I hope I am doing the right thing.

About two months ago,  I was asked if I would take over a colony of cats.  The caretaker was moving and the cats lived in her yard.  They were all trapped and spayed/neutered.  They ranged in ages.  I immediately brought in the four youngest kittens, they were about 3 to 4 months old.  Within the next few weeks, I started to bring in the older kittens, they are about 6 to 7 months old.  I have 3 of them and am hoping to bring the remaining kitten next weekend.

Three of the younger kittens have been adopted and are doing really well.  That leaves 2 older females at the house with the older kitten.  I go everyday to feed and check on them.  Another male showed up about 3 weeks ago,  he has been trapped and instead of releasing him, I have him in a room at my husband's business and am hoping he will adjust and be able to stay there. He was food aggressive with the cats  and they were nervous with him around.

The older kittens are doing well. Two of the three are letting me pet them now and one of them has a great home to go to when he is ready.

At first I was so overwhelmed at taking these cats and bringing them inside.  I was worried someone would buy the home and not want cats there and call animal control.  I was already at my limit for cats here at my house, but I did what I thought was best.

I have the colony cats in a spare bedroom at my house.  It is a nice sized bedroom,  twin beds to hide and sleep under, room to play, a large window with a bird feeder attached.  I go in several times a day when I am not working, and I am in there every evening playing and interacting with them.  I cannot help but feeling so guilty about keeping them in the bedroom.  I really do not think my resident cats would adjust well to them.  They are still shy but are progressing.  I am going to be very particular about who gets to adopt them.  So they will stay with me as long as necessary. But I am so worried about them just living in one room.  Will this affect them in a bad way?

As long as you dont break down your own backbone...  You are doing marvellously well!
 

KRZ said:

they will stay with me as long as necessary. But I am so worried about them just living in one room.  Will this affect them in a bad way?

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Lets compare.  Many shelters are like that. And you are surely better than most of these shelters. Working actively on and with them. Working actively for finding good homes.  You are apparently very succesful with finding good homes!  THIS is often the big deal for rescuers and shelters...

You could probably build in something in 3D.  Use some planks, so they can climb around up in the air....  It doesnt need to be really sturdy.  Cats arent heavy. Although it shouldnt be too fragile. They may jump in between, there is some force when they do land.

And also have some resting places up and above...

This way they will have it extra excellent, even if they are several in one room.

Good luck!   *vibes*

Confining them to a smaller space is actually good for ferals. It allows them to hear and smell all the new thugs while giving them a safe place. A big house can be scary. They will be fine.

We have a former feral that still chooses to spend 80% of her day in a single room. She can still become easily overwhelmed out in the main house.

AWWWW hun Those kitties WILL be just fine in that room for as long as it takes - months.... or more. Please do not feel guilty for confining them that way. NO, don't do that to yourself. Many cats live their lives out in a shelter cage - much worse. They have a HOME - and you are caring for them, they are safe and sound inside, with great food and lots of love. I honestly could think of a lot worse places those cats could be. BLESS YOU for what you are doing. Rest assured - this IS the right place and the right thing to do for these kitties. I have kept a feral cat confined to one room for many, many months before I found a good home. This cat LOVED his room. AND your cats LOVE their room. They would not feel safe having a big, huge area anyway. Much better this way for them. I hope this made you feel better about the situation. :heart3:

What you are doing with them is amazing!

If they could speak to you they would be telling you how much safer they feel, warmer and full. They are grateful, believe this.

Any cats who are not adoptable are acclimating to your house, so after a month or so, you will know who's who and if you want, let them back outside, you will find they don't live at the neighbor's anymore, but will become your new outside residents.

Very kind person you are

God bless you.

Thank you all so much for the encouragement and kind words.  It is very much appreciated.  I have stressed over these kitties and their well being.   Leaving all of them outside was just not an option, especially with winter coming.   I am really relieved everyone feels they are okay in the spare bedroom,  I have just felt so guilty over it.  I do love going in and spending time with them.  What a great feeling when I go in and they come and greet me!  For the first month they hid under the bed.

I am hoping to bring another older kitten in this week,  my friend's drop trap has been in use but is now free to use.  That will leave 2 at their original place, but my dream is to eventually bring them here too.  I will be picking everyone's brain with some ideas and advice for outside enclosures.   That way, I will know they are all safe with the exception of the male.  He was trapped, neutered and released.  I have only seen him once or twice.  He is very strong and healthy looking,  I am hoping he is someone's pet and just came around on occasion.

Thanks again for the encouraging words.

An outdoor enclosure would be SO great to have.... I have always dreamed of building one too. There are a few members who have some great enclosures....and I think some pictures too.

Good luck with the new older kitten :cross:. You have a great plan in progress with these cat's...you are doing the best you can....and IMO your best IS the best Oh very typical of the older TNRd males to come and go. They sure do seem to know how to survive and stay safe. Who knows where they go off to, and sometimes I wonder if they had a home at one time too. At least now, they can't breed. So many irresponsible cat owners out there :shame: Keep us updated on your successes

Thank you again!  I am planning to catch the older kitten this Saturday.  Praying that I get her.  I think she would transition inside very well, she comes very close to me when I go to feed, and meows and rolls on her back.  Won't she be surprised to see her litter mates again?

I am so excited that 2 of the 3 older kittens are letting me pet them, they are actually coming to me instead of me approaching them.  One is such a shy calico, just so sweet and demure.  For months she has just watched me, but always outside of arm's length.  This morning she came to me, arched her back, and let me pet her all over.  What a break through for her!   And of course, the guilt returns that she is living in one room.   But hopefully she will continue to become more social and I will find her the perfect home.

The outdoor enclosure I am hoping to build will mainly be for the two remaining cats at the house.  I spoke with the real estate agent, she wasn't happy with my feeding station or shelters there at all.  I explained that I "inherited" the cats,  only met the caretaker a few days before she moved across the country, and that there were originally 11 cats there and now are only 3.   She wants them all gone as she said it will be difficult to sell with the cats there.  I explained I am doing the best that I can, with the cats' welfare first on my mind,  and I think she understood.  But I think the sooner I can get the enclosure built and the cats relocated, the better.   They will just stay with me, no worries about trying to find them homes, and perhaps they will become more social with time.

I really hope the real estate agent DID understand that you are doing such a charitable deed for these cats AND the potential buyer's of that house - because there won't be any feral cats roaming around living on the property. The agent will just have to be patient and if she is showing the house then she can explain the situation to the potential's. I am sure that last kitten will be very, very happy to see her littermates . Rolling on the ground is a very trusting sign too - great progress there .

IF you have to relocate those last three cats sooner than you can build the enclosure. They could potentially live in large dog crates until the enclosure is finished. Probably would be difficult because I am sure you don't have three large dog crates..:lol3: Using the crates is also important when relocating feral cats - so they will learn to feel safe in the new territory and not run off and get lost. Sometimes they must stay crated for a couple of weeks so that when you release them they stick around. Can be very tricky because some will just run off and try to find the old territory . That is where the enclosure will come in play - and be a very safe new home for them. Hope this all goes smoothly for you :cross:

KRZ said:

 the guilt returns that she is living in one room.   But hopefully she will continue to become more social and I will find her the perfect home.

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there is one big plus with such a enclosure of the fostered ex semiferales.  This you you can guarantee the new owner they will be OK and even happy as indoor only cats.

It will also be OK if the new owner has only a small flat... 

KRZ said:

  I spoke with the real estate agent, she wasn't happy with my feeding station or shelters there at all.  I explained that I "inherited" the cats,  only met the caretaker a few days before she moved across the country, and that there were originally 11 cats there and now are only 3.   She wants them all gone as she said it will be difficult to sell with the cats there.  I explained I am doing the best that I can, with the cats' welfare first on my mind,  and I think she understood.  But I think the sooner I can get the enclosure built and the cats relocated, the better.

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Cant you try to get this real estate agent to help you financially with making this enclosure / buying the tre extra dog cages as Feralvr suggests?

A soon solution is in their interests. And if it is a positive solution is ALSO in their interests, they can use it as a nice anecdote making PR for their firm.

I mean, if they want to be mean and quick, they can hire some thug who chases away the cats. Or disposes them some other way...  (like in the horror story of the 3 indoor cats whose owner died. The Janitor "solved" the problem just by opening the door and schasing them away...).

So, you dont want them make a evil solution.

But it is in their own interest there is a good, positive solution, especielly as it doesnt cost them more then a handful dollars.  Dollar which they may even let the new buyer pay, if they can present a good enough story.

I am fairly certain the real estate agent or her employers will not in any way be helping.  She was not happy at all about the cats being there,  but did understand when I explained to her the owner was the one responsible for having the cats there in the first place.  I have tried to keep in contact with the owner/caretaker to let her know how the cats are doing and to ask if there is any activity on the sale of the house.

It is a nice location,  and the cats are safe there,  they seem to stay on the back porch most of the time.  Tomorrow I am getting the last older kitten and bring her in.

If I have to relocate the cats sooner than planned,  if someone buys the house and wants them removed,  I will definitely use the dog crate method.  I have one at my house and my niece has one that I could borrow. 

I have 2 ideas for the outdoor enclosure although I am really leaning toward one of them.  That one would also give them access to inside the house.  I really have to sit and think over this,  and I don't know how much time I will have.  But for now,  the cats all seem to be doing well,  the inside ones and the outside ones.  It is so amazing how attached I have grown to them.  They have been such a blessing to me,  despite the guilt over them being in one room and the worry about finding them forever homes. 

What is the worst that could happen if I can't find them homes?  They stay with me!! 

Well,  I did not get the older kitten.  She just would not go into the drop trap.  I left it there propped up and will try again this week.   It makes me think that it may be very difficult to recatch the 2  remaining cats when that becomes necessary.  I certainly would rather have them here when an enclosure is done, and not have to rush them here because someone bought the house.

I may have to really get active about starting the enclosure.  More decisions to make!

KRZ said:

I am fairly certain the real estate agent or her employers will not in any way be helping.  She was not happy at all about the cats being there,  but did understand when I explained

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 yeah, but cant you phone and ask anyway?  Or are you afraid your question "may awake the sleeping bear"?

I know the money we talk about arent really decisve for you at this moment. It seems you afford. (although they perhaps dont know)  But you are a rescuer, and money dont grows on trees. So the money will come handy sooner or later.

And this way you will give them an opportunity to do a good deed.

If you wish, make it a commercial deal: you will mention them as your sponsor, or something.

You know the buddist monks, going out there with their plates to get some rice, arent not begging at all? They are giving the common people a convenient chance to do a good deed!  

*vibes*

KRZ said:

Well,  I did not get the older kitten.  She just would not go into the drop trap.  I left it there propped up and will try again this week.   It makes me think that it may be very difficult to recatch the 2  remaining cats when that becomes necessary.  I certainly would rather have them here when an enclosure is done, and not have to rush them here because someone bought the house.

I may have to really get active about starting the enclosure.  More decisions to make!

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It is alright You will have better luck next time. The cats will be trapped - just stay positive. And as for the real estate agent, you are doing everything humanly possible to help these cats and there is only so much you will have control over. Just don't let this get to you so much so that you are stressing. In time.... this will work out and these cats will or will not be trapped. BUT you can at least have the satisfaction of knowing you kept on trying. I really DO think the cats will all be able to be trapped and relocated. It is not an easy feat - and takes many tries - just keep on tryin' Hope the enclosure does get started soon :cross: :heart3:

Good news!   The last older kitten has been trapped and is now here with her litter mates!  She is hiding under the bed which I expected.  But she is here, safe and warm.

i also have someone very interested in the last of the youngest kittens.  They have 4 other cats and would love to give her a good home.  They are coming tomorrow to see her.

Now there are 2 cats left at the house, hopefully one day I can bring them here too in my dream enclosure.

I AM SOOOOOOO happy to read your update . SEE....... thing's ARE working out and happening for you. You care SO much for these kitties and things will work out in your favor - in time. Patience and perseverance will get you through little by little. GOOD FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!! Your a cat champion

Continued vibes for the other two cats...... Please keep us posted - WE CARE :heart3: :heart3:

Well the last of the younger kittens will be going to her new home!  The family adopting her are wonderful.  They fell in love with her despite her shyness.  I think  this will be a great home for her.   My concern is getting her into a carrier.  They did not want her traumatized by grabbing her but she was reluctant to go into it.

I don't want to grab her either,  not even sure I could as she is fast.  She eats out of my hand, let's me pet her while she eats and will crawl on me when playing but does not like to be picked up.  I left the carrier in the room with her.  I almost had her inside but she bolted before I could close the door?

Any suggestions?

Is there a treat she really likes"...tuna maybe?  Put that in the back of the carrier and she may well go in on her own.