Feral people

Has anyone here had any experience with other colony caretakers/feeders/rescue organizations/trappers acting, well, feral?  I'm talking about being territorial, reluctant to accept help with trapping, pettiness, & bad mouthing the "competition" often at the expense of the animal everyone claims they are trying to help.  Is that the norm or am I just unlucky with who I run into?  How do all of you deal with that or how would you deal with that and still be able to accomplish what you set out to do in the first place?

Thanks

That's been my experience, too. I just ended my association with the only s/n organization within 35 miles because of all the infighting and back-biting. I have decided to go it alone, although that will be more expensive and more work. But I have made friends and we support one another, so I won't be entirely alone.

I refuse to engage in the nastiness, even though I have some pretty nasty thoughts about some "rescuers.". :lol3:

Try to find like minded people, focus on the cats and keep up the good work.

I've never had that experience but I've heard of others who have. I think as long as the cats are being trapped humanely, spayed or neutered and adopted whenever possible I'd just leave them to it.

It might be a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth and I'd rather avoid bickering if I can.

Like Ondine said, focus on the cats. There are plenty of other places where your help is needed.

 

Wow, I wish I had that problem, lol. My one neighbor is the only one who's helped me trap the feral cats on our block last summer, and I supplied the traps and paid the veterinary fees. There are no low cost spay clinics nearby, and the one that exists a county away has a waiting list of at least a month, with set appointments. Consequently, it costs a lot to trap and fix ferals, most regular veterinarians won't deal with them, and people don't want to be bothered and can't afford the expense. If someone else could TNR my outdoor feral, who I've been unable to trap, I would throw a party!  If he brings new kittens to me this summer, I will again be trapping and paying expensive vet fees by myself. I guess it's all a matter of perspective what constitutes a problem

In the little bit of research I have done I think the mistake people make is not embracing people who can only help with what they can. I don't have the time or money to be 100% committed to this, but even one more spayed female in my neighborhood helps.

The thing I get when I mention it is from people who are shocked you would just take someone's cat and spay or nueter it. These are the same people who think it is horrible that my city is killing stray cats now. These are symptoms of the same problem. For the most part these cats aren't pets, and haven't been for generations.

I have yet to take the TNR class, but I am sure they will teach us how to tell pets from ferals. Though if your unaltered cat is running loose in my hood I have a big issue with you.

For years my husband has been against all outdoor cats, but a s/n outdoor cat is far less of an issue than unaltered ones.

Yes, there is a lot of ignorance and misinformation within many communities. Some people don't see feral cats as a problem--they exist in their neighborhood, someone else feeds them, they breed and then many disappear during the winter, so what's the big deal? Others see it as an intrusion into nature and interfering with what cats are supposed to do. Some see it as cruelty, especially men when it comes to castrating male cats. However, in my area at least, the biggest issue is the expense, and not wanting to get involved with trapping. I asked two of my neighbors who I know occasionally feed my outdoor male feral if they would assist in trying to trap him to get him neutered (since he will not go into any trap my one neighbor and I have set on our properties), and they have said no. One used to trap feral cats on our block years ago and does not want to get involved with that again, and the other, a guy, just laughed and said "That cat ain't going into no trap." I think it would be a far better problem to have many people working to trap and fix cats, who maybe don't all get along, than to have no one else willing to get involved.  As far as someone owning a non-feral cat and allowing it to roam around when its not fixed, there's really no excuse at all. If that happened on my block and the cat came to my feral's feeding bowl, I'd trap and fix it and give the vet bill to the owner.

I was responding to the original poster's statement about some rescuers viewing anyone else as "competition." In addition to the differences of opinion between say, those who support TNR and those who don't, there are also people who simply don't think anyone can do this better than they do. And anyone who tries is put down. I find that the saddest thing - because as the OP says, the cats get left out.

We have a ferocious argument going on near me - the powers that be have utilized the trap and kill method of cat control for the last 40 years! There are a couple of towns that are trying TNVR and one is really succeeding. Fighting that battle is hard enough without having to defend yourself against people doing the same work but who think you'll never do it as well as they do.

Ondine, I worked in dog rescue for years and it is the same. Same thing volunteering for any organization sadly. Heck, I even see it in the company I work at people make things about them and what they want and forget we all have the same goal.

My comment was geared more towards not having any experience, but just learning about TNR. I have talked to a couple people and both thought I was crazy for thinking about getting involved.

I had a great experience when I lived in the NYC area.

But the area I have moved into and lived in for several years leaves A LOT to be desired.

Datagrrl - I've found that being crazy and finding your passion are often related!  Whatever it is you do for these kitties, it is more than many people do, so it counts!