The Working Cat

Apart from the domestic cats there are farm cats who live free and independently in every country. They are very appreciated for their rodent hunting ability. In Great Britain, more than 90% of the farms have at least one cat, and even though most of them live in them there are those who exhibit their skills in factories and other public buildings; they even take them on board of ships, but not as much as in the old times.

Alley Cats: There is a great population of alley cats in towns and cities that survive the best they can due to what they find on the streets. They are cats that descend from other members more or less domesticated, specially from the lost or abandoned cats; cats from ruined farms, and of course their litters. Some belong to generations of non-domesticated cats, while others have just arrived to that cruel world in the streets.

Alley cats usually concentrate in docks, abandoned industrial buildings, garbage dumps, markets and places similar to these. There are buildings with comfortable air conditioning conduits, like hospitals and big block buildings which also concentrate many alley cats.

Cat lovers: From these statistics, three fundamental things can be inferred, and that is how cats are and the way they relate to human beings. Firstly, that even if they are in essence independent creatures that are gifted with excellent survival techniques, they have knitted a strong bond with humans. A bond based above all, in their ability to hunt and in part for their desire of company. Secondly, that even in situations of total abandonment (some groups of cats receive care and feeding from people who feel pity for them) they are capable of surviving and of reproducing. Thirdly, the fact that there are cats living on the streets which proves they are perfectly capable of living among their peers as much as in a house protected by their owners.