Question:
Our adopted feral male white cat has wandered off and not returned. We can only assume he has gotten lost (we've tried ads, signs, word of mouth, etc.) or been unable to return, possibly killed by a predator.
I've taken many walks with Hansom in the woods and have been confident that he was "woods-wise" from his actions during those times. We figured that a feral cat must have been "woods-wise" to survive until we met.
We retired 30 years ago to this wooded mountain area and always had at least two calico cats at home that we bring inside in the evening and turn loose in the morning. Until now, we have never had any cat problems to speak of. Since Hansom adopted us, he has been a ray of sunshine, and we miss him and his wonderful personality very much.
J.C., Hendersonville, NC Oct 31, 2010
Answer:
Being an all-white cat would make your Hansom an easy target for predators, including large birds of prey, foxes, coyotes and humans. Calico cats have a more natural camouflage, like our feral cat Mr. Twain, who is a tan tabby. Your sad story underscores my belief that one should never let cats roam free. Better to build an outdoor enclosure or try a regular roam-around with harness and leash that many cats learn to enjoy. A few cats have no interest in hunting, but still, once they get a taste of the outdoors, they will want to roam and then show much frustration and yowl loudly to get outside if they are no longer permitted to roam free. Some become house-soilers, while others will spray indoors because they have met rival cats outside who invade their territory. Through such contacts, the chances of your cat getting a disease like feline AIDS/immunodeficiency disease and even the plague are greatly increased, as is the risk of him bringing ticks, fleas and ringworm into the home.
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