Worried about two cats I left behind

I'm kicking myself for not doing something about this sooner...but between the lady friend I was taking care of passing away and me needing to move..my mind hasn't exactly been too sharp lately. That and the shelters around here are making it very difficult- have to make an appointment..one only does Saturdays..etc.

A bit over a week ago I moved out of a rental house where for over 5 years we were feeding a male black feral cat(that disappeared at one point for about a year) that was pretty young when first spotted.. and then also for a bit over a year a female stray cat(If I've got the definitions right. This one is way too friendly..took a few months though). We had the garage door open in the winter for the black one with either the heater on and/or a house with a heated pad. The other/stray one never went in there, but always showed up for food, no matter how cold or how much snow.

I have gone back a few times since I moved to put food out there-  no one is living there yet, Last night I saw the stray..just sitting on the steps like she used to do, waiting for food.  Wasn't able to get there the previous night and she seemed starved.

I have no idea if the female has kittens..is going to have them..can't have them...or what. I'm torn about what to do here. Try trapping them and bringing them where I'm at now? I think I've read one has to cage them for a few weeks if you do that.  Having any cats inside doesn't work.  I feel bad for the black/male one since where he's at has been his stomping grounds for so long. I think he'd be more likely to be ok w/out the feeding, but what do I know.

I wish there was just someplace that would take them at anytime and that'd be it.  Another problem I have is the cats only ever showed up towards evening and even late at night- so if trapping them they'd be sitting there until morning and I suppose even until I can bring them in if I'd go that route.

Anyone in Southern WIsconsin? I'd pay to have someone deal with them for me..that's how much it's bothering me. I am tempted to ask the one neighbor if she'd be willing to keep feeding them if I gave her the food etc. But who knows if she'd actually do it. It'd be hard to say "no"..but it'd be easy to just forget about it.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated...Thanks.

Jonathan

That's a really tough situation, if you can't bring them in with you in your new place.  I would ask the neighbor anyway, and offer to pay her if necessary.  You say you're willing to pay someone else.  Why not start first by asking her?    Good luck with this!  I have no experience with ferals so don't know what else to suggest.  It's my understanding that moving a feral from one territory to another is very iffy because they will try to go back home, unless you keep them caged for weeks, but maybe someone else will have some suggestions.

I have a ton of experience with ferals.

If I were you I would definitely trap them, get them fixed and bring them to your new home.

You can keep them caged for a full month, then let them out to be your outdoor kitties.

The myth of how it is so difficult to relocate is because people dont fully understand the need for acclimating.

Cats have to go through a mindset, the process takes a full month, and no, it is not cruel. They will have many happy/healthy years with you, so what's a month, cats are very patient.

Their first week caged they wait. They simply wait, thinking they will be back home soon.

The 2nd week they begin to get irritated and lose hope of going home.

The 3rd week they begin taking in all of the new scents and sounds and sights. The fact that they are already used to you is a big plus in their adapting well.

By the end of the 4th week their former home memory is fading, as they have learned the new place and surroundings.

They accept that this is where you and the food and safety is, and can get out now.

That's just a basic overview, but it is critical that they are fully acclimated or they will not understand yet they are supposed to stay put.

MUCH better for them to go get them, but get them fixed!! You will make their lives so much better all around.

I agree with both replys.  No, I'm not wishy washy.  I know that if I was the neighbor and was asked I'd do it.  But on the other hand, if I was at a "good" place that would be safe for the cats, then I would do that.  Know what I'm saying?

Well catwoman707 knows a lot more about ferals than I do so I would give her advice more weight. Either way, please consider neutering them. It will make their lives much easier and prevent them bringing more unwanted cats in the world. It is very kind of you to watch out for these little beings. I know it is not easy but it is a very good thing to do.

Thanks for the replies..I really do appreciate it.  Was able to get there again last night and the one was waiting again. I guess my main problem now is what to "cage" them in.

I just wish I knew for sure the lady would actually take care of them..through the winter months especially.

I forgot to mention that the first couple of years with the male/black one we called the animal shelter and another cat shelter- both said they were not taking any more cats at the time. I would say a half a dozen times they told us that. 

Honestly, all of us here are truly cat lovers, but to trust a neighbor to feed these 2 cats daily for many years is simply to risky to me, it's not hard to trap at all, I am more than happy to tell you exactly what to do, that is if you choose to trap and take them home with you.

They are the unfortunate ones, nobody wants them, they have no sense of belonging, no comfy beds and warmth in the cold, and  they came to count on you and trust that you will always be there, it was the one good thing they had going for them.

Not meant for a guilt trip at all, the truth be known, I have a cat rescue group, with 30 fosters and 66 volunteers that I manage, I am on the board of directors for the humane society and the chairperson for the animal welfare committee as well as their cat advocate/expert. I have a column in a local magazine, I teach classes on neonatal kitten care, and an adviser here.

But despite the endless ups and downs, the darling little kittens that seem to just keep coming, my heart and soft spot is with the homeless/abandoned and ferals.

They are so misunderstood and so disregarded by probably 95% of people. Their lives are so damn hard. They are in constant high alert/survival mode, predators, territories, heat/cold weather, food sources and finding it. Where to sleep safely, considered a nuisance by people, it just goes on and on.

The biggest part that hurts my heart for them is how nearly everyone thinks they are different than the cats who are owned and tame, yet I was shown proof that a cat who was never lucky enough to be owned, ever, a straight feral, who's life I saved, gave me the greatest gift just before she died. It's a very long story but in short, I found her in horrific condition, I saved her, had cancer removed (her ears) and spent months recovering her, once she was well again, I accepted her as my resident feral girl. I adored her, from a distance though. She knew me, she loved and trusted me, but at a distance, she just couldn't get past her fear, as she never had interactions with people. Oh how I wished I could hold her and love on her, she was so sweet, so innocent like a child. 

5 1/2 years later she was in her very last days from kidney disease. 

Out of nowhere she lost her fear. Completely gone. So for her last days on earth she was following me around, in to my house which she would never have even considered before, hung out with me, I was in heaven. 

She knew she was at the end, and somehow that fear just left her. 

She was telling me how grateful she was for saving her life, making her healthy and beautiful like she wanted, gave her a place where she was safe and warm and fed and most of all, wanted.

Just the last days was all I got, but it meant everything to me. I was able to hold her and kiss her face and soaked her head with my tears while I held her when she was pts.

I will NEVER forget this very special girl Destiny, and what she taught me. (I lost her earlier this year)

They are exactly the same. No tougher, no stronger, they have all of the same needs and wants and fears and feelings as our cozy spoiled kitties at home.

What she taught me I try to share with as many as I can, when I can. 

I hope you go get those cats and take them back with you. You can work it out with a cage. Garage? Borrow a cage, ask to loan one from humane society or SPCA, etc. Shelters will help. They loan traps and some will loan cages.

Check it out Plan on getting their butts fixed though!

That's a sad yet great story- thanks for sharing that.  I suppose on the one hand it made it harder to lose her after that closeness at the end..yet to be able to experience that!

I do have a live animal trap. I did actually get the black one in there years ago while trying to move some coons away...and he didn't really put up a fuss. But he was only in there for maybe 15 minutes.  This again was back when the shelters weren't taking any cats.  Prior to him being away for about a year..he was just like this female one now. Actually even more tame. I even at one point used some pet eyewash to rinse his eyes out as for some reason they were all gunked up- could hardly see out of them. Wore gloves of course..and he didn't like it- jumped out of my arms. But after shaking his head and being able to see better..came right back to me. His eyes were fine after a few days of doing that. After he disappeared for a year and came back...the closest he'll come is a few feet but won't let me touch him etc.

Will they be ok if trapped early in the evening and left 'till morning? There is a possibility I could get the female right away ..possibly even get her into a small portable dog house type of thing that zippers up- mesh sides and top for air. Might be a bad idea with the claws...??

Oh yes, soft sided carriers are no good for this. I've seen so many escapes, you just don't have the control as a hard sided one.

Black guy will trust again, he was clearly a tamed cat/kitten at some point, just being outdoors and lack of interactions with people turn them feralish. He will trust you again, I'm sure of it.

I do not like to leave a trap alone, but you know the area, and will be the best judge of whether or not it's safe to leave in once trapped before you get there.

If you can leave it late at night and go back there first thing, I suppose it's okay.

It is sad, true, but there was something so touching and fulfilling, that I have no regrets or neg feelings about losing her, just missing her, I think of her so often,and feel so much love for her, she thanked me in the most special, and life changing way, I know how truly grateful she was, I accomplished exactly what I promised her every single day in those first few months with me, then gave her 5 1/2 years of a good life she deserved so much..

A life without pain, hunger, suffering, a comfy spoiled life, and she will always feel loved and wanted. No cat or any animal should ever suffer the way she did.

I'm more worried about if the cat will be ok being in the trap that long.  I could get lucky and set the trap and take a little drive and come back and it's in there.

How do I know the female one doesn't have kittens around somewhere?  I can't really say she ever looked pregnant... but  I suppose I could have missed it..being at night and all. Didn't notice any clipped ears but again..especially with the black one- hard to know for sure. I wondered when it came back again after a whole year of being gone if that is what happened..  Maybe released somewhere else and he found his way back finally. He was starving when he came back...caught him eating cheese curls meant for the squirrels.

Is the house still vacant? Leave a sign on the door that you are trapping your cat and will be back. No long explanation necessary.

Set the trap on the porch with food and come back later. If you get the wrong cat, let it go and set the trap again. Cats are okay in a trap for a few hours.

Do you have a garage to put the cats in where you are now? Have it set up with food and water and a place to sleep.

If so, go back and trap the other cat.

If the female is nursing you will be able to tell by her mammary glands, and you will need to let her go back to her kittens if so.

You could also speak to your former neighbor and ask if she would be willing to feed the cats in the evening for a few days while you work on trapping them if you give her the food.

Let us know what you plan to do. Catwoman gave you great advice!

The sign says...I got a live trap set...for the cat outside. Couldn't resist.

Yeah the place is vacant. Just got back from there again...she was just sitting there waiting patiently.  Unfortunately I have not seen the male/black one in a few days..but that's how he was when I lived there. Didn't always come right at feeding time.

The garages unfortunately are majorly packed with stuff from moving. I guess I don't care if they go snooping around but I may panick if I don't see them for awhile. Also..it gets pretty hot in there w/out anything open especially. No windows to open. Do have fans..but unless they sit right in front of them...

I should know by Thursday what I'll be doing.

Thanks ;-)

Are you still feeding her every day in the meantime?

Good luck!

Keep us posted!

Yep it's been every day since that last time I skipped a day and saw how starving she was.

I'm happy to hear that. She counts on you. The black cat may still be around. We'll work on him after you trap the female.

What is the reason she cannot be in a room in your house?

  I did ask about having the cat in the house but was shut down by the family members. The only room not being used would be the basement..slight chance to be able to leave her in the cage and put her on top of the pool table- there are windows right there. But is that a good idea if she has to be released outside eventually?

Would family allow you to socialize her in your own bedroom? That would be ideal.

I doubt it. There's also a dog here that goes after anything and everything. 

Could she have the run of the basement for awhile?

It sounds like your best bet would be to find or create some kind of cage, like a chicken coop, anything that will contain them for a month, then be let loose. 

This way they know where to be fed daily, they will be used to the food being given where they are acclimating, and keeps your fam and dog from stressing you out over the cats too, we don't want anything discouraging you at this point!  

If need be, is there any way you can either go buy one or make one? Find a wooden pallet for the floor, chicken wire and posts for the corners and a type of roof. 

Of course not that crude but you know what I mean.