Feral kittie advice please

[purrfectpear]

I''m in Wichita Ks. for a year long assignment and living in a corporate housing apartment complex. Next to the dumpster area is a storage shed and I''ve noticed a momma cat with at least 4 kitties living under the shed. There are a few opened cat food cans so I know someone is trying to provide some food. I''ve seen a couple of other cats loose who could be toms, or maybe just other neighborhood cats.

I worry about the mom and the kitties getting enough food, and also I know that as unneutered cats they will continue to breed

If I call the local humane society they might come out with traps but then they''d be at the pound and very well might not get adopted

Any advice for the situation? I don''t want to make it worse but it''s hard to ignore? I can''t adopt them as I have a terrier who would NOT get along with any kitties. What is the right thing to do cat lovers?

 

[neatfreak]

Many places have feral cat societies/programs where you can bring the cats in and they will spay or neuter them for free. Some will even come out to your place so you should see if there is a program like that in your area. Then at least they won''t continue to breed...

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 5/26/2008 12:25:18 PM
Author:purrfectpear
I''m in Wichita Ks. for a year long assignment and living in a corporate housing apartment complex. Next to the dumpster area is a storage shed and I''ve noticed a momma cat with at least 4 kitties living under the shed. There are a few opened cat food cans so I know someone is trying to provide some food. I''ve seen a couple of other cats loose who could be toms, or maybe just other neighborhood cats.

I worry about the mom and the kitties getting enough food, and also I know that as unneutered cats they will continue to breed

If I call the local humane society they might come out with traps but then they''d be at the pound and very well might not get adopted

Any advice for the situation? I don''t want to make it worse but it''s hard to ignore? I can''t adopt them as I have a terrier who would NOT get along with any kitties. What is the right thing to do cat lovers?

I don''t live in the US, but I have heard of a programme called TNR ( trap, neuter, release) which might be a possibility, I don''t know if it is the Humane Society which do this, or other, but perhaps Amber, Gypsy or MoreMM might have more info or advice for you.

 

[Delster]

We have this problem too

I feel helpless to do anything about it as all the rescue and adoption places around here euthanise all feral cats on arrival as they can''t even home the tame ones, they actually send them to England. Nowhere I can find does a capture, neuter and release programme and I can''t afford the cost of neutering all these wild cats.

I haven''t gone near them as I don''t want them to get too used to humans although I sometimes leave out water for them to sip on. The neighbours appear to be feeding them and I think they''ve been trying to pet them - one cat in particular seem to have become semi-tame which makes me fear for her safety

 

[FireGoddess]

Are there any no kill shelters near you? I know the humane society near me rents out traps for catching the cats and you could then take them to a no kill shelter. Kittens are highly adoptable usually, it''s the older cats that can sometimes have a harder time getting adopted. At least at a no kill shelter you wouldn''t have to worry about them being put down.

 

[Delster]

I know, it''s appalling FireGoddess. There is one and they are not accepting cats or kittens. They are full to the rafters and can''t find homes for the kitties they have

No-one will rent out or lend traps either. I was told to go and buy a carrier to bring the cats in, and then I''d have to pay to have them neutered, vaccinated, etc.

 

[FireGoddess]

That''s a tough situation. Animal control here actually has a waitlist for free spaying vouchers (for ferals only, not for pets) and you can request up to 5 at a time. At least they try to make it easier for people to help. It breaks my heart to see homeless kitties - I want to scoop all of them up and take care of them.

 

[Delster]

I know FG. I wish I could help them. I''ve seen one dead kitten on the roads around here and was afraid to look too closely in case I recognised the poor wee thing

I''d keep them all if I could. I love cats but I''m horribly allergic - even sitting on a chair a cat has been on will set off my allergies for the next 24 hours.

 

[Lynn B]

Oh, this just makes me so sad and sick.

Perhaps you could call your local vets for some recommendations? Also, try shelters in the next town(s)... maybe they have room? I agree with the above, the kittens have a good chance of finding homes... the mama, unfortunately, not so much. But even still, there''s always hope.

We had a feral cat in our area recently and the last time I saw it was in the dead of winter and his leg was broken... I got a free live trap from our local shelter and was able to catch him. Poor thing was TERRIFIED, I felt so awful. We took him to the shelter where at least he was warm and fed, and hopefully got some medical attention.

Please keep us posted. *hugs!*

 

[innerkitten]

Have you contacted your local SPCA? Here in San Francisco we are lucky enough to have free TNR, and great foster care programs for kittens, both at out local pound a.k.a animal care and cotrol, and at the SPCA. They wil lend traps, help re locate cats and find homes for kittens. They even give a vaccine to the starys after they fx them if they are going to be released back into the colony.
The best thing you can do for those cats is make sure they get fixed, even if you can''t find homes for them.
Also have you done a google search to see if there is anyone in the area that could help you?

I have fostered myself in the past.

 

[innerkitten]

By the way if you do find some sort of private run program that can help you it might be a good idea to start putting food out for them because that way when you go in to trap them they wil trust you.

Also if noting else TNR would help.

 

[Catmom]

I wish you were in my area. I belong to a TNR program and am a registered caretaker of a feral cat colony. We are not part of the Humane Society but are a mostly volunteer program that exists on donations, etc. We currently have 468 registered caretakers in our county. I second the suggestion to look at programs in your area that could help.

 

[neatfreak]

Here you go:

Friends of Felines is a nonprofit organization that works to improve the lives of stray and feral cats in south-central Kansas.

To help or for more information, call 316-772-0329; e-mail [email protected]; or go online to www.felinefriendsks.com.

Donations can also be sent to: Friends of Felines, 717 N. Commercial, Sedgwick, KS 67135.

 

[innerkitten]

I just found the same site through a search and was going to post it too!
Hope things work out for the kitties!

 

[innerkitten]

Michelle, Do you have any pics of your feral cat colony
I love cats. I fostered every year before I had my daughter but won''t start again till she''s a little older.

 

[Gypsy]

Okay well. If there is no program near you... and you feel up to do it it''s actually not THAT hard. The complicated part is the recovery of the mom because females need to be someplace clean and dry for a week or longer after the surgery. And we are talking about a wild animal, so you need a good cage or dog kennel.

With Arwyn (Frodo''s mom) we borrowed a trap at a local shelter, put tuna in it, and trapped her (Frodo was about 5-6 weeks old so he was walking about and so forth, so she could leave him for short bursts of time). We took her straight to a spay/neuter clinic and got her fixed. Picked her up the next morning. She was REALLY feral, just flat out wild. We had a large (like the size we have Shelia kenneled in and she''s a 100 pount dog) set up for her with a litter box newspaper and so forth in our bathroom... we kinda released her in there and just left her there for 10 days. We used a bamboo back scratcher to pull the literbox to the door to clean it, she would stay growling in the back... and we''d put the food just inside the door and pushed it back with the back scratcher. (She''s try to take your hand off if you got anywhere near her). We kept her there for 8 or 10 days (I think it was 10). Then released her into the backyard, where we caught her. It was good because she put on serious weight while she was with us-- she ate A LOT.

We took Frodo in. The kittens are fairly easy once you''ve got mom. Take them to a shelter if you can''t take them in. One, perferably that will take care of them and foster them and get them vet care. If you can get the kittens at 5 weeks or at least before 6 weeks (optimal socialization, from what I gather) it would be best.

 

[purrfectpear]

Thanks so much. I''m going to call Friends of Felines tomorrow. The kitties are so adorable and cute. We just don''t need another 7,000 of them homeless

I really will feel so much better knowing they''re off the streets. It makes me so sad when I see dead pets on the road.

 

[Deelight]

I don''t know about in the US but feral cats here are a serious environmental issue they are destructive and kill wildlife. I must admit the neuter and release just sounds like a weird and alien concept to me.

Saying that one of my kitties is/was a feral, I found him in my backyard at 3 weeks old and I took him in and kept him was told he would likely die but he didn''t and for the most part he is a sweet and loving animal though I am convinced he has a mental problem. Unfortunately we found his siblings about 2-3 weeks later feral as and we took them to the RSPCA we could not keep them, I felt horrible doing so but I also would have felt worse contributing to an already devastating problem 3-4 cats breeding each year plus offspring well you get the idea, we never found the mother cat.

What really gets to me is people who buy cats don''t de-sex them and allow them to roam free and breed or just get sick of them and let them go to fend for themselves where they have no choice but to kill to survive. It is not the animals fault for acting the way they do, animals are a lifelong companion not just when they are little or for christmas - cute, puppies and kittens grow up.

Purrfect I had a terrier that loved cats are you sure it would not get along with a kitty?

 

[disneybride]

Please contact the Heartreach Animal Society. 316-262-8599. They are in Wichita and are a no-kill free organization that will come out and rescue the cats.
Lifeline Animal Rescue is another option (316)807-8473 but try Heartreach first. If you need more help please let me know and I''ll locate other no-kill shelters for you.

 

[bee*]

Date: 5/26/2008 12:51:20 PM
Author: Delster
We have this problem too

I feel helpless to do anything about it as all the rescue and adoption places around here euthanise all feral cats on arrival as they can't even home the tame ones, they actually send them to England. Nowhere I can find does a capture, neuter and release programme and I can't afford the cost of neutering all these wild cats.

Cats Aid does a trap, neuter and release programme over here. Not sure if they're based all around Ireland but I know that they have a couple of places outside of Dublin. We get so many feral cats in for neutering from this society and they do really good work. Most small animal practices will have a trap also and you can put a deposit down to hire it. We have four traps and they're hired out constantly. I feel so sorry for those poor kitties

 

[purrfectpear]

Date: 5/26/2008 5:34:56 PM
Author: disneybride


Please contact the Heartreach Animal Society. 316-262-8599. They are in Wichita and are a no-kill free organization that will come out and rescue the cats.
Lifeline Animal Rescue is another option (316)807-8473 but try Heartreach first. If you need more help please let me know and I'll locate other no-kill shelters for you.

They'll be my first call then. Feline Friends seems like they may turn them into the Humane Society? I couldn't be sure from reading their website. I'll call Heartreach.

The mommy is marmalade colored and very feral, and the four kitties are marmalade/white, white, grey, and solid black. Cat genetics are certainly fascinating. The kittens look like they might be about 8-10 weeks old? They look like they're all getting enough to eat, I suppose through the momma's milk? Hopefully tomorrow's call will get the ball rolling. It's pouring rain today but the shed they live under is good sized so I suppose they're dry

 

[Babyblue033]

Date: 5/26/2008 5:26:10 PM
Author: Deelight
I don''t know about in the US but feral cats here are a serious environmental issue they are destructive and kill wildlife. I must admit the neuter and release just sounds like a weird and alien concept to me.

We have the same problem here, just not as widely known to the general public. If you talk to any wild life rehabilitators they''ll tell you how many injured/killed wild life they encounter as a result of the roaming cats. And not just ferals either, our sweet domesticated outdoor kitties do just as much damage often just for fun

This time of the year is rough because it''s kitten season and all the shelters are up to their neck in cats and kittens, especially no kill shelters. I''m lucky that my area has a lot of organizations that either does TNR or provides support if you wish to do it yourself. Keep us posted, I sure hope you''ll be able get in touch with someone who can help.

 

[Deelight]

Babyblue I agree with you domestic cats do tons of damage as well hence why my kitties are strictly indoor kitties that and I don''t want them run over.

But I still can''t understand how neutering a cat and releasing back out in the wild to fend for itself is a good thing. The destruction is causes does not go away because it can''t have babies.

 

[Delster]

Date: 5/26/2008 6:28:19 PM
Author: bee*

Cats Aid does a trap, neuter and release programme over here. Not sure if they''re based all around Ireland but I know that they have a couple of places outside of Dublin. We get so many feral cats in for neutering from this society and they do really good work. Most small animal practices will have a trap also and you can put a deposit down to hire it. We have four traps and they''re hired out constantly. I feel so sorry for those poor kitties

Thanks for the link bee, they look like a great organisation. They don''t operate here though

 

[Catmom]

Date: 5/26/2008 2:50:30 PM
Author: innerkitten
Michelle, Do you have any pics of your feral cat colony
I love cats. I fostered every year before I had my daughter but won''t start again till she''s a little older.

Innerkitten, here is a pic of the female and a batch of her kitties. All of these kittens were placed. Actually we have placed somewhere around 35 - 40 kittens from this colony. This March we were finally able to capture and spay this female. YAY!!! She was the last of the females to be caught and is a very smart and wily cat but persistence pays off. I really am not up to arguing about the merits of TNR programs today, but suffice it to say that they work and my particular colony over the years has dropped from a whopping 13 cats to now at 4. My neighbors are very appreciative and no cats were unnecessarily killed in the process!

 

[innerkitten]

What an adorable family! I love the cow spot on the white one
Thanks for posting that.

 

[FireGoddess]

Date: 5/27/2008 9:49:13 AM
Author: Catmom
Innerkitten, here is a pic of the female and a batch of her kitties. All of these kittens were placed. Actually we have placed somewhere around 35 - 40 kittens from this colony. This March we were finally able to capture and spay this female. YAY!!! She was the last of the females to be caught and is a very smart and wily cat but persistence pays off. I really am not up to arguing about the merits of TNR programs today, but suffice it to say that they work and my particular colony over the years has dropped from a whopping 13 cats to now at 4. My neighbors are very appreciative and no cats were unnecessarily killed in the process!

Beautiful ferals Michelle, and I''m so happy to hear about the TNR success in your area. Makes me very, very happy.

 

[Babyblue033]

Catmom, wow those babies are gorgeous! And how wonderful you were able to catch the mom and spay her as well.

Date: 5/26/2008 11:53:45 PM
Author: Deelight
But I still can''t understand how neutering a cat and releasing back out in the wild to fend for itself is a good thing. The destruction is causes does not go away because it can''t have babies.

It may not be the perfect solution, but it is the best solution, a realistic one, given the situation. Many of these cats are not domesticated, does not handle human contact well, and will not be happy confined in a home or a cage. Not to mention who''ll want to adopt feral cats when there are so many friendly cats in shelters? So what''s the other option? Euthnizing all feral cats?

Emotional and moral issues aside, when you "eliminate" a colony of feral cats a new colony will move in to take its place. When you trap, neuter, and release the cats back into their territory, you prevent new cats from entering, prevent your current colony from expanding uncontrollably, and in long run reduce the overall number of ferals. And most colonies that go through TNR are not left to "fend for themselves in the wild", but rather are maintained by dedicated caregivers who feed and care for them.

TNR is not a short term solution, you have to look at it as a long term solution to a very difficult and massive problem that cannot be solved overnight. I have much respect for anyone who has the dedication to take on such an endeavor

 

[Deelight]

Date: 5/27/2008 9:47:02 PM
Author: Babyblue033
Catmom, wow those babies are gorgeous! And how wonderful you were able to catch the mom and spay her as well.

Date: 5/26/2008 11:53:45 PM

Author: Deelight

But I still can''t understand how neutering a cat and releasing back out in the wild to fend for itself is a good thing. The destruction is causes does not go away because it can''t have babies.

It may not be the perfect solution, but it is the best solution, a realistic one, given the situation. Many of these cats are not domesticated, does not handle human contact well, and will not be happy confined in a home or a cage. Not to mention who''ll want to adopt feral cats when there are so many friendly cats in shelters? So what''s the other option? Euthnizing all feral cats?

Emotional and moral issues aside, when you ''eliminate'' a colony of feral cats a new colony will move in to take its place. When you trap, neuter, and release the cats back into their territory, you prevent new cats from entering, prevent your current colony from expanding uncontrollably, and in long run reduce the overall number of ferals. And most colonies that go through TNR are not left to ''fend for themselves in the wild'', but rather are maintained by dedicated caregivers who feed and care for them.


TNR is not a short term solution, you have to look at it as a long term solution to a very difficult and massive problem that cannot be solved overnight. I have much respect for anyone who has the dedication to take on such an endeavor

Babyblue033 Like I said I have never heard of a program here of that nature ever but thanks for clearing up the point my understanding from what was posted was that these cats are released back like I said to fend for themselves, having someone to maintain and feed them is a different scenario not perfect but yes I agree better then euthanasing animals.

Catmom I heard you mention a your feral cat colony before but I seriously thought it was just a nickname for your kitties they are very cute .

 

[Catmom]

Thank you so much FireGoddess and Babyblue!!!

Thank you innerkitten. Actually we named her Cow when we were fostering her. Here is another picture of her.....