[vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
We all experience free roaming cats in our neighborhoods or in the areas where we work. These cats generally fall under a few categories:<\/span><\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_tta_tabs][vc_tta_section title=”Stray Kittens” tab_id=”1740000323484-93aa8e60-305d”][vc_column_text]Stray Kittens<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The first priority is to determine if their mother has abandoned them \u2013 you need to wait and observe. The mother could be out hunting or just hiding nearby. Kittens that appear well cared for are probably just waiting for mom.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Stray Cats” tab_id=”1740000448702-c2dcf958-949e”][vc_column_text]Stray cats<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n Cats that are unsocial or sometimes social to people that originated as house cats but were abandoned or accidentally lost. They may enjoy human companionship but not necessarily direct human contact. Many people see them as \u201ccommunity cats\u201d.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Feral Cats” tab_id=”1740000323484-0c92bd0c-3c97″][vc_column_text]Feral cats<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Cats that are highly unsocialized to people and avoid human contact. They are generally the results of stray house cats that have been outside for two or more generations.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Owned outdoor \u201cpet\u201d cats” tab_id=”1740000450492-0e2f3c6f-3890″][vc_column_text]Owned outdoor \u201cpet\u201d cats<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Cats that are owned by someone in the community who chooses to allow their cat to run the neighborhood. These cats may be extremely friendly or they may be temperamental and only allow handling to a certain point.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_tabs][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n In all four of these categories the cats may be happy and healthy hanging out in the neighborhood, but may not do well in a shelter situation. The majority does not solicit or want human contact and some will \u201cshut down\u201d or act feral (hissing\/striking) when in a cage. Historically the cats brought into shelters that are not friendly to people or comfortable in a caged environment will be held through any legally required holding period and then euthanized. Nationwide less than 2% of the stray cats brought into shelters as reclaimed by their owners. Statistically it is more likely that a cat will return home or be found by their family if left alone in the neighborhood than being taken into a shelter.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_tta_tabs][vc_tta_section title=”Humane Society Silicon Valley” tab_id=”1739999978028-ce264c28-4194″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n HSSV houses stray animals from the city of\u00a0Sunnyvale\u00a0only. \u00a0Animal control\u00a0licensing\u00a0and field services are provided by the\u00a0City of Sunnyvale.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”San Jose Animal Care and Services” tab_id=”1740000018367-dd69ca97-c206″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n San Jose Animal Care and Services<\/a> provides animal control services for and houses stray animals from the cities of San Jose, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Milpitas and Saratoga<\/span><\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”County of Santa Clara Animal Shelter” tab_id=”1740000017287-03c8ca7f-ba8c”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n County of Santa Clara Animal Shelter<\/a> provides animal control services and houses stray animals for the\u00a0unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority (SVACA)” tab_id=”1740000015443-17bc5d0b-93f2″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority<\/a> provides animal control services and houses stray animals for the cities of\u00a0Santa Clara, Campbell, Mountain View and Monte Sereno.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Palo Alto Animal Services” tab_id=”1739999978028-88dce475-ff56″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n Palo Alto Animal Services<\/a> provides animal control services and houses stray animals for the the cities of\u00a0Palo Alto, Los Altos and Los Altos Hills.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_tabs][vc_separator][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n What should you do about the free roaming cats in your neighborhood? Because so many of these cats will not do well in a shelter. it\u2019s not in their best interest to bring them into a shelter. Removing them from the neighborhood often creates a vacuum effect where more cats will come into the neighborhood or other animals like raccoons and opossums will fill the void. If the cats are healthy, then they have found a food source and just need to be altered and returned to the neighborhood.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To help identify an owner for a cat in your neighborhood you can try to post flyers in the neighborhood, and at local vet hospitals, grocery stores and coffee shops, etc. Here\u2019s a link for a poster you can make and print.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Contact your local shelters and fill out a \u201cfound\u201d report. Take the cat to a vet or shelter and have them scanned for a microchip which should identify the owner and the owner\u2019s address. You can also create an ad on Craigslist\u00a0http:\/\/sfbay.craigslist.org\/pet\/\u00a0or in the local paper.<\/span><\/p>\n Kittens should be brought into your local shelter or vet to determine their age and needs for care. If you\u2019re able to foster them by providing a place for them to stay until they are old enough to be altered and re-homed, tell the shelter or vet and they may be able to provide you with food, litter, etc. through a foster program. If they\u2019re old enough to be altered and are acting unsocial\/feral then they might be good candidates for the TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) program in your area. If they\u2019re with their mother it\u2019s a good idea to catch the kittens, and then use them to trap the mom so she can be altered and returned.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_tta_tabs][vc_tta_section title=”I Enjoy Having Cats in My Yard” tab_id=”1739487291795-0bfa153d-5f03″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\nHumane Society Silicon Valley \u2013 Stray animals at HSSV<\/span><\/h3>\n
San Jose Animal Care and Services\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
County of Santa Clara Animal Shelter\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority (SVACA)\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/h4>\n
Palo Alto Animal Services <\/span><\/h3>\n
Free Roaming Cats in Your Neighborhood<\/span><\/h2>\n
I Enjoy Having Cats in My Yard<\/span><\/h3>\n