


Humans have started to domesticate cats thousands of years ago, so cats have a long history creating bonds with humans. Humans who have a special bond with a socialized cat are very fortunate, as cats can be wonderful companions. They are incredibly sensitive beings, can give comfort to us when we are stressed or sad, and make us laugh with their funny antics. Each cat has his or her own, unique personality, and interacts with their human in their own way, using sounds, body language, any their eyes. The sounds that we perceive as “Meows” were developed by cats over time solely to communicate with humans; and in time cat owners know quite well how to interpret their cat’s “language”. Scientific studies indicate that cats' purring has beneficial effects on both cats and humans, primarily by reducing stress and promoting relaxation. The low-frequency vibrations produced by purring can lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety, and even aid in bone healing. These effects are linked to the release of endorphins and oxytocin, hormones associated with happiness and stress reduction, in both humans and cats. Cats can also be territorial and act on their instincts, and while they adjust well to living with humans, their minimal needs such as hiding, scratching and climbing have to be fulfilled. When more cats live together in a household, there are hierarchies in place; and just like with humans, while one cat can be relaxed and easy-going, another can be bossy, and when introducing a new cat to the family, “smooth” relationships are not always guaranteed from the get-go. In any case though, cats create strong bonds with their human- and cat family members, and their known environment; they become true family members and enrich our lives in their own unique ways. Each cat has the potential to be a wonderful companion to a human’s life, and in turn deserves to receive care, protection and love.
Cats
Humans have started to domesticate cats thousands of years ago, so cats have a long history creating bonds with humans. Humans who have a special bond with a socialized cat are very fortunate, as cats can be wonderful companions. They are incredibly sensitive beings, can give comfort to us when we are stressed or sad, and make us laugh with their funny antics. Each cat has his or her own, unique personality, and interacts with their human in their own way, using sounds, body language, any their eyes. The sounds that we perceive as “Meows” were developed by cats over time solely to communicate with humans; and in time cat owners know quite well how to interpret their cat’s “language”. Scientific studies indicate that cats' purring has beneficial effects on both cats and humans, primarily by reducing stress and promoting relaxation. The low-frequency vibrations produced by purring can lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety, and even aid in bone healing. These effects are linked to the release of endorphins and oxytocin, hormones associated with happiness and stress reduction, in both humans and cats. Cats can also be territorial and act on their instincts, and while they adjust well to living with humans, their minimal needs such as hiding, scratching and climbing have to be fulfilled. When more cats live together in a household, there are hierarchies in place; and just like with humans, while one cat can be relaxed and easy-going, another can be bossy, and when introducing a new cat to the family, “smooth” relationships are not always guaranteed from the get-go. In any case though, cats create strong bonds with their human- and cat family members, and their known environment; they become true family members and enrich our lives in their own unique ways. Each cat has the potential to be a wonderful companion to a human’s life, and in turn deserves to receive care, protection and love.

Abandoned Cats
When socialized cats, which once belonged to an owner or a family, get abandoned, they suffer greatly, physically and psychologically. They lack important survival skills, are exposed to stresses they are not used to, and are disconnection from their known environment and the bond they had with their human owner or family. Due to the food supply, they will try to settle among or near a colony that is cared for; having once learned to trust humans, they will always gravitate towards humans, exposing themselves also to those who are less than well-meaning.



Feral Cats
Feral cats are not socialized, thus they are “wild” and more or less afraid of humans. They live on streets, in parks or natural stretches of land; while they mostly try to avoid direct contact with humans, they nevertheless instinctively seek to live within the vicinity of humans, because they instinctively know that their food supply depends on us. For the most part, life for street cats is harsh; hunger, injuries and illnesses are frequent occurrences which often mark their lives with suffering and struggles. Thus, the average life span of a street or feral cat is only 5 years. If not managed, feral cats, like other wild animals, are known to overproduce to ensure the survival of their species. They can become pregnant as early as 5 months of age and have babies multiple times (typically 2-3 times) a year. Without early contact with humans, kittens become feral as their parents.

Cat Colonies
A cat colony is a group of feral or semi-feral cats living together in a specific location, typically near food sources and shelter. These colonies are often composed of related females and their offspring, with adult male cats not generally residing within them. They may scavenge for food and they tend to congregate where resources are available. Healthy cat colonies have a stable population of cats with minimal reproduction, living in balance with the ecosystem and human population. Healthy cat colonies have a low incidence of contagious diseases; at dedicated locations authorized caregivers provide food and water, monitor the cat’s health, and assure unneutered newcomers are brought to the vet for neutering.


Cat Population Growth
Even though kitten survival rates can be low, uncontrolled reproduction in cats can quickly become overwhelming.. In just 5 years, two cats can multiply exponentially to over 12000 cats, leading to an increasing population that strains resources and shelters, deteriorating conditions for street cats, and sadly often to friction with humans. Spaying and neutering are simple, effective solutions to prevent this cycle and promote a healthier community for people and animals.

Year 1 : 2

Year 2 : 16


Year 3: 128
Year 4: 2'048

Year 5: 12'288

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