releasing feral cats

To make a long story short, my neighbor trapped a feral mom and her kittens. I had seen her around and can confirm to the best of my knowledge she was feral. I have had ferals here for 30 years. The neighbor said the babies were taming down very well except for 1 and the mother. When the time came he could not take care of them anymore, we took them to a no kill shelter. Well, the mother and baby ended up biteing two workers there. They called and said they could not keep them as they were dangerous and feral. They only work with friendly strays and pets. I can totally understand this. We are bringing them back on Monday. Well, I have a friend who has a dairy farm and has agreed to let us let them loose there. There are a couple of other cats at the farm. The woman always has food and water out for them and there are numerous barns and outbuildings. The cats were spayed and neutered at the shelter. I am just having such a difficult time with this. I have taken in cats for 30 years and have had barn cats and ferals outside also. I know they can survive. I have had some here for a couple of years. I cannot release them here because we live very close to a busy rural road. It would only be a matter of time before I would find them on the road some morning. The farm is on a back road that probably only has 1/4 the traffic I have. For years I have worried about this road and the ferals. I guess I just need some support that they will be ok. All my knowledge tells me yes. There is food and shelter. I have no more ferals as I took in the last female and her kittens. Found good homes for 4 kittens. Still have Slick and her two 7 month old kids. She tamed right down and I now realize she was not totally feral. She has had human bonding at some point. Lovely girl. I was afraid to post because I thought someone would post and say, OMG, don't let them loose. Well, we have no choice. They are feral, mistrusting and we are making the best of a bad situation. They will probably be better off at the farm. If cow barns are like horse barns, then they should be ok. Thanks for any input.

It sounds like a good place for the momma and her son. The success is in getting them acclimated to the area and other cats because the resident barn cats MAY run them off for invading their territory.

This group was very helpful to me when I relocated some feral cats to an established group of barn cats. http://www.barncats.org/program_how.php

They list the method they use that gives the cats a good chance.

Thanks for the input. However, we do not have the luxury of time here. My friends husband probably will not be too happy so we are doing this covertly. As I said, there are cats already there. In fact she said a new one showed up this am. So we have to be very careful with this. He would not hurt them just grumble. She said she hoped they are good mousers. I used to see the mother cat often with a mouse in her mouth. I think all will go well. They will have food and shelter. There are not a lot of barn cats maybe 2 or 3. I am getting better with this. She feeds them, there is always food out. Thanks again.

I'm going to be completely realistic. There is a definite protocol for relocating feral cats and the top reason for failure is when you put a feral cat into an existing colony without a period of confined adjustment. The reason that it fails can be that either the resident cats reject the newcomer outright, or the new cat doesn't like the new location. You will have a higher success rate with younger cats/kittens than fully mature adults.

Look at the colony at the barn. Are they all neutered? Are they long time companions? Have they allowed any new cats into their territory in the last year? The stronger the bond in the existing colony, the harder it will be for the newcomer to simply fit in without an adjustment period. The link about barn cat relocation is on track, but the bottom line is this: will the resident cats accept the new cat, and will the new cat accept the environment?

I went thru a 2 month adjustment process with 2 feral cats. The older female took off the moment I opened up her shelter. The younger cat stuck around, but couldn't adapt herself in with the strongly bonded resident cats. Even following protocols, I couldn't make it work.

I don't want to be a bummer, but you need to be completely aware of the probably outcome. You will most likely lose the mom and the kitten may fit in.

I would go back to the no kill shelter and ask for some additional help in getting these 2 adjusted and properly placed.

It is not possible to expect any help from the no kill shelter. They are very upset that we brought them there. They wanted us to come today and pick them up and were not happy we could not get there till Monday. It isn't what they do. They only deal with friendly animals. Since these cats bit two of their people, they want them gone to make room for friendly cats. I do understand their position. There are not many cats at the farm. I have had ferals at my place down through the years. They came and went. When a new one would arrive, he would give the established one a wide berth. Once in a while I would hear a rumble. But mostly, one would watch from a distance and come to eat when the other left. I know this is not perfect. But it is our only option. I thank God she is letting us release them there. There are other farms in the area. No the other cats are not spayed and neutered. Ours are. This is a hard working couple trying to stay in the milk business. They feed the cats, but as on most farms the cats are not altered. They would meet certain death here. The cars go by sometimes at 65-70 mph. We live across the road from a creek and the cats like to cross and hunt down on the banks. I feel bad about this whole thing. In hindsite, they should just have been left alone. But the neighbor took them in. Now it is a mess. I picked the best option I had. Either that or sadly the SPCA. I have 11 cats. I cannot take on any more. They will have a chance at the farm. I have seen farms where there are new arrivals all the time. They will hopefully adapt. Something needs to be done about all the cats that are unwanted. It is totally out of control.

I totally feel for you!

Barring intervention by a rescue group that could take the cats until placed into an ideal situation, you seem to be doing the best thing for them. I understand that the "no-kill" shelter has put you in a bad situation.

Have you tried to contact other groups about helping these cats? I'm not sure where you live, but found that Alley Cat Allies has information to link up with rescue resources for feral cats. http://www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=379 I totally understand if your time has run out in placing them, but it may be worth a try.



And pardon me if I rant a bit about a "no kill" shelter that only finds it convenient to save cute and friendly cats. Advertising themselves as "no kill" is only a marketing ploy if they allow not so friendly cats die by lack of intervention. (end rant)

Yea, Momofmany, I agree with your rant. This whole thing is making me sick. I have lost my appitite and I can break into tears, (like now) all the time. When we took them there, I had no idea mom and baby were so wild. The 3 other kittens were social enough to stay. We took so many donations with us when we took the cats there. They have fundraisers and these were really nice things for their basket raffels. If my husband ever knew how much I paid to have them take these animals, he would take me to a shrink! Maybe I'll take myself! Anyway, I am going to call Feral Cat Focus in my area. I need some tips and maybe they can direct me to a better place to let them go. But really, its either here at my house and risk getting hit by a car, or at the dairy farm and be shunned by a group of other cats. I can't win. When you look at it, the farm seems the best place. They are good people. I wish sometimes I was born with no love for animals. Just a cold heart. Honestly, it would be easier I think. Well, keep me in your thoughts. I have not told my DH that they have to come back. He is a wonderful man, and for a guy that never liked cats, he is the one that comes home with all kinds of toys for our gang. But, he would be upset that this is upsetting me so much. OK well Im gonna make the call to that grouup. Will keep informed. Thanks for the kind words.

Originally Posted by farleyv

I wish sometimes I was born with no love for animals. Just a cold heart. Honestly, it would be easier I think.

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OMG I've had that thought myself, but take it from me, you would be miserable with a cold heart!!

My DH was not a cat person when I met him, and every time he complains about my need to rescue a poor cat, I remind him that he wouldn't have married me if I didn't have the big heart that I have. They can't argue with that line of thought.

to get you through this.

because I just talked to my "partner in crime" my daughter. I never thought of her! She lives way out in the country, has 3 cats (inside cats), goats, chickens, bunnies etc. She and I took them to this shelter in the first place. Well, I was starting to think about the dairy farm and how they store their hay outside, not warm hay to hunker down in. I called her and she said, "I m surprised you didn't ask me first!" Oh man, what a weight off my shoulders. There is a barn nextdoor that is full of hay and straw. They used to have horses, but don't anymore. .Just one woman lives there now, so she probably won't care much if there are cats in the barn. We will now have a little time to acclimate the cats. What we plan to do is set their carrier down and put some wet food out where they can see and smell it. Wait about an hour and then let them out. They may take off right away, but it is quiet there not like the dairy farm with machinery moving about all the time. They will probably be scared for a day or two. Hopefully, they will find the barn across the field and then be able to eat at my daughters. She grew up with me feeding all the ferals here, so believe me she knows the ropes. Loves animals just like her mom and like me is on a first name basis with our vet! So now just waiting for Monday to be over with. Believe me I don't relish the thought of incurring their wrath at the shelter. I had to smile when I read about your hubby! I don't think my husband has a twin, but you never know. Keep your fingers crossed for us and a few vibes! Thanks so much!

First, let me say this was not the perfect method of returning ferals. I know that but we did the best we could do with the time we had. My daugher has a small farm out in the country. Very quiet. We figured this would be the best place for them. We picked them up from the shelter this am. Very difficult getting them to go in the same cage, so we ended up having to take one of the shelters cages home. Too risky to try to get them both in the same carrier. We got to her house. There is a horse corall between her property and the neighbor. Our main concern was they both go the same way when we opened the doors. So we faced the carriers toward the open field inside the corall. In the middle of this field is a hay barn that has openings for cats to go in and out. There are no ferals in the area. We just wanted them to find the barn. That was our main thing. If we had taken them to the barn, I was afraid they would consider it dangerous. We wanted them to run "to" it as a place of refuge. We placed ourselves behind a wood pile so they could not run backwards. Opened the doors at the same time. Mother flew out, her kitten in the other carrier hesitated. When he ran, he went straight to the right. She ran straight ahead where we wanted her to go. I would say he is about 5 months old. Turns out, she stopped and sat down about 30 feet away. We were mortified. So worried about the baby. He was racing all around the barnyard at my daughters. Finally we saw him disappear into the woods at the rear of the property. I was heartbroken. I do not worry so much about her. She is a good mouser and has always been feral. But I was so concerned about him. Came home in tears. Daughter just called. She saw the kitten back in her yard around the chicken house. Now I feel so much better. She has food out in a couple of places, the kitten is now closer to the barn nextdoor. I would think it is a good sign that he returned to the area where he was so traumatized. So now, hopefully him and mom will reunite. I am sure she will return for the food. What a day. Sorry so long. At least if he can't hunt yet, there will be food for him. My daughter loves cats and I know I can count on her. So, yes this is not by the book. I know. So please don't scold us for doing it this way. Sometimes, there is no other option. At least they will be fed and if I know my daughter, she willl put out a heated house for them.