Plight of cats highlighted

A big feral cat problem exists in Welkom and the Goldfields

For this reason, Anna van der Walt and Elmarie Calitz are adamant in their crusade to highlight the plight of feral cats.

This two-woman team is behind 4 Feral Rescue, a Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) programme.

Van der Walt says domestic and stray cats differ significantly in their relationship with humans, their

behaviour, and their living conditions.

The differences can be highlighted as follows:

Domestic cats

■ Definition: Cats kept as pets, living in homes with humans in controlled environments.

■ Behaviour: Fully socialised to humans. These cats are friendly, affectionate, and comfortable with human interaction. They rely entirely on their human owners for food, water, shelter and care.

■ Health: Often vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and receive veterinary care when necessary.

■ Environment: Live indoors or in controlled outdoor spaces (like fenced gardens). They may wear collars and have identification such as microchips and name tags.

■ Example: A house cat that cuddles with its owner and uses a litter tray.

Stray cats

■ Definition: Cats that were once domestic, but have been lost, abandoned, or neglected by their humans − living without a permanent home, usually on the street or in open fields.

■ Behaviour: May still be somewhat socialised and approachable, though often skittish or wary of humans due to lack of consistent human contact. They may seek human help for food, water or shelter.

■ Health: Variable; may have had some veterinary care (for instance neutered if adopted from a shelter), but often lack ongoing care, making them prone to ailment, injury or abuse by humans.

■ Environment: Roam streets, alleyways, open fields, or neighbourhoods, scavenging for food or relying on kind-hearted humans. They may form loose colonies with other cats.

■ Example: A cat abandoned by its owner, living near a field, but approaching people for food.

Feral cats

■ Definition: Cats born and raised in the wild, or sometimes domestic cats that have reverted to a wild state, with minimal or no human interaction.

■ Behaviour: Typically fearful or aggressive towards humans, avoiding contact. They live independently, hunting or scavenging for food. These cats often form tight-knit colonies with other feral cats.

■ Health: Rarely receive veterinary care, leading to higher risks of disease, parasites or injury. Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) programmes may neuter them, often marked by a clipped or tipped ear.

■ Environment: Live in wild or semi-wild areas such as large fields, city outskirts, or abandoned premises, relying on natural instincts to survive.

■ Example: A cat born in a feral colony, hunting rodents and avoiding human interaction.

Key differences

■ Socialisation: Domestic cats are fully socialised, strays are partially socialised, and ferals are unsocialised or wild.

■ Dependence: Domestic cats depend on humans, strays may seek human aid but survive independently, and ferals are fully self-reliant.

■ Management: Domestic cats are owned pets, strays may be rehomed or adopted, whilst ferals are often managed through TNR to control populations.

For more specific details about TNR programmes, call Calitz on 081 477 5629 or Van der Walt on 083 632 2668.

Rescue team wins pink prize
4 Feral Rescue Team won first prize at the first Upstairs Spring Market that was recently held in Welkom. They were awarded for their efforts to dress in vibrant pink, to show their support for “Pink Power October – Cancer Awareness.” These women once again showed the Welkom Community they have what it takes in the fight for not just ferals and strays, but also for cancer awareness. The Upstairs Spring Market in collaboration with @ RED CARPET VENUE took place on Saturday 18 October. The 4 Feral Rescue team, lead by Elmarie Calitz (photo), would like to thank everyone involved, for making this day a huge success.”The NPO, 4 Feral Rescue is flooded with not just kittens, but also mommy cats with their kittens. We urge the community to please get involved in our fund-raising and TNR projects. We are in urgent need of cat/kitten food, blankets, toys, food bowels, litter and financial contribution towards our veterinarian accounts. Pictured is Merle schiffer.