Sav-R-Cats International, Inc.

Sav-R-Cats, International, Incorporated is an eleemosynary corporation organized under the laws of the State of South Carolina whose mission is for the protection, safeguards and humane treatment of cats, irrespective of where they are domiciled or habitated, and regardless of their lack of ownership or guardianship.  The main nucleus being:
· To promote Trap/Neuter/Return as a  feasible and humane method to deal with the overlooked issue of feral and stray cats.
· To educate regional public to understand and accept Trap/Neuter/Return as the only humane and effective long-term solution to care for feral cats.
· To change public policy to favor Trap/Neuter/Return over lethal means of dealing with feral and stray cats.
The whole purpose behind this International Organization is to prevent cruelty against unowned felines and to offer them the rights and protection afforded to other species.  Unowned felines in our area have no one looking after or protecting them.  Their well-being must be shielded against mistreatment and pain.  This organization will provide funds to achieve these goals.
Before putting a cat to death, due to a specific disease accusation, a determination should be made to ascertain if said cat has had the proper vaccination for that particular disease the cat is being tested for.  If the cat has had the proper vaccination, the cats) should be given a reprieve and entered into an isolation area for further authentication during the required incubation period.  Every precaution should be made before putting the animal to death, under aforementioned circumstances.
Membership in SRCI is open to all animal lovers who believe and affirm that all life is precious and sacred.  All funds raised will go toward the benefit and well being of cats.

Feral Cat - Literally "gone wild", A domestic cat that has reverted back to its wild state after being lost or abandoned; or a cat that has born outside to stray or abandoned cats.  (A feral cat can also be the offspring of feral cats who have lived in a wild state for some generations.)   Feral cats live in family groups called colonies and can be found anywhere there is food.  Feral cats can survive almost anywhere, and are found all over the world.
Stray Cat - A domestic cat that has been abandoned or has strayed from home and become lost.  Once a companion animal, a stray cat can usually be successfully placed back into a home.  Stray cats will vocalize and usually approach food while the human is present.
Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR)- is a full management plan in which stray and feral cats already living outdoors in cities, towns, and rural areas are humanely trapped, then evaluated, vaccinated, and sterilized by veterinarians.  Kittens and tame cats are adopted into good homes.  Healthy adult cats too wild to be adopted are returned to their familiar habitat under the lifelong care of volunteers.
Managed Colony - A group of cats where all cats have been sterilized, vaccinated, provided food, and provided with shelter from inclement weather.  The colony cats are healthier and no longer breeding.  The caretaker regularly monitors the colony and individual cats.  Feral cats are dependent on caretakers) to enact this plan and provide long-term support.  Besides the obvious advantage of population control, the cats are better able to care for themselves since they no longer have to put all of their energy into producing and caring for offspring.  A properly managed colony is a healthy and stable colony in which no kittens are born.
Eartipping -  A technique of painlessly removing a quarter inch off the top of a feral cat's left ear.  Eartipping is performed while the cat is anesthetized for spay/neutering and is the only effective way to clearly identify a feral cat that has been sterilized, and vaccinated against rabies.
Vacuum Effect - A situation arising when feral cats are removed from an environment.  More cats, moving in to take advantage of whatever meager food source is available, will quickly fill this space.
Humane Traps - A metal wire box rigged so that when an animal steps into it, the door closes, preventing the animal from leaving.  These traps do not cause the animal any pain and are the only type of trap to be used for trap-neuter-return (TNR) (see Trap-Neuter-Return for definition).  Wild animals are stressed and the trap should be covered with a towel.

· Feral cats are not vectors of rabies, they die within 4-8 days of contracting the disease.
· Habitat loss is responsible for the decline in songbird population, not feral cats.
· Many more people get sick each year from food-borne illnesses (i.e., salmonella), than ever fall ill from contact with feral cats.
· The most common source for toxoplasmosis is ingestion of raw or undercooked meat.
· There is no evidence suggesting that the majority of feral cats are in poor health or are likely to be infected with Feline Leukemia or Feline Immunodeficiency disease.
o 2-4% are infected with FeLV (similar rate of incidence as homed cats)
o ~2% are infected with FIV     ( similar rate of incidence as homed cats)
· Sterilization contains the spread of viruses like FeLV and FIV.  Since neutering reduces or eliminates the primary modes of transmission, such as fighting and mating, infected cats pose little risk to other cats.
· Infected cats are often asymptomatic and can remain healthy for several years; since testing is not always accurate, healthy cats may be euthanized unnecessarily.
· Removing and euthanizing a cat who tests positive will not necessarily prevent spread of the infection within the colony.
· In some circumstances, the cost of testing may outweigh its effectiveness and even hinder the success of a sterilization program.
· Feral cats pose no health threat to humans or other animals.
· .  Feral cats are elusive, often nocturnal, and usually fearful of humans.  Like most wild animals, they will not attack if unprovoked, but will defend themselves if threatened or cornered.  Their strongest instinct is to run.  If they feel trapped and their escape route is blocked, they will bite or scratch.  Feral cats will wait until a human leaves before approaching any food left by the human.