Stray cats need help. There are more and more, since very few people decide to take their cats (either male or female) to be sterilized, and many of these people abandon the kittens. The sad reality is this: very few take responsibility for these animals, and far fewer decide to take one home.
If you want to take care of them, then I will tell you how to help stray cats.
Find out about the animal responsibility law in your town or city
It is the first thing you have to do. Go to the website of your town or city council, or go directly there, and ask to see if feeding stray cats is prohibited or not. Although we do not like to know it, but in many areas you can be denounced for taking care of these animals. Why I still can't tell you. To get money? To reduce the number of cats? I don't know, and in any case, I think they should read this report prepared by 425 veterinarians on the CES method (Capture - Sterilization - Release).
In any case, if it is prohibited in your area, You should know that if you feed them in your garage, at your house or, ultimately, on private property (always with permission, obviously), they can NOT tell you anything, because you decide who enters the property and who leaves, whether they have two legs or four legs. I myself am taking care of a feline colony that goes to the garden, and without problem.
Calculate how much money you can spend per month on their care
Although they are street, they need the same care as the cat you have at home. This means that they will need food, water, and veterinary attention. Veterinarians usually make special prices, but to give you an idea of how much it can cost you, here is a price list:
- Water: 1 euro for a 5 liter bottle.
- Dry feed (20kg bag): about 24 euros.
- Vaccines (4 the first year of life, 1 yearly): 20-30 euros each.
- Sterilization: 100-200 euros.
To avoid surprises, it is also advisable to make a piggy bank for what may arise (illnesses, accidents, whatever).
Clean the area after they eat
This is very important, especially if they are close to public roads. After they have finished eating, you have to leave the area clean, without remains of feed.
Thus, the life of these cats will be as it should be: long and happy. 🙂