Man threatens to kill cats

My friend and I have been feeding, a feral cat colony of 19 at a junk yard, with the permission of owner, but he recently died. We have gone there everyday for 3 years. The cats all have been fixed and had shots. They are very healthy and all wait for us and eat together. We have an enclosure that is nice under a trailer. The man is a neighbor who has three huge dogs and is complaining that the cats are always in his yard. I can't understand that as cats are usually afraid of dogs, especially ferals. He is threatening to have a dog catcher get them or he will get rid of them himself. We are at a loss as to what to do. I have had posters up at different location for years and of course in stores, it seems no one is really interested. I really need some help as to what to do. We can pet some and they wait for us, and are very sweet. I really could use suggestion as to how to save them. If you can help with some ideas, that would be super. Thanks in advance.
Ruth

Oh how HORRIBLE!

I'm going to send you a private message, so when you're back on, please check your private message mailbox!

Hi Ruth...that's B.S. he can't just throw out threats that he's going to kill the cats. There are animal abuse laws in most states and it is a felony to kill or abuse an animal. What if someone threaten to kill his dogs how would that make him feel!? But arguing is beside the point because he sounds like the type of person who bullies people until he gets his way. You're doing a wonderful thing taking care of these ferals! What about contacting the media or getting some animal rescues who help with TNR to support you? I never have taken care of a feral colony myself just trapped some socialized and found them homes so not sure how you should approach this? I know there is one feral colony in my area that is protected by the state. I wish all could be and people would realize how beneficial feral colonies are to the community. Do you have a local humane society that could help you who TNR's? I know all do not but the bigger organizations seem to get the most attention...

I would like to get my hands on that guy. But Judy is right, arguing will only fuel his intention to kill. Who did the TNRs, what organization? I would contact them immediately and see about relocation and report this man to the authorities. Even though it is risky to relocate ferals because they might not stick around in the new territory, it is better than the fate they will have where they are now. This guy sounds cruel and probably will follow through with his threats. I am hoping you were able to get a PM to LDG, as she has many good resources in this kind of situation . You are a saint to care for these cats for the last three years and there has to be some law against this kind of intended animal cruelty. for all of these cats that the can be rescued.

Having experienced a cat being shot & killed by a neighbor. I agree it is a felony in many states to shoot a domestic animal. That being said the chances one gets convicted of this felony is low. Convicted of a misdemeanor yes. In my state for instance a felony conviction means loss of the right to possess firearms among other rights.

I would try to get the media involved as this man would not appreciate any attention drawn to your situation.

What little I know about human psychology is that if it would be possible to get this man to take part with regular feeding for one week, he would most likely change his opinion.

It is very easy to hate something one don't know, but when one knows and learns from experience hate is often gone, he probably has no real knownledge of cats and has misguided images in his head about cats, when he would see what cats truly are alike he might understand bit better.

Also if that is not going to be possible, giving him few bottles of lemon juice might help as lemon keeps cats away, one just needs to spray it where cats can access his yard and that should help to achieve something he wants and giving could act as gesture smoothing relationship so that he can make himself to agree not to harm cats.

Of course one can fight and keep tightly hold on own rights, but sometimes softer approach works better, I would not hesitate to feed the law to him if none of softer and co-productive methods are not fruitful.

Key is however that he gets something, or feels like he gets something, let that be just experiencing how nice cats actually can be, that is not so improtant what it is, but as mind works as it works, that usually opens to way for better co-existence.

Certainly I would not start with aggressive tactics, no matter how nasty or intolerable man would be, it can well be reason for that lies completely elsewhere than in cats.

One could ask him to be part of feeding schedule by asking him to come and see if he can spot cats that has been on his yard for example, he is probably not wanting to come to feed the cats, but after he has came it is easier to start exposing him a bit to feline world, chances are that he can't spot cats he has seen on his yard, it can be that on his yard those are different cats visiting all together.

I hope that situation can be solved in constructive manner, it would be so much better for all the parties involved.

Sbd, please PM me your contact information via private message ASAP. An animal law professor that works with several rescue groups in the Philly area (hope that's where you are, though may be able to help anyway) wants to contact you.

My only concern is being the owner died, you dont actually own the lot or have permission to go on it, hence, the cats on the lot arent your property, they belong to the town. So feeding them might be breaking the law, if that is not "legally" your property. Looks up the laws. By me you cannot harm a cat its against the law, some states though dont have this is effect. Check the laws and call a local shelter or aspca for questions mabye and explain the situation. If you have vet paperwork on the cats, perhaps you could say you legally own them if caring for them for so long?

The cats may go in is yard at night, i've seen cats run through dog owners yards when the dog is not there.

Hi,
Even though the owner died, we still have permission through his wife, his son and brother equally share in the ownership. I do have all the paperwork for the cats. I wished we could find homes, been trying for three years, no luck. I was thinking on the line of getting TV or newspaper interested, but in one way you never know what other nut cases are out there to abuse animals. Meaning I hate to draw too much attention. These cats have been there and we never had other complaints, I can't understand why he waited until now. I guess we will never know. I will be called some other places and hopefully get some real help. Thanks, Ruth

sbd, if you are in the Philly area, I have REAL HELP. PLEASE SEND ME YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION! Click on the Private Messages link (in blue) in the upper right hand corner of the screen, underneath where it says "Welcome, sbd45" in bold black letters.

Or click on my username, and choose "send private message."

Thanks for contacting me. The professor I mentioned might still be able to help, so if you could send your email, I'd like to pass it on to him.

When I am relocating ferals or shy tame strays, I put an ad out that says "free spayed and neutered barn cats, great mousers". I don't know if it is because I live in a rural area that this helps, but I get a lot of calls. I do interview them and some just don't make the cut, but I get a lot of people who are looking for barn cats and don't want the commitment of an indoor cat but really want help with the mousing problem. If you have a paper that does free ads it is worth a try.

sbd - I am still thinking of you and this situation and sending mega vibes your way for these cats. I am glad you posted about this and with LDG's contacts (a giant to you Laurie) hopefully you can get some assistance with all of these cats and keep them safe.