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How about a challenge????????



 
 
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  #1  
Old July 27th 03, 10:01 AM
JHBennett
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Default How about a challenge????????

OK, cat people, I ... well actually we, i.e. Mother, the cats, and I, need
some guidance from the best cat thinkers on the planet. I somehow feel this
is the moment to say "your mission, should you choose to accept it........"
because the situation is rather daunting, taking on aspects of *Mission
Impossible.*
I'll begin by telling the whole story, since neither of us were doing
anything else anyway;-)
About 3+ years ago, my 90 year old Mother opened the kitchen door to let
Rattler, our 15 year old arthritic dog, out to answer the call of nature.
She found a cat huddled against the door, trying to keep warm. We had 14
inches of snow at the time, and the temperature was well below freezing.
Feeling sorry for the poor creature, she set out a can of tuna for it. The
cat survived and was named Bootsie by Mother (you have to be a regular to
earn a name). The following Spring, Bootsie rewarded us by having two
kittens, White Stocking, a Tom, and Miss Kitty.
Along in there, somewhere, Mother happened to read the life expectancy
of feral cats was about 3 years. Mother is a cat person in good standing,
however, and it really is a very large HOWEVER, I am terribly allergic to
cats. I can't exactly say I have gone into anaphylactic shock because of
them, but once the doctor gave me a shot of adrenalin to keep me going.
Naturally, cats love me and will curl up on my coat for a nap, to the
exclusion of anywhere else, at any opportunity. Accordingly, Mother has
never been able to have a cat for a pet and I must always be mindful of my
contacts with them. That means washing my hands immediately after petting
one and never letting one get in my lap--unless I intend to change clothes
soon. Cleaning and vacuuming a place where a cat has been on a regular
basis doesn't work, as, while I was away at school, Mother had a cat which
slept on a day bed. Knowing of my allergy, she dilligently cleaned the area
for me to sleep there, upon my return from school. Took about 20 minutes
before I was struggling to breath. More's the pity as I really do think
cats are neat, but, for me, it's about like playing with a live grenade.
Back to the cats. Anyway, to give the feral cats a better chance at
survival, Mother started putting food out for them. To help them survive
the Winter, I built *kitty condo's* for them by cutting openings in ice
chests and placing them in sheltered places around the outside of our house.
In case you're interested, I also got a car battery warmer which, placed
under a pan of water, kept our cats supplied with fresh water through the
cold. At one time, we were going through 18 pounds of Meow mix every 10
days, such was the popularity of Mother's Kitty station. Mother doted on
the cats, as you might expect, and regular visitors to our back yard would
get a name. We had Big Gray, Tough Guy, Yellow Boy. Ring Tail, Little Gray,
Tabby Cat, Hobo Cat, and several others who would show up, as well as our
resident Bootsie, White Stocking, and Miss Kitty.
Everybody's gone now, except for Bootsie, White Stocking, and Miss
Kitty, poisoned by our neighbor next door. While we were having a new roof
put on our house, I happened to walk up my neighbor's drive to see how the
work was going. I chanced to look down and discover two cans of cat food,
afloat with antifreeze. As I had watched Hobo Cat die 3 days before, I was
not pleased and canceled a business deal with the sumbitch. I also reported
it to the police, only to discover they could care less.
Since then, the neighbor and I have been warring back and forth, he
calls the police to complain, I make him get his stuff off my property, etc.
I'm ahead in the count, incidentally, as I have put up two bird feeders and
a birdbath beside his driveway. The first bird feeder I put up was
stolen...the police are completely baffled. Anyway, birds come and feed,
then fly into his trees, or perch on the wires over his beloved vehicles;-)
I have an ace up my sleeve, his fence is a foot onto our property and, come
Winter--'bout Christmas time--I shall have my lawyer demand he move it.
Mother says I make a bad enemy. In some cases, I'm inspired.
Bootsie, White Stocking, and Miss Kitty, are tamed to the point they
will come, when I whistle to announce I have a treat of canned food for
them. Depending on their attitude at the moment, they will either remain
aloof and stay a few feet away (who would have thought) or, in the
alternative, come rub against my legs and--lately--actually seem to seek
attention/petting. Haven't heard anybody purr yet. White Stocking can't
seem to decide whether and how much he wants to be petted--or when, for
that matter. Bootsie doesn't always show up when I whistle, but, when she
does, she's quite social. Miss Kitty hangs with White Stocking and follows
his lead. Sometimes she'll hang back with him, but, when she does come
near, she seems to revel at the human touch. Today, White Stocking rolled
over on his back and seemed to like having his stomach scratched.
I did manage to get enough official attention that the *******s have
apparently stopped poisioning the cars, but now they are trapping them.
I've retrieved White Stocking and Bootsie from the local animal shelter.
And, my supposition is that one trip through that experience is enough for
them. My concern is, if he manages to trap one on the weekend, when the
shelter is closed, he drives off with it and we never see it again.
Meanwhile, our cats discovered the doggie door--we may have to rename
that--in the kitchen, and come to visit every night. They are becoming more
bold in their explorations of the house and Mother puts canned food out for
them every night. They go through about 2 cans and, on one occasion, Miss
Kitty brought all 3 of the kittens (her two and Bootsie's one) into the
house. Mother, incidentally, is house bound and has her bed downstairs.
Miss Kitty allowed the kittens to have the run of the downstairs for about
an hour, while she sat in the kitchen doorway and Mother sat up in bed,
watching the whole affair. From time to time, Mother and Miss Kitty would
make eye contact. My supposition about it is that she brought the kittens
in for show and tell, sort of like introducing them to the rest of the
pride...but what do I know. They haven't been back for a return visit, en
mass, but there have been kitten sightings inside from time to time. Most
recent was about 9 AM today, when the black kitten (Bootsie's) tried to come
in the door twice, but declined as Mother was in the kitchen at the time.
That pretty well covers everything I can think of to bring you up to
speed on our situation.
Now for the problem. We've bought a new house to get away from the
%#&*(@/%## next door (talk about dedication to cats). Anyway, Mother is now
very concerned about how we will go about moving *our* cats away from this
unhealthy environment to our new home--about 3 blocks away. Remember, they
ain't exactly tame and they absolutely can't be house pets...not while I'm
alive, anyway, if I wish to remain alive, that is.
Mother thinks the thing to do is take them up to the new place and shut
them in the garage, with food and water, in hopes they will acclimate to
their new home. I don't think it will work as all they will see is the
inside of the garage, and be off like a shot when we let them out.
I think our best hope at pulling it off is to wait until Winter, then
provide *warm* shelter, food and water, at the new place. In one sense,
time is on our side since we will be hanging on to our old house until the
Spring. So, should they scoot back to their old home, I can haul them back
to the new place. PROVIDING I can catch them...over and over and over.
Killing the sumbitch next door, while an attractive notion, is not a
viable option (drat).
So, anybody got any experience at this sort of thing (sure you do)? In
the alternative, what's your best thinking/experience.
Now, hasn't this been fun ;-)
Cheers,
Jack B *USA*
PS-- I'll be planting Mulberry trees next to his drive this Fall.







  #2  
Old July 27th 03, 02:44 PM
Sherry
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

OK, cat people, I ... well actually we, i.e. Mother, the cats, and I, need
some guidance from the best cat thinkers on the planet.


(snipped)

I know you think your mom is doing the cats a kindess by feeding them; but
think about this. She is simply attracting them to her property, where they can
continue to breed, and risk exposure to antifreeze poisoning, (one of the most
horrible deaths you can imagine),) and cause problems to your neighbors. Please
do the right thing. Trap the remaining cats. Take them for spay/neuter and find
someone in the country to adopt them, or someone who is willing to spend time
taming them enough to be house cats. You're just setting them up for suffering.
Your cats don't have a right to roam all over the neighbor's property. Your
continued defiance is only going to cause the neighbors to take out their
frustrations *on the cats*.

Sherry
  #3  
Old July 27th 03, 02:44 PM
Sherry
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

OK, cat people, I ... well actually we, i.e. Mother, the cats, and I, need
some guidance from the best cat thinkers on the planet.


(snipped)

I know you think your mom is doing the cats a kindess by feeding them; but
think about this. She is simply attracting them to her property, where they can
continue to breed, and risk exposure to antifreeze poisoning, (one of the most
horrible deaths you can imagine),) and cause problems to your neighbors. Please
do the right thing. Trap the remaining cats. Take them for spay/neuter and find
someone in the country to adopt them, or someone who is willing to spend time
taming them enough to be house cats. You're just setting them up for suffering.
Your cats don't have a right to roam all over the neighbor's property. Your
continued defiance is only going to cause the neighbors to take out their
frustrations *on the cats*.

Sherry
  #4  
Old July 27th 03, 03:41 PM
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Jack,
Before you do anything else you MUST get ALL these cats spayed and
neutered! If you don't it is only a matter of time before you have 20,
30, 40 or more cats to contend with. You'll be doing a very good thing
by stopping the breeding (there are millions being illed in shelteres
and the world does not need more cats) and the cats will be healthier
for it. If you work on socializing the kittens you should be able to
find homes for them and take them out of the equation altogether. You
also have to quit antagonizing your neighbor, regardless of what he has
done. Fighting with him is hurting the cats and it needs to stop. Your
best solution is to put in a tall fence around the yard at the new place
and cat proof it so the cats can't get out, then bring them over. You
can build them a nice house of some sorts that will provide them with
shelter when it's cold and, if they become friendlier, you can find them
homes as well. But again, before you do anything, ALL the cats must be
spayed and neutered.

Megan



"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do
nothing."

-Edmund Burke

Learn The TRUTH About Declawing
http://www.stopdeclaw.com

Zuzu's Cats Photo Album:
http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22

"Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one
elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and
splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then
providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and
material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his
way."

- W.H. Murray


  #5  
Old July 27th 03, 03:41 PM
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Jack,
Before you do anything else you MUST get ALL these cats spayed and
neutered! If you don't it is only a matter of time before you have 20,
30, 40 or more cats to contend with. You'll be doing a very good thing
by stopping the breeding (there are millions being illed in shelteres
and the world does not need more cats) and the cats will be healthier
for it. If you work on socializing the kittens you should be able to
find homes for them and take them out of the equation altogether. You
also have to quit antagonizing your neighbor, regardless of what he has
done. Fighting with him is hurting the cats and it needs to stop. Your
best solution is to put in a tall fence around the yard at the new place
and cat proof it so the cats can't get out, then bring them over. You
can build them a nice house of some sorts that will provide them with
shelter when it's cold and, if they become friendlier, you can find them
homes as well. But again, before you do anything, ALL the cats must be
spayed and neutered.

Megan



"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do
nothing."

-Edmund Burke

Learn The TRUTH About Declawing
http://www.stopdeclaw.com

Zuzu's Cats Photo Album:
http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22

"Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one
elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and
splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then
providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and
material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his
way."

- W.H. Murray


  #6  
Old July 27th 03, 03:57 PM
Priscilla Ballou
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Posts: n/a
Default

Jack,

I think you and your mother would get along with me just fine! My
neighbors and I are caring for a colony of ferals in our back yards. We
started last winter (which was a really bad winter), putting up shelters
for them, and I keep a heated birdbath on the ground filled with water
for all the wildlife. We started feeding them as well in the late
winter, and this past spring we got an expert to help us do
trap/neuter/release with them. We now have a stable base population of
feral cats, while skunks and raccoons also take advantage of leftover
food, and of the fresh water of course.

Now, I do not have any experience with relocating ferals, but if it's
really just three blocks, chances are the new house is within their
territory already, yes?

Is the garage attached to the new house? It would be ideal if there
were a dog/cat door between the garage and the house, so while they're
shut in the garage (with food, water, boxes, bedding, etc.) they could
twig to the fact that you guys are in the house. That way when you
opened the garage up, they'd be motivated to stay around.

I'm glad you're moving away from that neighbor. If you were staying I'd
suggest that instead of perpetuating the hostility you step down your
efforts, but you're moving so never mind.

I also suggest you post this in rec.pets.cats.rescue. You're liable to
find people with experience in this area there.

Good luck!

Priscilla
--
Minutus cantorum, minutus balorum,
minutus carborata descendum pantorum.
(thanks be to topfive.com)
  #7  
Old July 27th 03, 03:57 PM
Priscilla Ballou
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Jack,

I think you and your mother would get along with me just fine! My
neighbors and I are caring for a colony of ferals in our back yards. We
started last winter (which was a really bad winter), putting up shelters
for them, and I keep a heated birdbath on the ground filled with water
for all the wildlife. We started feeding them as well in the late
winter, and this past spring we got an expert to help us do
trap/neuter/release with them. We now have a stable base population of
feral cats, while skunks and raccoons also take advantage of leftover
food, and of the fresh water of course.

Now, I do not have any experience with relocating ferals, but if it's
really just three blocks, chances are the new house is within their
territory already, yes?

Is the garage attached to the new house? It would be ideal if there
were a dog/cat door between the garage and the house, so while they're
shut in the garage (with food, water, boxes, bedding, etc.) they could
twig to the fact that you guys are in the house. That way when you
opened the garage up, they'd be motivated to stay around.

I'm glad you're moving away from that neighbor. If you were staying I'd
suggest that instead of perpetuating the hostility you step down your
efforts, but you're moving so never mind.

I also suggest you post this in rec.pets.cats.rescue. You're liable to
find people with experience in this area there.

Good luck!

Priscilla
--
Minutus cantorum, minutus balorum,
minutus carborata descendum pantorum.
(thanks be to topfive.com)
  #8  
Old July 27th 03, 05:20 PM
Sherry
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Jack,

I think you and your mother would get along with me just fine! My
neighbors and I are caring for a colony of ferals in our back yards. We
started last winter (which was a really bad winter), putting up shelters
for them, and I keep a heated birdbath on the ground filled with water
for all the wildlife. We started feeding them as well in the late
winter, and this past spring we got an expert to help us do
trap/neuter/release with them.


That's great that you neutered them. What most kind-hearted people don't
understand is that by simply feeding them, they're not really helping in the
long term. (Plus having cat-hating neighbors really complicates things). I
still think it might help to try to mend fences a bit with the neighbor instead
of antagonizing him. By moving only 3 blocks away, the cats still might roam
their old 'hood. It's horrifying to think they were putting out antifreeze.
Death by antifreeze is an agonizing one.

Sherry
  #9  
Old July 27th 03, 05:20 PM
Sherry
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Jack,

I think you and your mother would get along with me just fine! My
neighbors and I are caring for a colony of ferals in our back yards. We
started last winter (which was a really bad winter), putting up shelters
for them, and I keep a heated birdbath on the ground filled with water
for all the wildlife. We started feeding them as well in the late
winter, and this past spring we got an expert to help us do
trap/neuter/release with them.


That's great that you neutered them. What most kind-hearted people don't
understand is that by simply feeding them, they're not really helping in the
long term. (Plus having cat-hating neighbors really complicates things). I
still think it might help to try to mend fences a bit with the neighbor instead
of antagonizing him. By moving only 3 blocks away, the cats still might roam
their old 'hood. It's horrifying to think they were putting out antifreeze.
Death by antifreeze is an agonizing one.

Sherry
  #10  
Old July 27th 03, 06:09 PM
-L.
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

(Sherry ) wrote in message ...
OK, cat people, I ... well actually we, i.e. Mother, the cats, and I, need
some guidance from the best cat thinkers on the planet.


(snipped)

I know you think your mom is doing the cats a kindess by feeding them; but
think about this. She is simply attracting them to her property, where they can
continue to breed, and risk exposure to antifreeze poisoning, (one of the most
horrible deaths you can imagine),) and cause problems to your neighbors. Please
do the right thing. Trap the remaining cats. Take them for spay/neuter and find
someone in the country to adopt them, or someone who is willing to spend time
taming them enough to be house cats. You're just setting them up for suffering.
Your cats don't have a right to roam all over the neighbor's property. Your
continued defiance is only going to cause the neighbors to take out their
frustrations *on the cats*.

Sherry


I couldn't agree more. I hate to think of cats being poisoned, but
rouge cats *are* a nuisance, and this neighbor has every right to trap
them and take them to the humane society or animal control. As for
the poisoning, you need to take photographs of the cans of poisoned
food and take them to the police station or your local animal welfare
agency. Poisoning cats is a crime in most jurisdictions - animal
cruelty - and the guy should be arrested. also, any poisoned cats
should be put into the freezer as evidence, and then turned over to
animal control authorities.

The cats are likely to return to their former territory if moved -
first and foremost, they must be spayed or neutered, and then
contained in a yard with a 6-ft fence with a cat guard on the top,
minimally. If you are unable to contain the cats, they need to be
rehomed.

As for the neighbor, poisoning and/or shooting birds isn't out of his
realm of activity either, so I would remove the bird feeders and bath
ASAP. Enough animals have suffered at the hands of this freak.

Best of luck to you,

-L.
 




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