Problems with setting feeding stations

catsknowme

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 Bless you for all your efforts!  It sounds like Missy is not truly feral and if you trap & tame her, she will have a better chance then if left alone on the streets.  Even if you have to surrender her to a shelter, she will have a chance.  The streets are not kind to feral kitties who have no humans looking out for them. Thank you for keeping us updated!
 
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lisa1950

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update on feral cat colonly vrs. Elk Lodge and Heartland. Director at my work place demanded that I  sign an agreement to go to counciling about my refuseing to stop feeding cat colony or get fired. this has nothing to do with my work performance. The Elks Lodge is threatening to terminate parking lease with Heartland if I  do not stop feeding colony. As you know I have been feeding the colony for  about nine years now and have made a few mistakes but corrected them. the animal rights  group is working to relocate the colony.
 
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lisa1950

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recently I have been  told  by my  employer to go for counseling with a shrink or get fired for continueing to feed    the colony I have cared for 10 years .the two .businesses that the colony has lived on  all their lives demand that the cast leave without letting me trap them and relocate them to  a different location as soon as a enclosure is built..one of the cats has a limp and  may not able to hunt.when I go to feed the cats at 5AM every morning, the food dishes and water dish is gone. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS EXPECTED OF ME to say at the meeting. I decided to continue to feed the colony untill they are relocated..
 

kittens mom

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recently I have been  told  by my  employer to go for counseling with a shrink or get fired for continueing to feed    the colony I have cared for 10 years .the two .businesses that the colony has lived on  all their lives demand that the cast leave without letting me trap them and relocate them to  a different location as soon as a enclosure is built..one of the cats has a limp and  may not able to hunt.when I go to feed the cats at 5AM every morning, the food dishes and water dish is gone. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS EXPECTED OF ME to say at the meeting. I decided to continue to feed the colony untill they are relocated..
I would opt for the counseling. It may buy the time you need. At the meeting you need to present a proactive plan. That would be a local feral/cat rescue group agreeing to take the cats immediately.  

You have been feeding the cats for 10 years. Are the cats S/N. What is the reason after 10 years they be removed ?
 
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lisa1950

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the last cat was finally TNRd   in May 2016. all are finnally TNRd. Can not think of any reason why they suddenly decided to want the cats removed from the property.. the two businesses claim "my actions are . interfering with the health and safety of others" I know   that the cats are not showing them selves when other people are around. I  keep the feeding area clean of trash and only feed them way in the back of the property behind what I call the wooded area where they are not seen from the parking area. you would have to walk thru the wooded area to find the food bowls and water dish.someone isremoveing the bowls almost daily and putting them in the dumpster. The manager of Elks Lodge claims" the cats are breeding like wild fire". I have not seen some of the cats in months. I only feed them  mornings and do not wear my uniform untill I leave for work at 3PM. Thank you for your advice. no one else is willing to give me suggestion on how to deal with this issue. Do I agree to stop feeding cats when asked ?  no one is around when I feed them at 5AM. 
 

kittens mom

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the last cat was finally TNRd   in May 2016. all are finnally TNRd. Can not think of any reason why they suddenly decided to want the cats removed from the property.. the two businesses claim "my actions are . interfering with the health and safety of others" I know   that the cats are not showing them selves when other people are around. I  keep the feeding area clean of trash and only feed them way in the back of the property behind what I call the wooded area where they are not seen from the parking area. you would have to walk thru the wooded area to find the food bowls and water dish.someone isremoveing the bowls almost daily and putting them in the dumpster. The manager of Elks Lodge claims" the cats are breeding like wild fire". I have not seen some of the cats in months. I only feed them  mornings and do not wear my uniform untill I leave for work at 3PM. Thank you for your advice. no one else is willing to give me suggestion on how to deal with this issue. Do I agree to stop feeding cats when asked ?  no one is around when I feed them at 5AM. 
Someone had to have complained about something.  You need to find a rescue group that will trap and remove the colony and them have them contact the property owners.

Education can be difficult. Because if you have a large number of feral cats in your area once these are removed more will simply move in.

Unless you can afford to lose your job and the right to even be on the property.

We have several rescues that post on these boards.  You are not the first poster to be struggling with a situation like this.
 
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Willowy

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Is there a nearby area (preferably wooded) that doesn't belong to either party? If so, see if you can feed them there. I'm sure they have a pretty large range so even if it's not right next door they should find the food.
 
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lisa1950

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the relocateing plan is on hold untill a enclosure can be built. am not expierenced  at  wording info about feral cats to  OTHER PEOPLE THAT DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A FERAL CAT.  Would it be a waste of time to  give out brief info about the feral cats?    Where could I find the info that might change some peoples thinking about feral  cats  within a days time? My   meeting with  some one that handles mental cases;drug addicts;alcoholics for the company I

currently work for.
 

ondine

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Try www.alleycat.com.  Alley Cat Allies.  They have a lot of info and I am sure you can find something.

Good luck with your meeting.  I would just offer info.  Do not try to persuade anyone - just state the facts.  Try not to get emotional - and I know that will be difficult.  But if they are looking for excuses, the calmer and more matter-of-fact you are, the better.
 
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lisa1950

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am ordered to go for  counseling seccesions for continueing to feed the cats. the counselor   thinks that these two business have better things to do than deprive the colony of food and water. she will file her report  soon and give me a copy. have to go to meet her again next week .haveing the enclosure  built at the new location is work in proggress. the animal organizations. here are  hopeing the cats will be able to stay where they are maybe.
 

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My heart goes out to you. If you need counselling for having a heart and doing what is right then I guess I would as well. I would do the same as you. In my world the people that need the counselling are those that feel threatened by some little kitties on the property. If the number of cats is getting out of control then maybe the owner(s) should step up like a decent human being and help you TNR them. They should feel fortunate to have an employee that has as much heart and dedication as you. A person that stands up for what they feel is right even if nobody else supports them.

In my world you are number one, top employee that should be giving instead of getting counselling. I sure hope things work out in your favor, you deserve it!
 
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lisa1950

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am haveing to feed Missy back behind the dumpster at my work place to avoid being seen. not sure if she hangs out anywhere else on either properties. some one keeps stealing the food dishes . have moved the other feeding stations off private property into wooded area behind property hidden. Missy only shows up a when I  take    the garbage out  to     dumpster in the evenings.other people think it is too risky to put a 

trail camera up at the different locations. am no longer required to go for counseling for feeding the cats.

will get a copy of her report in the mail. am still being watched when I go to feed the cats in the mornings. I       write down their  tag numbers .  when I work evenings , will start feeding her  on a pathway behind the dumpster. wish they would leave us alone. gets stress .full at times                  
 

shadowsrescue

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Can you just use disposable bowls?  That way you can just put out a fresh bowl each day.  You can get some at the Dollar Store.
 
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lisa1950

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my counseling meets have ended. will be getting copy of her report in the mail. was  told that I  the one that needs counselling  but the two managers from the two business. today     I found the whole under fence where the cats come and go blocked by a cement block. this whole issue about the cats roaming the property where they were born makes me angery and heart broken. do not understand what the real problem is with these people.  
 

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"do not understand what the real problem is with these people."

Do not waste your time trying to understand the cold hearted *******s. You will never understand them, unlike you and I they have no heart.

The guys that own the company I work for let me bring two cats in to the building I work at. The owners have no problem with me spending a portion of my day with the cats and I even took over a room in the building for their safe space. I get a home for my cats at work and the owners get a mouse free building. I pay for their food, litter and vet and the owners are providing a home for them. It is a win win situation for us all, including the cats. That is what decent people do. I feel so bad for you because you don't deserve what the people at your work are putting you through.

I would guess you are left with one choice. With what they are doing it could escalate and they could do something truly sickening to the cats. Taking away their food and water is really bad, would hate to think what they are capable of. You should get in touch with local cat rescue people and get them to help you relocate the cats. I pray to God that you have some people close by to help. You won't be able to change the people at your work because they probably think you are crazy. You are not crazy, unless having a conscience and a heart is considered crazy. If you are crazy then so am I, as well as most of the people that come to The Cat Site, so at least we are not alone in our crazy world.
 
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catsknowme

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 You are not alone in thought and spirit, my friend  and fellow cat-guardian! I was horribly disappointed to read that the cats are being denied safe access.  In my experiences with feral colony management, I found that many cat-haters thrive on drama & bullying. I have even encountered animal control officers who are adamant that my TNR'd kitties are a "health threat" because they assume that I am too stupid to have had my TNR'd kitties vaccinated. 

I am glad that you went through the counseling because I am sure that it bought you more time for the kitties. During my difficult marriage, I began going out & about at odd hours to locate, feed & TNR cat colonies. Instead of shopping for clothes & going on trips or out to eat, etc., I spent my money on cat food & vaccinations (our local animal rescue group paid for the spay/neutering). Later, I went to a top-notch psychologist who is married to a forefront psychiatrist & they agreed that my cat rescue efforts are a healthy way to spend my time. Cat rescue goes in line with my spiritual Christian & also my native beliefs - in fact, I have been able to "rescue" transient humans as well. Last year, my prayers were answered when I met a retired couple who took over feeding my main colony at the grocery store! I have also been able to enlist the occasional help of regular transients to feed the cats. In fact, if you were here, I think that you and I would make a very dynamic "under the radar" cat-rescue-league. 

Are the kitties going to be relocated? I am hoping and praying for all of them, especially Missy, and am sending prayers and vibes for encouragement and fellowship for you....thank you for the updates! Susan 


Remember: your TCS family is very proud of you...keep on soldiering! 
 & you can PM me anytime!!!
 
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lisa1950

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at this time not sure if  I combined feeding stations into one ,would cats       find the food .do not know who is eating where. it is important that I feed cats and leave quickly. worried that some may not get  to food before neighborhood dogs do.
 

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at this time not sure if  I combined feeding stations into one ,would cats       find the food .do not know who is eating where. it is important that I feed cats and leave quickly. worried that some may not get  to food before neighborhood dogs do.
You can only do the best you can.  Are the neighborhood dogs running free?  If they are with owners, I would place a sign stating feral cat feeding station please keep your dogs away.  If the dogs are running loose there is very little you can do. 

I thought a rescue group was going to help you move the cats to a better location?  What happened to this plan?
 

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Put the food on top of something a cat could climb up to but a dog could not. Or some sort of structure with entrances large enough for a cat but too small for a dog. Possibly a structure made from 2x4 wood studs and chicken wire with multiple entrances so the cats cannot get cornered in it. Problem is other critters such as raccoons would still be able to get at the food. Putting up signs is a good idea but again it won't stop raccoons and other little critters not to mention dog owners who won't care. Maybe a combination of the above and feed the cats early in the day and hope they get it eaten before raccoons come out later in the day.

Not many houses near where I was feeding my feral cats before I brought them inside. My problem was raccoons. The raccoons got daring and started coming earlier and earlier before I trapped the cats and brought them in.
 
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