SAFER was organized in 1998 by a group of caring residents and business owners. SAFER is a Non-profit organization, staffed entirely by Unpaid Volunteers, dedicated to the well being of feral and homeless cats and kittens left abandoned in the New Hampshire Seacoast area.
A true feral cat is one that has been born in the wild and has never known human companionship. A semi-feral cat is one that has become lost, abandoned, or, for some reason, is homeless and reverts back to basic instincts in order to survive. These cats might exist together in colonies or singly in wooded areas or unused buildings, wherever they find a food supply, dumpsters, trash cans, etc…. They are living a day-to-day existence.
The issue of feral and stray cats will continue as long as irresponsible individuals continue abandoning their pets. This issue is compounded when they are abandoned unaltered. SAFER has been very successful in removing homeless domestic cats/kittens and wild kittens that can be socialized for adoption from the beach area. Unfortunately adult feral cats do not take to socializing for adoption. These feral cats are sterilized and returned to their home. SAFER NEVER relocates cats into an area.
From 2001 through 2005 SAFER has trapped 593 cats in the Towns of Hampton and Seabrook.
The average life span of a feral cat is 2 to 5 years. All cats were altered and vaccinated for rabies and distemper. It is estimated that a pair of breeding cats and their offspring, producing only two litters per year, with 2.8 surviving kittens per litter can produce:
1 year: |
12 |
2 years: |
67 |
3 years: |
376 |
4 years: |
2,107 |
5 years: |
11,801 |
6 years: |
66,088 |
7 years: |
370,092 |
8 years: |
2,072,514 |
9 years: |
11,606,077 |
If the 593 cats trapped by SAFER during 2001-2005 had been left unaltered, a potential 7,116 offspring could have been produced in only ONE year.
In FOUR years, that number could rise to 1,249,451;
and in NINE years 6,882,403,661 offspring could flood our seacoast area!
Since there is not much likelihood of people discontinuing the practice of abandoning their cats, SAFER’s services are essential for controlling and REDUCING the population of abandoned and wild cats/kittens in our area that would otherwise be left on their own to scrounge for food and shelter in their attempt to survive.
