I'm kicking myself for not doing something about this sooner...but between the lady friend I was taking care of passing away and me needing to move..my mind hasn't exactly been too sharp lately. That and the shelters around here are making it very difficult- have to make an appointment..one only does Saturdays..etc.
A bit over a week ago I moved out of a rental house where for over 5 years we were feeding a male black feral cat(that disappeared at one point for about a year) that was pretty young when first spotted.. and then also for a bit over a year a female stray cat(If I've got the definitions right. This one is way too friendly..took a few months though). We had the garage door open in the winter for the black one with either the heater on and/or a house with a heated pad. The other/stray one never went in there, but always showed up for food, no matter how cold or how much snow.
I have gone back a few times since I moved to put food out there- no one is living there yet, Last night I saw the stray..just sitting on the steps like she used to do, waiting for food. Wasn't able to get there the previous night and she seemed starved.
I have no idea if the female has kittens..is going to have them..can't have them...or what. I'm torn about what to do here. Try trapping them and bringing them where I'm at now? I think I've read one has to cage them for a few weeks if you do that. Having any cats inside doesn't work. I feel bad for the black/male one since where he's at has been his stomping grounds for so long. I think he'd be more likely to be ok w/out the feeding, but what do I know.
I wish there was just someplace that would take them at anytime and that'd be it. Another problem I have is the cats only ever showed up towards evening and even late at night- so if trapping them they'd be sitting there until morning and I suppose even until I can bring them in if I'd go that route.
Anyone in Southern WIsconsin? I'd pay to have someone deal with them for me..that's how much it's bothering me. I am tempted to ask the one neighbor if she'd be willing to keep feeding them if I gave her the food etc. But who knows if she'd actually do it. It'd be hard to say "no"..but it'd be easy to just forget about it.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated...Thanks.
Jonathan
A bit over a week ago I moved out of a rental house where for over 5 years we were feeding a male black feral cat(that disappeared at one point for about a year) that was pretty young when first spotted.. and then also for a bit over a year a female stray cat(If I've got the definitions right. This one is way too friendly..took a few months though). We had the garage door open in the winter for the black one with either the heater on and/or a house with a heated pad. The other/stray one never went in there, but always showed up for food, no matter how cold or how much snow.
I have gone back a few times since I moved to put food out there- no one is living there yet, Last night I saw the stray..just sitting on the steps like she used to do, waiting for food. Wasn't able to get there the previous night and she seemed starved.
I have no idea if the female has kittens..is going to have them..can't have them...or what. I'm torn about what to do here. Try trapping them and bringing them where I'm at now? I think I've read one has to cage them for a few weeks if you do that. Having any cats inside doesn't work. I feel bad for the black/male one since where he's at has been his stomping grounds for so long. I think he'd be more likely to be ok w/out the feeding, but what do I know.
I wish there was just someplace that would take them at anytime and that'd be it. Another problem I have is the cats only ever showed up towards evening and even late at night- so if trapping them they'd be sitting there until morning and I suppose even until I can bring them in if I'd go that route.
Anyone in Southern WIsconsin? I'd pay to have someone deal with them for me..that's how much it's bothering me. I am tempted to ask the one neighbor if she'd be willing to keep feeding them if I gave her the food etc. But who knows if she'd actually do it. It'd be hard to say "no"..but it'd be easy to just forget about it.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated...Thanks.
Jonathan