A feral 2-month kitten showed up in my yard, so I set about catching her. I did, and now she's part of the family. While I was working on this, more kittens came into view. Working with 2 currently (ugh also caught the older sister and mother, and they're not happy). Long story short, there are 4-5 adults, 5 kittens, and 2-3 cats between 6-10 months old, that I've seen, anyway.
I can handle the babies...not afraid of socializing. I do need to T/N/R the older cats (I think one is a semi-feral and probably the cause of the colony explosion), but I can't afford to do it all at once! $50 to rent each trap, $35 for cat disease testing and de-worming all the kittens before I bring them among my kitty family (the rest of the cost for them can be spread out), $35 to spay/neuter/vaccinate all the adults, on top of the food I'm supplying . They're having babies, though, so it needs to be done. How do you do it???? I'm trying to get info on Petsmart charities, which supposedly does FREE spay/neuter for ANY cat for certain towns (mine is listed). It's like pulling teeth getting information or help.
I called an animal welfare place who said they'd catch 'em then work with them, but no way! What happens to the animals if they're not able to socialize, which most-all won't be (they knew I intended to deal with the kittens on my own)? Well, then, she said, we'd try to relocate them to a barn "or something." *smacks forehead* I know some groups euthanize cats that can't be socialized! There is a colony HERE, I don't mind them here, yet she wants to try to socialize and, failing that, "relocate" them, after I told her they are not a nuisance to me? ugh So, I tried to ask if she knew any people who did trapping on their own. Asked the county shelter, too...asked another animal welfare the same question. If I were trapping, and someone asked for help, I would be ready and willing, so I don't understand this secret society at all. If I had help with the trapping, I'd find some way to handle the other costs...somehow.
I've been taking in stray cats for 25 years. This is the first time I've encountered a colony. I guess you can tell I'm a little frustrated. I live in South Jersey, and this is definitely an SOS
Very happy to have found this page! Thank you for any thoughts or advice you may have. Heaven help any kittens that are born this winter...
I can handle the babies...not afraid of socializing. I do need to T/N/R the older cats (I think one is a semi-feral and probably the cause of the colony explosion), but I can't afford to do it all at once! $50 to rent each trap, $35 for cat disease testing and de-worming all the kittens before I bring them among my kitty family (the rest of the cost for them can be spread out), $35 to spay/neuter/vaccinate all the adults, on top of the food I'm supplying . They're having babies, though, so it needs to be done. How do you do it???? I'm trying to get info on Petsmart charities, which supposedly does FREE spay/neuter for ANY cat for certain towns (mine is listed). It's like pulling teeth getting information or help.
I called an animal welfare place who said they'd catch 'em then work with them, but no way! What happens to the animals if they're not able to socialize, which most-all won't be (they knew I intended to deal with the kittens on my own)? Well, then, she said, we'd try to relocate them to a barn "or something." *smacks forehead* I know some groups euthanize cats that can't be socialized! There is a colony HERE, I don't mind them here, yet she wants to try to socialize and, failing that, "relocate" them, after I told her they are not a nuisance to me? ugh So, I tried to ask if she knew any people who did trapping on their own. Asked the county shelter, too...asked another animal welfare the same question. If I were trapping, and someone asked for help, I would be ready and willing, so I don't understand this secret society at all. If I had help with the trapping, I'd find some way to handle the other costs...somehow.
I've been taking in stray cats for 25 years. This is the first time I've encountered a colony. I guess you can tell I'm a little frustrated. I live in South Jersey, and this is definitely an SOS
Very happy to have found this page! Thank you for any thoughts or advice you may have. Heaven help any kittens that are born this winter...
