It used to be that every neighborhood had one: the neighborhood kitty. These cats showed up unannounced and always seemed to have the whole neighborhood wrapped around their paws. Unfortunately, the number of these cats have been dwindling due to several completely unsubstantiated misconceptions about these sweet animals. Even so, the humane society estimates that there are about 40,000,000 feral cats in the United States and with the help of Trap-Neuter-Return programs, these important members of the community are starting to make a comeback.

Below is a list of 6 common misconceptions about feral cats and how they affect the communities in which they reside. Hopefully, this will help to stop the negative stereotypes that these kitties are currently facing.

1. They will attack humans and pets.

The feral cats that reside in your neighborhood are probably relatively fearful of humans. There may be one or two who are accepting of hugs, or willing to be petted, but most of them will probably run away from people. The only reason a healthy feral cat will attack a human or a pet is if they are cornered or forced into a situation that is making them uncomfortable.

2. These cats are a different species.

These cats are no different than from domestic cats. These cats just lack the socialization with humans that domestic cats usually get from birth.

3. They're just pests! All they do is beg for food from everyone!

If you find that a cat keeps coming to your house night after night yowling at your window for food, they are probably a stray cat or a lost pet. Most feral kitties are more than capable of finding prey on their own.

4. If you find one, you should trap it and remove it.

If you find that a Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) cat, marked by a notch in their ear, lives in your neighborhood, trapping it is unnecessary. Someone is well aware that they live around there. A cat should only be taken to the shelter if they are new to the neighborhood (and do not have a notched ear).

5. They have rabies!

The odds of these cats having rabies is no larger than the odds of your housecat having rabies. Cats that have rabies demonstrate very clear symptoms anyway, so this is not really anything to worry about. Especially since these cats are unlikely to welcome human contact and are unlikely to allow you to get very close.

6. These cats can never be socialized.

Where there is a will, there is a way. Many of these cats prefer to spend their lives outside and away from humans, but some do eventually attach to a family and socialize with them. It all depends on this particular cat's temperament and interest in humans.

The cats you see on the street are an important part of your neighborhood and the ecosystem within it. They keep pests away and can be gentle companions. There's no harm that these kitties pose to the humans they coexist with, and it is nothing short of cruel to remove them from their homes.