Better to abandon or better to relocate?

carrielynn

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I know this sounds cruel, but let me explain the situation. I moved out of a place two years ago and was faced with the decision of what to do with my two outside cats (one semi-feral and one completely feral). My parents didn't want us taking them, and I knew it would not be kind to the ferals to remove them from their home either. I found a spot near a parking lot to start keeping their food, and I decided to make the drive back to my old neighborhood everyday to feed them, as it's a less than 10 minute drive. I couldn't leave them to fend for themselves, and I was comfortable with the area at the time, having lived there since I was a kid.

This went well for a long time, but it all went downhill a few months ago. The neighborhood has been in steady decline, and honestly I don't consider it a safe place to be. I only go before dark now, which makes me visible. I have been questioned by the police. It was terrifying, and I've noticed they patrol the area a lot now. I worry about getting charged with trespassing. I also worry about someone in the neighborhood confronting me about what I do. There are now some pit bulls on chains nearby, and they announce my presence nearly every time by barking at me. What's worse, I haven't seen my little girl cat that I was feeding in over 4 months. She was the first cat I ever TNRed, and losing her devastated me. I admit I have lost some motivation, but I am still devoted to my remaining male cat.

I am very likely to continue as I have been doing, but I've been considering the issue. If you were in this situation, would you keep going, stop going, or trap the cat and release him at the new house? He is completely feral, so I understand it's highly unlikely that I could get him to stick around the house here, and I know being introduced to a new area would be very bad for him. He could run away, and I'd never see him again. I'd love to keep him in a room here to get him used to me and keep him safe, but my parents won't allow it. Now that I've finished school I'm saving up for my own place, but it is not going to come soon enough. I may have no other choice that I can live with other than to continue putting myself at risk.
 

krz

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Aw, I think you have been wonderful to care for those cats, and my heart breaks for your little female. Is where you are now safe for the male cat? You could relocate him to your present home. If you can get a large dog crate and keep him confined in it for at least three weeks, so he can get used to the area and associate it with you, perhaps that would be a solution. Would your parents allow him to be an outside cat where you are now? It seems better for both of you.
 

ajlovato

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Try to bring him back home. Trust me, it will eat you up inside if you don't and then find out one day he's gone....I'm going through that right now.
 

StefanZ

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Lets hope somebody did adopted the girl, as she was TNR and semiferal, ie somewhat friendly?

Thus a likely one to try and foster.

About the male, it is a dilemma.  I dont have clear cut answer in this moment.

Good luck!
 

ritz

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I'm in a somewhat similar (though better) situation.

I moved 30 minutes away from the colony I took care of for two years; TNRd 35 cats, 10 cats regularly dined at my "restaurant".  I moved because the neighborhood had gone down hill and I was tired of picking up two bags of trash every day (used condoms anyone?)  I still go there on the weekends to feed them; a woman feeds them twice during the week.  Now, four to six cats come around.  (I lived in an area with a high foreclosure/eviction rate:  people moved out and l left their cats behind.)

I would try to trap him and bring him home.  You *will* need to keep him confined for at least three weeks (perhaps in a garage of spare room) or he will try to return home.  He is likely to make a lot of noise, especially after the shock/surprise of being relocated passes.  I removed one formerly owned cat from the above-referenced colony because he was limping, fostered him for about three months, Ritz was increasingly distressed, and ended up having to return him to the colony (and his presumed brother).  I loved that cat, and still miss him.  Though still get to feed him.

If your parents will not permit this:  is there anyone where you use to live that could feed him?  I would also contact the local animal control department and say you are taking care of this cat and please notify you if they accidentally catch him.  In some counties/states, there is a law that if AC catches a TNRd cat, they must notify any known caretaker of the colony.  (Note that this sounds good, but not always practiced.)

Good luck.
 

bastfriend

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You could advertize him as a barn cat and follow the relocation procedures.    I'll admit it is a tough road this is what I'm trying to do now and so far have not gotten a valid nibble yet to my ads.  Still I've talked to others who have had success with doing this - worth a try?
 
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carrielynn

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Thank you for the replies.
I'm sorry I haven't responded sooner. I didn't get all the updates.

I'm still hoping for the best for my beloved female who went missing. (Why did I neglect to mention she was the male cat's mother? I guess it's part of the reason I'm so attached to him and worried). My mom's workplace is close to that area and she says she has seen her twice, but in 5 months I still haven't seen her. My mom could be mistaken or just trying to make me feel better (hope not). I told her next time she sees her to call me and I will be right over...

Here is some more information on my dilemma.

Old place - There is another colony of cats in the area that my male cat gets along with. He really seems to make friends with other cats easily, even though he's terrified of all people (including me). If I did leave him to fend for himself, I would hope he would fully integrate with the colony and eat wherever they do. I suspect it may be the trailer park across the street or one of the houses around it. I've seen him at a house with one of the cats before, though he is always waiting for me at my cat site, so I feel like he's still relying on my food. I would love to know who this other potential feeder is. I would try to get over my social anxiety and work up the courage to talk to them. Sadly I don't know a single person in the area; it's pretty much all rental properties with high turnovers. I still have safety concerns for the cats too. One of the cats in that colony was killed by a dog recently, and someone has stolen my cat shelter. The cats never used it much, but it's unsettling to know there was a person at my cat site.

New place - The enclosure for a few weeks is a really great idea, but sadly my dad would never allow it. I have a relatively new TNR at the new house that he has reluctantly come to accept because she's practically a house cat now, but he has always hated ferals. He has dumped cats before, and he considered leaving my cats at the old place an advantage to moving. I don't trust him not to let a cat out of a crate. As far as the cat being let loose over here...well it's kind of a mystery what would happen. There is a lot of open country. I live next to a very large corn field now. I worry about him running away into the distance and struggling to find new sources of food. There aren't many cats on this road. The newer cat that I TNRed was skin and bones living out here.

I'm also considering trying to find someone to adopt him as an outside cat, but I worry it would just be the same situation of him being let loose in an unfamiliar area. People actually willing to work with a feral around here are few and far between. I'm open to it with the right person though.

Please keep your thoughts coming... each scenario hurts.
 
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carrielynn

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I'm in a somewhat similar (though better) situation.

I moved 30 minutes away from the colony I took care of for two years; TNRd 35 cats, 10 cats regularly dined at my "restaurant".  I moved because the neighborhood had gone down hill and I was tired of picking up two bags of trash every day (used condoms anyone?)  I still go there on the weekends to feed them; a woman feeds them twice during the week.  Now, four to six cats come around.  (I lived in an area with a high foreclosure/eviction rate:  people moved out and l left their cats behind.)

I would try to trap him and bring him home.  You *will* need to keep him confined for at least three weeks (perhaps in a garage of spare room) or he will try to return home.  He is likely to make a lot of noise, especially after the shock/surprise of being relocated passes.  I removed one formerly owned cat from the above-referenced colony because he was limping, fostered him for about three months, Ritz was increasingly distressed, and ended up having to return him to the colony (and his presumed brother).  I loved that cat, and still miss him.  Though still get to feed him.

If your parents will not permit this:  is there anyone where you use to live that could feed him?  I would also contact the local animal control department and say you are taking care of this cat and please notify you if they accidentally catch him.  In some counties/states, there is a law that if AC catches a TNRd cat, they must notify any known caretaker of the colony.  (Note that this sounds good, but not always practiced.)

Good luck.
Thank you...it sounds like you have done amazing work for cats. It makes me wish I would have gotten to know my neighbors, as maybe one could have been helping me with feeding (I believe they've all moved away though).
 

bastfriend

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Carrielynn, I'm sleepy and don't remember all the details but did you get a chance to see if there was any rescue group in your area that might work with relocating ferals?   I know they aren't common but you never know....especially since this kitty is a "joiner" he might do well joining an existing colony and the feeder would be knowledgable enough hopefully to keep him crated for a few weeks so he imprints on the new place.    I know though it is all a gamble, but we still gotta try right?    My big lead for my own feral didn't work out - flaky flaky people.   So now I have to start over advertizing again and time ticks by.   I can relate to the heartbreak of just feeling like you don't have any good option to choose for him, but I'm a big believer that we have to work to create the opportunity for good things to happen too.
 
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carrielynn

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There are no rescue groups in my immediate area, but I'll try to at least ask for advice from the cat organizations closest to me.

Things have gotten worse. Two 5 week old kittens have appeared at my cat site and seem to be staying there. I have fostered kittens many times before and would be willing to take these two home with me, but it seems so risky to hang out on this factory property as long as it would take to trap them both. Neither kitten comes up to the food. I'm so worried I am going to have legal trouble from trespassing. The few people I have told about what I do have told me I need to protect myself and stop worrying about the cats on someone else's property, but I am sure you all know it is hard.
 

StefanZ

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With such a young fellows, it would be easy to foster and socialize them at least.  And find them adoption homes.

So if fostering is possible for you, try to get it your priority attention - if you can.

Talk with the property owners if you are worrying for trespassing charge.  They are surely not inhuman, you can surely move even their hearts.  Make it a touching story!   Something they can brag about afterwards!

With a little luck they will even help you.

Good luck!
 
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