The feral count....

When we were trapping in February/March this year, this was the final "feral" count at that time. We saw most of them on and off through June... then as the park got busy and summer moved into full swing, the ones we saw regularly whittled down to just four: Baloo, Babygirl, L'il Dot, and Tabby. There's a LOT of natural food available around here, other people in the park may be feeding cats, LOTS of easily available garbage, etc. So when the park closes for the season (this is the last weekend), and weather gets colder, the cats start coming back.

Today marks the return of the first one we haven't seen for months: orange & white boy. He looked clean & healthy!

So here's the TNR'd kitties and their status:

Mommy (gray & white) Last saw her in July.
Stray (Tortitabby, like Spooky) Saw her very rarely over the summer - last time we knew she was here was several months ago.
Babygirl (gray tabby) A regular, still skittish.
L'il Dot (black with a white dot on her chest). A regular - LOVES pets, but friendly only to Gary & me.
Orange & White boy. Not here over the summer - BACK NOW!
Doc ("daughter of Charlie," a classic brown tabby) Not seen all summer.
Cool Kitten (A zig-zaggy brown tabby, male. A sibling of Chum?). Not seen all summer.
Peanutbutter ("PB" for plain brown tabby - another classic tabby, female) She and Grey Cat were here off and on the longest. Saw her here eating after Hurricane Irene, but only for a few days after, then not since.
Tabby (gray tabby female) Not seen all summer
Tabby With the White Feet (gray tabby female) Not seen all summer
Tabby With the White Face (gray tabby female) Not seen all summer
Buff Boy [renamed BALOO] (dilute red male tabby) Must have been dumped, because he became very friendly very fast. He goes on excursion sometimes, but generally lives here with his harem (L'il Dot, Babygirl, Tabby). He likes everybody, and anybody stopping to chat will get their legs headbumped and rubbed LOL. We're trying to find him a home.
Domino (black & white male I thought was a female in heat before LOL). I hope Domino's OK, because we haven't seen him back since we released him last week. Haven't seen Domino since.

Still to go:

The all gray cat (EXACTLY like Bing (Billy's brother)). Happy to report that thanks to a TCS angel, his neuter was paid for - he was trapped. And he and PB were here pretty regularly. Saw him - like PB - after Hurricane Irene for a few days, then not since.

We already know there is at least one cat that needs TNR. Someone reported seeing one up at the garbage - a "red cat with stripes and a white face." As it gets colder, we'll slowly get the "count" of who's still around and how many need fixing.

I fear for Domino and the three tabbies. The "active" colony into summer was:

Mommy
Stray
Orange & White boy
Baloo
Babygirl
L'il Dot
Doc
Cool Kitten
Peanutbutter
The all gray cat

OHHHHH Laurie Just think of ALL of the suffering you and Gary have ceased by TNRing ( ) ALL of those cats. Can you imagine.... good grief..... the amount of cats/kittens if you had not. MAJOR HUGE ENORMOUS accomplishment in the name of saving lives

Isn't it amazing how out of the blue these cats do show up after a disappearance of SO many months. Somehow they just know how to survive. I sometimes wonder about Yogi.... It makes perfect sense that the cats would disappear during the summer at the Park where you live. When I had a horse, I boarded at a busy show facility with horse shows going on almost every weekend. The feral's were NEVER around during horse show days. I never saw any of them. But come Monday morning when all was clear, out they would come looking for a good meal. And then at the end of the show season, ALL of the cats would show up again, even a few who I thought had passed on.

Well - here is my list of feral's in my yard/neighborhood who I have TNRd over the last two years.

#1 - Tortie - TNR last summer. She has since been gone.
#2 - Orange Tomcat - He was so sick and showed up one day out of the blue. Ears were completely closed up and black. Both eyes were glued shut and he was SO full of fluid in his abdomen. I was able to trap him and get him to my TNR vet who diagnosed him with the wet form of FIP. He was humanely euthanized to end his suffering. Poor little man

#3 - Dixie - Mom to kittens - Still lives in my yard.
#4 - Avery - daughter to dixie - socialized and in loving home
#5 - Pixie - daughter to Dixie - socialized and in loving home
#6 - Magilla - daughter to Dixie - socialized and in loving home
#5 - Willow - son to Dixie - lives in my yard
#6 - Yogi - Dad to above??? gone since April 29, Spring
#7 - Boo Boo - son to Dixie - gone since June
#8 - Hokey - TNRd - only shows up periodically - where he lives,
#9 - Wilma - grey tortie (was preggie when spayed ) gone since August

#10 -AND ONE LEFT TO TRAP who is possibly the BIG daddy of all of the above. A short-legged, long-haired, grey tabby Tomcat with HUGE jowels. He ONLY passes through occasionally. Strolls up to the feeding shelter and eats, if there is food left, and then walks on. He NEVER approaches a trap, just passes by and leaves. He never, ever stays in the yard, just strolls through and leaves. I have tried to trap this guy since last December.

These are only the cats in my yard that live in the woods behind my house. There are many other's that I have TNRd over twenty-five years of owning horses. A lot of feral cat's at the barns.....

Great thread, Laurie!!!! Think of ALL the little, tiny baby kittens we have saved from being born to a life of uncertainty, languish, hurt and suffering (unless they find a loving feral caretaker )

Lauren, they do surprise you! Come winter, I REALLY hope you'll be surprised to find several of the wanderers back.

As to the homeless cats saved by TNRing... this is just the past two seasons of TNR! (Mommy, Stray and Orange Boy were last year). I could NOT believe how many females there were in this bunch. When we first started TNRing in the park (before we moved into a house - 4 years later, we moved back into the RV), we TNRd about 40 cats here - and just TWO were female.

There is definitely a breeding female out there we haven't seen, because all those tabby "first winter" kittens/cats turned up this spring, and we'd TNR'd everyone into winter. But there were NO KITTENS here this summer - no new cats at all, in fact. And the cat seen at the garbage was described as an adult. (Perhaps a cat that escaped from someone vacationing here? The office has no reports of a missing cat though).

It'll be interesting to see who turns up over the next few months.

Laurie, Of course, no new cats/kittens . You put a stop to that and hopefully there won't be any abandoned kitties when everyone else leaves the Park. What an incredible feat . It does feel good in our heart knowing what we have accomplished . And I will NEVER stop caring for ferals and fighting for ferals . If people could realize the impact that TNRing just ONE stray or feral cat would have on decreasing the over-population problem, the statistics would be astounding . I try to educate and spread the word to as many people who will listen to "the crazy cat lady"

Forgot to update on Sunday. We came home from wherever we were, and one of the brown tabbies was here eating! I'm not sure who it was - or even if it was a TNRd cat. I just noticed the face looking up as we drove up - and I did a double-take as it wasn't one of the 4 regulars. Then kitty trotted away, so I couldn't see whether it was ear tipped or not.

It was definitely NOT Cool Kitty (zig zaggy pattern) - the bullseye pattern was clear as a bell. But from what I could see kitty's coat looked full, thick and gorgeous.

Another one now to keep you eyes out for . Seems this time of year is common for more feral's to show up looking for a food source for the winter.. Still haven't seen big grey tomcat, Yakky, in many weeks. But I am keeping watch for any new cats and will be ready to trap if they show themselves

"Yakky?" Who? What? Where did he come from? This is news to me. Where did he come from? When did he appear? What does he look like? Have you seen him in the past? Do you think he is related to your others?

I seem to not be keeping up.

Robin

Originally Posted by bastetservant

"Yakky?" Who? What? Where did he come from? This is news to me. Where did he come from? When did he appear? What does he look like? Have you seen him in the past? Do you think he is related to your others?

I seem to not be keeping up.

Robin

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I can barely keep them straight . Yakky has been around since last December, just passes through. Hokey and Yakky look very similar. Hokey hardly ever comes around either anymore . Yakky is a big chunky tomcat with short legs. Long haired grey tabby. I do believe they are all related. He might be the big daddy/grandpa of all of them and Dixie the mom. The worst thing is when
you think the one cat you have been seeing and feeding turns out to be two identical cats

Originally Posted by Feralvr

Another one

now to keep you eyes out for

. Seems this time of year is common for more feral's to show up looking for a food source for the winter.. Still haven't seen big grey tomcat, Yakky, in many weeks. But I am keeping watch for any new cats and will be ready to trap if they show themselves

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I have no doubt that as the weather gets colder, we'll find out who's still here, and who's new.

GUESS WHO just passed through the back yard as I was sitting here posting!!!! HOKEY!!!! I haven't seen him since maybe July!!!! I am SOOOOO happy to see him and he looks good. Thick coat and in good condition. I stepped out on the deck and he looked at me for a bit as I talked to him scolding him how he worried me so. He then sauntered into the woods I DO think the colder weather will soon be bringing a few of my roaming feral's back and who knows if anyone new will show up too. We will see.

A "walk by!"

Definitely saw a brown face eating food this morning. Because of the snow, the bowls were under the deck, but whichever one still had food left had gotten pushed out a little.

LDG said:

A "walk by!"

Definitely saw a brown face eating food this morning. Because of the snow, the bowls were under the deck, but whichever one still had food left had gotten pushed out a little.

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Hopefully the brown face had a tipped ear :cross: :cat: :lol3:. I always panic when I see a "walk-by" and hope to see that tipped ear :nod:

Since November 2010 (right around my birthday) I have trapped and TNRd around 20 to 25 cats.  The vast majority are male.  It all started with Kitten #1, 2 and 3.  Because of the high rate of evictions and foreclosures, the colony is growing.

Off the top of my head here are some of them:

Patches, white cat with black patches, kitten #1, the first member of the colony, April 2010.  Born to feral/stray mother.  Loves to climb and dig.  The only cat that will eat raw bone (I have fed Ritz franknprey, now commercial raw; when fed Frankenprey, the ferals got Ritz' rejects.)

Tuexedo, classic B&W cat, kitten #2.  Kind of shy.  Female.

Braveheart, all black cat, kitten #3.  Like his name, not afraid.  Climbed on my jacket (with me in it) early on.

Several tabby cats with white paws, some of whom I can't get close enough to see if I've TNRd them.  (The kittens were born to a tabby/white paws.) 

Chance:  one of the old timers, seen since around April 2010.  Moves the slowest, rolls on his side sometimes when I come out to feed the bunch.  Strongly prefers dry food.

Greystone:  first observed him in the winter of 2009.  Grey cat with white paws.  Sadly, have not seen him since December 2010.  He introduced several other cats to the colony, kind of giving them his seal of approval and acceptance.
Sandy/Cindy:  Grey and white cat with a strip of white fur on his back.  Buckley/Becky's twin, around since October 2010.  Sweet, rolls on his side a lot when I see him.  Polite.  Introduced by Greystone.

OT for Orange Tabby.  Shy.  Beautiful lines.  Introduced by Greystone.

B&W (black and white cat, spotted), March 2011:  skittish.  Learning to dumpster dive (:

Quill, calico cat.  Joined colony February 2011, pregnant.  Extremely feral--and hungry, but getting less so.  Won't run off when I feed her.

Per Stirpes, tabby with white paws, Quill's son.  Joined colony around March or April 2011.  Playful.  Won't run off when I feed him.

Kimba (white lion):  white cat, rough looking, extremely thin.  Joined colony around September/October 2011.  Has warmed up to me nicely. 

"Persian 1 and Persian 2":  P1 has smooshed in face, classic of that breed; grey/silver.  Infrequent quest beginning around October 2011.  Hope to trap him/her this weekend.  Persion 2 looks identical to P1, but the few times I saw him/her, extremely sick looking.

Precious Girl renamed Precious Boy:  Grey and white cat.  Steals my heart; face looks like Ritz.  Dumped around a month ago by someone who lives in my condo complex.  Extremely friendly.  Older than the other cats.  If it weren't for Ritz' stress-induced FLUTD, I'd consider adopting him.  Learning to dumpster dive (:

"Bob":  looks like Buckley, sighted recently after an absence of six months.

There are four other cats not included, which were retrapped and moved to my friend's home in order to be resocialized.  Princess Leia is now in a Forever Home; Buckley is still MIA (see other posts); Mystique and JD are still "works in progress".

I leave out a trap a day or two before I trap.  And some *(**& stole the trap yesterday!  I sometimes wonder why I bother.  And then I look at Ritz, herself a rescued, dumped cat.  And I know.

WOW Cindy !!!!! You have DONE a fantastic job with trapping feral cats and saving lives :lovegrin: :bigthumb: I am so happy to hear about all of the kitties people have TNRd. Great efforts by ALL :blobpink::blobmul: :bigwink:

Still thinking about Buckley :cross:....... and sending vibes!!!!!!!!!!!! VIBES VIBES VIBES VIBES :cat:

Feralvr said:

WOW Cindy !!!!! You have DONE a fantastic job with trapping feral cats and saving lives :lovegrin: :bigthumb: I am so happy to hear about all of the kitties people have TNRd. Great efforts by ALL :blobpink::blobmul: :bigwink:

Still thinking about Buckley :cross:....... and sending vibes!!!!!!!!!!!! VIBES VIBES VIBES VIBES :cat:

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FABULOUS!!!! ...and I just know some day we'll log on to find out you've posted that Buckley's back. :cross: :nod: :rub:

Sorry to hear about the trap. That really sucks!

Because we will be moving after I retire next fall, I do not feed the occasional stray I see. I usually trap and find them either indoor homes or, as in the case of Vivian this past spring, find farm homes.  There is a quarter acre of woods behind us (between our yard and the lake) and that's usually where they come from.  I've been pretty vigilant about it.

In the last week, I have been shocked to count at least four cats currently living back there.  All are pretty wary - I do not think they were dumped pets. Something tells me they've all been there for awhile.

I know I won't find homes for them all.  I really feel guilty not feeding them (or providing them with some sort of shelter).   I will keep my eyes out for anyone needing help and will provide it of course.  But I so did not want to start something this close to retirement.  I just know I'm going to end up taking them with us. **Sigh**

I plan to TNR them - and anybody else I can trap.  My friend, a seasoned TNRer, says if I neuter/spay them, they can take care of themselves from that point.  I just hate the thoughts of them on their own, though.

I guess I'm trying to keep my options open.  What I am afraid of is that I won't be able to trap them again if we decide to take them when we move. 

Ondine said:

I plan to TNR them - and anybody else I can trap.  My friend, a seasoned TNRer, says if I neuter/spay them, they can take care of themselves from that point.  I just hate the thoughts of them on their own, though.

I guess I'm trying to keep my options open.  What I am afraid of is that I won't be able to trap them again if we decide to take them when we move. 

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Ondine said:

Because we will be moving after I retire next fall, I do not feed the occasional stray I see. I usually trap and find them either indoor homes or, as in the case of Vivian this past spring, find farm homes.  There is a quarter acre of woods behind us (between our yard and the lake) and that's usually where they come from.  I've been pretty vigilant about it.

In the last week, I have been shocked to count at least four cats currently living back there.  All are pretty wary - I do not think they were dumped pets. Something tells me they've all been there for awhile.

I know I won't find homes for them all.  I really feel guilty not feeding them (or providing them with some sort of shelter).   I will keep my eyes out for anyone needing help and will provide it of course.  But I so did not want to start something this close to retirement.  I just know I'm going to end up taking them with us. **Sigh**

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We might be moving too but probably not for a year or so. I would have to take my regular feral's with us. I couldn't leave them, they rely to much on my daily care now. I understand your dilemma totally . It is such a worry when we see more feral's showing up too. Trapping and getting them sterilized is the right thing to do, even if you cannot continue to feed them. You will be saving many more feral born kittens If just getting them TNRd is all you can do for them, that is better than doing nothing and just ignoring them. I know it is hard and takes work , but I would at least try. Good luck and keep us posted

Yeah, I understand the quandry. I do think it's best just to TNR them and not feed them. I KNOW it's heart breaking, but it's in their best interest right now.

The brown tabby showed up this morning. Got a good enough look to see it is NOT ear tipped! Couldn't see its rear - but I suspect it's male for two reasons. 1) It's definitely not a kitten from this summer, it's older - and if a female had been around, kttens would have turned up this summer, and 2) it has a big, fat head and is very "jowly." :lol3: Looks very much like Chum, in fact.

LDG said:

The brown tabby showed up this morning. Got a good enough look to see it is NOT ear tipped! Couldn't see its rear - but I suspect it's male for two reasons. 1) It's definitely not a kitten from this summer, it's older - and if a female had been around, kttens would have turned up this summer, and 2) it has a big, fat head and is very "jowly." :lol3: Looks very much like Chum, in fact.

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Probably IS a bro to Chunky Monkey Chum !!!! Seems to me most of the feral's that I have trapped are all related and have the same family genes. :cross: for another successful ( L&G ) trapping