- Joined
- Jun 10, 2009
- Messages
- 60
- Purraise
- 15
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.
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.