat really have a home to go to and food to eat? Does it need medical attention, food, water...? Contact a rescue, like Pathway, who can offer you guidance. Setting up a shelter and putting out food each day is a small job when you are saving lives. Are you worried more cats will come? Rescues, like ours, will assist by altering and vetting these cats and offering supplies for their care. Kittens can often be rehomed, and we try to find alternative placements for cats, even feral cats, that are sick or in unsafe circumstances. Feral cats will not hurt you if they are not threatened. They are afraid of you, but in need of help at the same time. Allowing them to co-exist on your property and offering some food keeps them alive. Ignoring them keeps them in search for a home and food, and many end up dead from passing cars or starvation. Calling animal control is an easy out and an automatic death sentence for a feral or stray cat.

Our hope in sharing this information is to open your eyes to the plight of stray and feral cats, so that next time, you won't pass by without notice.

Pathway has also recently initiated a rehomoing program with indviduals who live in rural settings and can care for barn cats. If you or someone you know can help, please contact us at pathwaytohope@yahoo.com.

A Pathway to Hope is a rescue based in North Haledon, NJ run solely by volunteers. While their focus is mainly in rescuing northern breed dogs like huskies and malamutes, they also assist with rescuing stray and abandoned cats as well as participate in Feral Cat Safety Initiatives. We are always looking for volunteers to join our group to help at adoption events, fostering dogs or cats, fundraising and more. Please reach out to us at pathwaytohope@yahoo.com or visit us at www.apathwaytohope.org.