Ferals

Wanted to thank everyone for their support. The AZ group got in touch with me and hopefully everything will be worked out. MotherCat is now in heat again and DaddyCat asked me to mind my own business when I asked him what he thought he was doing.

I have watched these cats for the last two and a half years and they have become my extended family. I have inside cats and outside cats, but I worry more about my outsiders because I can't help them. Do others have extended outside families? I have DaddyCat, MotherCat, ValerieCat, Little Miss Tippy-Tail and Princess.

AzCats is an excellent group. I'm sure they will be able to find someone in Tuscon who can help you TNR your feral family!

I still have not heard from AZCats. I emailed and called. Is there anything else I could do?

I'm sorry they haven't gotten back in touch with you.

Try contacting the Best Friends Network and see whether they know of someone in your area.

Nationwide No More Homeless Pets Campaign
Area served: United States
Best Friends Animal Society
No More Homeless Pets
5001 Angel Canyon Road
Kanab, Utah 84741-5000
Phone: 435-644-2001, ext. 243
Fax: 435-644-2078
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.bestfriends.org/nmhp

Originally posted by KittenKiya
Wanted to thank everyone for their support. The AZ group got in touch with me and hopefully everything will be worked out. MotherCat is now in heat again and DaddyCat asked me to mind my own business when I asked him what he thought he was doing.

I have watched these cats for the last two and a half years and they have become my extended family. I have inside cats and outside cats, but I worry more about my outsiders because I can't help them. Do others have extended outside families? I have DaddyCat, MotherCat, ValerieCat, Little Miss Tippy-Tail and Princess.

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I'm a little confused here Here you said the group got in touch with you, then you say you haven't heard from them?

You're confused? I'm confused. They sent me an email, gave me a phone number which kicked into a voicemail, I left my information and then I emailed them with the same information and I have not heard from them since. I hope it wasn't something I said.

It's nothing you said. Just keep in mind they're overwhelmed with phone calls, e-mails, etc. I know their rescue log is over 50 pages long! This work is all done by volunteers who also have their own regular jobs. I'm sure someone will return your call ASAP. If you want to e-mail me with the name you gave them, number of cats you said you needed help with, and location, I'll try and find out what is going on. AzCATs has helped me TNR 80+ cats now. They're wonderful to work with, it just may take some time. They can't respond to everyone immediately! I can try and help if you want?

Guys, I am so sorry. I guess I am just a hype. I want so much for my babies to be taken care of, I guess I just don't realize the scope of the problem. Please be patient with me and I will try to exercise some patience myself. I guess somehow I thought someone would be here yesterday. Please forgive me?

I know the feeling. When/if you decide you want me to check into this, just let me know. I PM'd you with my e-mail address.

Well, today is the day. I am going to spike the trap with cut up hotdogs (the cats love them) and set it tonight. If anyone has any instructions, advice, whatever, please let me know. I have a vet all lined up who is familar with what I am doing. Thank you all for your help, kindness and support

Just want to wish you luck. Trapping can be a frustrating time. Don't get bit or scratched!

My big advice is to make sure you don't open the trap once it is shut. And, make sure the traps are completely covered by a large towel or sheet while the cats are being transported. Having the cage covered seems to calm the cats.

Also, line your car with plastic pags and newspaper in case one of the cats has an accident while you are driving them to the vet.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Check on the trap over night at least every 2 hours. If you catch one, bring the trap to a safe place like a garage and cover it. You don't want anything messing with the cat while it is in the trap.

Good luck! Sending positive trapping vibes you way!!

I do have another question. If I catch anyone and get them fixed, when they come home and are let out, are the other ferals going to attack them?

I have not ever seen that happen once the cat is outside. Now if you had brought them indoors and got them adjusted to each other's scent, then oftentimes the vet smell lingers on them and the resident cats will attack the vetted cat.

But when released in the wild, at least from my experience, this does not happen.

I got one!!! I got one!!!! I got one!!!!!

I set the trap about sixish and checked about 20 minutes later and someone was in it. I can't place the cat, but she/he is part of the family. I can't believe it. Must have been the hotdogs.

Congratulations!!!

CONGRATULATIONS! You're doing GREAT!

How'd it go getting the cat to the vet, etc. ? Was it male or female?

Just a thought (something we never did when we started trapping cats). Take a pic of the cat first thing. It's such a reward to have those "before" then after pictures. It never ocurred to us to do that, and it's so amazing to see the difference you can make in their lives.

Also, when you take the cats to the vet to be sterilized, ask the vet to notch or "tip" the ear. This way you can easily tell when you've retrapped a cat that you've already had fixed. It's something that most cat-trappers use, and it'll be a sign to anyone else in your area (that you don't know about) that is doing the same thing if that same cat turns up somewhere else.

If you've trapped a female, make sure the vet knows to use dissolvable stitches. You don't want to have to retrap the cat to get stitches out!

WAY TO GO KITTENKIYA! Keep us posted. And I'm just bustin' with happiness for you!

(BTW - if you run into trouble trapping any of them, I don't know if anyone pointed out there are LOTS of trapping tips in this thread: Helping Ferals....

Man am I spoiled. I think this baby is Little Miss Tippy-Tail's brother. He/She didn't wet or poop in the car, no real struggle, just stayed in the cage overnight which I covered with a heavy towel and cried only twice. My vet is super. She was there to meet me and told me not to worry, they would handle everything. Didn't realize about the ear tip. Anyway, I think it is a boy, but I will know for sure this afternoon. Everything went so smooth, I still can't believe it. Can't wait to bring my baby home.

WONDERFUL!!! You got one!! Are they going to ear-tip? You have all my e-mail addresses if you have any questions. YIPPEEEEE