When Life Changes: What to Do If You Can No Longer Care for the Feral Cats You’ve Been Feeding

Whether you’re facing a move, a major life transition, or the heartbreaking loss of a loved one who was the sole caregiver to a colony, it’s important to have a plan in place to protect these cats.

Here’s what you need to know and do if you can no longer care for a feral cat colony:

Step 1: Assess the Situation

Before making any sudden decisions, assess:

How many cats are in the colony?
Are they fixed? Vaccinated?
Are they fed daily? Do they have shelter?
Is the property being sold, developed, or staying in the family?

Write down as much information as you can. This will help others help you.

Step 2: Reach Out for Help EARLY

As soon as you know care will no longer be possible, reach out to:

Neighborhood groups, Facebook rescue communities, and local rescues. You’d be surprised how often help comes from local animal lovers who just didn’t know the cats existed.
Friends, neighbors, or family who may be willing to continue feeding
Property managers, realtors, or new homeowners, communicate that cats are part of the area and ideally should be left where they are

Step 3: Determine If the Colony Can Stay

If the property isn’t under immediate threat and someone is willing to continue feeding:

Arrange a warm introduction between the current and new caregiver
Provide feeding instructions and vet records if you still have them
Show them your routine. Same time/place feeding helps reduce stress for the cats

The best option is often to leave them where they are with new support.

Step 4: If Relocation Is the Only Option

Relocating feral cats should always be a last resort, but sometimes, it’s unavoidable. If you must relocate:

A. Secure a Safe Relocation Site

A farm, sanctuary, or someone with private land that is willing to set up relocation enclosures and care for the cats daily.
Keep in mind that scared cats can squeeze through the smallest spaces, they can dig their way out and climb very high fences. Even “cat fencing” is not escape proof from cats that want to get out. I PROMISE!
Sites must be away from highways or predators and have someone committed to lifelong quality care
Never relocate to parks, open land, barns or someone else’s property WITHOUT consent or relocation enclosures

B. Acclimation Is Key

Once relocated, cats must be confined in large covered enclosures for 4-6 weeks to learn their new surroundings. Feed them consistently, talk to them, and keep them secure. Skipping this step can lead to cats running off and becoming lost as they try to make their way back to the only place they’ve known.

Size and Duration: Set up a secure enclosure that measures at least 8×8 feet and can be covered to prevent weather elements, even for just two cats. If you are relocating more than two cats, the enclosure should be larger. This enclosure should be spacious enough to allow normal behavior and easy movement. The space should have a bottom platform or cement that they cannot dig their way out of. There needs to be litter boxes, shelters, food and water provided daily. They should be comfortable.

Importance: Keep the cats in this enclosure for a minimum of 4 weeks, ideally 6-8 weeks. This period is crucial for helping them recognize the new area as home, significantly reducing the risk of them trying to return to their original territory, getting lost and starving.

Secure Access for Care: The enclosure must be designed to allow caretakers to enter and exit for feeding and maintenance (like scooping litter) without letting the cats escape. The design should include double-door systems or a secure vestibule to prevent escapes.

Dangers of Escaping: If a cat escapes during the acclimation period, it may attempt to return to its original territory, facing dangers such as traffic, unfamiliar predators, and the challenge of navigating unknown areas without access to food or safe shelter.

Monitor and Maintain: Carefully monitor the cats following their release to ensure they adjust well to their new environment. Consistent care by the caretaker is crucial during this transition.

Here is an example of a secure setup for relocating feral and community cats.

Step 5: Honor the Caregiver

If someone has passed away and left behind a colony, honor their legacy by ensuring those cats continue to be fed and cared for. Share their story. Reach out to their network. You could be continuing a legacy of compassion that meant everything to them.