We’ve all heard the stories in these tough economic times about canine and feline family members being dumped or left behind when a family has to leave its home.

But for years, another segment of the animal world has gone largely ignored or misunderstood. Until now, that is.

That segment of the population is feral cats. We applaud the Humane Society of Freeborn County for its new feral cat initiative.

The Humane Society is setting up a special fund to spay and neuter feral, stray and barn cats with a trap-neuter-return policy.

Feral cats have either been born outside or are family pets that have strayed or been dumped outside and have become fearful of humans. Simply stated, feral cats are unadoptable. They are unsocialized around humans and prefer to live outside.

Everybody has seen feral cats out in the country, in alleys or near abandoned buildings. There’s a misconception that they’re disease-ridden and responsible for song bird and other wildlife loss.

The truth is, feral cats are as disease-free as a house cat and they can and do live just as long. They control the rodent population. They by far kill fewer birds and other animals than humans do.

Still, there are those who believe feral cats should be caught and killed and others who think they should be caught and moved to different locations. Others think animal control should catch more feral cats and take them to the local pound or animal shelter. But the truth is, feral cats that enter most pounds are killed. Catch and kill doesn’t work, and it’s very costly to taxpayers. What’s more, it’s very cruel to kill a cat simply because it prefers to live outside. And when cats are removed from one area, the segment of the population left behind can still breed and new cats can come in.

With trap-neuter-return, cats are spayed or neutered and vaccinated, then returned to the location where they were trapped. Cats are ear-tipped so any newcomers are recognized so they too can be altered and vaccinated.

In those communities that use it, there are no more kittens, numbers of feral cats gradually go down, lives improve, fighting and yowling stop, it’s less costly to taxpayers and the need for animal control is reduced.

It’s a win-win situation for all. We urge those able to become part of the solution.

To donate to the fund, tax-deductible donations may be sent to the Humane Society of Freeborn County, Feral Cat Initiative, P.O. Box 423, Albert Lea.