Inherited a feral cat colony need some advice

miss kittyycat

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Feb 22, 2017
Messages
4
Purraise
1
Location
Kingman Arizona
Hi I recently moved to Arizona in July '2016 the house I moved into came with a bunch of homeless cats. I love cats so I started feeding them. I can't afford alot so I buy 2 -45 lb of special kitty cat food. In Kingman cats are considered free roaming animals and I guess if you feed them more than 5 days they cats are yours.i went tru the trap and release program here and fixed my entire colony. I have 15 ferals and 4of my own. I made them beds using the plastic totes and also made a few toys. I have named them all and every morning at 630 they all stand on my little bridge that goes to my yard so they can eat. At first I would put down 15 little piles of food because they would fight over the food now I put it closer together because they don't fight anymore. I was wondering about is there anything I can give them either in there water or food when they have a sore or are sick. I am new at the feral cats and just wanted some Info on medication, also grooming tips thank-you
 

tabbytom

Happiness is being owned by a cat
Staff Member
Mentor
Joined
May 12, 2016
Messages
19,672
Purraise
36,870
Location
Lion City, Singa-purr
Hello miss kittyycat, welcome to TCS :wavey:

Thank you for taking care of this colony of ferals kitties. And it's great to hear that they are not fighting over food now.

As for the water, you could place a few bowls of water under shade for them but the thing is you have to change the water regularly. The other way is give them water when you are feeding them. How many times are they fed a day?

Regarding medication, I think it's pretty hard to administer medicine to them as you can't give it to them individually especially the topical ones. As for those by mouth, you can't mix it with the food because those who needs it might not get the right pile and those that don't need it might be eating it. I guess the only way is to trap them and for the more serious ones, you have to trap and bring to the vet.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3

miss kittyycat

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Feb 22, 2017
Messages
4
Purraise
1
Location
Kingman Arizona
Hi, I feed dry food twice daily. I have set up several food station for them. I wasn't sure about how to keep there water from freezing this winter we had about 6 mornings that it was frozen. I have seen on here now several ways to solve that problem.

When I first moved in to my house and started noticing all the cats and I found out that here cats are considered free roaming animals I started doing a head count every morning when I feed
At first I had 18-21 for the first week or so. Than I started watching them to see where they would go. I also walked around my neighborhood and asked if any of them belonged to anyone. After about a month I had figured out who didn't have a home and who did. I have a total of 15 that I feed daily now. I got help from the trap and release program here to get them all fixed and made my shed into a recovery place for them. I have made homes for them using the plastic totes. Over the next few weeks I am going to build them some more beds .i also have cat toys out for them to play with. It took me about a week to give them all names .i have been trying to figure out a way to make a few grooming area for them. I know they have those cat arch things that they can walk under it's like a bristle brush. I don't really have alot of money to buy those, so I am looking to see how to make ones
 

tabbytom

Happiness is being owned by a cat
Staff Member
Mentor
Joined
May 12, 2016
Messages
19,672
Purraise
36,870
Location
Lion City, Singa-purr
Once again, thank you for what you have been doing for the kitties. I'm sure that the kitties appreciate what you are doing for them.

It's good if you can DIY some stuffs for them instead of buying, just in case they don't make use of it.

Feel free to ask questions and I'm sure there are some with experience will help you answer your questions. It's good if you could take some photos of them and share it with us ;)
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

miss kittyycat

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Feb 22, 2017
Messages
4
Purraise
1
Location
Kingman Arizona
Thank-you. I have seen alot of DIY things I can do. They have few beds and little houses I have fixed them. Right now I am building them a bigger feeding station that will be up off the ground. I also am getting ready to plant some cat nip/cat grass for them
I have been looking on DIY for all things I can fix for them.
 
Top