Fighting An Uphill Battle in the Care of Strays and Ferals

I started caring for my first feral 3 years ago.  I really have not run into others who are not supportive of my efforts.  My area is not over run with strays or ferals, but there certainly are more than I would have thought.  Two other women in my area help to care for strays and ferals too.  My neighbors are all very supportive and no one has problem with the 2 current cats I have outside.  I have read here on the forum of others being encountered by individuals who believe the cats are a danger, full of disease, ruin flower beds, spray, get into garbage, etc..  When these individuals are approached with information on our efforts they have a completely closed mind and believe the animals should be euthanized ( often not humanely).

Yesterday I had my first encounter with a group who believe that my efforts to care for strays/ferals is completely wrong.  They went as far to say that the low cost spay and neuter clinics aren't really spaying or neutering the animals, just taking my money and telling me the job was done!  I was told that my cats are probalbly still reproducing and wrecking havoc all over the neighborhood.  These are not neighbors just acquaintances from other parts of the country.  They have no knowledge of my set up.  I was told that my kind heartedness is making the problem worse and that I need to immediately stop feeding and taking care of these cats.  They need to be left to die or that I should poison them to end their suffering.  What is wrong with people.  It was a conversation that I left since their complete closed mindedness gave me no place to explain my efforts.  I was sad and frustrated all day.  My most important stance was that the problem lies in the hand of humans.  It is not a cat problem, but instead a human problem.  The irresponsibility of humans not spaying/neutering their cats (and other pets) and dumping them when they no longer have a use for them has caused this great problem.  It was like talking to a brick wall.  They suggest taking a gun and shooting them.  That would solve the problem. 

I know how passionate I feel about the welfare of strays and ferals.  I certainly cannot help them all, but I would like to think I have made a difference in the lives of a few.  Yet, spreading the word on spaying/neutering and caring for strays and ferals seems so monsterous.  I would love to be more involved on educating others.

I do realize there are people out there who are feeding tons and tons of cats and not bothering to stop the population growth.  That is irresponsible.  I am sure there are also colonies or clans of cats that are out of control.  Yet, there are good people out there too.  I certainly do not feel as though I am making the problem worse.

Just feeling sad and frustrated about this enormous problem.

You are helping make the problem go away, or at least control it.

I know it's hard to ignore nay-sayers, but you need to consider the source:  if the person is not from the USA, he/she/they may be from a country where corrupt, unlawful activity, and bribes are the rule, rather than the exception.  There also seems to be a cultural preference not to neuter male cats.  The only thing you can do is to hand out information (in Spanish or other language if available) for the person to read "at their leisure".  Finally, the person may just be a grouch (I had one of those).

For those people who seem somewhat open minded, simply repeat what you know to be true.  http://www.alleycat.org/  has some fact sheets that are helpful.  (Their national conference is also coming up, first weekend in November, near Washington,DC.)

Good luck and keep the faith (and, cats in mind).

About a year ago, I had an epiphany.  I realized I wasn't going to change minds.  It was a waste of my time to try to educate people who did not want education.  For those who wanted to listen, I am an enthusiastic spreader of the word.  But once someone sets his mind against something, not much I say will get through.  For me, the hardest part is telling the difference.

And you know, it has been so liberating.  I continue to do what I do - saves lives and try to improve lives.  For me, nothing else matters.

Fortunately, I haven't run into anyone who would sabotage my efforts but two people in my neighborhood are virulently anti-cat.  One poisons them if he can (he's been reported).  The other will throw things, so any cats learn right away to stay clear of his yard.  Everyone else either has cats (inside or outside) or respects those of us who do.  We still have neighbors who will not spay or neuter and several of us work clean up those messes.  We decided that if a cat is on our property, he or she is trapped, fixed and given vaccinations.  Depending on the cat, we either let it go or find a home.

Shadow's Rescue, you are doing the right thing, period.  It is frustrating when the problem doesn't ever seem to get solved.  But continue the good fight, plug up your ears when people are blockheads and know you are making a difference.

I know just how you feel. I think we all do. This is why I spent so much time on cat predation research. I sometimes write responses to the garbage presented as "research" by the anti-TNR "scientists." (http://www.straypetadvocacy.org/cat_predation.html)

I do spend time responding to articles about TNR, because my posts may reach people who aren't as informed. But that's because I only TNR around my home these days (due to Gary's medical issues). But like Ondine, I'm not trying to change minds. The material is there to help communities who want to alter their animal control approach to feral cats. Of course, Alley Cat Allies puts their own together now, and Peter Wolf was hired by Best Friends to be their Cat Initiatives Analyst. Are you familiar with Vox Felina? http://www.voxfelina.com/ is written by Peter, who is far more active in addressing bogus work/research than I ever was. But there are voices out there. We learned quickly not to bother wasting time trying to change the minds of those who believe in poisoning or shooting. But we still put out links to actual info for others.

As with everything in life, there are those who will be negative. Listen to your heart. You are being kind to these wonderful creatures that's all that matters. Do what you can and don't let the bigger picture overwhelm you..

You are doing great things Shadowsrescue, don't let those idiots get you down.   I do hear your frustration though - I've encountered a few people I've talked to about my feral cat who seem to immediately assume that I'm some crazy "cat lady" creating problems instead of trying to take care of a problem created by someone else and help out a living creature.