Can my apartment manager ban legal feral feeding on the complex ?

I'm in quite a funk over this. Yesterday the property manager stopped me in the office to tell me that I need to stop feeding even the relatively few stray and ferals that we do claim. Naturally I don't want to give up my caretaker role or involvement in a TNR program, their life is hard enough as it is, but I can't risk getting evicted over it. There are six or seven regulars (all fixed) and seeing them out this morning looking up at me with accusing, yearning eyes on the porch was almost more than I could stand . All are old enough to have survived long before meeting me as well. So it is not an issue of their near-term survival. Thank God they will have enough time to bulk up naturally before winter.

And I am sincerely apologetic for disturbing, or to causing any nuisances to the other tenants by keeping them around these past few years.. I honestly wasn't conscious of the apparently accumulating neighborly resentments until served notice.


On the other hand, there is no city-wide feeding ban on the cats. And here wasn't any problem until recently when apparently one or more of the residents apparently began to complain about the behavior. Or maybe it started when I didn't follow his "suggestion" of a standing bird feeder verses leaving seeds in pans on the ground. The manager is trying to appease the complaining tenants. They need to become familiar with the current laws.


The only damage and trouble around the area the cats were said to be causing revolved around "territorial disputes" with cats following or pestering residents' dogs. Hard to believe since they true ferals of course don't come around open areas in daylight ?? I wasn't given any other reasons.


If people would only be more understanding and compassionate...

The cold-hearted will never appreciate what I was trying to do for the little guys.

Trying my best to give them a nice warm place to sleep and an ok life. - theirs is hard enough as it is.

Hopefully they won't starve but will just find a different, more compassionate place that feeds and shelters them.

Thanks for the answer.

Our units are lined up against an "urban wildlife" strip of woods and small creek vaguely in the shape of a laying down "7" with my apartment closest to the intersection. I've never seen wildlife do anything but come out for food and scurry back across the lot into cover of trees with the exception of the semi-ferals that come out and sun themselves occasionally or on a summer day that never seems to end. lol


Only 2 or 3 newest members of the colony I haven't had a chance to TNR but was able to get to over 10 in all which is probably why the limited number has been stable enough to hold together this long. I should still be able to trap, though.... If not, maybe accidentally remember to "throw away" a batch of cat food. I'm also nearest the garbage bins.

Thanks, Laurie ! Unfortunately, as a caretaker, I don't feel that I have rights now and there is no safe, undeveloped space to take them. Besides not wanting to continue feeding the ones I was having difficulty trapping...

Under NJ cruelty laws, were property management to call Animal Control or Critter Control, is there anything to prevent them coming out, trapping them, and taking them to the shelter where they will be euthanized ?

I contacted the director of the local Feral Cat Coalition and in her words: "We do not relocate cats - it is highly unsuccessful and we do not have places to put them. Their best chance of survival is staying where they are."


The only real (wildly impractical ) answer is enough stray and feral cat sanctuaries to be available on an as-needed basis where they can live out their lives in an environment that is both protected and safe.

It is and I asked that as a compromise as well. Since it was also turned down I'm assuming they also own the little grove area that backs up to a laundromat.

Anyway, what positive there is out of this, 7 of the 10 or so kitties were gone within 24 hours of food being withdrawn and only 2 kept at it for 5 days. I'm hope I'm not too optimistic in assuming from that they have somewhere else to go besides mice, insects and lizards.

There has also been a city-sanctioned TNR program here since Fall of 2009. It is monitored by the Feral Cat Coalition, although I'm not sure of the funding status or record of success. To my knowledge, they only work with the Humane Society to relocate feral cats that are living in neglectful conditions (an abandoned home etc).

And removal efforts may be handled primarily by a private "pest control" company, Critter Control. At least that is who our management threatened to bring out...

Oh, I see. So basically despite whatever protections exist at the state level against the "cruel or unnecessary" killing of a cat, companion or feral, as long as they are 'humanely executed' by whatever agency there doesn't have to be a big justification, or really any reason at all.

Well, it has been almost a month...and there is still one guy (actually a gorgeous, or once-gorgeous, half Siamese semi-feral ) that is still hanging around to meow at my patio in the morning. Today more desperately than in the past. He definitely looks gaunt, tail, legs, sides and head especially a bit scraggly, although not sickly and still able to run if I get within 6 inches or so. These decisions are so very difficult and stressful I'm just trying not to torture myself - It does breaks my heart not to be able to do anything, though.

The idea of retrapping for the third or fourth time, just to get the poor boy inside and straightened up, has crossed my mind. Unfortunately for whatever reason that also seems out of the question as good and hungry as he is, doesn't even so much as sniff around at either the dry or wet food (I will try baiting it with tuna...). And the first two events weren't even such a big deal to go into the trap and go to the vet and then come back and get fed because he had already gotten fixed under prior ownership.

Placing food at the edge of the door so they don't have to enter and move further into a narrow, confined space is a great idea...I just can't risk the apartment, owners wrath and possibly even bodily harm to prevent the animal from starving.

Any other brilliant suggestions ???

It's an impossible, almost unthinkable decision ; but not being in any kind of position resource-wise to adopt I may be forced to have him put down over starve, die of disease, be killed by traffic or by a larger predator/stray dog etc.

A drop trap was also ordered through Alley Cat Allies. Thanks for the links ! (And hopefully this ordeal will be over before the shipment is ever placed). I've heard too that kfc bbq chicken works like a charm. They don't have a kitty breakfast menu, though, unfortunately, and this needs to be done between 6-7 am. Is there a solution that locks in lots of flavor and moisture ? Or is that nuking them in the microwave ? I bought fresh McDonald's Chicken McNuggets this morning - the sneaky guy was just gone by the time they arrived. He is still fairly skittish and will not allow anyone close enough to him to touch, but I noticed today that I am gradually being allowed closer as deprivation sets in. The defenses may be gradually giving way - with this obviously not being the best way of feeding a starving cat, or dealing with any food deprivation issue...

Please be reassured that this cat is now well provided for in a caring home, fully socialized, and eating like there is no tomorrow. He was on death's door as recently as two days ago when a neighbor miraculously spotted a lost/abandoned domesticated Siamese sniffing for food around the trap apparently too weak to do anything but follow her home.


All four of his paws had been declawed by the prior owner It's slightly beyond my means, but what else can we do ? I'll be taking the poor baby in (at least temporarily...) this evening. Cats don't belong outdoors and a declawed cat should not be under any circumstances.

Well, he has been to the vet, gotten the first of a two-series distemper shot, and basically an overall complete clean bill of health. I'm just so thankful that this little guy appeared in relatively good shape before beginning the feedings two years ago and has remained that way in spite of everything. Adapting by taking on a defensive "wild" personality to meet the challenge of an outdoor world fraught with dangers. In reality, he is extremely tame and people oriented - even to the point of sleeping in my bed (must be a Siamese thing !!) So there is essentially no rehabilitation involved in the process. Cats are amazing ! Now he has to gear up to endure is a week or more of staving off the boredom that can result in stress as a result of being isolated in my bedroom.

Last year I did provide a more permanent product from the link below - one of the 2 story wooden, insulated shelters with a removable roof - great place for outdoor cats to spend the night (and winter mornings ! ).

http://www.feralvilla.com/

I was willing to work at the edge of the property but being alone deeper into a fairly dense thicket after dark surrounded by possibly cats and definitely spotted out by the resident raccoons, apartment maintenance patrols !! , with heaven only knows what other clever critters of the night won't work mostly because it is terrifying to me.... It also has to be a solution amenable to trapping and that the cat sitter can pick up because I travel a decent amount.

After the holiday I do plan to start getting out the word with the good side of management (another reason not to burn any more bridges !) - a woman who actually co-runs a foster/rescue home and has taken in two of my previous brood. He certainly is blessed with the looks to make this a happy ending - gorgeous healthy Lynx Point Siamese - and unfortunate declawing (without the temperament or litter issues), but realistically that is what a lot of adopters are looking for...

I am really trying to be optimistic because I feel horrible that was too spooked by the "feralish" outdoor behavior to listen to the vets 6 months ago who assured me he was housebroken and bring the little guy then to provide better care and comfort...So, yeah, doing nothing at this point was pretty much a non-option. Besides already being one over the limit for my unit...