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#11
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"There must beat least 50 cats"
I would imagine those people are cat haters. We dealt with something
similar at the apartment complex where we used to live. Years ago the complex put a few cats on the grounds to keep the mice away but they never spayed or neutered them so the colony multiplied. Then many people were complaining and they too over exaggerated how many cats were there. I always saw the same ones and it never appeared to be more than 10. I think it's wonderful that you're feeding the ferals and helping with the TNR. My mom is currently feeding a colony that lives in a wooded area behind a dumpster which is located behind a gas station & 7-11 convenience store. There are probably about 10-15 cats there. She's managed to get a few of them in and has either adopted them herself or found homes for them. My husband and I have also rescued several feral cats - three of which we adopted ourselves. We also took in 5 kittens last April when their owner claimed she was going to "dump" them because she couldn't find homes for them and she didn't want them. (Awful that people could even consider that, isn't it?) So we promptly too them in with the intention of finding them good homes but we couldn't find anyone interested and as time went by, we got used to having them around. They're all sweethearts with their own little personalities. I can't imagine anyone ever being able to look into those little eyes and just discard them like yesterday's trash. Sadly, there are too many people out there that just don't care...hence the reason why there are so many feral cats. Phil P. wrote: "Lynne" wrote in message m... on Fri, 12 Jan 2007 03:31:31 GMT, "Phil P." wrote: Have you ever noticed how people always say "there must be at least 50 or 60 cats" when they see a colony of only 10-15 cats? lol I got an urgent call about a "huge" colony that the local residents were complaining to the board of health about because there were "so many". I went to the colony at dusk and dawn and late at night for three days- I put out 5 plates of kitty krack and hid for three hours. I didn't count more than a total of 12 cats total in all 3 days. This isn't the first time I heard such an exaggeration. I really wonder why so many people really believe they're seeing 5 times as many cats as there actually are??? What an assorted colony this is!!! Enjoy. http://maxshouse.com/Feral/clsdt-0008.jpg http://maxshouse.com/Feral/clsdt-0060.jpg http://maxshouse.com/Feral/clsdt-0048.jpg http://maxshouse.com/Feral/clsdt_0009.jpg http://maxshouse.com/Feral/clsdt-0057.jpg http://maxshouse.com/Feral/clsdt_0061-sm.jpg Holy cow! I mean COWS!! Those are the best fed ferals I've ever seen! You're not kidding! Those cats eat better than a lot of people! There must be some great hunting there. They established their colony in a vacant building behind a restaurant. A few employees took a liking to the cats. The chef sautés a few pounds of ground sirlorn or chicken or turkey for them and the waiters alternate delivering it! True story. lol The cats have begun hanging around in the parking lot in the back of the restaurant. That's what led to the complaints- presumably by patrons or the owner of an office building nearby. At least the restaurant stuck up for the cats and told the BOH they keep the mice and rats under control. To keep the status quo, I agreed to TNR the cats. Hopefully the restaurant will cover all or at least half of the cost. It looks like it might be a hard sell since the restaurant thinks the more cats the better for rodent control. The area is reclaimed swampland. So, rats are abundant. I would bet that the people who over estimate the number of cats just are not cat lovers. They probably can't distinguish one cat from another or figure out how to count them. Either that or they are exaggerating on purpose in order to get quick action (which makes me think they are not only cat lovers, but perhaps cat haters.) I don't know-- I've heard people I know and work with tell other people "He's (me) has like 20 cats". Actually I only have 12- 5 are mine and 7 are fosters- 3 of which are kittens. Maybe cat reproduce prolifically in people's imagination, too! lol Gorgeous kitties--thanks for sharing! They look more like pampered pets than ferals, don't they? This one caught me: http://maxshouse.com/Feral/clsdt_b+w-bk-eye_0069.jpg Looks like she's saying "Hey, what are doing?" lol Phil |
#12
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"There must beat least 50 cats"
The cats are beautiful too! I'm glad they have you and the restaurant
to help look after them and make sure they eat well. ) Sunshine Phil P. wrote: Have you ever noticed how people always say "there must be at least 50 or 60 cats" when they see a colony of only 10-15 cats? lol I got an urgent call about a "huge" colony that the local residents were complaining to the board of health about because there were "so many". I went to the colony at dusk and dawn and late at night for three days- I put out 5 plates of kitty krack and hid for three hours. I didn't count more than a total of 12 cats total in all 3 days. This isn't the first time I heard such an exaggeration. I really wonder why so many people really believe they're seeing 5 times as many cats as there actually are??? What an assorted colony this is!!! Enjoy. http://maxshouse.com/Feral/clsdt-0008.jpg http://maxshouse.com/Feral/clsdt-0060.jpg http://maxshouse.com/Feral/clsdt-0048.jpg http://maxshouse.com/Feral/clsdt_0009.jpg http://maxshouse.com/Feral/clsdt-0057.jpg http://maxshouse.com/Feral/clsdt_0061-sm.jpg |
#13
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"There must beat least 50 cats"
Phil P. wrote in message
news:XyHph.5034$Cn3.687@trnddc02... [snip-snip-snip] [10-15 ferals] established their colony in a vacant building behind a restaurant. A few employees took a liking to the cats. The chef sautés a few pounds of ground sirlorn or chicken or turkey for them and the waiters alternate delivering it! True story. lol [T]he restaurant stuck up for the cats and told the BOH they keep the mice and rats under control. To keep the status quo, I agreed to TNR the cats. [snippity-snip] the restaurant thinks the more cats the better for rodent control. The area is reclaimed swampland. So, rats are abundant. Won't keeping them so well fed suppress most of their hunting desire? (Although I can imagine finding the proud prize from one of the colony offered to the restaurant as fair-trade meat might be more concerning.) The Ranger |
#14
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"There must beat least 50 cats"
The Ranger wrote: Phil P. wrote in message news:XyHph.5034$Cn3.687@trnddc02... [snip-snip-snip] [10-15 ferals] established their colony in a vacant building behind a restaurant. A few employees took a liking to the cats. The chef sautés a few pounds of ground sirlorn or chicken or turkey for them and the waiters alternate delivering it! True story. lol [T]he restaurant stuck up for the cats and told the BOH they keep the mice and rats under control. To keep the status quo, I agreed to TNR the cats. [snippity-snip] the restaurant thinks the more cats the better for rodent control. The area is reclaimed swampland. So, rats are abundant. Won't keeping them so well fed suppress most of their hunting desire? (Although I can imagine finding the proud prize from one of the colony offered to the restaurant as fair-trade meat might be more concerning.) not really, that old idea that a hungry cat will hunt more is really just a fallacy, and that with holding food from a cat and deliberately making it hungry will turn it into a hunter is also rubbish too. Remember cats need energy to hunt and so need to be fed to get that fuel, hwo else are they going to have the energy to chase prey and catch it? Also a lot of cats will hunt anyway even if they have an abundance of food on offer at home just for the thrill of it and because they can. I think most of the cats I have had have been in that category and they tend to bring their catches home and dump on my floor as 'presents' whilst walking round the house yowling in that weird way which i now know means "look what i got you mum!!". They rarely eat these little gifts, just toss them about in the air or walk about the house with them in their mouths proudly showing them off (still alive the case of jessie who lacks the necessary teeth to kill the poor terrified mouse with), it really is quite sweet that they bring stuff home for you, i can't help but be touched by it. I think if a cat is a hunter it will do so regardless if it is well fed or not, and starving at cat will not suddenly turn a one who is not into a feared mouser. I am sure someone out there will disagree with me but that is just my tuppence worth. Bookie |
#15
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"There must beat least 50 cats"
"dgk" wrote in message ... Hmm. Perhaps if the cat's weren't so well fed they'd eat more rats? Given a choice between Sirlon Flambe and rat, I think I'd pick the Sirlon. Of course, the rats are more fun in that they're still moving. The hunting instinct has nothing to do with hunger. Feeding only reduces the amount of prey the cat will actually eat. |
#16
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"There must beat least 50 cats"
"The Ranger" wrote in message ... Won't keeping them so well fed suppress most of their hunting desire? The hunting instinct has nothing to do with hunger. Feeding a cat only reduces the amount of prey the cat will actually eat. Many cats will stop in the middle of a meal to make a kill if the opportunity presents itself and then return to eating their original meal. |
#17
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"There must beat least 50 cats"
"Wendy" wrote in message . .. "Phil P." wrote in message news:XyHph.5034$Cn3.687@trnddc02... "Lynne" wrote in message m... on Fri, 12 Jan 2007 03:31:31 GMT, "Phil P." wrote: Have you ever noticed how people always say "there must be at least 50 or 60 cats" when they see a colony of only 10-15 cats? lol I got an urgent call about a "huge" colony that the local residents were complaining to the board of health about because there were "so many". I went to the colony at dusk and dawn and late at night for three days- I put out 5 plates of kitty krack and hid for three hours. I didn't count more than a total of 12 cats total in all 3 days. This isn't the first time I heard such an exaggeration. I really wonder why so many people really believe they're seeing 5 times as many cats as there actually are??? What an assorted colony this is!!! Enjoy. http://maxshouse.com/Feral/clsdt-0008.jpg http://maxshouse.com/Feral/clsdt-0060.jpg http://maxshouse.com/Feral/clsdt-0048.jpg http://maxshouse.com/Feral/clsdt_0009.jpg http://maxshouse.com/Feral/clsdt-0057.jpg http://maxshouse.com/Feral/clsdt_0061-sm.jpg Holy cow! I mean COWS!! Those are the best fed ferals I've ever seen! You're not kidding! Those cats eat better than a lot of people! There must be some great hunting there. They established their colony in a vacant building behind a restaurant. A few employees took a liking to the cats. The chef sautés a few pounds of ground sirlorn or chicken or turkey for them and the waiters alternate delivering it! True story. lol The cats have begun hanging around in the parking lot in the back of the restaurant. That's what led to the complaints- presumably by patrons or the owner of an office building nearby. At least the restaurant stuck up for the cats and told the BOH they keep the mice and rats under control. To keep the status quo, I agreed to TNR the cats. Hopefully the restaurant will cover all or at least half of the cost. It looks like it might be a hard sell since the restaurant thinks the more cats the better for rodent control. The area is reclaimed swampland. So, rats are abundant. I would bet that the people who over estimate the number of cats just are not cat lovers. They probably can't distinguish one cat from another or figure out how to count them. Either that or they are exaggerating on purpose in order to get quick action (which makes me think they are not only cat lovers, but perhaps cat haters.) I don't know-- I've heard people I know and work with tell other people "He's (me) has like 20 cats". Actually I only have 12- 5 are mine and 7 are fosters- 3 of which are kittens. Maybe cat reproduce prolifically in people's imagination, too! lol Gorgeous kitties--thanks for sharing! They look more like pampered pets than ferals, don't they? This one caught me: http://maxshouse.com/Feral/clsdt_b+w-bk-eye_0069.jpg Looks like she's saying "Hey, what are doing?" lol Phil Sounds much like the bunch I've been trapping the last couple of months (taking that long because I can only get a few spay appts. at a time). I know whatch mean. Trapping the cats isn't a problem- its getting them into the vet on short notice. I've been using 4 vets- the only ones in my area that will work with ferals- 2 are really good about short-notice neuters. They'll take the cats in the same day I trap them, hold them until neutering day, and then keep them a day for observation . The only problems are they only do surgeries 2 days a week- unless its an emergency- and they'll only take 2 or 3 cats at a time- or 4 or 5 if they're all males. The other two vets usually give me appointments for a week or two away. They don't give me much of a discount and insist I bring the cats in in a restraint module- they don't like to just tip the cage a little to get the cat against the side to sedate them or use a trap isolator to gently squeeze the cat against the side. http://maxshouse.com/Equipment/Tru-C...module_S30.jpg They're real PITA prima donnas but they're excellent surgeons. Their incisions are very small and they don't shave off a big patch of fur- which I like for winter neuters. If I'm in a trapping frenzy before kitten season, I'll make several appointments then hope I can trap the cats a day or two before the appointments. With drop traps I can pretty much trap on demand. We've trapped 20 cats so far and have maybe 7 more to go (one has been missing for a number of weeks). I've had a few MIAs in a couple of my colonies. A couple showed up a few months later. So, keep the faith. They had originally said there were only around 15 back there. I guess people tell you what they think will make you willing to work the problem. I don't think that's the reason- If they wanted you to TNR the colony, they would probably give you a very conservative estimate to make the job sound easy. Not many people are equipped- or would even want to take on a 50-cat colony- unless it was a combined effort of several groups or agencies. These guys are also behind a restaurant in a shopping center and were being fed by the restaurant employees. Unfortunately for the cats, the restaurant closed on New Years Day. There is a woman who is going back there twice a day to feed and keep an eye on them. Having them used to the restaurant food certainly makes it a challenge to find something that will entice them into the traps though. Did my heart good to trap a big boy this week who had been walking by the traps and marking them. Now I'm down to the last few who sit there going "neener neener". Use a drop trap- they're excellent for trapping trap-wise cats. Drop traps are also great for trapping only the cats you want. They're simple to make and the materials only cost about $80- if you make a folding trap and use good quality netting. A trap that doesn't fold only costs about $30-50 and takes about 3 hours to make. I've made about 5 folding traps in the last month because a few of my trappers don't have vans or cars big enough to hold a regular drop trap. Here're some pictures of the frame of a trap I'm working on so you can see how it opens: http://maxshouse.com/Feral/drop_trap_pop_01.jpg http://maxshouse.com/Feral/drop_trap_pop_02.jpg http://maxshouse.com/Feral/drop_trap_pop_03.jpg http://maxshouse.com/Feral/drop_trap_pop_04.jpg My next drop trap will be 8' or 10' square so I can trap an entire small colony with one drop. I'll just need to find more vets who will neuter them. I just can't handle another kitten season like this passed one- it never ended. I still have kittens from the year before that are now full grown and much harder to adopt. Phil |
#18
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"There must beat least 50 cats"
"Lynne" wrote in message ... on Fri, 12 Jan 2007 08:22:15 GMT, "Phil P." wrote: To keep the status quo, I agreed to TNR the cats. Kudos, Phil! Those who do the kind of work you do are literally saving thousands upon thousands of cats. Thanks. Of the 5 kittens in an average litter about 3 are female. That's about 15 kittens from the second generation of the first litter- 9 of those 15 kittens would be female-- who would produce another 45 kittens. That's about 60 kittens from *one* female and her female offspring in just 3 generations- in just under 1 1/2 years. I won't even attempt to do the math for 266 females. I'm getting a headache already because I won't even notice the difference next kitten season-- 100x more than that will still be born. The HSUS estimate of 420,000 cats from one female and her offspring is a gross exaggeration because a lot of the kittens wouldn't survive to breeding age. I still can't get over those gorgeous fatties. You may have to adjust your trap settings! ;-) Look at this handsome devil! He was adopted within an hour on his first day at the store! http://maxshouse.com/Rescues/hald_or...abby-01-sm.jpg |
#19
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"There must beat least 50 cats"
"Phil P." wrote in message news:Vreqh.670$jG1.188@trnddc04... "Wendy" wrote in message . .. "Phil P." wrote in message news:XyHph.5034$Cn3.687@trnddc02... "Lynne" wrote in message m... on Fri, 12 Jan 2007 03:31:31 GMT, "Phil P." wrote: Have you ever noticed how people always say "there must be at least 50 or 60 cats" when they see a colony of only 10-15 cats? lol I got an urgent call about a "huge" colony that the local residents were complaining to the board of health about because there were "so many". I went to the colony at dusk and dawn and late at night for three days- I put out 5 plates of kitty krack and hid for three hours. I didn't count more than a total of 12 cats total in all 3 days. This isn't the first time I heard such an exaggeration. I really wonder why so many people really believe they're seeing 5 times as many cats as there actually are??? What an assorted colony this is!!! Enjoy. http://maxshouse.com/Feral/clsdt-0008.jpg http://maxshouse.com/Feral/clsdt-0060.jpg http://maxshouse.com/Feral/clsdt-0048.jpg http://maxshouse.com/Feral/clsdt_0009.jpg http://maxshouse.com/Feral/clsdt-0057.jpg http://maxshouse.com/Feral/clsdt_0061-sm.jpg Holy cow! I mean COWS!! Those are the best fed ferals I've ever seen! You're not kidding! Those cats eat better than a lot of people! There must be some great hunting there. They established their colony in a vacant building behind a restaurant. A few employees took a liking to the cats. The chef sautés a few pounds of ground sirlorn or chicken or turkey for them and the waiters alternate delivering it! True story. lol The cats have begun hanging around in the parking lot in the back of the restaurant. That's what led to the complaints- presumably by patrons or the owner of an office building nearby. At least the restaurant stuck up for the cats and told the BOH they keep the mice and rats under control. To keep the status quo, I agreed to TNR the cats. Hopefully the restaurant will cover all or at least half of the cost. It looks like it might be a hard sell since the restaurant thinks the more cats the better for rodent control. The area is reclaimed swampland. So, rats are abundant. I would bet that the people who over estimate the number of cats just are not cat lovers. They probably can't distinguish one cat from another or figure out how to count them. Either that or they are exaggerating on purpose in order to get quick action (which makes me think they are not only cat lovers, but perhaps cat haters.) I don't know-- I've heard people I know and work with tell other people "He's (me) has like 20 cats". Actually I only have 12- 5 are mine and 7 are fosters- 3 of which are kittens. Maybe cat reproduce prolifically in people's imagination, too! lol Gorgeous kitties--thanks for sharing! They look more like pampered pets than ferals, don't they? This one caught me: http://maxshouse.com/Feral/clsdt_b+w-bk-eye_0069.jpg Looks like she's saying "Hey, what are doing?" lol Phil Sounds much like the bunch I've been trapping the last couple of months (taking that long because I can only get a few spay appts. at a time). I know whatch mean. Trapping the cats isn't a problem- its getting them into the vet on short notice. I've been using 4 vets- the only ones in my area that will work with ferals- 2 are really good about short-notice neuters. They'll take the cats in the same day I trap them, hold them until neutering day, and then keep them a day for observation . The only problems are they only do surgeries 2 days a week- unless its an emergency- and they'll only take 2 or 3 cats at a time- or 4 or 5 if they're all males. The other two vets usually give me appointments for a week or two away. They don't give me much of a discount and insist I bring the cats in in a restraint module- they don't like to just tip the cage a little to get the cat against the side to sedate them or use a trap isolator to gently squeeze the cat against the side. http://maxshouse.com/Equipment/Tru-C...module_S30.jpg They're real PITA prima donnas but they're excellent surgeons. Their incisions are very small and they don't shave off a big patch of fur- which I like for winter neuters. If I'm in a trapping frenzy before kitten season, I'll make several appointments then hope I can trap the cats a day or two before the appointments. With drop traps I can pretty much trap on demand. We've trapped 20 cats so far and have maybe 7 more to go (one has been missing for a number of weeks). I've had a few MIAs in a couple of my colonies. A couple showed up a few months later. So, keep the faith. They had originally said there were only around 15 back there. I guess people tell you what they think will make you willing to work the problem. I don't think that's the reason- If they wanted you to TNR the colony, they would probably give you a very conservative estimate to make the job sound easy. Not many people are equipped- or would even want to take on a 50-cat colony- unless it was a combined effort of several groups or agencies. These guys are also behind a restaurant in a shopping center and were being fed by the restaurant employees. Unfortunately for the cats, the restaurant closed on New Years Day. There is a woman who is going back there twice a day to feed and keep an eye on them. Having them used to the restaurant food certainly makes it a challenge to find something that will entice them into the traps though. Did my heart good to trap a big boy this week who had been walking by the traps and marking them. Now I'm down to the last few who sit there going "neener neener". Use a drop trap- they're excellent for trapping trap-wise cats. Drop traps are also great for trapping only the cats you want. They're simple to make and the materials only cost about $80- if you make a folding trap and use good quality netting. A trap that doesn't fold only costs about $30-50 and takes about 3 hours to make. I've made about 5 folding traps in the last month because a few of my trappers don't have vans or cars big enough to hold a regular drop trap. Here're some pictures of the frame of a trap I'm working on so you can see how it opens: http://maxshouse.com/Feral/drop_trap_pop_01.jpg http://maxshouse.com/Feral/drop_trap_pop_02.jpg http://maxshouse.com/Feral/drop_trap_pop_03.jpg http://maxshouse.com/Feral/drop_trap_pop_04.jpg My next drop trap will be 8' or 10' square so I can trap an entire small colony with one drop. I'll just need to find more vets who will neuter them. I just can't handle another kitten season like this passed one- it never ended. I still have kittens from the year before that are now full grown and much harder to adopt. Phil I hear you about this last kitten season. It's not ending. We got in two litters last weekend and just had someone in the store today trying to get us to take another litter. We still have two litters from the summer to find homes for. At least people are finally looking at our adults. We adopted a girl out two weeks ago who came in last April when she was pregnant and another today who we picked up in another colony last June. W |
#20
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"There must beat least 50 cats"
"Phil P." wrote in message news:8teqh.1330$hi7.751@trnddc08... "Lynne" wrote in message ... on Fri, 12 Jan 2007 08:22:15 GMT, "Phil P." wrote: To keep the status quo, I agreed to TNR the cats. Kudos, Phil! Those who do the kind of work you do are literally saving thousands upon thousands of cats. Thanks. Of the 5 kittens in an average litter about 3 are female. That's about 15 kittens from the second generation of the first litter- 9 of those 15 kittens would be female-- who would produce another 45 kittens. That's about 60 kittens from *one* female and her female offspring in just 3 generations- in just under 1 1/2 years. I won't even attempt to do the math for 266 females. I'm getting a headache already because I won't even notice the difference next kitten season-- 100x more than that will still be born. The HSUS estimate of 420,000 cats from one female and her offspring is a gross exaggeration because a lot of the kittens wouldn't survive to breeding age. I still can't get over those gorgeous fatties. You may have to adjust your trap settings! ;-) Look at this handsome devil! He was adopted within an hour on his first day at the store! http://maxshouse.com/Rescues/hald_or...abby-01-sm.jpg He's gorgeous!!! Reminds me of a kitty we had years ago. He was one of those cats that you never really get over losing. W |
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