Puistokissat

Puistokissat refers to feral or stray cats that inhabit public parks and urban green spaces. These cats are typically not owned by individuals but live outdoors, often forming colonies in areas with readily available food sources and shelter. They may be descendants of lost or abandoned pets, or born to other feral cats.

These animals are often wary of humans and may be difficult to approach or handle. While some puistokissat might tolerate human presence from a distance, they generally avoid direct contact. Their diet consists of scavenging for food, hunting small prey, and sometimes receiving food from well-meaning individuals.

The presence of puistokissat can raise concerns regarding public health, animal welfare, and their impact on local wildlife. Efforts to manage these populations often involve trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs, where cats are humanely trapped, sterilized, vaccinated, and then released back into their territory. This helps to control the population growth and improve the health of the existing cats. In some cases, individuals or animal welfare organizations may attempt to socialize and rehome particularly friendly or young puistokissat if they can be safely captured and assessed.