NATIONAL FERAL CAT DAY: October 16, 2016

Why is it important to have National Feral Cat Day? Read what Alley Cat Allies (one of my favorite animal charities) has to say about the day:

National Feral Cat Day Facts

• Alley Cat Allies launched National Feral Cat Day on our 10th anniversary in 2001 to raise awareness about feral (also called community) cats, promote Trap-Neuter-Return, and empower and mobilize the millions of compassionate Americans who care for them.
• National Feral Cat Day is observed on October 16 every year.
• The theme for National Feral Cat Day 2016 is “All Cats All Communities”
• This year’s poster features real cats with real stories that embody the “All Cats All Communities” theme! Meet our poster cats: Inky, Pearl, and Pie!
• More people respond to the call to action and celebrate National Feral Cat Day every year. Since 2011, more than 2,773 National Feral Cat Day events and activities have taken place—spreading the word and helping cats all over the country and the world. We can’t wait to reach even more people with National Feral Cat Day this year!

Feral Cat Facts

• Cats have lived alongside humans for more than 10,000 years. They are part of the natural landscape. Feral cats, also called community or outdoor cats, are the same species as pet cats, live in groups called colonies, and can thrive in every landscape. They are just as healthy as pet cats, but they are not socialized to humans and are therefore unadoptable.
• Trap-Neuter-Return is the only humane and effective approach to caring for community cats and stabilizing the cat population. From 2003 to 2013 the number of local governments with official policies endorsing TNR increased tenfold, with hundreds of cities and towns successfully carrying out TNR programs. That number continues to grow every year.
• In many cities, cats are still caught and brought to animal shelters and pounds, where most are killed. In fact, the shelter system is the number onedocumented cause of death for cats in the United States. About 70% of cats who enter shelters are killed there, and that number rises to virtually 100% for feral cats. That’s why it’s so important for people like you to join us for National Feral Cat Day^®, and every day. Together, we can change policies and create compassionate communities for cats.

Alley Cat Allies Facts

• Founded in 1990, Alley Cat Allies is the only national organization dedicated to protecting and improving the lives of cats.
• Over 600,000 people worldwide support Alley Cat Allies and champion our mission to protect all cats.

Be sure to go to the link above about the 3 cats on the post to read their stories!

October 16 is also my future daughter-in-law’s birthday. She’s a “mom” of two cats. Happy birthday, R!