Feral cats living in urban and peri-urban environments face significant welfare challenges including starvation, disease, and cold; Trap-Neuter-Return programmes aim to reduce colony size humanely over time.
Feral cats live shorter, harder lives than their domestic counterparts — exposure, starvation, injury, and infectious disease are constant threats. While some feral cats are healthy and resist human contact, many experience chronic suffering. Colony management programmes that provide veterinary care, food, and neutering improve individual welfare while gradually reducing colony size. The welfare of individual cats in colonies, not only population numbers, should guide management decisions.