To be pushy or not to be pushy (TNR issues)

I've got a bit of a situation and I could use some advice on how to handle it. A few weeks ago I came across a colony of about 15+ cats in an industrial park near me. A man I spoke to there told me that nobody was caring for them but after feeding them for just a few days I found out that that was not the case. In fact several people are caring for the cats. One man in particular seems to be "in charge", for lack of a better word, of them and is the one that feeds them for the most part. He owns one of the businesses where the cats stay. He told me that he has rehomed some of the cats and have been TNRing them. He had even bought a bunch of traps to do it and some big cages for the cats to recuperate at his warehouse after they've been fixed.

He's done a pretty good job. However, apparently all of the cats that have been fixed were fixed last year. None of the cats have been trapped and fixed this year and at least three litters have been born this year although it looks like several kittens have died. The guy told me that the issue with getting them fixed was time. Nobody had had time to get them to the vet this year and it doesn't look like they are going to any time soon. There are about 15 cats there and of those only about 4 are fixed. I take it that the other cats that were fixed last year were taken in and put up for adoption.

I hate to see this colony grow and more kittens die so I told the guy that I would be happy to help him to trap the cats and get them to and from the vet. I could even keep them with me while recuperating but he said that he can do that. At first he seemed like he wanted to take me up on it but for some reason he seems to have changed his mind. I gave him my number to call me when it would be a good time to start trapping but I didn't hear from him. Last weekend I called him and told him that I was taking a kitten to the spay/neuter clinic and could take some of his at the same time but he thought it was too short notice and would call me back later. I haven't heard from him.

He's done a pretty good job with the cats and since he's in charge over these guys I don't want to come in and start messing around with his cats. I don't want to step on his toes. But I also really want the cats to be fixed. I have a strong feeling that I'm not going to hear from him so unless I take the initiative the cats are probably not going to get fixed.
I think this guy resents a stranger coming in and interfering with his colony. I also think that he didn't like it when I told him that I wanted to take an 8 week old kitten and place him for adoption. For some reason he didn't want that. These are the reasons why I think he changed his mind about having me help him to TNR the cats.
I'm not sure of how to handle it. Should I be a bit pushy and keep calling him until he agrees to start trapping? Or should I wait a bit longer and hope that he comes around? If he doesn't cooperate should I just go over there and start trapping myself? Any suggestions?

Thanks for reading this long post I wanted to be sure to include all the info.

I'd swing by there to chat with him. I can understand he doesn't like feeling like he's losing control... but the issue, in the end, is what's best for the cats. Given he seemed receptive at first, but now isn't returning calls, I think chatting in person is probably the best bet. Just focus on the positive, how it was so great to find out someone WAS caring for the cats, and given the time and resources, he's done such a great job, but you know time's been a problem this year, so if it's OK with him, you'd like to start trapping, given his time constraints, &etc.

This is a tough call because isn't it his property ??? His business property... He seems to definitely care about the cats which is great to hear and also a bit rare . Most times you would just get "SURE, come and take all the cats if you want!!!!" At least he has tried to find homes for them as well. I would agree with Laurie and try a positive approach saying that you just want to help get them fixed so no more kittens will be born. Tell him that it is also rare to have such a person as yourself come along to offer assistance if he would allow it. The cats are what you and he both care about and getting them fixed is the number one priority. The cats would be returned to him and the quicker you can get them all done the breeding will cease and no more kittens!!

You really are very, very kind to volunteer your time and effort on behalf of these kitties!! I hope this guy can see that, he is lucky that you came along IMHO . Keep trying..... that's all you can do.

I'd also remind/mention/inform him about the benefits of TNRing. "It's for the health and happiness of the cats", etc.
He seems a bit TOO attached to the cats and his role, if you know what I mean....

could this be a possible hoarding situation? Perhaps he was just trying to pacify you at first. I hope not, I hope he genuinely wants to help the cats... good luck with your efforts!!

Hoarding was one of my first thoughts, too. I was listening to an NPR program about animal hoarding. The expert on animal hoarding/psychology. suggested that when dealing with a possible hoarding situation, you should emphasize to the hoarder that "I know you want the best for your pets, and TNRing/giving the animals to [animal control/cat sanctuary] is the best thing for your furballs." Don't blame/accuse/threaten the hoarder; emphasize the animals' welfare.
Good luck.

I've never really heard of people hoarding animals! How does that work? How sad...

When I first read this I thought that he sounded attached to the cats...which for me would be normal, I mean, he sees the cats like every day, right?

I'm interested to know how this story ends.

I can't answer for Ziggy'smom, but I do not believe this is a hoarding situation at all. This is a place of business and this is a colony of feral cats breeding. If you don't sterilize all of the cats, then kittens will still be born. Cats can start breeding as young as four to five months .

More good luck vibes in our efforts to communicate with this man. :v ibes:

No, this is not a hoarding situation. The cats are not his. They are all feral cats that live in an industrial park. They live behind one business and this guy owns a business down the street so they are not even on his property. I think the problem is partly that he is attached to them. That's pretty clear. He has names for all of them and knows the story of each one. But I also think that he doesn't like someone just coming in taking over his job. People don't like being told what to do and I think that when I spoke to him at the warehouse I may have come across as too authoritative in my attempts to educate him. I think he may have thought that I was talking down to him. I don't know. It's just speculation.

I haven't called him yet. I want to wait until the weekend to give him a chance to call me but if he doesn't I'll call him to set up a time to trap the cats. I have a strong feeling that he will come up with some excuse why not to do it though. I'm going to try to work with him but if he keeps coming up with excuses I will just ask for permission to trap on the neighbor's property and do it myself. The cats have to be fixed before the spring and I hate to do it when it's cold outside.
I really prefer to work with the guy though. He has a number of traps I could use, he also has large cages for the cats to recover in and he initially offered to pay for it which would be extremely helpful. Fixing all the cats will cost up to $300. It's also best for the cats if he's on board with everything since he's their caretaker.

I'll let you guys know what happens.