Hi everybody
I'm new here, and I need some help.
I'm a service coordinator, and I work with adults with developmental disabilities. About a month and a half ago, while visiting one of my clients at his home, I became aware that he and his mother had been feeding a feral kitten. She was the only (surviving?) kitten born to a feral mother who was living in the woods behind their home. The mother either abandoned her or was injured or killed when she was about 4 or 5 weeks old. My client and his mom couldn't keep her, as his mother is allergic and didn't want her in the house. She was this gorgeous black/rust coloured little thing, and it was love at first sight. Even though I'm not supposed to have animals, I conned my landlord into it, haha, and I took her home when she was about 7.5, 8 weeks old and named her Eloise.
After treating her for fleas and worms, Ella is now a healthy, michievous 11-week-old little girl who, of course, will be spayed, microchipped, and loved.
I was back to visit my client today, and his mother told me that there are several feral cats living around her home, which is about 20 miles away from my apartment. One of them was on her porch the other day, and she noticed that the queen was pregnant. Again. According to her, this particular queen has one or two litters every year and is a good mom, hiding her kittens until about six weeks and caring for them before bringing them around the house sometimes. She is Ella's grandmother. I believe her to be a stray/abandoned cat, as my client's mom says that one of her neighbors who moved claimed to have been her owner but can't take her back (that makes me so angry
)
Anyway. I talked with the mom, and I offered to attempt to trap her or some of the other cats around there and get them altered. She didn't seem too keen on the idea, as she doesn't want to trap a cat with a home or another animal, like an opossum, by mistake. I told her that the offer stands and to please contact me if she wants help. I also told her that, if she sees the pregnant queen or her kittens around again, to please contact me and I'd come try to help.
I'm not sure where to go from here. I can't very well go to this woman's house and start trapping cats on her property if she doesn't want me there. I'm 20 miles away from her and don't know any of her neighbors... I guess what I'm asking is - does anybody have suggestions for me? Or does anyone know of any organizations or independent TNR people in upstate NY (Hudson Valley) with whom I could discuss this?
I've never trapped a feral cat before, but I am a lifelong cat lover, and I want to help where I can.
Thanks in advance!
I'm new here, and I need some help.
I'm a service coordinator, and I work with adults with developmental disabilities. About a month and a half ago, while visiting one of my clients at his home, I became aware that he and his mother had been feeding a feral kitten. She was the only (surviving?) kitten born to a feral mother who was living in the woods behind their home. The mother either abandoned her or was injured or killed when she was about 4 or 5 weeks old. My client and his mom couldn't keep her, as his mother is allergic and didn't want her in the house. She was this gorgeous black/rust coloured little thing, and it was love at first sight. Even though I'm not supposed to have animals, I conned my landlord into it, haha, and I took her home when she was about 7.5, 8 weeks old and named her Eloise.
After treating her for fleas and worms, Ella is now a healthy, michievous 11-week-old little girl who, of course, will be spayed, microchipped, and loved.
I was back to visit my client today, and his mother told me that there are several feral cats living around her home, which is about 20 miles away from my apartment. One of them was on her porch the other day, and she noticed that the queen was pregnant. Again. According to her, this particular queen has one or two litters every year and is a good mom, hiding her kittens until about six weeks and caring for them before bringing them around the house sometimes. She is Ella's grandmother. I believe her to be a stray/abandoned cat, as my client's mom says that one of her neighbors who moved claimed to have been her owner but can't take her back (that makes me so angry
Anyway. I talked with the mom, and I offered to attempt to trap her or some of the other cats around there and get them altered. She didn't seem too keen on the idea, as she doesn't want to trap a cat with a home or another animal, like an opossum, by mistake. I told her that the offer stands and to please contact me if she wants help. I also told her that, if she sees the pregnant queen or her kittens around again, to please contact me and I'd come try to help.
I'm not sure where to go from here. I can't very well go to this woman's house and start trapping cats on her property if she doesn't want me there. I'm 20 miles away from her and don't know any of her neighbors... I guess what I'm asking is - does anybody have suggestions for me? Or does anyone know of any organizations or independent TNR people in upstate NY (Hudson Valley) with whom I could discuss this?
I've never trapped a feral cat before, but I am a lifelong cat lover, and I want to help where I can.
Thanks in advance!
