Starting Feral Cat Caretaker

A dying kitten was found this morning. I tried to save it but there really wasn't much that could be done. I tried keeping it warm and massaged it's chest. For a few minutes it seemed to respond. Then it was gone. It was only about 2 weeks old.

I cried for that sweet baby when I read your post, thank you so much for being there. Nobody should be alone in this world when they are about to leave it. You will be blessed for trying and showing that little one that someone cared. I know how much your heart broke, even though you didn't know that sweet little soul. RIP little one, your life should never have ended that soon. But you are now resting in peace, a true angel at the Rainbow Bridge!

Oh, so sorry to read this.  You are doing all you can, please know that.

RIP sweet kitty.

Thanks for the kind comments. I buried the little one next to Lacey's grave. Lacey had been my best friend for nearly 17 years. Lacey had the gentlest and most loving soul. I asked her to please take good care of the little one.

Well I did something I probably should not have done. At morning feeding I got really tired of the boys snarling and hissing so I dropped to all fours and snarled. Told them if anyone was going to be top cat it was going to be me. They all stopped their fussing and ate quietly all the time sneaking glances at me.

Good for you!  I've found that asserting authority is pretty effective.  I use those cans of air and one psst usually breaks things up quickly.

They probably won't fuss at one another in your presence for awhile at least.

Most of my cats are missing! They came by for breakfast then took off all day. For dinner feeding only the mostly black ones showed up. I am spoiled usually Slappy meets me at the door demanding food. Eventually he showed up wanting a belly rub but no food. That belly felt kinda full to me. Lately the mostly white cats and the mostly black cats have been at war with each other too. I'm worried that Slappy and his crowd may have found another place? How do I get these two clans to start getting along?

They may have.  Any way to talk to the neighbors and see if someone else may be feeding?

They could be going several blocks away if the other feeder is offering good stuff.

Can't remember if everyone is fixed but once that's done, things should settle down.  If some are being fed in another place, their smells may be strange to the ones who stay close to your place.  That can cause troubles.

Not all nuetered. Nine have been but I still have about six more to TNR. Sigh....just spied two kittens about five weeks old by garage. Actually saw Tatters stalking Slappy tonight, chased him away but usually Slappy dominates this time he was cowering.

No matter what, you are going to have issues.  I have seven cats inside a 1,600 SF home.  Six large cat trees, a sun room with three walls of windows, so plenty of vertical space and plenty of places for each cat to have privacy.  Yet, one of our cats,a tortoiseshell named Teresa, insists that she is not only the queen on the house but that everyone must do as she dictates.

She's learning that not everyone will bow to her will.  Some ignore her, some challenge her but every day, there are hissing contests and once or twice, a swatting match.  Sometimes, I intervene; sometimes I let things play out.  They have to learn to live together.

BTW - Teresa had her own room in our old house, so she's used to being an "only" cat.  We do not have an extra room for her here, so she's stuck making the adjustment.  Life is hard sometimes, ya know?

Yes you do have a very full house! Things pretty much back to normal this morning!?!? There was a break in the heat this morning and I think that's what made the difference. Appetites were back! Slappy and Rudy were actually sharing a dish with absolutely no fussing! Then the heat started coming back and everyone took off. Probably hiding in garage. Found out this morning back of garage wasn't mended so cats still getting in and out at will. Haven't seen Jackson for a couple days but normal for him. TicTac disappears for a week at a time too. There is a lady across the street I am told will feed cats that go in her yard. Haven't figured out which lady across the street yet though. Slappy and Patches are almost always here though and not prone to wandering. So when those two disappear I worry.

A major goal has taken place! Slappy has moved from under the trailer to the tent! He took his after breakfast nap there! Sounds like a simple thing but Slappy, Jackson and Patches have been very stubborn about giving up that trailer even if they could only get under it. Then Rudy took to guarding the tent so no one could get in. Rudy's finally calmed down!

This sounds like great news.  Hoping everything calms down soon.  We use so much time worrying about them.

I never realized how emotionally invested I would get. They all have unique personalitys and quirks. I worry about Slappy who is the smallest of all of them but has the biggest aditude. Patches who is the reigning queen and lets no one forget it. Jackson who struts around with a surley cockiness that makes me giggle. Midnight who likes to hide behind me to eat. Bandit who loves climbing all over me whether I am into it or not. And all the others somehow have become a sort of family to me.

Everyone I know teases me about my cats.

"You sound like they're your kids."  

To which I reply "And your point is...?"

Ondine said:

 
Everyone I know teases me about my cats.

"You sound like they're your kids."  

To which I reply "And your point is...?"

Click to expand...

Haha me too.  And until 4 years ago, I was a dog person and didn't like cats all that much, until my foster fail Ninja.  Then again my dog (who passed away at 17) was my baby too.  I have a grown daughter and grandkids who I love to pieces, but honestly I spoil my pets more. 

Things are settling down quite a bit. Cats brought home a friend for dinner. A friend with a notched ear!?!? Came and left from the back of the garage yard. May need to investigate. Thought a church was back that way.

Curious as to why rabies shots given are only good for a year. Seems like I'll be trapping constantly, some for nuetering and the rest to get shots up graded.

The second shot is usually a three year booster.  There is a school of thought that the vaccine's benefit can be life long.  Here's a pretty good article that explains where that might be going:

http://www.petmd.com/blogs/dailyvet/2009/August/06-4536#

Yeah, well there's a reason Monday's suck. Didn't even get to finish my morning coffee when I wound up defending the TNR going on to the landlords daughter. She's hot headed and goes off now and then. She was going to rescue her father by getting rid of all these cats. Going to trip them all any turn them loose in a wooded area near a Krogers. Had to explain why that way not a good idea. Wound up giving her a bunch of TNR literature and a business card from the lady from the humane society.

Did agree to pick up any cat doodoo from yard. Which means I'll be cleaning up after the downstairs neighbors dog also....whatever...his true colors will show eventually.

I knew things were too peaceful.

Well, you can't complain that your life is boring!

Sorry, sometimes it does seem that it is one thing after another.  Hopefully, the education you gave that woman helps.  Every little bit is important, even if it seems sometimes like you're Sysiphus, King of Corinth!