Lost 2 of my Community Cats Yesterday

[cspressler]

Here is the quick back story:

4 months ago I came across a colony of semi-feral cats at a house who were left by a previous tenant. I fed them, got them all TNR'd, and moved them from the house down the hill to a County Park (the park management welcomed the cat colony!). 

The house where the cats were living went up for sale and the new owners hate the cat colony. Occasionally, a cat will wander back to the house, but for the most part they stay with the shelter I built for them. 

Everyday when I show up, all 10 are there. I have a lady that helps me feed them in the mornings. They are always there, have been for 4 months. 

Yesterday evening when I went out, 2 were missing. I knew right away something was wrong. I called the lady who feeds them in the morning, and she thinks 1 of them was gone that morning and maybe the other was there. She doesn't know them like I do, so she's not as reliable. 

Last night it hit me hard. Harder than I thought. I had bad dreams. 

I just worry that the new homeowners did something to those two cats. It's possible they might come back, but they've been there everyday for 4 months.

Missing my Spider and Oreo...

PS. You can check out my colony on YouTube. I've been making videos. 

 

[di and bob]

There's not much you can do other than check your local shelter to make sure they were not brought there. When we care for these sweet angels there is always the chance that one of the many dangers will take them. I have had a lot of sleepless nights tormented by my dreams, but I have had them return too, so have hope for a while. You might make up some literature for the new homeowners to read about TNR and the money you have spent on these cats. Explain that they are loved and cared for, and were there before these new people came, and that you would appreciate any sightings of the two missing cats because they are loved and missed by many. Ask them to come to you if they have any problems and you will try to solve it. In the meantime I would definitely keep an eye on their house and see if you can spot any traps or any signs of anything else going on, it is illegal to kill a domestic animal in the city limits if you claim it as a pet and have spent money on it, it can amount to animal abuse. If things escalate get hold of a close local chapter of the humane society and see if they will help. People are so ignorant and hateful at times, especially against cats. That is one reason I will always stand by them, and can be just as tough as those haters if I have to be. I cannot understand their hatred of a whole species. All the luck, I will pray for Spider and Oreo, wherever they are. My heart goes out to you.

 

[Norachan]

It's always worrying when they go missing, but please don't expect the worst just yet. Members of the colony I care for sometimes take off for a while and then show up again a week or so later. Some of them have been missing for over a month before coming back as if nothing has happened.

I don't understand why anyone would object to having a managed colony near their house either. I could understand if they were sick cats or if they were breeding out of control, but it looks like you've done a really good job with the cats you care for.

Keep in mind that once a cat has been TNR'd it's very difficult for anyone to trap that cat again. It's very unlikely that the new owners of the house would be able to get hold of Spider or Oreo to do anything to them.

Fingers crossed that your two missing cats come back again.

 

[solomonar]

Once I had the bad idea to take my 8 months ol cat out of the apartment, just to "show him the surrounding". I was an ...ot to do this, knowing the behavior of "expaning territory" most cat have deep inside their genetic code. 

My cat run full speed and it was quite a challenge to catch him. He was displaying an obvious "run-away" behavior. That is quite natural, since the territory size for this indoor cat is a limitation of resources and this problem  must be solved....

So, whenever the reseources are scarce, one may expect cats to go expanding the territory (or shifting for a new one). That is a possibility and as far as I know, there is very little the guardian can do. I second Di and Bob on the advice.

Still, one friend told me that one of his outdoor cats came back after few weeks - in a deplorable status, but still able to recover in some days. Who knows?

 

[cspressler]

Just wanted to update everyone. Turns out the neighbor was trapping the cats and I have no idea what he did with them. I went out today at noon to check on the cats and noticed another was missing. That is when I heard her crying and followed her and found her in a trap. I let her out. 

Myself and the other feral cat caretaker have decided to disband the colony from the park since it is not safe there anymore. There is nowhere good for them to go, but if they stay they will be taken one by one if they wander on to his property. 

Tomorrow we are meeting with a lady who can take 3 cats to her new indoor/outdoor shelter she built. The rest will have to go to the animal shelter's outdoor feral colony. Basically, we have to just dump them there, which isn't ideal. But, what choice do we have?

I brought one home tonight to stay in my guest bedroom. I may or may not keep her. She is crying right now and wants out. My cat has aggression issues so I don't know if they will get along or not. 

Needless to say today was super stressful and my body literally hurts and I'm tired. 

Sad day. 

 

[Norachan]

I'm so sorry to hear this. OMG I bet you're just furious. I know I would be.

First of all I suggest you check out what laws there are to protect feral cats in your state. Some links for you.

https://www.alleycat.org/our-work/anti-cruelty/

 https://www.animallaw.info/article/detailed-discussion-feral-cat-legal-issues

This article states that;

Many state and local governments have not directly addressed the issues of ownership and responsibility related to feral cats.   In fact, only thirteen states and the District of Columbia have any laws that even mention feral cats ( California , Connecticut , Delaware , the District of Columbia , Illinois , Indiana , Kentucky , Maine , Nebraska , New York , Rhode Island , Texas , Vermont , and  Virginia ).   Generally, the state laws that do address these issues do not create substantive guidelines.   Rather, they typically authorize local governments to enact their own ordinances.   The result of this approach is that the law of feral cats can, and often does, vary drastically within the same state.

I suggest that you find out exactly where you stand in terms of how much you can do to protect these cats. If you've paid to have them spayed and neutered and are feeding them regularly many states consider them to be your cats, which means your neighbor has no more right to interfere with them than they would if it was your pet cat or dog that strayed into their garden.

Have you checked the local shelters to see if the cats were taken there? Have you removed the trap? You can take it away and return it after the cats have been moved to a safe place. That would be better than risking any more cats going missing.

Does the animal shelter's feral colony have a fenced in enclosure? If you are forced to relocate some of the cats they need to be crated for at least a month before you let them out. Otherwise they will just try to get home again.

It's good that a few of them have a new shelter they can be moved to. Please keep the one you brought home indoors. She's making a lot of noise now but she doesn't want "out" she wants "home". Just be patient with her and she'll calm down in a few days. I had to move my whole colony a few years ago and the first few days are tough, noisy and heart breaking, but it all worked out in the end.

There are very strict laws to protect feral cats in the country I live in. I know the laws will be different in the US, but I suggest you find out exactly what they are and then confront the new neighbors. Official literature to back you up, the threat of a fine and a calm but determined approach often makes people back down. I hope the neighbors just want a quiet life and the threat of legal action will dissuade them from doing anything to hurt the cats.

Big hug for you and your cats.

 

I know how heartbreaking this is, I've been in similar situations myself. Please keep us posted and know that we are here for you.

 

[catsknowme]

I am so very sorry that the cats were being trapped. I have a neighbor who does the same thing. It isn't right, especially since the cats are being lured over with tempting foods. I would talk to the county park and make them aware of your situation, in case someone else tries relocating other cats there -maybe someone from the county can speak to the new homeowner because trapping cats is not okay, but deterring them is. in fact, maybe a group of cat lovers would go with you to offer a flyer with suggestions for deterring cats - there are lots of humane ones.