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Webster's dictionary defines feral as untamed, wild, savage.

For the more than 70 million cats in the United States defined as feral, it translates into homelessness, disease, starvation, exposure to cruel weather conditions and prey for predators. Feral cats fear humans because loving hearts and hands never socialized them.

You will occasionally find someone who sees a feral cat coming to the door for food. Try to pick it up, and off it goes.

There are good Samaritans who visit areas in Albuquerque and feed the area's estimated 60,000 to 75,000 feral cats, said Emily Walker of the Albuquerque Cat Clinic.

Programs like the trap-neuter-return require funding, community support and many volunteers, including veterinarians.

The theory is that sterilized cats can't reproduce, so the feral population will gradually decrease in a humane way.

Yet trapping and transporting cats is labor-intensive and licensed veterinarians must perform the surgeries, which are expensive.

Now comes a ray of hope from Julie Levy, head of Operation Catnip at the University of Florida, in a study funded by the Morris Animal Foundation and publicized in the foundation's "Animal News" publication.

Levy has been testing a sterilization vaccine that could be administered by veterinary technicians in the field.

This vaccine targets a hormone in the brain called GnRH. When GnRH is controlled, a cat does not produce estrogen or testosterone and becomes temporarily infertile as a result.

The vaccine doesn't last forever, but in Levy's research, it is exceeding expectations. Fifteen female cats were vaccinated in May 2004, and, despite living with an un-neutered male, only one had become pregnant as of early 2006.

A long-term inexpensive fertility vaccine would give humane agencies, animal-control officers and public safety officials a humane way to control feral cat populations.

Levy's studies would mean fewer cats struggling for survival on the streets. The vaccine is hoped to be to be available to the public by early 2007.

As a purrsonal aside, I recently discovered reading Animal News that a cat with a clipped ear, (clipped as if scissors had cut off the ear tip) is an international symbol that tells veterinarians, shelter workers and animal-control officers that a feral cat had been spayed or neutered. So I learned something new, and wanted to pass it on to you.

Additionally, feral cats can be caught, tamed and become as domesticated as any household cat. It requires time and patience but it can be done.

Three years ago, I caught another orange tabby, as feral as feral could be.

I called experts in the feline world and was told to forget trying to tame this creature.

After two years of wariness and slow building of trust, Nellie now falls asleep each night snuggling close to me on my pillow.

So much for the experts.

P.S. Halloween's coming and shelters will be swamped with small animals Nov. 1. Kid's costumes are scary for some pets, as is the constant ringing of the doorbell. Candy purchased for little ghouls and goblins at your door may accidentally get consumed by your pet. Pets left outdoors are at great risk for "fear flight," so all pets should be secured, preferably indoors, on Halloween. A fun holiday for some people, but not for our pets.