feeding strays

I have a momma and baby kitty living in the brushy area over my back fence.
There's a good bit of area back there with lots of birds, lizards, and
mice. (I've seen all 3). Problem is tonight I put food out because they
looked a little thin and they came and enjoyed. If all I commit to is
feeding them am I inviting trouble or is giving them food good-hearted? I
cannot take in another cat. My landlord won't have it. They have no desire
to be housecat's. When approached they scattered. Before I set food out
one more time I need advice.

Thanks - Terri

On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 21:12:09 -0700, "suitta" wrote:

I have a momma and baby kitty living in the brushy area over my back fence.
There's a good bit of area back there with lots of birds, lizards, and
mice. (I've seen all 3). Problem is tonight I put food out because they
looked a little thin and they came and enjoyed. If all I commit to is
feeding them am I inviting trouble or is giving them food good-hearted? I
cannot take in another cat. My landlord won't have it. They have no desire
to be housecat's. When approached they scattered. Before I set food out
one more time I need advice.

Thanks - Terri

IMO - a well fed stray or feral is bound to be healthier than a
starving one. For two years I fed 13 ferals and they were lovely cats
(but untouchable except for two of them). Their lives are usually
short, so why not make it a little better by giving them something to
eat?MLB

On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 21:12:09 -0700, "suitta" wrote:

I have a momma and baby kitty living in the brushy area over my back fence.
There's a good bit of area back there with lots of birds, lizards, and
mice. (I've seen all 3). Problem is tonight I put food out because they
looked a little thin and they came and enjoyed. If all I commit to is
feeding them am I inviting trouble or is giving them food good-hearted? I
cannot take in another cat. My landlord won't have it. They have no desire
to be housecat's. When approached they scattered. Before I set food out
one more time I need advice.

Thanks - Terri

IMO - a well fed stray or feral is bound to be healthier than a
starving one. For two years I fed 13 ferals and they were lovely cats
(but untouchable except for two of them). Their lives are usually
short, so why not make it a little better by giving them something to
eat?MLB

I leave a bowl of food filled on the side of my house for the couple of
neighborhood strays. None of them have ever let me get close, but the bowl
empties every few days. It's really cheap dry food (Meow Mix), but I'm sure
it's a lot better than what they eat otherwise.


"suitta" wrote in message
news:qaMEc.91547$%T.27834@okepread05...
I have a momma and baby kitty living in the brushy area over my back
fence.
There's a good bit of area back there with lots of birds, lizards, and
mice. (I've seen all 3). Problem is tonight I put food out because they
looked a little thin and they came and enjoyed. If all I commit to is
feeding them am I inviting trouble or is giving them food good-hearted? I
cannot take in another cat. My landlord won't have it. They have no
desire
to be housecat's. When approached they scattered. Before I set food out
one more time I need advice.

Thanks - Terri

I leave a bowl of food filled on the side of my house for the couple of
neighborhood strays. None of them have ever let me get close, but the bowl
empties every few days. It's really cheap dry food (Meow Mix), but I'm sure
it's a lot better than what they eat otherwise.


"suitta" wrote in message
news:qaMEc.91547$%T.27834@okepread05...
I have a momma and baby kitty living in the brushy area over my back
fence.
There's a good bit of area back there with lots of birds, lizards, and
mice. (I've seen all 3). Problem is tonight I put food out because they
looked a little thin and they came and enjoyed. If all I commit to is
feeding them am I inviting trouble or is giving them food good-hearted? I
cannot take in another cat. My landlord won't have it. They have no
desire
to be housecat's. When approached they scattered. Before I set food out
one more time I need advice.

Thanks - Terri

"suitta" wrote in message news:qaMEc.91547$%T.27834@okepread05...
I have a momma and baby kitty living in the brushy area over my back fence.
There's a good bit of area back there with lots of birds, lizards, and
mice. (I've seen all 3). Problem is tonight I put food out because they
looked a little thin and they came and enjoyed. If all I commit to is
feeding them am I inviting trouble or is giving them food good-hearted? I
cannot take in another cat. My landlord won't have it. They have no desire
to be housecat's. When approached they scattered. Before I set food out
one more time I need advice.

Thanks - Terri

Don't feed them unless you plan on trapping them all and neutering
them. Otherwise you create a perpetual colony of cats destined to a
sorry life on the street. Each female can breed twice a year. Litter
size often is as many as 8-10 kittens, sometimes more. As you can
see, pretty soon you will be overun with cats.

-L.

"suitta" wrote in message news:qaMEc.91547$%T.27834@okepread05...
I have a momma and baby kitty living in the brushy area over my back fence.
There's a good bit of area back there with lots of birds, lizards, and
mice. (I've seen all 3). Problem is tonight I put food out because they
looked a little thin and they came and enjoyed. If all I commit to is
feeding them am I inviting trouble or is giving them food good-hearted? I
cannot take in another cat. My landlord won't have it. They have no desire
to be housecat's. When approached they scattered. Before I set food out
one more time I need advice.

Thanks - Terri

Don't feed them unless you plan on trapping them all and neutering
them. Otherwise you create a perpetual colony of cats destined to a
sorry life on the street. Each female can breed twice a year. Litter
size often is as many as 8-10 kittens, sometimes more. As you can
see, pretty soon you will be overun with cats.

-L.

"suitta" wrote in message
news:qaMEc.91547$%T.27834@okepread05...
I have a momma and baby kitty living in the brushy area over my back
fence.
There's a good bit of area back there with lots of birds, lizards, and
mice. (I've seen all 3). Problem is tonight I put food out because they
looked a little thin and they came and enjoyed. If all I commit to is
feeding them am I inviting trouble or is giving them food good-hearted? I
cannot take in another cat. My landlord won't have it. They have no
desire
to be housecat's. When approached they scattered. Before I set food out
one more time I need advice.

Thanks - Terri


Personally, I'd go ahead & fed them. If it ever gets to the point where
they become friendly w/ you & are inching their way toward adoption, then
you can figure out what to do about it. But until that happens - which it
may not ever do - I'd just go ahead & help to keep them a bit healthier
through better nutrition.

Cathy

"suitta" wrote in message
news:qaMEc.91547$%T.27834@okepread05...
I have a momma and baby kitty living in the brushy area over my back
fence.
There's a good bit of area back there with lots of birds, lizards, and
mice. (I've seen all 3). Problem is tonight I put food out because they
looked a little thin and they came and enjoyed. If all I commit to is
feeding them am I inviting trouble or is giving them food good-hearted? I
cannot take in another cat. My landlord won't have it. They have no
desire
to be housecat's. When approached they scattered. Before I set food out
one more time I need advice.

Thanks - Terri


Personally, I'd go ahead & fed them. If it ever gets to the point where
they become friendly w/ you & are inching their way toward adoption, then
you can figure out what to do about it. But until that happens - which it
may not ever do - I'd just go ahead & help to keep them a bit healthier
through better nutrition.

Cathy

"MadHatter" wrote in message
...
On 1 Jul 2004 09:30:55 -0700, (-L. wrote:

"suitta" wrote in message
news:qaMEc.91547$%T.27834@okepread05...
I have a momma and baby kitty living in the brushy area over my back
fence.
There's a good bit of area back there with lots of birds, lizards, and
mice. (I've seen all 3). Problem is tonight I put food out because
they
looked a little thin and they came and enjoyed. If all I commit to is
feeding them am I inviting trouble or is giving them food good-hearted?
I
cannot take in another cat. My landlord won't have it. They have no
desire
to be housecat's. When approached they scattered. Before I set food
out
one more time I need advice.

Thanks - Terri

Don't feed them unless you plan on trapping them all and neutering
them. Otherwise you create a perpetual colony of cats destined to a
sorry life on the street. Each female can breed twice a year. Litter
size often is as many as 8-10 kittens, sometimes more. As you can
see, pretty soon you will be overun with cats.

-L.

more than 8 kittens? the cat only has 8 nipples, usually. it thought
they wouldn't have more kittens than nipples.

-L

Someone recently posted pics (on the alt.binaries.pictures.animals ng maybe
it was?) of a mother cat who had 10 kittens in a litter - & all apppeared to
be doing well.

Cathy