Or, to put the question another way, some of my well-meaning friends tell me I'm doing them more harm than good by feeding them, chasing off their "natural" predators, etc. I disagree! Domestic cat's weren't meant to fight off coons and coyotes!! And I can't stop myself from supplementing their meager diets, and making sure they have access clean water. I just can't.
Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Purrs
Much Needed Vent
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Lisaeylau, you go onto Petfinder dot com and find local places that are taking in kitties. I looked on there for agencies and then I called around for ones that I found that were near Susie. Some of them turned out to be high kill places and some were not but were too full to accept any more kittens or cats. I was able to help Susie with obtaining the carriers and then later transporting seven of her ferals by going back to the agency where I adopted Sylvester from. It was an all day event with my renting a van the night before, picking up and taking Susie and the seven cats to the agency and then driving Susie back home and dropping off the van at the rental place at night. Unfortunately I work a full time job, so I am unable to help anymore than that one time.
You are doing a wonderful thing with helping these feral kitties. Hopefully all of them are fixed. This way they don't increase the population of kitties.
Posted 4 years ago by SylMiaFelixsMomma #
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LisaeyLau,I'm not currently working w/ ferals but when I did it was with another rescue and we took the kitties we trapped to be spay or neuter and if they're truly feral they pretty much need to be returned to the colony. I've heard that argument about feeding before but like you I just can't stand by and watch anything go hungry. Some of the others like Annceterra and Susie are still working in rescue and well you know Ann has a wealth of knowledge so hopefully she'll weigh in here.Susie has had a harder time as she is more in the country and has a harder time getting help.
And bless you for helping the ferals. -
lisaeylau...where I live,it's quite rural yet. They haven't thrown up the housing track near us yet. So there is the acreage in every direction. But, about 3 miles down the road,one of the nicest farm owners you'd want to know,let us release any coons we trap & relocate them to their property. She sets out food regularly for them. So they are in safe hands. If we trap more than one in a night's time we just take them to the same spot so they will find each other in case they are family. It sure takes the guilt away
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BTW...I've experienced more injured & dead animals in this park I live in from human hands than from coyotes or coons. Altho I've lost a couple from coyotes (RIP). It's sad when an animal is less safe around a human than they are from their natural predators. And I've lived here for 19 yrs.
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Susie, did you ever get your car up and running?
Posted 4 years ago by paulajeanne #
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Yes PJ...Thanks for asking. The goverment took care of it. It's not old enuf for them to junk yet I guess. I owe a debt of gratitude to my neighbor. She helped me by following me to the shop it had to go to,loaning me her car in the meantime, & taking me to pick it back up. No offering of help at all from man/friend. *shaking head in disbelief*
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We do have several rescue groups here about the feral babies that come every summer. But these groups seem to all be taking the ones they catch to Austin's infamous Town Lake Animal Shelter, which might as well be called the Butcher. The shelter kills something like 19,000 kittens *every year*!!! Austin is making noise about trying to become a no-kill city but just not there yet.
So, in the meantime...Kitten Chow...the newest kittens make it to the *top* of the air conditioner last night, about 15 times their height. I have no idea how they did it.
The four ferals that I've been able to persuade to come inside have all wound up with permanent homes, as did Bob's six kittens. And I'm almost certain I'm not the only one feeding them, even though they've set up camp on my porch. There's a beautiful Buddist temple next door, I think some go live there, once they're big enough to cross the fence. I'm rambling, I'm sorry. Long week.
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Lisa, in my metro area, there are two groups that are working to get low-cost spay & neuter services available & used in the community. They're No More Homeless Pets, which has many city chapters (mine is Kansas City). There's also Spay & Neuter Kansas City.
You can contact Alley Cat Allies using the following form (http://www.alleycat.org/response.aspx) to ask about feral cat groups in your state, as well as other information. I HIGHLY recommend contacting them.
Posted 4 years ago by anncetera2 #
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Lisa,
There are wonderful TNR groups operating in Austin. Call the shelter or call your vet. They should put you in touch with a group. I don't live in Austin but am there frequently because my daughter lives there. I had an occasion to use a rental company (wedding) and they had ALL of their "warehouse" kitties fixed for free. I'm not sure who performed the service but I know it exists. They had 9 kitties fixed! All for free! Good luck!
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