crazy cat lady?

I have a different question...Does anyone else feel like this:  why is it that caring for cats gets a bad rap?  Why is there the stereotype of being a crazy cat lady?

I am feeding and trying to care for 6 feral cats.  I live in a subdivision and the houses are pretty close to each other.  My neighbors do not like cats so I feel like they give me evil looks when they see me (maybe just me being paranoid).  But I can't help it..... I feel so sorry for these cats and want to help them.  I look at the cats and feel like "how can anyone not love them and want to help them?"  I am currently letting 3 of the cats stay in my attached garage instead of using the garage for my car.  I know feral cats are survivors of the outside elements but I want them to be as comfortable as possible and can't stand the thoughts of them in the freezing cold and rain!  I put a heavy plastic dog house (with cedar shavings inside) but the cats that are still outside are not using it.  I don't know what else to do to get them to go in it.  I thought about putting it in the wooded area where they seem to go often instead of beside my house where it is right now.

Thanks for any thoughts!  I love all my kitties!

Yep, know the feeling. We live in an RV, and other people living here are "dog people." We've had the chat with all of them - the cats were here, they are not our pets. Our pets are inside only. We simply put in a system of feeding and trapping to prevent them from having more litters of kittens, to stop the breeding so they don't multiply exponentially. We point out the cats aren't spraying and fighting, which is what they'd be facing if we weren't doing this, so they can thank us for the lack of cat pee smell around their home. But we really don't care what they think - we do have the park's permission to do this.

As to the shelters - we use Feliway spray, catnip, and catnip spray to help entice them.

Feral cats generally prefer a shelter that has an entrance and an exit. Something like the igloo will make them feel trapped. But if you take out the cedar chips and put in straw instead, they may use it. The smell of cedar is not attractive to them.

Nested large totes with insulation between the two boxes with holes cut into them on either side (and straw inside) is also a great shelter. We have a number of those set up. Here is a long list of ideas! http://www.alleycat.org/ShelterGallery

i know what you are saying, but think about how it is for me, a "crazy cat guy". when people hear how much i love cats i often get the "you're gay" type of thing (i'm not - but as seinfeld said "not that there's anything wrong with that :lol3 i sort of think that for some reason the fact that i do some tnr and am a caretaker do not give people that idea, sort of like doing this kind of thing is more "macho" than just loving cats :dk: either way, i love em all - socialized or not. as i like to say, the more cats i meet, the less i like most people.

I think of 'crazy cat lady' as a positive phrase.

Minka said:

I think of 'crazy cat lady' as a positive phrase.

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yup, that is exactly how i look at it - "crazy cat guy/lady" = +1. everybody else = -1 :lol3:

I love cats. My grandson calls me the cat lady cause that is all I think about. The abuse cats on TV, cats in a pet store,cats outside my grandson thinks I'm crazy. I only have Bella and Thunder but if I could I would probably get maybe 1 more cat that was a Persian. I know in 1 of my other posts I said I wouldn't go over 2 cats but after seeing a Persian in a magazine I would like one.

dejolane

Thanks for your advice!  I will try to get some straw.  I will have to look into making the insulated shelters with the plastic storage boxes.  Those look ideal if I can just get them to go into it! 

Well, we invested in a Feral Villa in 2008. Someone used it here and there last year. :lol3: THIS year, however, one of our ferals has FINALLY decided to take up residence.

Whaler - I think it's great that you care about cats!  And I understand the stereotype, although I don't feel that way about guys that like cats.

I just get tired of cat colonies (and their caregivers) getting a bad rap!

Sorry you have this issue with something you are passionate about.  That can be difficult at times, I think.

LDG said:

Well, we invested in a Feral Villa in 2008. Someone used it here and there last year. :lol3: THIS year, however, one of our ferals has FINALLY decided to take up residence.

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the feral villas are very nice, i have four of them and i donated one to my animal control officer to use at a different colony in town.

i have found that they are not ideal for very large cats. while my biggest cat does seem to be able to fit in it he does not seem to like it, i guess that he feels a little too "snug". keep in mind though that he is a VERY large cat.

rebecca cats said:

Thanks for your advice!  I will try to get some straw.  I will have to look into making the insulated shelters with the plastic storage boxes.  Those look ideal if I can just get them to go into it! 

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one thing that i recommend doing with that style of shelter is to create an awning for the doorway so rain and snow do not get into the shelter. or, if possible put the shelter inside a covered area - that is what i did with the ones that i have. i made some 3' x 2' x 2' cubes, there are three walls a floor and a roof. i tucked the shelter inside and placed the cubes on pallets with the open sides facing each other about 18" apart. i then covered that 18" gap with pallets and a tarp - gives them a sort of foyer where they can stretch out while it keeps rain and snow from getting into the tubs.

rebecca cats said:

Whaler - I think it's great that you care about cats!  And I understand the stereotype, although I don't feel that way about guys that like cats.
I just get tired of cat colonies (and their caregivers) getting a bad rap!
Sorry you have this issue with something you are passionate about.  That can be difficult at times, I think.

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thanks for the kind words.

i really believe that it is important to try and educate others - people that don't have a clue what tnr is all about - about the facts, especially since there is so much pseudo science and blatant lies being presented as facts from the anti tnr zealots. i have found that for the most part once people hear the truth about it they look at tnr, and caregivers, in a different light.