Feral Cat Colony

junkyarddog1

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I take care of a feral cat colony I discovered living in a wrecking/junk yard.  I would imagine this colony has been around for 30 or 40 years, ever since the first person decided they didn't want their cat and threw it over the wrecking yard fence.  I have been taking care of this colony for over 4 years and have trapped over 70 cats and with the help of a local non-profit, they get spayed/neutered and get rabies shots.  Another local non-profit gives me 200 to 300 lbs of wet and dry food every 4 to 5 weeks as needed.  I have 6 wooden troughs for feeding stations that a friend of mine built..  I have tried to use metal pots for the water and extra food at the stations.  I have one feral, Stubby (we think he lost half his tail to frostbite as a kitten) that gets bad chin acne so I try to stay away from plastic.  Although, in the winter there is not much choice other than using heated water bowls which are plastic.  Stubby was born to feral parents so he was definitely wild when I met him at 10 months.  I can now pick him up (not cuddling) from the ground to put him on a table so I can brush him and love him.

I have domesticated 20 cats, some adults and some kittens and placed them in good loving homes.  I have been working on domesticating 5 more for the last year and a half.  I do my domesticating with Black Forest ham or, better yet, with chickens I roast over the holidays just for them.  I used to make turkey for special occasions until it dawned on me that with cooking 2 chickens, I can leave more body parts for those cats I have TNRed but won't come out for me.  I know they are always watching my interaction with the other cats.

The trick, that works for me, is eventually getting the cats to take the ham from my fingers.  After a couple of weeks being so close to me, I drop the ham at my feet and when their heads go down to get it, I get in that first pet.  They are scared and skittish but eventually realize how good it feels to be petted.  I know the cats I can try this with because they are rubbing their bodies and heads against anything when I talk to them.  They all know their names, by the way, and they all meow at me even if they don't rub their heads against anything.  Those cats that don't rub their heads, I know I will never be able to touch, but it's important that they come to me when called so I can see if they have any wounds, etc.  Also, the meowing is important because I can see the color of their gums to monitor their health.  I love seeing bright pink gums.  Seeing the color and shine of their coats in the sun is another simple and rudimentary way to monitor their health.

Lastly, I have to mention my shining star Chocky.  He is a Chocolate point Himalayan, was born at the yard and was about 3 years old when I met him.  He was the first cat I touched at the wrecking yard.  There is a big yellow school bus that has been dedicated to the cats and Chocky would stay under the bus while I talked to him.  I thought he would put out an eye rubbing his head so hard on whatever he could.  I sat on the ground at the back of the bus and put my hand thru the back steps hoping he would rub on me.  I did this 5 days a week for about a month and a half.  Finally, HE DID!  I started crying it was so miraculous.  Now I belong to him.  His beautiful coat never gets tangles because he lets me "go to town" with the brush.  If I walk out into the yard, he trots along beside me and if he thinks there is danger, he will get right in front of my feet to stop me, almost causing me to fall.

Other than being the primary care giver to my mom before she died, taking care of this colony is the most fulfilling and rewarding thing I have ever done.  I never get cabin fever in the winter because if the cats will come out to me in a blizzard, I will be out for them. 

Now, all of this makes me the "wrecking yard cat lady" around town.  I volunteer at spay/neuter clinics in recovery because I've been tagged so many times that I'm kind of immune to the poison in their claws and teeth.

lisa
 

vball91

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What an angel you are for taking care of these cats! It sounds like you have the magic touch and a lot of patience with these cats. It is great to hear how well they respond to you.
 

nurseangel

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I agree with Vball91.  You are such a blessing to these cats, and I hope you are blessed in turn.  Welcome to TCS! 
 
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junkyarddog1

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Hi there,

I am so blessed.  I get 13 feral animals to come to me when called by name and they meow at me, roll around on the ground for me and let me touch them!  How blessed can one person be?  They are true lights in my life.  What a miracle.

lisa
 
 
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