Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is a feral cat?
A. Feral means wild. Feral cats are un-socialized cats that cannot be picked up - cats that were not handled when they were kittens or pets that have survived on their own long enough to become Wary of humans. Just because a cat is living outdoors does not mean the cat is feral. Some outdoor cats are abandoned former pets these cats can be handled once they feel safe. These are considered Stays / Abandoned.
Q. Can a feral cat be tamed/domesticated?
A. An adult cat that has never interacted with people cannot be domesticated, although kittens of a feral can be socialized. Generally, kittens under 16 weeks of age can still be tamed and become adoptable.
Q. What is Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR)?
A. TNR is a non lethal method used to control the breeding of feral (wild) and abandoned cats who live on our streets around businesses, in neighborhoods, and in rural areas. Using a humane trap, the cats are caught and transported to a veterinary clinic. The cats are spayed, if female, and neutered, if male. They receive vaccinations for rabies and common infectious diseases. Once recovered from surgery, the cats are returned to the area where they were trapped. For more details on How and Why it works click here.
Q. Is it illegal to feed feral or abandoned cats in Orange County Florida?
A. No, it is not illegal to feed feral or abandoned cats in Orange County Florida.
Q. How many feral cats are there?
A. No one knows for sure. The number changes through the year. During kitten season, spring and early fall, the numbers rise considerably as more kittens are being born.
Q. What does the county ordinance say about trapping?
A. According to the County Animal Services Code, it is illegal for anyone to trap an animal without either permission or a permit from Orange County Animal Services (OCAS). However, the CARE program, as it is operated, has permission to loan traps to citizens for the purpose of catching unowned cats to have them sterilized.
Q. What is the legal limit on animals per household in Orange County?
A. Orange County does not have a set limit on number of animals. Nuisance and cruelty complaints are handled by Orange County Animal Services (OCAS), Complaints about "foul odors" due to animals are handled by the county's code enforcement department.
Q. Will neutering a male cat stop him from spraying?
A. Neutering most often reduces spraying, but it may not eliminate the spraying completely. If a male is neutered at a young age (before 5 months old) then the cat may never even spray at all. Neutering does eliminate the strong odor present in the urine of intact/unaltered adult male cats.
Q. What is the purpose of notching the ear of all adult (4 months and older) cats, who go through the CARE program?
A. Notching or ear-tipping is the universal identification method used by Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs. The males are notched on the left ear, while the females are notched on the right ear. With a notched ear, the cats who have been fixed are easy to identify for both the caretaker and Orange County Animal Services shelter employees.
Q. Can you provide information on Feline Leukemia and Feline Aids?
A. Only about 5% of the cat population, whether indoor or outdoor, test positive for these diseases, which are strictly feline diseases. For more information refer to our health page.
- Feline Aids is primarily spread though bite wounds - generally male to male.
- Feline Leukemia is transmitted through shared food, water bowls, mutual grooming & breeding. A nursing mother who is positive for Feline Leukemia usually passes the disease to her kittens.
Q. What happens to the kittens if a mother cat has tested positive for Feline Aids (FIV) or Feline leukemia (FeLV) and is put to sleep?
A. There are options that the caretaker needs to consider. The first option is to keep the kittens until they are 6 months old and have each of them tested for FIV or FeLV by a veterinarian. At this age the kittens are less likely to register a false positive on the test. If the kittens test negative, they can go through the CARE program and be put up for adoption. If they test positive you can try to find FIV or FeLV positive or single pet homes to place them in or you can call other organizations that adopt out special needs cats. The second option is to take the kittens to Animal Services and request the kittens be euthanized.
Q. Can you provide information on breeding?
A. The gestation period for cats is approximately 63 days or about 2 months.
- A female cat can come into season (heat) as young as 5 months old.
- Females will not mate if they are not in season.
- It is different for each female how many times a year they are in season but normally 2-4 litters for each queen is expected.
- It IS possible that a female cat will come into season while she is still nursing.
Q. How do you determine the age of kittens?
A. Guidelines for determining the age of a kitten are as follows:
- Kittens open their eyes at about 10 days old.
- Kittens don't leave their "nest" until about 4-5 weeks old.
- Kittens start eating solid food at about 5-6 weeks old, under normal conditions.
- Average weights are: 2 pounds at 8-10 wks; 3 pounds at 10-12 wks; 4 pounds at 16 wks.
Q. Which is more cost effective for taxpayers, having cats euthanized to control the population or a TNR program?
A. TNR is much more cost effective. It costs on average $100.00 to $150.00 to impound, board, and euthanize a cat. For about the same amount of money, two to three cats can be spayed/neutered and vaccinated.
Q. Isn't returning the cats the same as abandoning the cats again?
A. No. TNR advocates also stress the necessity for caretakers to continue feeding the cats and monitoring their health. The cats are returned to their "home", where they are familiar with the surroundings, caretaker and whatever hazards exist there.
Q. Is there ever a time when it isn't recommended to return the cats to the area where they were trapped?
A. There are several situations when returning the cats is not recommended. They include:
- Young kittens - every effort should be made to socialize them and place them in adoptive homes.
- Sick or injured cats - when possible, these cats should be treated for their illness or injury. Sometimes the cats are too wild for treatment, or the illness or injury is fatal. Under those circumstances, the only solution is to euthanize the animal.
- Friendly, previously owned cats - these cats face the greatest potential for injury if left on the street. Since they can't distinguish between "good guys" and "bad guys", they might approach someone that will harm them. Friendly adult cats should be fixed, vaccinated and placed in adoptive homes.
- Habitat destruction - sometimes the familiar surroundings are cleared for development. Relocation may be necessary in these cases.
- Human-related threats - if neighbors are poisoning or killing the cats, the cats need to be removed from the area.
Q: What is relocation and where can cats be relocated?
A. Relocation is moving the cat or cats to a different location. Unless this is ABSOLUTELY necessary, it should never be undertaken. At best, relocation has about a 50% chance of being successful. Cats, in many cases, will attempt to find their way home again. Most of them don't make it. THERE ARE NO DESIGNATED "RELOCATION" AREAS. Before this is attempted, it is best to consult with a TNR expert in your community.
Q.: Do TNR advocates think all cats should be outside, at least part of the time.
A. The safest place for cats (and dogs, too) is living inside. Unfortunately, that isn't an option for feral cats. Feral cats are wild animals, so although they may look like Fluffy, your house cat, they are as wild as any raccoon, possum or fox. Just as those wild animals do not belong in a home, neither do feral cats.
Q. Can you provide information on rabies?
- Rabies is most common in bats, foxes and raccoons.
- Unlike dogs, cats with rabies do not generally act in an aggressive manner.
- No one in the U.S. has contracted rabies from a cat in recent history.
- OCAS & most vets use the 3-year rabies vaccine, which is good for at least 3 years.
- The test for rabies - the animal is euthanized and the head is sent to Atlanta for testing.
- Doctors are required by law to report all animal bites and scratches they treat to the county health department.
- The health department requires that the animal be quarantined for 10 days. This can be done in the person's home and does not have to be done at OCAS.
- Proof of a rabies vaccination is requested. If none has been given, the animal must receive the vaccine at the end of the 10-day quarantine.
- People handling wildlife (including feral cats) can receive inoculations against rabies. Most wildlife rehabilitators are required to receive these shots.
- For more information about rabies, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at: Center for Disease Control
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