Starting Feral Cat Caretaker

Today is a nightmare. There is some sort of city inspection tomorrow. There are workmen everywhere, loud noises, trucks driving within two feet of feeding station. Almost all cats have taken off and are hiding. Except Slappy who us acting like he's in charge. Oh and Wolfie who is normally very shy and among the very last to eat came out saw all the food bowls with nobody near them and just went crazy. She just sat there in the middle of all the dishes and stuffed herself. Totally ignored everything going on around her!

I'm always amazed at how different cats react.  The ones you expect to head for the hills decide to take advantage and pig out!

Hope everything calms down tomorrow and you can get back to your routine.

Good news bad news kind of day.
Spoke to the humane society this morning and the kittens have been fostered and all are doing well! They all stand a good chance of adoption.
Slappy may be going into an evaluation program and put up for adoption. He is very people friendly and has lived indoors before. So I have high hopes of his finding s forever home and human.
sigh..Slappy didn't show up for morning feeding. He's usually the first in line. Trying not to get to upset. He pulled this before only to come strutting up to me the next day.

He's timing his arrival so that just the right humans come along to adopt him.  Never ceases to amaze me how the universe works.

Vibes he comes along soon, just so you don't have to fret anymore.

Slappy has been spotted. Once by me but he just meowed and scurried off. Reports are reaching me from neighboring yards that he has been very active with several females around here. My favorite comment about his activity: You know that company that makes those little blue pills? They really should study that cat. Your all set to have him nuetered right?

JaneM said:

Slappy has been spotted. Once by me but he just meowed and scurried off. Reports are reaching me from neighboring yards that he has been very active with several females around here. My favorite comment about his activity: You know that company that makes those little blue pills? They really should study that cat. Your all set to have him nuetered right?

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Vibes you catch the little bugger soon.

Things starting to settle down around here at last. City inspection went pretty well. Oddly the only bad marks were against the two people who keep throwing shade at me. Inspector even liked how I was setting up feeding station and shelters for ferals!
Landlord even gave me another of those big Styrofoam boxes his wife gets diet food in. (I've seen her and don't believe she really needs to lose weight, still those boxes turn into rather nice shelters.)
Alto landlord is planning to clean out and board up old garage next door. He wondered of there were any mommy and baby cats in there. I told him there probably was. So he wants to be more careful this time!
Only about seven cars for morning feeding. Probably will take some time for others to feel safe again. Oh, Slappy is back and very hungry. Must have worked up an appetite.

Ten cats at evening feeding. Momo still missing. She has always been timid though. She was hiding under trailer but I think has moved to garage with another female....they could be sisters. Wolfie continues to amaze. I was sitting on the ground and she came over and sat about a foot from me.

Yes, any change will disturb them.  Will you be able to trap the ones in the garage before its torn down?  If not, do you think there are some other places they can go to?  Knowing this will help when you are able to trap.

I always love to watch how diffferently they react.  Sometimes they surprise you.

This is Sweetie my indoor kitty. She was found in a backyard not quite weaned. A boy brought her to me. She is now very spoiled and was very jealous of the outside kitties. She is now quality control tasting a small amount of the food before it's taken out. She has also started alerting me that feeding time is near and the kitties are gathering. I suspect she thinks she is in charge.

I wish I had a known date for the work on the garage. He's not tearing it down he's boarding it up to try to keep cats out of it. This has been tried before several times the cats get back in every time. I have asked I be allowed to trap first. That's a big maybe. As far as I can tell a lot hinges on complaints received about the cats, his need to keep his workmen employed, and probably a few other things.
As far as shelters: after the trailer incident I was on full on panic mode. Slapped together shelters from three of those insulated diets food boxes. Cut up a blanket to pad them somewhat (I know I should use straw...getting that mid next week), Put them on a pallet that was to be food station and rigged tarp meant for food station over them. The whole thing pretty much jerryrigged but they can use it for now. I Will have more to work with next week. I can't wait, feeling very rushed.
On top of rushing to get shelters built, I have a sweet lady next door who has been feeding cats for years but no TNR. Working through her daughter I have enlisted her help in helping to trap and nueter. Then there's a problem drunk here who's been threatening to poison them tries to scare them away from feeding times...landlord says he'll talk to him.
Taking care of the ferals is easy dealing with all the different people is not.

JaneM said:

Taking care of the ferals is easy dealing with all the different people is not.

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Unfortunately, too true.

You've taken on a daunting task.  My humble prayers are with you.

Prayers are never to humble. I'll take all of them I can get. Thanks so much!

God bless you for your kitty caring! We also care for a feral colony, 14 of them. We've done TNR with all bu two. Unfortunately, both are female and one had a rendezvous before we could have her spayed. So we now have four new babies. Soon as they are weaned we'll have her spayed. Working on socializing the other female now, so she will make the trip too. Seems that you are doing well with your care. We are fortunate to have a storage shed we were able to convert to a kitty home.We go to garage sales for sheets and towels to use for bedding. Also have a large litter box in there in case of inclement weather. In addition, we have 13 altered babies inside, all altered and ranging in age from a year to 13 yrs. My prayers are with you. If I can help in any way, please let me know

Thankyou for your prayers! They are much appreciated.

I am curious as to what kind of paper work I should be keeping. I started trying to get pictures of each cat for a record but that's not going do will. I have a lot of shots of furry butts retreating and faces shoved in food dishes.....sigh

  Yeah, you'll get a lot of fuzzy shots.  Some people on this site have purchased trail cameras to keep track of the comings and goings.  That might work.  Otherwise, just keep trying for decent pix.

Our feral caretaker's association had a sheet of paper for each cat - name, approximate age, gender, date of neutering/spaying, dates of vaccinations (and their certificates), any distinctive marks (ear tipping, scars, unusual eye color or markings, etc).

One lady kept up a journal of sightings for each cat - time of day they usually showed, any distinctive behaviors.  One of her cats always rolled on its back when he saw food coming.  She thought that was funny but it also helped identify him as he was one of four tuxedo brothers who generally looked alike.

Some cats have an unusual voice or meow or maybe a individual way of walking.  Anything that will help identify the cat is helpful.

I kept all my info, along with a record of any vet visits, in a ring binder with paperwork in sheet protectors.  Each cat had a section.

Some people go as far as chipping their feral colonies but that is an expense that many can't afford.

I love the binder idea. Definitely going to try that. Will make two one for me and one for the landlord (which he will probably lose in that office of his). Chipping I'm afraid a bit beyond me at the moment maybe on the future. Right now my focus is on getting these boys and girls nuetered.

Speaking of which....ah the wonders of nature. Mating season here. The boys won't even leave the girls alone to eat. Trapping starts May 31st.....I just keep repeating that like a mantra.

 for the trapping.

Morning feeding went very bad. Only three males showed up. Is it possible the females have gone in hiding from the males? Hopefully tonight will go better.

Ok, so I go out to start cleanlng up and of course Slappy is trying his best to stop me. He hates the leftovers being taken away. Bandit showed up mewing really softly about tens feet away. So I scooped her a bowl of food before I could put if down she had run right next to me. She practically sat in my lap to eat. The whole time keeping am eye on the males. Didn't budge when i waved my hand to shoo a male away either. She sniffed my fist but no petting. She makes this little hmmm sound like thinking it over.