Managed feral cat colonies with dedicated carers achieve better welfare outcomes than unmanaged populations, but colony welfare depends on consistent care and veterinary access.
Colony welfare is not passive: it requires active management including monitoring individual cat health, providing consistent food and water, ensuring access to veterinary treatment for injured or sick individuals, and managing new arrivals to protect colony social stability. Colonies without dedicated carers have poorer welfare outcomes — higher disease burden, injury rates, and mortality. The welfare case for colony management is that structured care dramatically improves outcomes compared to complete abandonment.