Advice please!!

Hello All-

This is my first post and I am desperately looking for some assistance.

We live in a townhouse community in NJ and this Fall we saw three feral kittens by our deck (we had seen their mother on occasion who would stop by for a meal on our deck).  With the bad weather coming and since we couldn't catch them, we put three kitty tubes under the deck and began feeding them.  There are two parents and three kittens.  There are also two relatives who stop by from time to time.  The core family is adorable and the dad is very gentle and playful with his kittens.  He is particularly good with the one little guy with one eye who otherwise seems healthy.  I'm guessing the kittens were born in late October.

Fast forward - our association has told us to stop feeding and housing them and are threatening legal action because of the bylaws and our not-so-nice neighbors have called the health department because one of the kittens jumps on her deck.  We need to get them out quickly but there is simply no place to move them in our area and we don't want to have them go hungry or without shelter because they have depended on us for several months now.

We have called our locals PAWS groups, the vet and even researched places out of state but haven't had any real movement.  We would be willing to contribute financially to their care but they need to be moved quickly.  One person we found has volunteered to capture them and we will pay for the neutering.

Where do we go from here?  I've been calling every place I can think of including sanctuaries out of state.  Does anyone know of a program or an individual who can help?  I would even consider a temporary solution until I can find them a more permanent home.

Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated. 

Thanks!!!!

Welcome to TCS and thank you for caring for this little family. You didn't mention what part of Jersey you're in so here are a few sources that you can try if you haven't already

http://www.njcattitude.org/redir.htm

http://www.thelastresortrescue.com/

http://whiskersrescue.org/

If they can't help you, I'd try Alley Cat Allies. They are in MD but they probably will be able to give you some advice and/or refer you to someone who can help. http://www.alleycat.org

Good luck to you! Sending vibes out in hopes that you can find the help you need for these kitties. 

I sent you a private message with some advice.

I am in California. I would certainly take them into my colony if I lived closer. My suggestion is that you make copies of the letter you have put here and get it to every vet, rescue group, etc. in the area that you can think of. And tell the Condo Association you need a few more weeks, as you are working to get them a permanent home. (I hate those associations who start acting like a monarchy once they have a little power!) Try and get support as fast as possible from members in the condo complex to pressure the association to give you a little more time to find a solution. If you are new to the condo complex and are too busy to do that, maybe someone could do that for you? 

This time of the year all rescue groups are on high alert as this is the time of year when the cats are in most need of help, with young ones appearing, and all feral cats needing some kind of help.I would also type in "TNR help" in whatever state/county you live in. Their might be TNR advocates who would be willing to step in and help. (TNR stands for Trap, Neuter, Return, which is what most knowledgeable communities do with feral cats now.)

In the meantime, use us as a resource, stay in touch, so we can give you whatever support or advice we can.

Thanks so much for caring for them, you have done a wonderful thing....please try to hang in until you can find a solution.......

Thanks for your replies Kat0121, tonyd4life, and Supermax1943.  I've followed up on all the resources you've mentioned but so far no one seems to be able to help.  I'll go to the health department on Monday to see if they'll back off a bit and will try to see who I can speak to around here.  I'm hesitant to speak to the neighbor because she has a reputation of being hostile.  Maybe I'll just see if I can find something to keep them away from her deck.

I've been on the verge of tears for the last few days and feel so hopeless about this.  I can't imagine anyone just saying to stop caring for them - so heartless.  I'm generally a very focused problem-solver but it is so discouraging that I can't find the help I need especially after so much leg work.  Supermax1943 - I'm almost ready to ship them out to you.....  

Here are their descriptions:

Blackie is the mom - very sleek and calm

Koala is the dad and he is a beautiful grayish striped boy who is very regal and has tufts of fur coming out of his ears like a Koala bear.  He watches and plays with all the kids but is very gentle.  He has been known to nuzzle his partner and kids in spontaneous shows of affection.

The kittens are: Peanut (aka One Eye) who is very feisty and playful.  Cashew - a similar color gray as Peanut and a bit more cautious but still fun.  Oreo - has mom's coloring and is black and white.  Also very playful and they all ambush each other and roll around.

We also have a couple of others who stop by from time to time but seem to be more independent:  Mother (we think she's Koala's mom and weren't feeling very creative when we named her) and SuperBaby - we think she's Koala's sister....  I have no idea where that name came from -- I blame my husband for naming her.  

Thanks for your support.  It's nice to know that there are so many of you who care about these kitties.

I am working on a couple of other resources that can hopefully provide some assistance. I know of a few tnr groups that are located in south jersey. Are any of the cats able to be handled or picked-up ?  Try to buy a little time with the association if possible.

I wish you were close enough so I could take them. 

One question I didn't ask, can you have cats indoors in your condo complex?

There are great solutions for taking even five or six cats inside, if it comes to that.

It may sound like a horrible answer, and I am sure your mind will simply go dead just even thinking about it....but it can be done. And it could buy you the time you may need. 

I understand about neighbors who hate cats.

I have a couple of them near my colony. Here is what I do: I approach them directly with an attitude of complete humility and support their crazy, insane, ideas about cats. I tell them I understand about how hard it can be to have them around, especially if you don't like them. Then I tell them about the water sprayers they can use to keep the cats away, or noise makers, even aluminum foil. I explain how each can be used and where they can find resources, and I follow up every few days.

Usually, it calms them down (the crazy cat hating people). Once they get that you "understand" they calm down. (I should say, doing it, nearly kills me, when every fiber of my being wants to reach out and choke them!) But, what must be done, must be done.

Now, if you have absorbed the idea of taking them inside, and by that I mean if there is one teeny, tiny part of your brain that responds to that, then let me know here, and I can help you figure out how to make it work inside, no matter what the inside of your condo is like.

ONe other question for you that can clarify your options, are the kittens weened yet? The dynamics of the group will change if that has not happened yet, so let me know about that.

Hang in there....you are a saint to care about them...they sound like a special wonderful group. 

Buying time may give all of the great feral cat people here on this website time to figure out solutions for you.

Sally

Thanks for the ideas, Supermax! I'll see what I can do about the neighbor - so far she doesn't speak to me directly but rather calls the management office and the health department to complain.  I'll remember what you suggested about "siding" with her but all I want to do is let her have it.  She's the difficult one in our complex and likes to have everyone running and catering to her so your strategy might work for a bit.

While the idea of bringing them inside would be a very good one in general, my husband is very allergic and would likely stop breathing so that's not a possibility.  I've even thought about possibly renting a garage but am trying to get a more permanent solution.  We'll see.

The kittens are weened (they're the ones jumping on her deck).  You're right about the dynamics.  Mom used to watch them play very closely but not as much now.  Dad hangs out with little one eye kitten so they're very bonded.  I haven't tried picking them up and don't think it would work.  They sit on the deck in the morning waiting for breakfast and don't run away so they're not completely freaked out.  We rescued one guy in the fall who wound up having severe gum problems but he was much easier to deal with because he was friendly and I could pick him up to put him in the crate (he is now in a nice home getting lots of love).

I am thankful for the people checking out contacts so hopefully something comes through.  It helps having people around who understand so thanks to everyone here as well.  

Well, death for your husband is not an option! no matter how desperate the cat situation is!

What a great idea to rent a garage!

How are you on trapping? Have you done it? Do you know about drop traps?

Happy to help by email on trapping if you need it.

Usually, Mom will shun the kids altogether. Since the Dad is around, it might be different.

As you may know, Mom, can now get pregnant again, if she isn't already. (I hate to stress you even more....but that can happen)

As for nasty neighbors, I know what you mean.

We have two like the one you describe. I won't bore you with the details....but they can make matters so much worse, when things are stressful anyway. 

Both of my mean neighbors are over the top with their attitudes and they too drive everyone nuts.

The "oh you poor dear, and you are so right to be so upset" demeanor has worked, but it is never easy.

Stay in touch. Thinking of you, Keeping my fingers crossed.