Mary Allen
An estimated 2 million stray cats live in Germany. For this reason, many municipalities have now introduced compulsory castration for cats outdoors – the only way to permanently deal with the problem. But what happens to the strays? Animal welfare associations such as the Katzenschutzbund Essen take care of the animals, have them neutered, treated by a veterinarian and feed them. We met for an interview with the Katzenschutzbund and were allowed to visit a feeding station.
This is How Stray Cats Live
With pricked ears and wide eyes, the cat Blacky scurries to her feeding place under the parked caravan. Six strays have been fed here since they were born. The cats, now around 12 years old, are the children of an uncastrated outdoor cat. They were born outdoors: real strays who find it difficult to get used to the presence of people. Even today the fur noses are suspicious. As soon as we get too close to them, they run away. Only the white brindle Lilly tolerates our presence but keeps throwing suspicious looks at us while she eats. It’s good that the volunteers take care of the stray cats. But where do all the stray cats come from? And what can we do to help them? The Association for the Protection of Cats answered our questions.
Interview with the Association for the Protection of Cats
How is it that there are so many stray cats in Germany?
Association for the Protection of Cats: Stray cats are feral domestic cats or are descended from them. So there was always someone guilty. You don’t fall from the sky. Either the cats are not neutered in time and then run away, or they are abandoned by their owners because they are bothersome, sick, or pregnant. If they survive, they then throw their young outside and continue to reproduce.
What dangers are the strays exposed to? What are you suffering from?
Association for the Protection of Cats: They suffer from the fact that they do not have a roof over their heads. Especially in winter, they are troubled by the cold and the wet. When they freeze, they often crawl into the car, into the engine bay, or sit on the tires. They are protected there. Serious injuries often result if the engine is started.
Hunger is also a big problem. The undersupply leads to diseases that make the animals even more helpless. Without human help, cats cannot look after each other outdoors.
How about the cats from the feeding station that we are visiting today?
Association for the Protection of Cats: These are six cats that were all born outdoors around 12 years ago. They are the offspring of a house cat. This cat lived mainly outside, also gave birth there, but only brought its children when they were so big that they could no longer be tamed. Animal shelters are reluctant to take in animals that they cannot convey. Anyone who goes there wants to have a tame cat. That is why we released the cats again after they were neutered. Because half-year cats that have gone wild can hardly be conveyed.
This story is definitely not an isolated incident, is it?
Association for the Protection of Cats: Unfortunately not. The animal shelters and the cat protection association have foster homes, but we can’t stack the animals. There are hundreds. Through the more than 40 years of activity of the Katzenschutzbund we have achieved a lot, we have done a lot of educational work, but we are amazed that after so many years animals are stillborn in the open and then go wild. And we can’t get it under control. The animals that we then pass on are castrated, but it does not tear off. We are still being called to this day: here is a litter, there is a litter. And if the call comes too late, the animals have no human contact for the first few weeks, then it is difficult to get them tamed.
How and up to what age can stray be tamed?
Association for the Protection of Cats: Usually up to eight weeks of age. In rare exceptions also up to the age of two years. Older animals also become more trusting over time, but first of all, they are afraid of people. They can only be caught with a live trap and handled with gloves. In foster homes, we try to tame them and get them used to people. It’s a long process that takes a lot of patience. Sometimes it’s frustrating. We spend several hours a day with the cats. First of all, to clean everything up and feed them. And then we try to get them to eat out of your hand. This is the first step so that they can see that the person is not evil. We play with them and spend time with them. But before you have the cats’ trust, it takes a long time. They have seen a lot.
What are the problems with the placement of formerly stray cats?
Association for the Protection of Cats: Strays are very difficult to settle down anywhere. Often they try to get back to their old area. The animals that we have neutered are also all marked. In the past through a tattoo, today through a chip. But it always happens that the animals run away.