National Feral Cat Day

Today is National Feral Cat Day, sponsored by the national feline advocacy group, Alley Cat Allies.

It is estimated that there may be as many as 80 million feral cats in this country, a number that is undoubtedly rising in this teetering economy, in which some people are facing the choice of feeding themselves or feeding their pets.

I was horrified to learn that about two-thirds of all cats entering shelters in the U.S. are killed, based on the latest available data (for 2006) and that only 2% are reunited with their original owners.

When it comes to feral cats, the percentage of those who are "euthanized" rises to almost 100%.

This mass killing doesn't have to happen if more of us would get involved in promoting safe alternatives so that humans and feral felines can share a common community without feeling threatened by one another.