If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
FERAL CAT COLONY
I've been caring for a small colony of ferals for about a year now and
recently was able to TNR the one hold out. She is doing very well, however, one of her (previously neutered) brothers hasn't shown up for feeding time for 4 or 5 days now. The colony is at the back of the store where I work, and there is a very large field with a marsh and pond on it and a fallow corn field beyond that. There is an apartment complex South of the store with joining property lines. This particular black and white boy is very anti-social toward humans, just barely trusting me enough when I bring their food for him to come out from hiding to eat. I've been feeding him, two of his brothers and his one sister since they were 4-5 weeks old, so you'd think he'd know where the easy life was! They all scatter at the sound of an approaching car or truck and being at the very back of the back lot there isn't "traffic" to really be concerned about, besides, they seldom get very far from all their hiding places and their shelter. This is the first truly feral group I've even cared for so don't really know much about the dynamics of a feral group or how long (even after being neutered) the group can be expected to stay together. Is it normal for a neutered male to strike out on his own? I've been keeping an eye on the highway that runs in front of the store, but that's nearly 1/8 of a mile away and nothing on the other side of the road to induce an animal (especially an intelligent cat) to even venture near it. Am I worrying over nothing? Hemma |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Hemmaholic wrote:
I've been caring for a small colony of ferals for about a year now and recently was able to TNR the one hold out. She is doing very well, however, one of her (previously neutered) brothers hasn't shown up for feeding time for 4 or 5 days now. The colony is at the back of the store where I work, and there is a very large field with a marsh and pond on it and a fallow corn field beyond that. There is an apartment complex South of the store with joining property lines. This particular black and white boy is very anti-social toward humans, just barely trusting me enough when I bring their food for him to come out from hiding to eat. I've been feeding him, two of his brothers and his one sister since they were 4-5 weeks old, so you'd think he'd know where the easy life was! They all scatter at the sound of an approaching car or truck and being at the very back of the back lot there isn't "traffic" to really be concerned about, besides, they seldom get very far from all their hiding places and their shelter. This is the first truly feral group I've even cared for so don't really know much about the dynamics of a feral group or how long (even after being neutered) the group can be expected to stay together. Is it normal for a neutered male to strike out on his own? I've been keeping an eye on the highway that runs in front of the store, but that's nearly 1/8 of a mile away and nothing on the other side of the road to induce an animal (especially an intelligent cat) to even venture near it. Am I worrying over nothing? Hemma How did you go about trapping these cats in order to get them 'fixed?' |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Hemmaholic wrote:
I've been caring for a small colony of ferals for about a year now and recently was able to TNR the one hold out. She is doing very well, however, one of her (previously neutered) brothers hasn't shown up for feeding time for 4 or 5 days now. [snip] Am I worrying over nothing? Maybe. I help support a small colony of ferals in an urban neighborhood, and there are several who come and go for various periods of time. One in particular will spend a few weeks at my place and then disappear for weeks. In chatting with a neighbor a block or two away, I know that when he's not at my place, he's at her place. ;-) He'll let her pet him, but not me, since he associates me with the nasty Trap and Vet and Neutering and the indignities he suffered when he was treated for being mauled by an animal, including the amputation of his tail. But that's a side issue. So, some may come and go, but there is also always the possibility of loss. We lost Birdie this past winter. My neighbor heard from someone up on the larger street that a black cat with white spot was killed by a car. That fit the description of Birdie and her mother, and her mother was still here, while Birdie was not seen again, so we know that Birdie's moved on in a more cosmic sense. It was sad. I gave her my name for her based on seeing her eating birdseed when she was a half-grown kitten. Her mother looked on in bemusement as little Birdie chowed down on what I'd put out for the cardinals and other ground feeders. Only time will tell you if he's coming back. Sorry I can't be more reassuring, but that's what helping care for ferals is like. Priscilla |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Phillip,
I used the Have-a-Heart traps, provided by INDY Feral to capture all five of them. One of the traps malfunctioned on the first round and by the time I had figured out what the problem was, this last juvenile had dug in and wasn't coming out from hiding no matter what. When I set out to re-trap this second time, she was the first one to be caught, thus saving the others from the trauma of being trapped again. Neither of the wandering toms where anywhere in sight so I called it a done deal. I was somewhat surprised and much relieved when I read the Vet's report after the process to find she had not been pregnant. I assume her brothers kept the two wandering toms at bay, or perhaps it was just luck! Priscilla, Very amusing story about your Birdie, sorry you had to lose her in such a manner. My colony is indeed fortunate to be in a more rural setting, but, still, there are other dangers. Yesterday one of the others failed to come in for feeding, which was very odd for him as he is almost always the first one there! He's also the only one who is even half-way friendly; allowing me to pet him and often rubbing himself against my leg as I finish preparing their food. He still hides when other people are around so I guess I'm just his token human! Hopefully everyone will be present and accounted for at feeding time today and if not, well, I'll just have to try not to worry too much. After four years with the same Store Manager, we now have a new one and I have yet to discuss the colony with him. I seriously hope he does not have a problem with them being there or with my taking care of them. He doesn't seem to be the type, but one never knows. I have an on-line album of photos of the kitties if anyone is interested. http://members.imagehost.biz/ims/alb...vbZ&f_id=19973 Hemma |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Hemmaholic wrote:
Phillip, I used the Have-a-Heart traps, provided by INDY Feral to capture all five of them. One of the traps malfunctioned on the first round and by the time I had figured out what the problem was, this last juvenile had dug in and wasn't coming out from hiding no matter what. When I set out to re-trap this second time, she was the first one to be caught, thus saving the others from the trauma of being trapped again. Neither of the wandering toms where anywhere in sight so I called it a done deal. I was somewhat surprised and much relieved when I read the Vet's report after the process to find she had not been pregnant. I assume her brothers kept the two wandering toms at bay, or perhaps it was just luck! Priscilla, snip I have an on-line album of photos of the kitties if anyone is interested. http://members.imagehost.biz/ims/alb...vbZ&f_id=19973 Hemma 1) "Have a Heart" traps, eh? I'm working through a stockpile of canned food left over from Rusty (passed away mid April) that I have been putting out for the 5-6 yr old feral male tabby that has been in the neighborhood for as long. In two weeks of regular feeding, he's gone from being a 25 foot cat to a 10 foot cat. In the last three nights, he "appears" the second I rip open a can of food at the back porch. The cat is healthy as an ox and more high strung than a violin string. All it takes to make this cat bolt in the opposite direction and clear a 5 foot fence in a single bound is for me to breathe suddenly. I would like to inspect this cat for neutering. 2) Your photo album has no images loaded, followed by a system message that something is not available. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
HUM. . . . I'm getting "Service Unavailable" myself. I will check this
out and see what's up. It may be that I will have to give the URL for the entire album (I have several different folders) and y'all can just look at wharever y'all want to. Rebecca |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Update on feral cat and kitten | Ar Fai Ve | Cat rescue | 6 | March 4th 05 02:28 AM |
Great article on feral colony | Karen Chuplis | Cat anecdotes | 1 | February 7th 05 03:12 AM |
Colony feral found dead | [email protected] | Cat rescue | 10 | June 10th 04 11:20 PM |
Scapegoats and Feral Cats | James Marz | Cat health & behaviour | 4 | May 29th 04 03:06 AM |
Cat predation studies | Alison | Cat health & behaviour | 48 | February 5th 04 03:17 AM |