There are some legitimate complaints to be made regarding any person (although it is usually a woman) who feeds feral strays. There is a responsible way to do this - and an irresponsible and inconsiderate way to do this.

First, let us agree that the person who feeds the cats does so from a kind and warm heart that cannot bear to think of the cats suffering and starving. This is the person who when that first cat arrives on their porch, crying and begging for food and comfort, cannot turn them away. This is not a character flaw!

In an ideal world, everyone would keep their cats as indoor pets and there would be no starving lost or feral born cats to feed. Sadly, this is not an ideal world. This is a world where, rather than socially ostracize the people who have abandoned their pets, or allowed their pets to breed irresponsibly, we ostracize and attack the people who attempt to care for the resulting problem - stray cats.

Given that this kind hearted person is going to feed and try to help those cats in any way she can - there are other issues to consider. Does she feed them, but also capture them, placing those who are suitable in good homes, providing vaccinations and spay or neuter and then if necessary a re-release of cats who are not adoptable. This is called Trap, Neuter, and Release and is, in fact, a responsible way of dealing with the stray cat problem. (see Alley Cat Allies for more information on TNR)

Before you start pointing fingers - you should visit with the person involved and find out exactly what their situation is. You may be surprised, and also get to know a person of true value and compassion.

If a person has a number of cats in their home, that does not automatically mean they are mentally ill hoarders. In the U.S. there are over 90 million pet cats living in 37.7 million households. This should tell you that most cat lovers own more than one cat. A multi-cat household is not de facto evidence of mental illness.

The characteristics of the mentally ill hoarder are; a person who is depressed, often who is unemployed, often without family or other social connection, and who is unable or unwilling to take appropriate care of the cats. They take in more pets than they are capable of feeding and caring for properly and are soon overwhelmed.

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