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#1
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Now feeding outdoor cats
The other day there was a cat in the bushes outside my house when I
walked past. He (I'll assume He so I don't call it an it) didn't run away as I expected, just retreated a bit. It was dark but he appeared to be a big orange guy. When I looked out a few minutes later, he was sitting on the walkway looking back at me. So, I opened up a can of something that my cats are too picky to eat (Trader Joe turkey and giblets I think) and put half outside for him. A little while later the food, and he, were gone. The next night I put out the other half. I never saw a cat but it was soon gone also. The next night I graduated to putting out the whole can. That went. There are around three outdoor cats in my neighborhood so someone is getting some food out of the deal. Last night I added some treats that my cats don't like. It all went. I'm about to run out of the food that my guys won't eat, so it looks like I'll be buying food for the outside kittys from now on. But with feeding sort of comes some responsibility. I have no idea whether these cats belong to anyone or whether they are strays or feral.. That first one certainly didn't seem feral. I was only a few feet away from him. Someone is apparently marking the area, judging by a whiff I've noticed. Not stinky enough to be annoying but my boys suspect that I'm being unfaithful. So I guess someone isn't fixed. I suppose I'll keep feeding them and see where it goes. I hadn't intended to go the trap, neuter, release route but maybe. |
#2
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Now feeding outdoor cats
dgk wrote: The other day there was a cat in the bushes outside my house when I walked past. He (I'll assume He so I don't call it an it) didn't run away as I expected, just retreated a bit. It was dark but he appeared to be a big orange guy. When I looked out a few minutes later, he was sitting on the walkway looking back at me. So, I opened up a can of something that my cats are too picky to eat (Trader Joe turkey and giblets I think) and put half outside for him. A little while later the food, and he, were gone. The next night I put out the other half. I never saw a cat but it was soon gone also. The next night I graduated to putting out the whole can. That went. There are around three outdoor cats in my neighborhood so someone is getting some food out of the deal. Last night I added some treats that my cats don't like. It all went. I'm about to run out of the food that my guys won't eat, so it looks like I'll be buying food for the outside kittys from now on. But with feeding sort of comes some responsibility. I have no idea whether these cats belong to anyone or whether they are strays or feral.. That first one certainly didn't seem feral. I was only a few feet away from him. Someone is apparently marking the area, judging by a whiff I've noticed. Not stinky enough to be annoying but my boys suspect that I'm being unfaithful. So I guess someone isn't fixed. I suppose I'll keep feeding them and see where it goes. I hadn't intended to go the trap, neuter, release route but maybe. What a nice post to read. I almost regained my faith in humanity. Almost. SO MANY people are willing to feed strays. It's not a big deal. What *is* a big deal, is that hardly anyone assumes responsibility for them when they start feeding them. That's the way it ought to be. You start feeding a cat regualarly, and basically it becomes your cat. I think it's great that you're thinking ahead to neutering them. Good luck with that. Sherry |
#3
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Now feeding outdoor cats
I started feeding stray and niegnborhood cats the same way. I started with a couple that I knew were strays and soon was up to 4 strays at one time. Then the nieghborhood cats that supposedly belonged to people learned that they could get a free meal. I am down to one stray right now but I suppose before long another stray will learn that the cafeteria is open. That is usually the way it happens. I usually go through at least 4 24 can cases of the large cans a months not to mention the dry. Over the years I have rehomed several and have had to have a couple put down due to illness and injuries. The older ones I try to provide a place where they can get shelter and where I can put their food and dogs can not get it all. Luckily there are several abandoned houses they can get shelter in / under for the winter. I have been doing this for at least 5 years and whenever it looks like there are no more strays coming another one shows up and I have to keep doing it. Good luck to you and I just have a bit of advice. If you or anyone else does not plan on keeping feeding them do not start and get them used to it then stop. It is no good for them. The other day there was a cat in the bushes outside my house when I walked past. He (I'll assume He so I don't call it an it) didn't run away as I expected, just retreated a bit. It was dark but he appeared to be a big orange guy. When I looked out a few minutes later, he was sitting on the walkway looking back at me. So, I opened up a can of something that my cats are too picky to eat (Trader Joe turkey and giblets I think) and put half outside for him. A little while later the food, and he, were gone. The next night I put out the other half. I never saw a cat but it was soon gone also. The next night I graduated to putting out the whole can. That went. There are around three outdoor cats in my neighborhood so someone is getting some food out of the deal. Last night I added some treats that my cats don't like. It all went. I'm about to run out of the food that my guys won't eat, so it looks like I'll be buying food for the outside kittys from now on. But with feeding sort of comes some responsibility. I have no idea whether these cats belong to anyone or whether they are strays or feral.. That first one certainly didn't seem feral. I was only a few feet away from him. Someone is apparently marking the area, judging by a whiff I've noticed. Not stinky enough to be annoying but my boys suspect that I'm being unfaithful. So I guess someone isn't fixed. I suppose I'll keep feeding them and see where it goes. I hadn't intended to go the trap, neuter, release route but maybe. |
#4
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Now feeding outdoor cats
"dgk" wrote in message ... The other day there was a cat in the bushes outside my house when I walked past. He (I'll assume He so I don't call it an it) didn't run away as I expected, just retreated a bit. It was dark but he appeared to be a big orange guy. When I looked out a few minutes later, he was sitting on the walkway looking back at me. So, I opened up a can of something that my cats are too picky to eat (Trader Joe turkey and giblets I think) and put half outside for him. A little while later the food, and he, were gone. The next night I put out the other half. I never saw a cat but it was soon gone also. The next night I graduated to putting out the whole can. That went. There are around three outdoor cats in my neighborhood so someone is getting some food out of the deal. Last night I added some treats that my cats don't like. It all went. I'm about to run out of the food that my guys won't eat, so it looks like I'll be buying food for the outside kittys from now on. But with feeding sort of comes some responsibility. I have no idea whether these cats belong to anyone or whether they are strays or feral.. That first one certainly didn't seem feral. I was only a few feet away from him. Someone is apparently marking the area, judging by a whiff I've noticed. Not stinky enough to be annoying but my boys suspect that I'm being unfaithful. So I guess someone isn't fixed. I suppose I'll keep feeding them and see where it goes. I hadn't intended to go the trap, neuter, release route but maybe. You can do a web search for low cost spay / neuter. There are resources out there to help financially with neutering stray/feral cats. Please do it. W |
#5
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Now feeding outdoor cats
You can do a web search for low cost spay / neuter. There are resources out there to help financially with neutering stray/feral cats. Please do it. W This is also the case in uk too.If you take a stray cat to them that you are feeding,they are more than happy to issue with vouchers to take to your vet who will perform it for either half of the cost,or,in some cases 100% of the cost,depending on your circumstances.(cat protection league) I think it is wonderful that you are feeding them,but do think on the neutering issue so that you can stop 52 cats coming to dinner next year.Do not take this as a chastisment in any way at all-I am talking from personal experience here. I feed around 15-20 cats most of the time,unless I manage to home a few of them of course...but it is true, once you feed them,they believe that they belong to you & will all come back to you (or vice versa lol).But the more we can do to stop this terrible predicament, the betteroff your guys will be,I assure you!! Good Luck, & it would be great to hear that you have done them.Please let us know how you get on?(If you are in the usa,I believe thart you have something called the humane society????Try them,I am sure that they will be pleased that you brought these cats to them & will help you ourt if they can,ok? S. S. |
#6
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Now feeding outdoor cats
You can do a web search for low cost spay / neuter. There are resources out there to help financially with neutering stray/feral cats. Please do it. This is also the case in uk too.If you take a stray cat to them that you are feeding,they are more than happy to issue with vouchers to take to your vet who will perform it for either half of the cost,or,in some cases 100% of the cost,depending on your circumstances.(cat protection league) I think it is wonderful that you are feeding them,but do think on the neutering issue so that you can stop 52 cats coming to dinner next year.Do not take this as a chastisment in any way at all-I am talking from personal experience here. I feed around 15-20 cats most of the time,unless I manage to home a few of them of course...but it is true, once you feed them,they believe that they belong to you & will all come back to you (or vice versa lol).But the more we can do to stop this terrible predicament, the betteroff your guys will be,I assure you!! Good Luck, & it would be great to hear that you have done them.Please let us know how you get on?(If you are in the usa,I believe thart you have something called the humane society????Try them,I am sure that they will be pleased that you brought these cats to them & will help you ourt if they can,ok? Here the local Michigan Humane Society will issue a voucher for a free spay / neuter that you take to you vet. Any extra meds for at homw or such the owner has to cover if they want them. |
#7
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Now feeding outdoor cats
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#8
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Now feeding outdoor cats
"dgk" wrote in message
... [snip] They only seem to be around at night so I'd have to trap one and take care of it in the morning. The poor thing would be going crazy all night though. Plus, I can really only do it on the weekends since I go to work early. I'll see where I can get a trap. FWIW when I trapped a neighborhood stray last December, it was around 5 PM and I left her in the carrier all night (inside the house, so she was warm) and took her to the vet first thing next morning (7:30 AM). I had put cardboard and shredded newspaper in the bottom of the carrier. That showed use when I got her back the next afternoon. She was fine. If you can keep the cat safe in the trap - from other animals, humans, weather, etc. - I don't think it would be a major problem to have it confined overnight. My stray was quite healthy before (and after) I trapped her, though, so that could make a difference. Gail F. |
#9
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Now feeding outdoor cats
On Thu, 21 Dec 2006 13:58:07 GMT, kraut
wrote: You can do a web search for low cost spay / neuter. There are resources out there to help financially with neutering stray/feral cats. Please do it. This is also the case in uk too.If you take a stray cat to them that you are feeding,they are more than happy to issue with vouchers to take to your vet who will perform it for either half of the cost,or,in some cases 100% of the cost,depending on your circumstances.(cat protection league) I think it is wonderful that you are feeding them,but do think on the neutering issue so that you can stop 52 cats coming to dinner next year.Do not take this as a chastisment in any way at all-I am talking from personal experience here. I feed around 15-20 cats most of the time,unless I manage to home a few of them of course...but it is true, once you feed them,they believe that they belong to you & will all come back to you (or vice versa lol).But the more we can do to stop this terrible predicament, the betteroff your guys will be,I assure you!! Good Luck, & it would be great to hear that you have done them.Please let us know how you get on?(If you are in the usa,I believe thart you have something called the humane society????Try them,I am sure that they will be pleased that you brought these cats to them & will help you ourt if they can,ok? Here the local Michigan Humane Society will issue a voucher for a free spay / neuter that you take to you vet. Any extra meds for at homw or such the owner has to cover if they want them. I spoke to the ASPCA. They gave me the number for a local chapter of Neighborhood Cats (www.neighborhoodcats.com) that gives a one day course in TNR. I didn't realize that it was so complicated. Anyway, once I complete the course, I can borrow traps from the ASPCA. Apparently I get the traps a few days before the ASPCA truck is scheduled to visit my area, and whatever cats I trap, I keep inside, in the trap, until the big day. After the surgery, I keep then another few days and then release them. I read that talking to them does not calm down truly feral cats; the best thing to do is just keep a cover over the cage and leave them alone. I don't know if these cats are feral or just strays. Or even someone's pet. Doesn't sound too horrible but it needs planning. And I really can't figure where I'll put the traps. I may need to enlist the help of a neighbor. She is very old and sick, and doesn't get out of the house much. But she has a deck in her backyard, only about a half-foot off the ground, and I've seen cats go under there. As well as an oppossum. If I can get the traps set up in her yard, then this might work out. |
#10
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Now feeding outdoor cats
on Thu, 21 Dec 2006 21:31:57 GMT, dgk wrote:
I spoke to the ASPCA. They gave me the number for a local chapter of Neighborhood Cats (www.neighborhoodcats.com) that gives a one day course in TNR. I didn't realize that it was so complicated. Anyway, once I complete the course, I can borrow traps from the ASPCA. Fantastic! What a wonderful thing you are doing!! The idea of asking your neighbor if you can set the traps in her yard sounds like a good plan. -- Lynne http://picasaweb.google.com/what.the.hell.is.it/ |
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