I MADE A BIG MISTAKE CARING FOR 11 CATS THAT I NEUTERED..WHAT HA:PENS TO THEM NOW????

bichons9

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I have written so much over the last 8 months but may have sentenced 11 cats to death. When a mother cat had babies on my front porch and thought we found her dying in our garage, I went into the "caring" mode even though I AM NOT A CAT PERSON..Well by the next dahy, mom was feeding her kittens on my porch so apparently the cat Frank buried was not the mom. Anyway, by September, another litter was born and we did not know what to do so I had mom, dad, and the 9 kittens neutered when kittens were old enough because I thought it was the right thing to do. During winter, because it got so cold, we put heating lights over the wicker furniture where they slept. We live in a very nice subdivision and my neighbor is not reallyl happy that the cats lounge on his porch at times.  After spending the day, calling all agencies in "MISSISSIPPI", there are no sanctuaries for cats. Many cat people have told me all that I have done wrong and is essence told me, "If you are not willing to care for them, just turn them over to Animal Control that kills them." REALLY?? That is my only recourse? Another said, "You're not willing to take them in your house to see how they behave?" Really? I AM CARING FOR THE CATS but the small subdivision is not appropriate for cats I guess. AS I said, I have no love for cats though I do like watching them.They are so cute. I acted because I love all animals and do not want them to suffer or be harmed by other human  beings. So, I made mistakes by feeding and kept feeding them and keeping them warm in mid winter. I thought that new babies after nursing would not know how to fend for themselves. Now, I am tiold, "You have a colony" that will not leave. Why not build a house for them?" Really? Is it terrible to say, I do not want any cats. in my house. I do not mind feeding them and them living on my porch but my neighbors do mind I have 6 dogs. Another said, "Had I tamed them at 6-8 weeks, I would not have this problem. They would be adoptable." Really? My mentioning that these are not my cats means nothing, I guess and I made mistakes by my actions which I thought were good...The only possible suggestions given to me are, "Try to find people who need barn cats." Who? I know no one in this state. We are willing to travel to a place where there might be a refuge or sanctuary for feral/ stray cats. If anyone has any suggestions/ advice, please contact me. I am desperate and wish not to have my neighbor harmed by my mistakes...but will continue to care for the cats until a solution is found...Thank for reading.
 

mysticotala

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Are the kittens still young?  If you can go online and find a shelter that promotes their animals (through facebook or website, etc) there is a good probability that if they are they will get adopted quickly. People adopt cats that have been outside for years, them not being 'trained' doesn't make them not adoptable!  What a silly thing for people to say.

I found a website that lists no-kill shelters by state, you might want to try some of them.  You may have to bring them to a few different ones depending on space.  You don't necessarily need to bring the younger ones to a feral cat sanctuary, I bet you would have luck at a regular shelter.

You did a great thing by helping them and getting them fixed!  Don't let anyone convince you otherwise!

http://www.nokillnetwork.org/d/Mississippi/
 
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kittens mom

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You should know that in most bylaws for Animal Control if you feed an animal for X amount of time or provide for it the law considers them yours.  I hope one of the rescues that post here can help guide you to someone who can help. Thank you for fixing them. What you are doing for cats you don't want is more than many so called loving owners do.
 
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bichons9

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Thanks for your support. The babies are the size of their parents almost..The 2nd litter is at least 5 months old. The first litter at least 7 months. I do know of 2 no -kill shelters in Hancock county MS and St Tammany parish in Loiuisiana.I read an article about feral vs stray. My husband can stay on the porch with some of them when feeding them. The mom ribs herself on our window while we are at the window. I do not believe they are feral..Maybe just afraid. The father doesn't approach Frank but comes to him when feeding. He is a beautiful grey plush fur looking cat and you can tell that 3 of the kittens are his. However, if the kittens were born and have never left our property, can they be called feral? I do not know what to call them when speaking to agencies? Thanks for the information!!!
 
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bichons9

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I did not know that.law..Soooo.. I have 9 (possibly) 11 outside cats..Well I act like their mine since I am trying to find them a place to live. But as I stated somewhere, we sort of like caring for them in the sense that we watch, feed, convert our porch into bedroom with heating lamps to keep them warm. However, when a neighbor says nicely, "They are a nuisance and bringing fleas in our house"...I felt no other option than to do what I am trying to do now..find them a place to live in peace and be able to have food. I will miss them.
 

kittens mom

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I did not know that.law..Soooo.. I have 9 (possibly) 11 outside cats..Well I act like their mine since I am trying to find them a place to live. But as I stated somewhere, we sort of like caring for them in the sense that we watch, feed, convert our porch into bedroom with heating lamps to keep them warm. However, when a neighbor says nicely, "They are a nuisance and bringing fleas in our house"...I felt no other option than to do what I am trying to do now..find them a place to live in peace and be able to have food. I will miss them.
I wasn't criticizing. I took in a stray this year and AC informed me of this law. A bit of research shows it's pretty common. If you take in an animal and care for it , it becomes yours.

you can flag your own post and ask for help there are several great rescues that are experts at digging up resources.
 

mysticotala

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Feral is usually defined as little to no socialization with people. As you describe them, your two litters are quite accustomed to the presence of humans and have been fed by humans their entire lives, I certainly wouldn't consider them feral. As you continue looking for homes for them, maybe try luring them with treats to further trust you and possibly get some petting in. You may have to be able to get them in a cage at some point to take them to a shelter.
And 5-7 months is a good adoptable range in my opinion.
And it sounds like the mom and dad cat aren't really feral either. Again, if they seem like if you had some time that they would trust you, I wouldn't consider them feral.
 
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bichons9

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Oh..I know you weren't. I appreciate all of the info I can get..Thanks!!!!!
 

catwoman707

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Oh my I have so much to say here yet I am out of time today, I have to get off of my computer and get ready for work.

I will be sure to make time tmrw afternoon to write.

Many years of experience in caring for outside kitties, TNR, ferals, socialization.
 

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In cases like this, you had the heart to care for the cats and the wisdom to get them neutered to avoid having a serious population problem.  The cats now "own the territory because that's where they have grown up.  Unfortunately. you are in Mississippi which doesn't have a lot of animal welfare groups.  All it takes is one selfish and cold hearted neighbor to spoil what looks like a fine situation.  Your cats will prevent you having any rodent problem and will probably eliminate snakes in the grass we well.  If your neighbor is so cold that a cat lounging on his/her porch is a big deal, there are many humane ways to fix that.  There are motion sensitive sprinklers for your yard that go off whenever the motion sensor is triggered.  Having those around his/her porch would keep cats away.  You could even offer to procure a set (some people just like to complain so the only way to shut them up is to fix it yourself.)  You can also use flea medicine on your cats, which will be better for the cats and will totally stop the neighbor in his tracks.  "My cats are all treated with flea preventative, so if you have fleas, they are coming in with other animals -- rabbits, stray dogs, raccoons, possums and the like."

Unless your area has a pet limit, your neighbor can't do anything.  Maybe your neighbor needs to learn the good points of cats, like it seems you are doing.
 
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bichons9

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I thought that i wrote already..but may have not done it correctly..I did not think you were criticizing..I am frustrated, irritated, and sad. I tried to do the right thing because I love and live for ALL animals (and temporarily I hope), live in a state that animal rights are not big priority at all. It seems like all I did and am doing is just making the cats' ability to find a home unlikely do to my lack of experience. 
 
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bichons9

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The more I watch their behavior, I agree...The  cats are probably just afraid. Mom cat sits in the window and when I sit on ledge with glass between us, rubs, paws at me, plays as if we were together. However, when I walk out, she does not approach me and is skiddish. We cannot pet them but they come onto the porch while my husband feeds them. I sat out there with treats but had to throw the treats about 5 feet away for the mom to take them. All others simply stood 8-10 feet away watching.

P.S. It may sound odd when I tell you that I own 2 gorgeous cats that I was "tricked" into taking since I only wanted my 8 bichons (dogs). A lady saw a ?? you2??? page i had (can't remember what it was called) and concluded I was a real animal rights advocate and wanted her precious 2- 8 weeks old strays with us. She  called asking us to take a  cat and we refused. She, then said that she had a kitten that no one wanted and was not very attractive afraid for its future and
 so we gave in. She showed up with 2 beautiful kittens claiming they were 6-8 wks old but DVM told us they were 12 wks and so..THEY ARE FAMILY now even though they seem to have no use for us unless they want something. I do not understand cats and never had a desire to own one but we love them because (like I said) "They are our family" Afyer 8 years, Elliott just went into remission with D.M. and keeps to himself. and Trouble comes to my bed to be combed and sleeps on my bed. However,  if either sense I want to pick them up, they walk off. And so, we are not cat people (except for our 2 indoor  cat family members that do not seem to care for us much and still hit me when I walk by them..HeeHee)
 
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bichons9

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Thanks..They are not mean people..We have offered to secure their back porch  structurally so the cats can't get in during really bad weather. Apparently, the cats find their porch safer in bad weather but also, the wife thinks that 2nd liter was born in their bushes. I do not know if that's why they wander there..which they do regularly. The cats do not wander to other neighbors. We all have sprinkler systems but they are not motion stimulated. I thought of applying flea meds but I have to be able to touch them to do that. And I have no flea issues..and wonder if the fall weather and leaves really caused their problem. They were not happy that their porch wicker cushions were torn but I quickly resolved that for them..THE SQUIRRELS rip ours to pieces and eat the wicker as well..It's not the cats. I see part of my cushion stuffing up in the trees. We feed the squirrels too so ..OUR BAD!!!! We live in the "county"..no pet restrictions..but people do what they want to animals, in my opinion...That's how they refer to where people live in the South. We are from Buffalo, NY where we live in suburbs and towns and cities and there are restrictions.  Some acquaintances are sharing my info suggesting "barn cats". I wonder if they are treated properly or at least fed?
 

kikiimarie

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Talk to the rescue organization in your local petsmart, petco, feed store, etc. Also, call your local shelter.
If kittens are sweet they are adoptable.
Good Luck
 

catwoman707

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So sorry for the delay!

Okay so many things I want to say, first of all I am so grateful for people like you who have compassion for unfortunate animals. It is admirable for a person to take action rather than those who acknowledge a homeless and feral overpopulation, see they struggle and reproduce, but make zero effort to help the situation either.

The number one best thing anyone can do for them is to spay or neuter. This prevents not only endless homeless litters but stops fighting, spraying, spread of fiv and felv, and allows a colony to live in harmony.

Whether they are feral or not, to me they would be considered feral, at best semi feral.

It's likely that mom and dad may at one time been owned cats, but living on their own and the lack of daily interactions with humans causes the shyness, leery behavior you see.

Depending on how long they were owned, how long they have been on their own, determines whether they will ever get back to being comfortable around people up close.

The kittens are called feral as they have never known life as owned, so likely could never be adopted traditionally, and would take a very long time of patience and being owned to be okay with being held or picked up, etc. They don't know that feeling at all.

They become feral as kittens watching the parent's reactions to people. (you)

Each one of these cats, parents or kids, would need to be taken in individually, and worked with for some time to tame. They will never be okay with strangers though, meaning considered unadoptable in the traditional sense.

I don't know about your state but here in California, they would be considered yours. This doesn't mean rehoming is out, and it does protect them from others trapping and doing away with them too, so not a bad thing.

If unowned, people are free to trap and take to the shelter, where they would be euthanized because they are considered feral.

Actually I am currently working on my county and have submitted a proposal to revise the rights of cats here who are unowned but have been TNR'd and are sustaining themselves fine on their own, calling them community cats and gives them the right to life, and making it unlawful for anyone to trap and remove them.

A healthy eartipped cat would no longer be at risk of trapping and taking away or to the shelters and killed.

My wish is that in time, other counties will see the benefits and huge amt of money saved with this that it catches on and other counties do the same.

Right now, it costs the city $248.00 for every cat the shelter takes in and euthanizes. That number is enormous when counting how many they get each year.

Anyway, perhaps the number of 11 cats in your colony can be reduced, this way you won't lose them, and the complaining neighbor will be happier, hopefully.

They can be posted as barn cats, people get mice, and it's a big problem, especially where barns have animal feed etc, and cats are an excellent and natural rodent control.

It's important they understand 3 things though. 

One, they MUST convince you that they will be fed and watered daily. Leaving cats to live off of prey alone will make for weaker cats. Their daily survival and hunger is a big struggle, and they eventually tend to wander off in search of the food they once knew, so it is critical for the success of rodent control to feed the cats.

It in no way deters them from their natural hunting instinct!

Two, they must be safe from predators.

Three is, they MUST be contained to fully acclimate them to their new home, for a minimum of one full month.

Anxious people lose their cats if they are turned loose too soon, it is a mental process to acclimate, and does take a month/4 weeks.

Posting on craigslist, and creating posters to hang in pet supply stores and feed stores, at vet offices, everywhere you can.

Mention they are young, healthy and fixed.

It may take time but can reduce your number.

Meanwhile, it sounds important to you that your neighbor stays happy, the easiest way to get them to stay by your house is to make it more appealing, what are they going over there for that you don't have?

Shelter, the food is there already, protection/exposure to the weather? A way to bask in the sunshine and stay warm and safe in cold.
 

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This link is the animal control laws from Madison, MS. http://www.madison-co.com/images/user_files/files/Final_Animal_Control_Ordinance (1).pdf

If I am reading it correctly and a similar law applies to your county in MS you could indeed have a problem. Appears in MS if you feed em they are your cats and when you neutered them they became very much your cats per this ordinance. Hope it all works out but I would be trying to find homes for these cats ASAP. I can't even begin to think what those 11 cats could still cost you out of pocket if your county enforced a ordinance like this and it could be simply because you tried to help.
 

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I couldn't agree more with everything catwoman707 said.

Bless you for being willing to 'fix' those 11 kitties and care for them. It sounds like your husband is a good guy, as well.

Six years ago we were the 'parents' of an only cat. We had always kept 'two cats in the yard' and we had just lost an elderly. We live in a close-to-downtown neighborhood with small yards, hundred-year-old houses. At the time, several homes were empty due to foreclosures. Cats were at times left behind to fend for themselves, living under decks and porches--and having kittens.

Our cats have always been indoor/outdoor cats. Neighborhood cats would visit, lounge in the sun on the patio, have a snack and some water and continue on their rounds. Some were tame and 'owned' others were feral and scattered if you got too close. One skinny, black mama cat started bringing her four young kittens on a regular basis. At ome time, i was feeding 8 kitties on my back walk--it looked like a cat buffet. It came time to TNR. The trapping was emotionally painful for me AND the cats, but it had to be done. I followed the instructions i got from Alley Cat Allies. I had trapped two adult males and the mother and four youngsters. After releasing, one of the youngsters left and never came back.

They brought me so much joy, just watching them eat and lounge. There are some real haters out there, and I was happy to give them shelter. I built a cute little 2-story 'house' big enough for four, and a shelter box under a chair by the back door big enough for two. We live in Ohio and the winters can be very cold and snowy. I purchased some heated pet mats for the house, the box and another for the front porch--we have wicker, too--seems to be a favorite.

OK--Let me cut to the chase. Here we are today, and through 'attrition' we have just one of those original TNRs here. Since I couldn't leave her outside by herself this last winter, even with the pads plugged in, we invited her inside. She's been a very good guest. I had never tried very hard to pet or socialize these ferals, knowing they had a better chance in 'the hood' if they feared people. All these months, spending much of her time inside, she's still not a fan of being touched, but she does want to sleep with me. In the dark I'm able to scratch her head--she vocally complains, but she also purrs and seems to enjoy it, so I'll keep working on it now that she's more of an indoor cat.

The backyard seems a bit empty at times, but I have my eye on another black kitty who seems to be becoming a regular. I hope this gives you a little hope that it's not a life sentence. You did the right thing.

Check Pinterest for some cute cat house designs. What cat doesn't enjoy a box that just fits them?
 

kittens mom

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I'm just going to throw this out here. Even though your neighbors seem annoyed you don't portray them as hostile. The best way to diffuse this is to engage them. Once someone is invested in something they likely to be more tolerant.  I don't know how much land you have but a cat sanctuary could be an option. Something they may prefer to either porch. Also it's worth pointing out to your neighbors that since these cats are fixed there will not be the noise, smell or population increase and they are great for rodent control. Your story is important especially in an area where animal welfare is low priority for officials.

You will add goodwill by agreeing to maintain vaccinations and perhaps flea treatment of some sort and by agreeing that any new cats will be trapped and removed. I know that's harsh but reassurance that you aren't going to end up with 50 cats running on everything shows responsibility which you have shown in abundance by fixing these cats. BTW you did nothing wrong. you walked with your heart.
 

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First of all, please don't regret your kindness in getting these cats fixed and caring for them. And the truth is that if you hadn't, by now you would have dozens and dozens of feral cats continuing to multiply, starve, freeze, get sick, get hit by cars, poisoned by neighbors, etc. You have stopped a cycle that would have meant misery for a number of cats, and also for yourself as you'd watch them suffer.  So please feel great about what you've done--not only for the cats, but also for the neighbors who would have had to deal with this situation as well.

It's not a bad thing that you are "legally" their owner. Don't you feel as though you are, anyway, since you've save their lives and have been taking care of them? And legal ownership means that no one can just shoot them or poison them, because you would have legal recourse to press charges or sue civilly. So there is a definite advantage in having legal ownership, in terms of their protection. 

I would suggest that you continue to provide for them, and also provide some shelters for warmth for them on your porch or property, so they won't go to your neighbors' houses. There are many threads on this site that can give you ideas and instructions for low cost shelters for ferals. That would solve most of the problem. They would not need to roam to look for shelter, food, or to mate, because you have addressed all these needs. Even with care, feral cats typically live much shorter lives than domesticated, indoor cats--5 years is the average. It would not be a life-long obligation to care for them, but you would give them so much happiness and comfort during the time you do care for them.

I can't stress how important it is to communicate with your neighbors. Educate them regarding the usefulness of these cats in terms of keeping rodents away. Educate them in terms of how they have been fixed and vaccinated, and are being cared for by yourself. Finally, if any of them hint or threaten to harm these cats, that is when you inform them that these cats are legally yours, and as such, they cannot just eliminate them. I went through this once with two different neighbors, and at that time, I was only caring for one feral cat (though others would wander onto my street occasionally). I spoke with the one, and with the girlfriend of the other, and told them this was legally MY cat, and if anyone harmed MY cat, I would take action. I also spoke with my local police and informed them of the situation, and they made a file. They said to report any acts of cruelty towards my cat, and that I was free to provide food and shelter for my cat on my porch (which was the issue for the one neighbor, who was afraid it would attract other wildlife). I also called my local Humane Society and emailed them my cat's picture and gave my phone number in case he was ever brought there. So I was VERY pro-active, and eventually the one neighbor got kicked out by his girlfriend, and the other got so used to my feral cat that she allowed him to hang out on her porch. He was a very good cat, and never urinated or pooped on her property or messed up her flowers, and when he passed a year ago, all of the people on my blocked missed him very much. Now I understand that you're in a different situation than I was (at most, I was caregiver for 5 on my street), but the same principle applies to 11 cats. Communicate with your neighbors! Some will be supportive of you, and will let you know if they get word of someone intending to harm them. Some won't care. Some will not be cooperative, but you will know who they are, and you will have made them aware of legal consequences of their harming these cats.

Even if you weren't a cat person before, you clearly are, now. It's nearly impossible to care for and save the lives of these creatures without caring for them and even loving them. Take it one day at a time now, and try not to feel overwhelmed. I hope there will be a few neighbors who will give you support, and you'll get a lot of support here.
 
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