Left Behind Rescues...

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Hello All,

For many years my home backed up to a lush wooded area. It was an amazing habitat for many wildlife species including; Northern Bobwhites, Rabbits Towhees, Catbirds, Herons, Egrets and Florida Bobcats. That all changed when our county allowed a rent controlled apartment complex to be built.

Due to the constant influx of people moving in and out of this complex we have rescued 8 cats that were left behind. Fortunately, 7 of the 8 rescues where easily relocated to new homes. The 8th rescue however, proved to be very difficult due to behavioral problems. For 3 months we did our very best to care for this lost soul. But in the end we failed, he was fatality injured by an automobile. Words cannot describe the devastation my family and I felt over this tragic event.

This brings me to the present time, another abandoned cat has managed to find its way to our home. So far it seems to come and go. It does not beg for food or water, it isn't winding up our own cats by hanging out at open windows or the sliding glass door.

I am reaching out to those of you with far more rescue experience than myself to share perhaps your best methods and/or steps for a safer and smoother rescue and eventually relocation to loving new homes.

My Sincerest Thanks!

Thank you for caring for this kitty!  The first thing I would do is see if he has a home.  If he isn't asking for food, he may be someone's inside-outside cat.  Is there an apartment manager your could recruit to help you?  Perhaps putting notices on each apartment door?

If you can't find an owner, then it is time to trap and vet the cat.  He (or she) will need to be checked for a microchip, then spayed or neutered, if needed.  Vaccines and parasite treatment will be needed too.

Are you familiar with any rescues or shelters in your area?  I would definitely contact them to see if they can help - they may have resources like low-cost vets or help with finding a new home.

If you decide to trap him and cannot get help from others, then prepare a room for him so you can assess what he needs.  If he is (or has become) feral, you may want to consider setting up a shelter for him outside and providing him with daily food.  An enclosure will help keep him from being hit by a car.  All this, of course, after he's treated by a vet (vaccines, parasite treatment, spay/neuter).

When I lived in NJ, our stray cat problem was outrageous, due to one or two irresponsible neighbors.  I built my enclosure for just that reason - to keep our outside cats safe from the busy road.

Keep us posted and good luck!

Hello Ondine,

Thanks so much for your reply. I have saved your suggestions for future reference.

As I said in the original post 8 possibly 9 cats have been rescued from irresponsible tenants living that apartment complex. As a rent controlled residency, it is beyond me why they allow pets at all.  I have considered contacting our local Humane Society and elected officials to complain about this ongoing problem. Most likely though, it will fall on deaf ears.

Anyway, Thanks again for your help!