Question about ferral cats

[LDS Jock]

There are a number of them at my apartment complex, around 10 that I've seen. I have two which have now trained me when they are hungry to meow at my apt door and I'll find something in the kitchen for them to eat. As a side note, the can of tuna packed in olive oil was a HUGE hit the other night. Last night it was 35 degrees with light rain. One of them arrived outside around 11PM crying out for food. I feed him, and tried hard to get him to come in for the night. (OK, so maybe I'm a little naive) I hate to see them outside, and though they don't look like they are starving it can't be a good life. I thought about calling someone.. Animal Control, Humane Society.. but I'm afraid all they will do is collect them and put them down. Only one is even close to tame. I wanna help them but I'm not sure how. The occassional mean is not a real solution. I just don't wanna know that my call is responsible for the cats being killed. What should I do?

I had this in another thread, but decided to give it its own so more people would see it.

[liontamer]

1. you can try to trap neuter and release them (TNR)

it doesn't solve any immediate problems, but it means you won't have dozens of starving miserable kittens

[MadHound]

2. Don't know where you live, but no-kill shelters are becoming common

Look in the paper or phone book and see if there is one in your area. If there is, call them and let them live trap the cats and take care of them. If there is one particular cat that you wish to adopt, live trap it yourself and bring it in. Be warned, make sure that as soon as you live trap a cat, have it checked out by your vet. Also, be prepared for a neurotic cat for awhile until it adapts to being inside.

If you don't have a no-kill shelter in your area, then you're really stuck with a dilemna. Me, I would probably consider feeding the cats, but that can get to be a pain and expensive. Also, while tuna is a fine treat for kitties, don't make it their regular fare. Go out and get some Cat Chow. I know, I know, but they'll get used to it, and love you all the same.

[LDS Jock]

5. I just called the only one I know of

and they have to have the brought in. I have no traps, and there is no way I can catch them. I can't even touch them other than the one friendly one. I'll keep searching though.

I don't feed them tuna all the time. I do feel bad they live outside and have such a miserable life. They live in a drainage ditch and come out through the opening on the side of the metal cover. Last night it was filled with water from raining which was why they were visable everywhere. I saw at least one kitten too. :cry:

[MadHound]

7. Oh damn, that's such a shame!

I don't know what kind of money you have, but live traps are pretty cheap, available at either pet or feed stores, and are easy to operate. If you can't afford one, go down and talk to the humane society, explain that you want to put the cats with the no kill shelter. Most people at the humane societies are easy to work with, and would probably be willing to help out. Good luck, and give them some food for me.

[GAspnes]

3. contact a no-kill shelter

here's a list of them in your area:

http://www.uexplore.com/directory/txnokill.htm


At a minimum, they will live-trap these cats, sterilize them and release them.

[LDS Jock]

9. I can't believe Austin doesn't have one

or at least one on that list. I think Town Lake Animal Shelter is a no-kill shelter, but they are the ones who have to have the cats brought to them. I'll keep looking.

[GAspnes]

17. try this

http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/TX502.html

Tuxedo Junction Rescue is a no-kill rescue organization dedicated to providing tender care and permanent placement into loving homes for cats at risk for shelter euthanasia in Austin, Texas. We primarily rescue black and white ("tuxedo") and black cats because of their historic difficulty in being placed through shelters. However, this focus does not preclude rescue of other cats in need. We only adopt out to homes in the greater Austin, TX and surrounding area.

Call 'em. If they can't help, they will be tightly connected in the no-kill shelter community in your area.

I should have thought of PetFinder first. They have the most complete shelter list.

[crispini]

4. How friendly are they?

And how much work do you wanna put in on em? There was a cat about a year old that lived in the parking lot of my apartment complex. She was "almost" friendly -- she'd greet me, and roll over on her back like she wanted to be petted, and seemed really happy to be near me, but she wouldn't let me touch her.

So I left my apartment door open one day when she was around and kind of hid out of sight behind it. Sure enough, curiousity got the better of her and she came in. I closed the door behind her. Voila! She was completely terrified, but it was a mild, cowering terrified, not a scratching and biting terrified.

Five years later, I still have her and she is a great cat.

BUT, if you don't want a cat, the no-kill shelter that other posters have mentioned is a good idea and you could always try my "leave the door open and see what happens" trapping method.

[LDS Jock]

6. they aren't very friendly

after months only one will me touch him. Not much of an accomplishment when he would let me touch him the first time I brought food. The others, wild. The friendly one is a beautiful all black cat, semi-long fur. I'd love to have him. I've started to try and claim him, but I'm not positive he is homeless since he is so friendly compared to the rest, and I'm sure he is the father of the kitten. I know I'm confusing cats with people, but I have this vision of taking the daddy away from a child by taking the cat for my own. OK, someone tell me how silly that is.

[newsguyatl]

8. i tried to feed a feral cat

some candy the other day, and he looked at me like i was a fool. :shrug:

[LDS Jock]

10. if I feed you, will you let me pick you up and hold you?

you can have your pick.. candy or tuna, just like the kitties

[newsguyatl]

11. i pick candy

and i'll hold YOU :P

[LDS Jock]

13. hmmmm.. meow!!

I'll rub against you too :loveya:

[LDS Jock]

12. OMG.. look what I found

I love google. http://www.austinferalcats.org/ I'll still have to be the one doing it, but thats ok. From what I'm reading, I believe they can help me get traps. I also see on there 41 animals are put down every day in this county alone. :cry:

[fleabert]

19. I volunteered with a trap/neuter/release group in KY and then

moved to Austin, I looked for a similar group there, and did not find one. I vaguely remember hearing about one that is dedicated to the feral cats on campus and in the campus area, but couldn't (at the time) find a number or a contact. TNR is wonderful for the cats quality of life, so maybe you could start one up there? :-) If I still lived there I would help you get it going! The Louisville group is awesome and very successful, I bet they might be able to get you in touch with a group or at least some good info about TNR if you don't already have some.

http://www.alleycatadvocates.org/

the last colony I helped trap was 20+ cats. wow, that was crazy! And tuna is one of best ways to trap them, so you are a natural! good luck!

[jukes]

14. LDS Jock

i run a rescue service for feral cats. there are lots of things you can do for these guys w/o an over-commitment, depending on your resources.

your local animal shelter or a local vet may loan you a humane trap. they're simply to use. there may well be a vet in your area that discounts neutering for ferals; there's one outside of atlanta that will do a feral for $10. neutering decreases the population, + cuts down on sexual/territorial fights that can cause slow death by infetion in these animals. it also prevents the sexual spread of the nastier diseases, the worst being FIV, a feline analogue to AIDS ( NOT transferable to humans).

there may well be some1 like me in yur area that will come out & work the colony for you. i'm a retired policemen and this is my prime mission in life. no-kill shelters may be able to refer you. unfort, most non-kill shelters fill up very quickly.

if there are 1 or 2 that you're particularly fond of, ferals CAN be domesticated, but it takes much patience. they have to be indoor cats, though, or they'll revert & you'll lose them. if your complex will allow it, you can set up an out of the way feeding station & "shelter" area, but you're unlikely to get cooperation from an apartment complex.

feel free to PM me w/ any specific questions you have; i've been doing this for over ten years now & have quite a bit of experience.

[HeatherG.]

15. Find out more about your Humane Society

The Humane Society I work at doesn't put down animals no matter how long they stay. We let the cats who have been there the longest wander around the halls where people will be more likely to notice them and adopt them. Animals are put down only if they are dying anyway, are dangerously violent, or they have a painful affliction. The problem is that I don't know if this is a universal policy change. Maybe there are still Humane Society's that kill animal residents who are there a long time. Make sure you know the policy of the particular Humane Society. You could also let the cats in until you find someone who wants a cat. My sister has alot of cats that hang around her house. Last summer she would capture some and take them to the vet to get fixed. I don't remember if she kept them in her house until the incision healed but that is what I would do.

[LDS Jock]

18. I called the Humane Society first

and they told me they don't deal with any strays and to contact the no-kill shelter and gave me the number.

[HeatherG.]

21. Okay

Any no-kill shelter will do. That is weird. Mine take in strays all the time. I live in a small town in northern Michigan though.

[sbj405]

16. You may be able to borrow a trap from your county animal control

Where I used to live, you could sign one out for a few days at a time.

[REP]

20. More Ideas

Cat Cafes! WSPA has been setting up Cat Cafes at hotels and tourist areas around the world for many years as a humane alternative to addressing the overpopulation of cats. The project begins with veterinary intervention, including sterilization, vaccinations and de-worming. Cat-sized feeding stations are built in an agreed upon location and volunteers regularly feed and care for the cats. For more information, contact The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) 34 Deloss Street, Framingham, MA 01702 [phone] Email: [e-mail] Web: www.wspa-usa.org

Alley Cat Allies (ACA) 1801 Belmont Road, NW, Suite 201, Washington, DC 20009 Tel. [phone] Email: [e-mail] Web: www.alleycat.org
*The* feral cat rescue group - because homelessness shouldn't be punished by death.

(from http://www.wspa-usa.org/pages/324_take_action_for_animals_.cfm)