ferals fighting outside, upsetting my inside boys...

As some of you have probably read, I have been feeding a feral group of cats because they were so skinny and needed a place where they could depend on food. They have been living under my neighbors trailer for a while now, and coming here for food for about 3 weeks. The males are obviously trying to fight for "ownership" of the territory that is my yard. I hear probably a fight a day now.

My boys, Trixter and Smeagol, have been all edgy the last few days because of it. They can hear them and see them outside the windows. Trixter used to be able to roam his yard a few hours a day, but now he can't and he has been acting extra sketchy this morning. I am worried that he is really upset and that it may only get worse. Does anyone have any experience with this? Also, Smeagol has redirected his aggression at me twice now (both yesterday) when I tried to get outside without him running out the door.

The ferals stress me out enough as it is. I don't want them to cause problems for (or between my boys, or my boys and us) my boys now, and I can't just close up all windows, etc.. This is getting SO frustrating. I don't know what to do!

Originally Posted by TrixtersMomma

As some of you have probably read, I have been feeding a feral group of cats because they were so skinny and needed a place where they could depend on food. They have been living under my neighbors trailer for a while now, and coming here for food for about 3 weeks. The males are obviously trying to fight for "ownership" of the territory that is my yard. I hear probably a fight a day now.

My boys, Trixter and Smeagol, have been all edgy the last few days because of it. They can hear them and see them outside the windows. Trixter used to be able to roam his yard a few hours a day, but now he can't and he has been acting extra sketchy this morning. I am worried that he is really upset and that it may only get worse. Does anyone have any experience with this? Also, Smeagol has redirected his aggression at me twice now (both yesterday) when I tried to get outside without him running out the door.

The ferals stress me out enough as it is. I don't want them to cause problems for (or between my boys, or my boys and us) my boys now, and I can't just close up all windows, etc.. This is getting SO frustrating.

I don't know what to do!

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Because these are intact males....they are probably fighting for territory and also for females. The BEST thing you can do is to get these cats trapped and take them in for neutering. It will definately improve the situation for all:

http://www.alleycat.org/orgs.html#ca

I would contact the groups below and see if any of them know where you can borrow a trap and also a low cost clinic that you could get them fixed at.

Katie

I have contacted the only groups who are not 3+ hours away. I am a struggling college student and I do not drive. I was told by the Bakersfield one that I would have to rent traps, etc, and cover the rest of the vet expenses aside from some $25 vouchers for S/N. I cannot afford to do it. I am already struggling, and by that I do not mean that it would be a financial burden, I mean I literally do not have any extra money at all.. At first I thought it was ONE stray, then it turned into 2....3....4... now its 6, with two of them pregnant. I have written several emails in hopes of some help, but I have gotten nothing hopeful, and no replies from some. I feel stuck as there is really nothing more I can do.

I would listen to Katie as she knows what she is talking about..It's worse to actually continue feeding a feral colony without any intention of TNR'ing them as they will continue to reproduce in greater and greater numbers...
Soon, you won't have 6 but 16, then 36, etc, etc!!

Is there any way you could arrange some sort of plan with your vet? Borrow off friends? Sell some items of value? Ask family for donations? Set up a booth at school to solicit donations (ask them to be paid directly to the vet as people feel better about giving to an organization)??

I also have some strays/ferals ending up in my yard and I know how heartbreaking a situation it is...especially if you feel you aren't getting support, but there are ways to make it work...It may be a slow process but in the long run, the best thing to do is get the numbers down.

Also, your boys won't feel entirely secure until these males are fixed.

Good luck

I live in a very low income area. The majority of the people at my school are on financial aid, because they can't afford school, my friends are all struggling, etc. We struggle to pay bills. The food I have been feeding them was donated to me from sweet people on the feline diabetes message board. At first I thought it was only one cat, and I had every intention of doing all I could for him. Now I realize it is 6. I don't even drive, etc... The vet I used to take my trixter to is no longer "my vet" because of what happened when Trixter was sick with his diabetes. I got help from an organization online to save him (Thank God for IMOM angels) because i could not afford it.

This sucks, I guess I should feel badly about doing what I thought was best, and being sure these poor babies have food in their tummies. It is better to let them starve than to feed them because people are irresponsible and heartless? This is breaking my heart.....

Originally Posted by TrixtersMomma

I live in a very low income area. The majority of the people at my school are on financial aid, because they can't afford school, my friends are all struggling, etc. We struggle to pay bills. The food I have been feeding them was donated to me from sweet people on the feline diabetes message board. At first I thought it was only one cat, and I had every intention of doing all I could for him. Now I realize it is 6. I don't even drive, etc... The vet I used to take my trixter to is no longer "my vet" because of what happened when Trixter was sick with his diabetes. I got help from an organization online to save him (Thank God for IMOM angels) because i could not afford it.

This sucks, I guess I should feel badly about doing what I thought was best, and being sure these poor babies have food in their tummies. It is better to let them starve than to feed them because people are irresponsible and heartless? This is breaking my heart.....

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If you cannot provide them with spaying/neutering...it is better to stop feeding them as cats will congregate where there is food and cats that are well fed do tend to breed more. Hopefully they will move on to another location where they will not only be fed but also TNRed. I would still try to find assistance for those that do stick around...and yes, it is unfortunate when people are irresponsible.

Katie

I am sorry, but I refuse to just stop feeding these cats right now. The female who is HUGE pregnant right now is depending on me....No one around here is going to trap and s/n these cats... Some of them are starting to trust me more and more. I cannot just all of a sudden stop. I am not trying to be rude, but it's easy for you to tell me to just stop. You are not looking at these sweet, innocent faces every day who are counting on you to fill their tummies. I do not believe that God would send me these cats just to have me feed them and then stop all of a sudden, when two of them (especially) are really in need right now beause they are carrying babies. I am in no position to get them all fixed at the moment, etc but maybe something will work out. If worse comes to worst, I will have to call the animal control again and see what they say, etc. I do not want these cats to be put down just because they were wronged by humans, but if in the end that is all that can be done, I guess they would be better off. As i have said before, though, it isn't their fualt, and if I was booted outside to starve, I wouldn't trust humans either. All these babies know is the fight for survival, and the feeling of betrayal when they were kicked outside to die. When I saw the first one, he was so skinny and in need. The look of fear on his face broke my heart, and despite his fear, he meowed outside my window, asking for food. How could i resist? Little did i know it would end up being 6 hungry cats, with no one to love them, care for them, or even notice whether they were dead or alive. I know I asked for advice, and I shouldn't get all upset for what the advice I got, but I can't just starve these cats. Its not fair. It's tearing me up inside. It's in their nature to breed. So just because they will breed if they are fed means they deserve to be starving instead, so they are too weak and sick to breed? Thats a terrible thought. I am not ready to make a decision yet as to whether or not I wan to call again, but prayers and warm vibes are much appreciated. I have been worried sick and really stressed over this. Thanks.

I am sending {{{{prayers and vibes}}}} that solutions turn up soon. I am so sorry that this has turned into such a fiasco! Surely there are some good hearted people out there in Bakersfield who will step up to the plate to help turn this situation around BTW, how much did the Bkfd. group say that it would cost to rent the traps?? And do you know of any vets who might be able to suggest who might be willing to help? Perhaps you could post at the BJC (or do you go to CSB?) about starting a cat-rescue group and put the "needed - rides to and from the vet". I used to belong to the United Methodist church in Oildale; perhaps someone from the congregation would be willing to help out - I moved away in 1985, so I don't know anyone personally, but the Methodists are very open-hearted and open-minded and very dedicated to stewardship of animals as well as the Earth that our Heavenly Creator assigned to us. Anyway, I have to go on a vacation back East, but will be back on the 15th, if you can keep me updated, then maybe I can call the UMC for you & see where it takes us.
IMO, God gave you the heart for feeling for these cats and too just give up would be wrong. He has brought you into their lives for a reason; and your post has come to my attention for a reason - to try to give some help, somehow. Please continue feeding them and please PM me if you'd like to try to brainstorm for more solutions. Till then, I'm also sending {{{calming vibes}}} to Trixter and Smeagol and hugs and prayers of encouragement for you - Bless you for caring for those kitties Susan

BTW, I would recommend calling rather than sending an email. The numbers are listed in their websites. I know you probably have already contacted them, but here's the websites anyway, just in case:
http://www.campuscatcoalition.org/
http://www.thecatpeople.org/howwe.htm
so that you can get phone numbers. I think that you might have called the cat people cuz they said that they provide $25 vouchers for S/N that all the vets accept. And I was thinking that maybe the Campus Cat group at BJC might know of some possible transportation solutions.

Get in touch with the newspaper in your area and speak to the 'Features' editor. Explain the situation and ask if there's some way they can run a short story or notice, etc. You'd be amazed at how many people will come out of the woodwork to help! Think about all the stories you might have seen re kids having had their new bicycles stolen and there being no money to replace them, etc... There always seems to be someone around who will donate! Nothing to lose, and your entrepreneurial spirit will be in your favor, some vet will want to donate services (cross your fingers), and someone will offer you rides (though be VERY sure who they are before going anywhere!). Good luck.

You've gotten some awesome replies here! You may need to work harder due to your situation but it would be as equally irresponsible not to seriously pursue the above avenues to get your situation noticed rather to just continue feeding. As Katie said, if these cats aren't TNR'ed (even one at a time), the real detriment would be to these cats in the long run....You may be "fixing" the problem of hunger temporarily but you would be contributing to a very serious problem for their welfare in the future...

I really like contacting the newspaper idea...

I understand your predicament as I am on a fixed income and don't drive either...but all this means is I have to find creative and alternate ways of doing the right thing...IE, I don't have my my home PC internet hooked up..This was so I could take on another stray I found outside recently...It gets very cold here in the winter and I knew that I had to get this guy in and fixed/shots/etc. before the cold hit...I could only do that by making a sacrifice and it's one I am happy with..

Good luck.