Inexperienced and lack of support from local rescues - Please help.

[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <wunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <woNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <wontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <wontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <wontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <wontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument></xml><![endif][if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true" DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99" LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif][if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-qformat:yes;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin-top:0in;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;mso-para-margin-left:0in;line-height:115%;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}</style><![endif]***For the record, in all of the ferals I have dealt with, I have lucked out in that all have been ear marked and previously sterilized by (I assume) our local "Big Fix" programs or other TNR folk, so I have never had to trap or TNR before.

Background: My friend has been taking care of 3 ferals (Hobo, Puff, and Sneaky) for a year, and recently a new guy (DC), and I assist her with food, bowls, shelter, and go over there 2-3 times a week to feed and water them when she works long hours.

My friend intended to renew her lease another year this month, but had a dispute with the land owner and is now moving at a moment’s notice. For whatever reason, she only wants to take one or two of the cats with her (Hobo and maybe DC). She is under the impression the others can be adopted out and I don't think she comprehends the limited options for ferals. I offered to help figure out trapping and to lend her my 10x10 dog kennel for her to contain Hobo for the first month or so. For the others, it appears I am their only option.

I just moved myself and currently have no sod in my backyard (we were planning to seed in the fall), which is also very, very sloped. So now I am scrambling to get soil and sod down in the next two weeks and nail boards along the bottom of the fence. I will then unfortunately have to buy myself another kennel and somehow figure out how to get it to work on uneven ground. I wish there was a way to not relocate the cats but we have no trust in the landowner or tenants there and fear the worst.

There is a rescue in a city near me that does TNR training and upon completion you can rent traps from them for free - however, they informed me they only rent out traps for TNR or medical attention only, and do not support relocation. I have reached out to the feral friends on AlleyCats and all of them tell me to contact this organization…

I have been calling other rescues for help and, like always, no one is helpful. Twice before I have had to frantically call 40+ rescues in my area (I live in Texas and cover the entire central and southern regions for assistance) and none have been able to help me, ever. It’s even more impossible trying to find help for ferals. Only one of those places routinely has someone graciously willing to even take 5 minutes to talk with me to help me figure out who to call, what websites to visit, and explain what my options might be.

I currently work at a dog shelter and a wildlife sanctuary, so I am familiar with rescue and the fact that this is baby season and how rescues are chronically overloaded. This lack of support has lead me to going it alone on cat rescues - adopting two, currently self-fostering two, previously having adopted out two, saving 3 feral colonies at two separate locations, and offering food and shelter to local feral caretakers, all singlehandedly. It has been a hard, exhausting, yet obviously rewarding learning experience.

I never feel like I am going to be able to get through it, but it has always worked out more or less. However this time, I simply do not have the financial means, experience, or time to do this by myself. And I just can't seem to get any help from these rescues. The most they do is point me to the aforementioned organization - but again, they will not even rent me their traps or have anyone assist me due to being on the outskirts of the city. Also, Sneaky is horribly obese (that’s a whole other issue) and I believe the traps they offer will be far too uncomfortable for him.

I just... have no idea what I'm doing. And when I add everything up, my cat expenses for the month would exceed $2,500, not including traps. I honestly don’t know if that will be feasible whatsoever and I fear I may have to turn to my last resort…

The wildlife sanctuary I volunteer with technically takes in companion animals and has a very large feral enclosure. Up until this point, I have tried to never take advantage of that because they very desperately do not want to be in the companion animal business whatsoever, but have helped in certain extenuating circumstances or when people inevitably tie up pets or leave kittens in boxes at the front of the gate. I also do not wish to do that to these cats either, as I imagine it would be tremendously terrifying for them to be brought to the enclosure. And at the end of the day, there is no guarantee the sanctuary would agree to take them anyway.

To be quite honest, I haven’t even had the time to figure out if I can realistically care for 2-3 more cats long term. We had plans on adopting an 18 year old cat next month and I would be devastated to no longer be in the position to do so. I wish I knew of some way I could convince my friend to take all of the cats with her, but I don’t want to make her feel pressured to do so.

Tl;dr:

What would be most helpful for me here would be someone to advise me with all of this (feral rescue, trapping, relocation, ect..) .

Does anyone have any other ideas for obtaining assistance? At the least, is there anyone here with experience who would be my absolute savior and reliably offer advice and answer any questions I may have over the next few weeks? I just need some support and guidance, I have no idea what I am doing, I have no experience, and I just want to do right by these cats. 

Thank you so much for everything!
 

Hello @MoxieWild  Welcome to The Cat Site.

So, as I understand it you have 2 or 3 feral cats that need to be relocated and you're thinking of moving them to your back yard as a last resort? That sounds fairly simple to me. I moved house with a colony of 20+ a few years ago.

I'm not sure why it will cost you $2,500, am I missing something?

Here are some links to a couple of threads I started. This one is the original moving house thread. (It's long, but take a look at the pictures, it will give you some idea of how to cheaply cat-proof your backyard.)

 [thread="276982"]Moving House Taking The Colony With Me​[/thread]  

This one is about a feral kitten I rescued who had to be contained in her own section of the enclosure until she was healthy and comfortable with the other cats. I didn't bother with an expensive crate. She was kept in a cat cage I'd bought for one of my other rescues at first, the enclosure is made from deer netting and garden fence posts.

 [thread="300367"]Sick Possibly Fiv Feral Kitten​[/thread]  

Will the city TNR group only lend you traps if you are going to take the cats to see their vet?  You could always tell a little white lie, one of the cats needs to see a vet because of sudden weight gain or a limp etc. Or borrow the traps and then say you were unable to trap the cats.



Another thing you could do is ask the vet if they will lend you a trap. Vets usually have their own traps, especially if they treat feral cats.

I'm not in the US so I'm afraid  can't help you with contact details for organisations that might help you. Some of our members in your country should be online later.

@Norachan - The $2,500 is all of my cat expenses for the month. My own cat is CKD and HyperT and has several big expenses, and one of my foster cats (came from the same location as the ferals) will have some labs and a urinalysis this week. Between the two fosters and my cat, their costs will be about $1,000 of that. Another $1,000 will now have to go to soil and sod, even forgoing the delivery and doing it ourselves. This is an extremely unexpected expense as we intended to lay seed in the fall, but there is no way a kennel will even remotely work if we don't. Even then, our yard is so sloped that we will probably have to really get creative for that to work.

And since I am having to lend out the kennel I already have to my friend for the cat(s) she is taking, I will have to purchase another. which I am not happy about. Aside from that, it will mostly be anything else the ferals will need, such as litter boxes, enrichment, shelter, food, ect.. and then any medical expenses. I am assuming while I have them trapped it would be a good idea to take them in for vaccinations. The new one will most likely need to be neutered (we think he fathered some kittens I found out about two days ago - saving that for another post) and because I do not live in the city and in a very rural area, my zip code is never included in the local grants and also disqualifies me from most low cost spay/neuter clinics. The only one I've found is still $60 and is only offered every once in a while. Also, Sneaky needs to be looked over. I do not know the options for him, as anything I see him having would be too difficult to treat given his feral nature. So we may have to put him to sleep Then the cost of the assistance I offer to the local feral caretakers and a very small cushion for unexpected expenses during all of this. And if I have to buy or rent traps, there is that as well.

In fact, if it wasn't for the sod, securing the fence, and purchasing another kennel, I wouldn't be worrying much about the financial aspect, just how to trap (though I have other cat woes, including my cat's health issues, the turbulent relationship between him and my two foster cats within the home, and the problem of these new kittens at this property).

It is funny you should reply because I happened upon your post the other day and became excited at the fencing possibility. However, I checked and it would be against our stupid HOA. And we are at the beginning of the neighborhood, our fence line exposed to all. We are technically breaking rules by bringing these cats over (pet limit) but are hoping between the good relationship we have with the neighbors and our high fencing, none will be the wiser. Even having a shed is prohibited, so whatever we do needs to be as inconspicuous as possible.

I am not sure if we are required to see their vet, that is a good question. If not, I can surely bend some truth... for the cats! Though I still feel that Sneaky will be far too big to fit in the traps they do offer. I never thought to ask the vet if they have traps. I will certainly call around on that.

Thank you for the suggestions!

Any farm stores in the area? TSC is currently selling a 2-pack of traps---one squirrel-sized and one raccoon-sized (well, those are the pictures on the packaging ) for $29.99 (usually $25 when they have a sale). They aren't nearly as sturdy as a good Havahart but will certainly work for what you want to do. You could sell the squirrel-sized one on craigslist or save it for kittens or whatever. Won't add too much to the cat expenses .
http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...lease-live-animal-trap-pack-of-2?cm_vc=-10005

Bummer about the HOA rules.  Do you have a garage where you can set up a temporary place for them?  (A 10'x10' dog kennel, secured with a wire top would keep them safe until other options are identified).  Then I would work with the sanctuary and try to get them admitted.  It would be far better than being abandoned or put down.

Willowy has a good tip about Tractor Supply traps.  People who rescue a lot probably wouldn't use them but for a one-time trapping, they are ideal.  You can get the kennel there, too.

I have to add here how much I admire you for stepping in here.  Blessings on you and your husband!

Much agreed- major kudos on even trying to figure this out! 

My first thought is absolutely your garage, if you have one. Obivously sodding/etc is one of the big expenses - so getting them in to a garage situation, while not ideal on a permanent basis since in Texas I'd guess it would get super hot in warmer weather, might be the best thing to save them AND your sanity AND your pocketbook. Remember, as hard as it is to think of them being confined in a garage for awhile - if they went to a shelter (which doesn't sound like an option - but I'm just using this for illustration purposes) they'd very likely be confined all (or at least a large portion) of the time to a small cage. So short term confinement in a garage with the eventual release into your neighborhood sounds better than nothing! Same with the feral area at the sanctuary - - if they're more feral than stray tendency-wise, that may be your only option (I understand money sometimes has to put a limit on our boundless compassion, as awful a reality as that is). And again - it's better than them starving to death, etc. 

Tractor Supply is a good source for inexpensive traps - but I'm shocked no shelter in your area (which I understand, given it's Texas, could be a very large area) will at least rent you traps. And maybe I missed it - if you work at a wildlife center - wouldn't they have traps of all sizes they use? If necessary - I'm all in with the "lie if you need to" and say they're injured or pregnant. You're not trapping a huge colony that will take a trap away from an organization for a long time. Most shelters in our area have sign out sheets and require a deposit - but you can usually fairly quickly get on a list. I always say it helps to visit a place like that in person vs phone (although I know for you things could be quite a driving distance) because I used to work at several shelters and it;s MUCH harder to turn someone down who's standing in front of you (vs on the phone!)!!!!

Keep us posted - lots of people on this site can offer all kinds of advice on trapping. And I have to believe your trapping will go fairly quickly - but people with tons of experience are endless on this site. Definitely use it - and use it for sympathetic shoulders too!

First, let me say to all, I cannot express enough gratitude for the suggestions and words of support. I do not even know any "cat people", let alone people (aside from who I work with at the sanctuary and dog shelter) who don't think I'm crazy for taking in animals. They almost always make you feel like you're actually doing too much, which is difficult to comprehend. It's been really discouraging, to say the least.

Since everyone kind of echoed one another -

The Garage - Yes, I do have one. But my boyfriend's mom died this fall and her husband is trying to significantly downsize and move to a smaller house now - so he has given us a good bulk of their belongings to sell and donate, rendering our garage unusable for the time being. Another concern - yes, it is quite hot here! But it is almost always hotter in the garage than outside. We kept our fosters in the garage the first couple of weeks, but that was in the winter - the lack of ventilation I think would be too much during the summer.

The Sanctuary - this was the first place I spoke to about the traps - however, because they work with wildlife so much, and because it is currently baby season, they were very reluctant. I think if it was any other time of year, they would feel more comfortable lending them out. I suppose my hesitation with taking the ferals to the enclosure there is simply viewing it from a cat's perspective. I actually don't know how they introduce cats to their various enclosures, but they only have one person who oversees and does all of the work with the companion animals, and only one other volunteer aside from me routinely helps. Thus, with the workload this woman has I doubt it is anything more than "release the new cat into the enclosure with the other 20+ cats and hope for the best". I can't help from viewing it from a cat's perspective and how terrifying that would be, especially the feral enclosure which has at least 30 cats (hard to know, most like to hide!).

The Shelters - the only thing I can think of is that a lot of the rescues do not really deal with ferals, and there is a huge feral cat coalition organization in the city. So essentially what I've gathered is that any rescues in the city and surrounding areas just refer you to that organization the moment "feral cat" leaves your mouth (even all of the websites list the the coalition's hotline number in regards to ferals). I had called one sanctuary for ferals and strays but they are at capacity, as is a "barn cat" program for ferals I found.

The Feral Rescue - the aforementioned coalition is the one with the restrictions. As we've established here, I can lie... Technically I will likely be TNR'ing DC, and taking Sneaky into the vet. But even then, in order to rent the traps, I have to go through training and their next training class is on the 27th, which is not enough time to trap these guys. My friend will be slowly moving out on the following days and the cats won't come around during all of that, at least not reliably. It also does not give us any time to get them used to the traps by just feeding them in the traps for a week or so prior. And the traps they have look like they may be too small for Sneaky.

Traps - So where I am at right now, is I am going to continue to call rescues and shelters to try and find traps to rent and (optimistically) an experienced trapper to help. In the meantime, I want to prepare for none of that coming to fruition, and hopefully rely on the TCS members as an invaluable resource for questions.

Current Questions -

- What sort of traps are recommended? I was thinking one of the big drop traps would be best, if feasible. Sneaky, Hobo, and Puff are all ear tipped, so I am a bit concerned they will know to avoid the traps. My goal is to get them eating in the traps ASAP because of that.

I think my initial freaking out about traps had to do with the first site I visited being Neighborhoodcats.org ( http://www.neighborhoodcats.org/HOW_TO_RECOMMENDED_TRAPS_AND_EQUIPMENT ) that recommends traps that are very pricey ( http://www.livetrap.com/index.php?dispatch=categories.view&category_id=589 ). But I am now seeing there are more affordable options available, so any recommendations on traps and other accessories (like the trap divider recommended by NeighborhoodCats) would be greatly appreciated!

- Aside from DC (new cat) who may need to be neutered, we absolutely want to take Sneaky in for evaluation, so he will likely be in the the trap for longer and I want to make sure he is as comfortable as possible. He is obese and I'd say maybe 25 lbs? What sort of trap or size would best accommodate a cat of that size?

- In regards to the trapping process - how do I go about this? My worry is that once the cats witness one trap go off, they will not come back, or at least won't for a while. Does that happen? We are on a very tight timeline, so I am stressing out about that occurring, which is why I thought perhaps the drop trap would be best. Any advice on all of that? Hobo and Puff come for every single meal. Sneaky is more unpredictable due to his health, and DC has been pretty reliable for breakfast, but doesn't show up otherwise (I've never seen him in the 2 months he's been around). Would it be best to perhaps trap DC in the morning and then maybe the rest of them at night?

- The enclosure I am lending my friend is a chain link kennel. It has no top/cover, and so I was wondering what my options are for that. Initially I thought a tarp, but I am afraid that may be a bit too hot. Is there some material we could use and attach it with tons of zip ties?

- What are the options for outdoor litter boxes? I have a feeling my friend will not be keen on scooping anything daily... would it be possible, for the 3-4 weeks Hobo (and possibly one other cat) will be contained she can let them do their business wherever and she can poop scoop like you would a dog, or does them burying it make it impossible? If not, they will probably end up with a box that will only be scooped about 2-3x a week when I visit. :/



Again, thank you all for your help. I have felt so alone when it comes to my attempts at cat rescue and it has been discouraging feeling that I may let these cats down by not doing something right due to inexperience. It's an enormous relief feeling I can come here for support and advice
 

You can secure the kennel's sides and top with wire.  I bought wire fencing at Lowes - 36" wide rolls.  I think they were 50 feet long.  Cut it long enough to drape over the sides and zip tie it together along the length and around the edges.  You may have to zip tie some to each corner, too, as sometimes they have gaps.

If they have no box, they will poop and pee in the grass.  If she picks up the poop, it shouldn't be too bad.

An outdoor potty could be a large tote filled with sand.  If you drill holes in the bottom, any rain will drain out.  The sand itself will get wet but it will still be usable.  Both of these are short term solutions, though.

I'd get a trap that is at least 30" long.  They can be pricey, although Tractor Supply sometimes has them at a pretty reasonable price.  That size will give the cats room to move about a little.  If you have to keep one of the cats in the trap for a day or so, you can put pee pads under it.  That way, when he goes, you just have to life the trap and replace the pee pad.  Keeping him in the garage (or if you have a shed) for a few days will lessen the stress of being in the trap.  He won't feel as exposed.  You can also cover the trap - that will help keep him calm.

Good luck with this.  It is a daunting task and kudos to you for stepping up to the plate for these kitties!

@MoxieWild  If you think you could make a drop trap by yourself that would probably be the best way to catch them.

 You would be able to get each cat into a carrier from the trap, so could then take them to the vet for neutering etc


I made an outdoor toilet for my cats but they rarely used it. They prefer to use the earth. I pick up the poop whenever I notice it, but generally they bury it so deeply that I can't see or smell it and it gets broken down by beetles and worms.

Have you seen this thread? This person used a tent to keep her feral cats in while they were getting used to their new home.

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/290942/the-feral-cat-relocation-the-release-process

Sorry for the late reply! I have been sick and we have had very bad weather, which has prevented us from continuing with the sod and soil plans for the time being. It's frustrating because they are predicting 80% chance of thunderstorms for two weeks straight, yet it has only rained maybe half the time. And there is not enough time in between rainy days to let the yard dry enough anyway.

@Ondine - I have two questions about the wire you recommend. Firstly, you suggest wrapping it along the sides. I do agree about the corners (I hadn't thought about that so thank you!) but otherwise, is chain link not really "kitty proof"? Secondly, as for the top, my only hesitation with using wire there would be the lack of shade. I have not seen the property my friend is moving to yet and I don't think it would be a problem if we could place it at least partially under a tree, but I just don't know the landscape. I am hoping to find a compromise between the wire and a tarp, something that provides shade but is also more breathable than a tarp. I know they offer kennel covers at Tractor Supply and the like, but if we can find a more affordable material we can re-purpose for this, that would be ideal.

For the sandbox, would that be okay if it is only scooped 2-3x a week? This will certainly be temporary.

As for the traps, are there any specific brands that are recommended? I am nervous about choosing one that may not be quite as "humane" as another. I know about Havaheart, but are there any others? Would something like this suffice? http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/gfa-catch-and-release-live-animal-trap-pack-of-2

Also, two of the cats will be released pretty immediately, but the other two will be in there for longer. I don't know if this is a silly concern or not, but would it be advisable to put newspaper or something on the bottom of the trap so that they aren't just laying down on wire? I'm not sure if that would be good though, since obviously that would not allow any bathroom business to drain or fall out and it would be too risky to open the cages to change it out. Maybe I am just being too much of a coddler here (it has been known to happen!).

And speaking of opening the cage, the site I referenced before recommends using trap dividers (http://www.livetrap.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=30177) and while I see the obvious benefit to having one (like the newspaper problem above), is that something that is necessary?

@Norachan - To me, the drop trap would be ideal. In a perfect world I'd certainly have opted for the drop trap and accessories and such recommended by Neighborhood Cats. I am not opposed to building my own drop trap, but I am also intimidated about how to do it (particularly the guillotine door). And if I were able to do it, are there specific cages (transfer cages?) that are required? As in, are there only certain cages that have the guillotine style door? Most of what comes up on Google is the Tomahawk brand, which is extremely expensive at about $75+ per trap.

EDIT: In replying to the tent option, I was lead to a totally new idea. So I am deleting that string of thoughts and going straight to the idea they led me to. However, so that my comment below makes more sense I am going to quickly list the pros and cons of the tent:

Pro: Sod could most likely wait, cost effective, timeline friendly, much less stressful. Cons: Once I can release them into the yard, it would actually make laying sod more difficult (I can't sod before pitching the tent because it would prevent the sod from being properly watered and taking root). Then, constantly wet grass and sprinklers constantly going off for the first month seems problematic for the cats (not to mention them digging into the new sod for potty business). Also, the HOA would likely be okay with a kennel, but certainly not a tent, which I feel my neighbors would be more likely to report. Lastly, I fear a tent may be too hot for the weather.


So, my new idea is to temporarily enclose my porch! It is approximately 11 x 8.5 ft and covered. I don't know why I didn't think of this before. Tonight I am going to research and ask around for if there is a good option to only temporarily enclose it, as I really would rather not have it permanently enclosed.

The benefits of this would be many. The cost would certainly be better and it would take less time considering I could postpone the sod and soil. But unlike postponing sodding with the tent, I could feasibly keep them enclosed on the porch and have little issue with continuing with the yard, both laying the sod and then keeping it watered and waiting for the sod to take root in the following month. It may mean they will have to remain enclosed for a while longer, but I think it should be fine. Another benefit is that I don't see anything explicitly in the HOA regulations that state I need preapproval to do this and I don't think my neighbors would mind.

My only concerns are really how to enclose it temporarily, and also, how to keep them from getting inside the house through the backdoor when I go out. So as far as problems go, these seem minor or otherwise completely solvable! I am going to discuss it with my partner tonight, but I am thinking this may actually be the best way to go.

Remaining Questions:

- Trap brand recommendations!

- The trapping process, such as what order to trap what cats if I can't do a drop trap, laying newspaper in the trap, ect... (I am sure more questions on this will come up later)

- Ideas for how best to cover/secure the chain link kennel I am lending to my friend for the ferals she is taking. Need something with good ventilation that also provides shade.

- Ideas for temporarily enclosing the porch

- And, will an 11' x 8.5' space be sufficient for up to 2 cats to live in for 2ish months?


Thank y'all for being so helpful, I am, for the first time, feeling quite optimistic about all of this!

 

An 11 foot kennel will be fine for a short period of time. The wire I used in commonly called turkey wire. It has 2" x 4" openings. You could also use chicken wire, which has hexagonal openings.

I am driving with my husband right now, so I will post a longer answer later. Can't type too well on the phone. (My husband is driving, BTW)

Not sure how handy you are but can you make a frame of wood covered in wire and temporarily attach it to the porch? That may be as much work as actually enclosing the porch. Perhaps a kennel on the porch would work, too. Again, secured with wire fencing. The fencing can be secured in place with zip ties or lengths of wire twist tied into place.

Maybe just making it a permanent screen porch would work, too.

I like Tomahawk traps. They are pricey but I have used the same two traps to catch more than 60 cats and they still work great. I wash mine down with bleach and a good enzyme cleaner and let them dry in the sun after every use.

If you're only going to use the traps a few times, the cheap TSC trap is fine. I got a raccoon in mine, and he bent the wires and door a little but it still works. I don't think cats can do that kind of damage! It may not last 20 years of frequent trapping but it will work for what you want. It's not "less humane"; it's just not quite as sturdy as the more expensive ones. You can put cardboard in the bottom of the trap but, like you said, if the cat will stay in the trap for a while it might not be a good idea.

@Ondine - I'm not totally sure I understand what you mean by attaching a wood frame.. I definitely wouldn't want to put a kennel on the porch because that would make the available space even smaller. I'm hoping tomorrow I will be able to attach a photo of what my patio looks like for reference.

This weekend we are going to head to Home Depot and walk around and just try to brainstorm. We definitely don't want anything permanent for the patio, as we like having an open patio. Hopefully we'll also come up with some idea for the cover/top of the kennel I am lending my friend for the ferals she's taking with her.

As for the traps, we are thinking that since we are going to likely be saving at least a bit of money with this new plan, we might actually spring for the Tomahawk traps, or at least the Havahart. Mostly because we have always had plans of learning to TNR at some point and do so within the community, so I think overall it would be a good investment. It was just A LOT of expense to add for this month's budget, which was pretty much blown because of the soil/sod. But since we are being forced to postpone that until next month, it actually does free up the budget a little.

Since I have never ever trapped before, I'm unsure of how to go about it and I have no idea what to expect.

I am hoping to purchase traps tomorrow, either through amazon or locally so that this next week they can start getting used to being fed next to and then under/in them before deploying. I currently really, really need advice on this purchase. I have no idea how many traps to order. Should I plan to only aim for catching one or two cats at a time (i.e. two traps)? Or should I purchase 3-4?

Hobo and Puff show up at every meal. Sneaky shows most meals, though sometimes skips breakfast. And DC only shows up for breakfast. Should I plan around this somehow? Like try for the three at night and then DC in the morning? Or should I try all of them for the morning, but maybe different days? How is this sort of thing normally done/planned? I'd like to limit their time in the traps if possible, too.

And given the Neutered Three... what is the likelihood that they will be trap savvy? I heard it's extremely difficult to retrap cats after the first time. Should I just bite the bullet and go for the drop trap because of this? I don't exactly have a lot of time to experiment... :/

I just need suggestions as soon as possible on how to plan the trapping and how many/what traps I may need or will increase the chance of success quickly.



 

@MoxieWild  the porch sounds like a great idea. You could close off all the escape routes with deer netting or pigeon netting. They sell big rolls of this in most garden centers. It's pretty cheap and strong enough to keep the cats in. Does your porch have a wooden frame? It would be easy enough to nail the net in place, sandwiched between a thin plank of wood so the cats can't pull it loose.

Anyway, looking forward to seeing pictures of the patio, I think it will be easier to suggest something if we can see exactly what you're working with.

You can make the most of a small space by adding plenty of cat trees, condos, places to hide and climb. It might look crowded to you, but cats will see another level as extra space to live in. Won't you need the kennel for them to sleep in? They'll probably feel safer with somewhere to hide.

I'm thinking of something like this. If you Goggle netted patio you can see lots more of these kind of pictures.



I think it will work better if you can trap them all at the same time. Seeing the other cats being trapped might make them scared of the trap. 3 at night and then DC at breakfast time sounds like a good plan

I have had one very trap savvy tom cat that I was never able to trap, but usually if the cats have only been trapped once before they'll go into the traps again. When I was trying to get my colony TNR'd one male cat allowed himself to be trapped at least half a dozen times because he knew he'd get the tasty bait and then be released again.

I had to re-trap about half of the cats I have now when I moved the colony a few years ago. The males were all "Yay! Tuna!" and walked right into the trap. The females were the ones that took a little more coaxing.

Okay, here are the patio photos:






@Norachan - First of all, thank you for the photo! I am a visual person so that helps a lot. I was looking at some netted patios earlier, but it's just hard to tell what would be "cat proof" since most of the netted patios aren't intended with such use in mind. :/

We were definitely hoping to find some sort of wire or netting for most of it. As you can see, we only actually have one post connecting to the top, so I'm not sure if we might need to do something to help secure the upper half more. What do you mean by sandwiching between a thin plank of wood?

We are also really hoping there may be a way to somehow make this work to where we can maintain access to the stairs as an entrance/exit to the porch, especially since we will be doing a lot of yard work while the kitties are contained. If not, we can make it work, but it will certainly be very helpful and I won't have to hear as much grief from my boyfriend and parents about another "inconvenience" I am "putting myself through for these cats"  

And we are definitely planning on adding enrichment and vertical space. And I probably misunderstood Ondine - by kennel, I was imaging something like the large chain link one I am lending my friend. They will certainly have shelter/hide outs.

I was going to try to convert their winter shelters into something more summer-friendly, but I'm starting to think that will not work. I built a large dog house a few months ago, but depending on which cats I get, they may not be willing to share it. I haven't found much online as far as summer shelter for ferals, but I'm sure I could just make something very similar to their winter shelters (made out of storage bins) but with more ventilation and such. It can certainly be extremely hot and humid here, so I might end up purchasing one of those cooling pads for the particularly rough days.

So if I were to trap the three of them at the same time, should I use three separate traps or would a drop trap perhaps be better (and obviously transferring to separate cages after)?

That makes me feel better you didn't have too much trouble retrapping. We are pretty sure these guys are all males, so maybe they will have a one-track mind as well!

I am beginning to read that drop traps may not be a good choice for an inexperienced trapper. Is that true?

And does anyone know if the Tomahawk traps (for ferals) all have the guillotine style door that would work with a drop trap (I can't tell if that's what "easy release door" means)? I am confused about what all would be required if I were to purchase the drop trap. Is the "transfer cage" ( http://www.livetrap.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=30045 ) necessary or will one of the regular Tomahawk box traps for ferals work?

Since both DC and Sneaky will be in the cages for longer, and due to Sneaky's size, I was looking at purchasing the 36" Tomahawk 608NC model ( http://www.livetrap.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=30179 ). Is it possible to transfer them from the drop trap directly into the 608NC? The transfer cage is specifically made for the drop trap, but the description says that it is also made to transfer from traps that are 10" wide and 12" tall, which are the same measurements as the 608NC model, and if it also has a guillotine door, I don't understand why it wouldn't work?

If drop traps are for more experienced trappers and/or the transfer cage is absolutely necessary (making it a bit cost-prohibitive), I might have to take my chances on some box traps. I've asked my friend if she thinks there is anyway her landlord will allow us to continue trying to trap after she moves to buy us more time. I don't see why he wouldn't, he wants the cats gone and if we don't trap them then he or animal control would have to. By allowing us to do it he wouldn't have to do anything and they would be gone. But you never know, he and the tenants have not been so kind to the strays and ferals there...

The second trap you pictured is the one I use. The guillotine door made it easier for me to feed the cat in the trap. I kept males in it two overnights (before and after neutering). Females I transferred to a crate, as they needed a bit longer to recuperate.

I was thinking you could build a wide enough frame for each opening on your porch. For example, above the railings to fit to the ceiling. This frame is covered in wire and then the whole thing is secured to the ceiling and railings. You would have to also cover and secure wire to the railings themselves. Boards around the perimeter will hold the wire down at the floor. You will have to frame out and install a door. Actually, you could install two doors. One at the top of the steps and the other maybe three feet in. By creating in a small hallway between them, you will be able to close one door at a time to keep the cats on the porch.

@Ondine - Do you have any opinions on the drop trap and whether it is for more experienced trappers? Or if I should just go with individual drop traps?

That is a great idea about the patio! Do you think it would be at all feasibly to secure it otherwise? My boyfriend (who is not handy, mind you) thinks we will be okay if we just do two sections of wire/netting - the top half and then the bottom half (on each side, of course). Do you think there is any way that would work and be secure without having to build a frame or add posts to the top half? If so, we'd only need to figure out the door.

I was sitting out there brainstorming today and definitely did think about how great it would be to have two doors on the steps. But I have no clue how we'd make it work or frame it out at the bottom of the steps! Anything I can conceive of I think would be too much work for an enclosure that will only be up for two months, tops. :/ If for some reason we decided to keep it all (perhaps for future cats) then we could always add something like the second door later.

As always, thank you so much for your help!

Beautiful patio! I think that will make an ideal home for you feral cats. 

If it were mine this is how I would cat-proof it;

Buy a large roll of nylon deer netting. I've used this for the past two years and it's strong enough to resist all my cats attempts to claw through it. Nail it to the floor, leaving approximately 10 cm spare. Nail a long, thin plank of wood on top of the part attached to the floor. Take the spare 10 cm, double it back over the top piece of wood and then using a thick darning needle and some string sew the end of the net to the part that will be the bottom of the net wall. unroll the net and attach the top of the net to the patio roof in the same way. The reason you need the extra plank of wood and the double layer sewn to the "wall" of netting is that the cats are going to try to climb it. If it's just nailed to the floor they will eventually pull it loose and be able to squeeze through the hole they make. You'll need to check all the way around for any gaps. If you can slip your hand through then they can get their head through and once their head is through they're out.

I suggest you look at cat enclosures and catios on You Tube to see what other people have done. The more you look at the more ideas you will get.