This is due to several reasons including that colonies are generally not planned -- cats are returned where found, dependent upon conditions. They are partially supplied with food and milk, but mainly subsist on hunting rodents such as black rat, brown rat, common vole and Apodemus species.
Stray cats tend to rely on humans—living close to them, seeking cat food and exhibiting friendly behavior like meowing or rubbing against legs. If They Hunt, Cats Prefer in Rodents. SHARES. Feral cats (cats which live without help from man) can and will form small colonies based around available food sources. Related females and their young form the core of a feral cat colony. Trap-Neuter-RETURN (TNR) reduces colony size -- both immediately by removal of kittens and 'tame' cats… Colony living. The feral colonies are very vulnerable as diseases are rampant. Proper management of a feral/free-roaming cat colony is a long term, year round responsibility and should not be undertaken lightly. The following description is based upon a Feral colony located in the south of Lousiana. They can have two or more litters per year. The Humane Society of the United States, the ASPCA and other supporters say the nation’s estimated 50 million to 150 million feral felines often live … The following descriptions are based upon observations and field notes gathered over a two year period. So since July 4, 2017, I have fed these feral cats in my backyard, and little did I know that I would create a strong bond and commitment to them, and also I did not know that they would mate a lot, and I have 10+ cats from 4 generations. Post navigation ← Video shows how cats can be trained like dogs. 5.

Once you put food out you become a “colony manager” and the cats become dependent on you. Cat days, I've noticed, start around 4:00 pm, when the colony starts to climb out of its hiding spots for the day's activities. A feral colony usually sleeps during the day and begins to become active around four or five in the evening.
Cats that grow up feral or abandoned pet cats that acquire feral behaviors are usually poor candidates for successful adoption into homes. This does not inevitably happen, and some will live singly, but it is not uncommon for small groups of co-operating females and kittens (matrilinear colonies) to develop.

To my knowledge, there is not a recommended maximum number of cats for a colony nor for a colony caretaker, except the ultimate goal of zero! The Feral Cat Coalition is a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the overpopulation of feral and abandoned cats through free, humane Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR).