The Knoxville Feral Cat Friends

Just Some Local Cat Lovers on a Mission of Love

The Alley Cat is as common a fixture in American cities as the parking meter or the city bus. Their's is a sad plight, as they exist because of human negligence and indifference. They live a hard life compared to wild cats in a rural setting. They have to scrounge for food wherever they can, are at constant risk of being run over in the street, and many die in a few years, usually from diseases like rabies and FIV (the feline equivalent of HIV).

There is also the public health risk to humans, especially with diseases like Cat Scratch Fever, Toxoplasmosis, and Campylobacter enteritis (the last two caused by contact with cat feces; a huge problem caused by an out-of-control feline population). As cute as they are, they also damage property, dig up gardens and flowerbeds, and kill songbirds, koi pond fish, and other desirable wild creatures.

Here in Knoxville, a few concerned cat lovers decided to be proactive in solving the problem. They formed the Knoxville Feral Cat Friends, a non-profit organization that works in association with local veterinarians and animal hospitals to help alleviate this serious problem.

A project of Peaceful Kingdom (a Tennessee non-profit 501c(3) organization), the KFCF was founded in 2000 to care for the burgeoning feral cat population in the greater Knoxville area. They build and maintain feeding colonies at sites where known packs of feral cats live.

These colonies have feeding stations inside small shelters where the feline critters can take refuge from adverse weather conditions. Volunteers maintain the feeding colonies by making sure there is always food available and keeping the shelters in good repair.

However, the main problem is the ever-growing population of stray cats in the metro area. Simply maintaining feeding colonies and shelters would only treating the symptom. That is why the KFCF employs the TNR system (Trap, Neuter, and Return).