Another 'stop feeding the cats' note from my complex

The manager of my apartment complex has called a few times regarding the ferals that we feed. First, he requested that I take the winter shelter that I made for them off my porch. I said that I would, but then just turned it toward the wall so the entrance can't be seen (it's just a brown rubbermaid container with a hole in the side...I stuck some plants on top so that it looks like a table). Then he asked me to stop feeding them because they're trying to trap them. I said great, they need to be trapped. It makes me sad to think of the fact that they would surely be taken to the pound and be put down, but there are at least 3 unneutered adult males, 1 unspayed female, her two kittens who are not spayed (one is definitely a male, one we're not sure), and one neutered male (TNR...he has the clipped ear).

I think it's better for the unneutered ones to be put down (or, ideally, find a home, but I doubt this will happen because they are definitely feral) than to starve, be abused, be in the freezing cold, fight constantly (and they do), and keep making babies. Also, I'm pretty sure the majority of them are FIV+ because the one that I took in tested positive, and the vet said that the whole colony likely is. If someone's pet gets outside and gets in a fight with one of the males, they could transfer the FIV.

So I was happy that he said they were going to try to do this. But after about a month of not seeing any traps anywhere, I figured that he was probably lying in order to get me to stop feeding them. So I started again. It broke my heart how they come on my porch and just stare at us, wanting food . I tried to only keep the food out at night when people couldn't see, but sometimes I forget to take it in.

So today we got another strongly worded note on our door about not feeding the cats. It just pisses me off. This is just part of the problems we've had with this complex, and I'll be so glad to move. But in the meantime, it will be really hard not to feed them when they come and cry at the door. And even harder to get my husband to not feed them.

I really feel that the cats are their responsibility to deal with. It's their complex. Do they really think that we can starve the cats out of here? They'll find food somewhere. And someone is always going to feed them. There are hundreds of people in this complex.

I've tried to catch the male kitten who I think could be tamed, but he's too skittish to get close. I've also thought of taking in the neutered male, but I can't really afford to have another cat myself, and it would be nearly impossible to find a home for a FIV positive cat who will need some patience (he's friendly and allows you to pet him, but he's fearful, too).


So this just sucks . There are no good solutions, though I do think I will send the manager an email that says "I will stop feeding them, but you need to start trapping them".
My husband is also entertaining revenge fantasies about going on an apartment review site after we move out, and say that we would've liked the apartment if it wasn't for the terrible bedbug problem they have in this complex .

I wouldn't send back anything snarky, just because he might feel you threatened his tiny bit of power as complex manager and he might decide to do something more drastic. This action would most likely be taken against the cats as well.

My apologies if you've addressed this in a previous post, but are there any TNR groups in your area that you could turn to for help and advice? (I'm thinking that there are if one of your ferals has a clipped ear.) In addition to TNRing, they also work to educate people like your complex manager about feral cats.

You and your husband are wonderful to be caring for these cats and you can't just stop feeding them. What a terrible situation for these cats. I sure hope he doesn't go so far as to try to poison them. First, call a local TNR group and get some help. You could borrow a trap and might be able to trap those kittens. Atbthe very least, the organization can help you by giving you traps and maybe a place to take them. Since they won't be cared for after you move, they need to get out of there. Are there others in the complex that could assist you in trapping and helping tame or relocate to a rescue?? My fear is that as soon as you move they won't know where you are and something bad might happen to them if there are no other caretakers in that complex. There are probably more cats too around that complex. It sounds like the manager is not serious about trapping if you haven't seen traps. He figures if you stop feeding they will go away. I hate hearing stories like this and I get grief from my neighbors too, but I own my home and it is my property. You are renting and at the mercy of the landlord rules. Contact a feral rescue and get some help for these poor cats.

I had this problem here at my complex back in 2005 and I admit it was my heart not my head that got me into it. I started feeding three, which soon became seven, which before winter came was 14. It was out of control and when I got a good look at them they were clearly very sick and aggressive cats. When I got yelled at I realized I had to stop after six months. I could not save all animals, especially since people still dont spay and neuter in this day and age.

Are you two trapping and sterilizing them? (sorry, I don't remember. ). If not... are there low cost spay/neuter programs where you are? Is TNRing them an option? Then you might be able to address the feeding question by the complex manager with information on why you need to feed them. They are community cats, after all, and by not feeding them, the problem doesn't just go away. But by sterilizing them, they lose the hormones that make them fight, the FIV is no longer really a problem (it is deep tissue bite wounds that pass it along), and it stems the flow of kittens.

There are plenty of resources to help you talk to the complex manager if you'd like links, just let us know.

As to feeding them with no plans to spay/neuter... this is a good thread: http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=225977

Can I please say, and please do not take any offense. I wish people would not just feed the stray cats, but trap them as well. If we all just kept feeding and no trapping then they are going to multiply and keep multiplying and never leave the territory because people are feeding them and you will end up with ALOT of cats/kittens and many will be sick too. If and when you see a stray cat roaming and you are able to start feeding and certainly start petting it, please get to a vet to be fixed. There are TONS of low cost programs and many TNR programs offered in many counties everywhere. I know it is alot to take on, but the cats won't go away and just feeding them and not neutering, you are actually adding to the problem of more feral kittens. Do you know what I mean?? Just wanted to add that. So pass the word, FEED/TRAP/NEUTER and then KEEP /OR RETURN. Thank you

We aren't trapping and neutering them ourselves, and we can't afford to do it, unfortunately. The manager actually said that he has a few ferals that he took in himself. He isn't really a jerk, but I do think that he isn't doing what he should for these cats. He also would not be supportive about the idea of TNR because he just wants them out of the complex.

I doubt that any rescue organization could or would take them, but I will try. I did talk to one lady in the area who does cat rescue and she felt it would be nearly impossible to get people to take them .

I do realize that it's best to stop feeding the unneutered ones. I do worry that if we stop feeding, the ones that sleep in the box on my porch(mother and two kittens) will start going elsewhere, and there are some sickos out there. The cat that I took in has half a tail because someone wrapped a wire hanger around it, causing it to fall off (a neighbor told me about it after I moved in). At least the kittens are big enough now that they can fend for themselves more, and they're not as friendly as the one that I took in, so they're unlikely to get close enough to someone for that to happen.


I just wish there was a perfect solution, but I know there's not. My neighbor told me that several of these cats were house pets that were dumped when people moved .

(Also- there are definitely other people who have been feeding the cats, but the last time I talked to the manager, he mentioned that the grounds crew was going around and making a note of everyone who had food on their porches . So maybe they've gotten notes, too, and will stop feeding as well).

Why not try organzing a condo meeting of people who want to deal with the cats? Why should you have to foot the bill yourselves? Perhaps others could chip in. Have you searched for any TNR groups around you? Low cost spay/neuter places? There may be orgs that can help. Some areas have free low-cost spay neuters - or if it can be managed on certain dates it's free.....

If others are feeding, maybe between all of you, funding, trapping & transport could be coordinated. There are legitimate arguments for keeping the cats (sterilized) around - we can get you links to literature to print out to help educate the condo manager. And people are going to continue to abandon the cats -I'm sure he knows that.

Where are you located? You can either PM a zip code and the name of the town, state or just post a city, state or county & state here. Happy to help do some searching.