So apparently we DO have ferals around here.
So after seeing a pack of cats late one night during the summer, and with the posts from aeryn, I decided on Christmas (like I had plans that day..) to check out the area and see if I could spot some feral colonies people set up.
And sure enough, I found one.
I scoped it out and found the shelters were actually large plastic storage tubs on their sides to put the cat food trays in, and covered with tarp. I saw 3 such enclosures in this one area, which a smaller area off to the side where another enclosure was, and a small dog house too.
While I was there someone came by and told me that a group of people were taking care of the feral cats (a group of 10 or so cats I think) for about 6-7 years, and the local animal shelters are cool with the shelters as long as the cats are fed. They even come by once in a while to trap any new arrivals so it can get nurtured and released back to the colony.
Today I stopped by Walmart to get a big bag of cat food and went back to the colony. I put the back in a large garbage and slipped a note in with it that had my information and saying that I'd be willing to help.
The circled X is where the colony is, and the other X's are where I saw more shelters in the woods. The C is where I saw a gorgeous black cat on Thursday and came back today and gave some leftover chicken I had (my cats are fat enough for scraps.) I'll post a picture if I can get my camera working again.
The proximity of all these shelters to the woods here makes me wonder if there are several colonies around here.