Hi Everyone,
I'm new to the group and have joined basically for support and advice on the care and feeding of feral cats mostly. I have been caring for 4 outdoor cats for almost a year now, my first experience with ferals, and I have 4 indoor cats of my own. I am finding the experience quite draining emotionally and there is really not a lot of people to talk to about this.
We have neutered and given shots and vet care to one young female after she had three kittens under our back porch, we managed to get two of the kittens adopted out but the third she took away in her mouth. We have recently seen him again, trapped him and at 5 months old he has now been neutered, given his shots and a clean bill of health. We are attempting to socilaize him in our home, separate from the other cats, and he is doing well but it is slow. Meanwhile we are still feeding his mother outside, plus an older black cat and a male who we think is her brother. We tried socializing Maggie, the Mom, but she wouldn't eat, was very depresssed and terrified and after a week I let her go free again in our backyard. She is healthy and happy seemingly and comes back every day for food.
I am having trouble establishing boundaries - caring for 8 cats is overwheming and makes me feel at times like I am a freak. (I have always loved cats, all animals, but have never had relationships with ferals before.)
It would be great to hear other peoples' stories, their struggles and successes.
Cheers,
Riggles
I'm new to the group and have joined basically for support and advice on the care and feeding of feral cats mostly. I have been caring for 4 outdoor cats for almost a year now, my first experience with ferals, and I have 4 indoor cats of my own. I am finding the experience quite draining emotionally and there is really not a lot of people to talk to about this.
We have neutered and given shots and vet care to one young female after she had three kittens under our back porch, we managed to get two of the kittens adopted out but the third she took away in her mouth. We have recently seen him again, trapped him and at 5 months old he has now been neutered, given his shots and a clean bill of health. We are attempting to socilaize him in our home, separate from the other cats, and he is doing well but it is slow. Meanwhile we are still feeding his mother outside, plus an older black cat and a male who we think is her brother. We tried socializing Maggie, the Mom, but she wouldn't eat, was very depresssed and terrified and after a week I let her go free again in our backyard. She is healthy and happy seemingly and comes back every day for food.
I am having trouble establishing boundaries - caring for 8 cats is overwheming and makes me feel at times like I am a freak. (I have always loved cats, all animals, but have never had relationships with ferals before.)
It would be great to hear other peoples' stories, their struggles and successes.
Cheers,
Riggles
