Need suggestions on feral colony with one caught

Two years ago, my friend started feeding two cats behind his apartment. 8 months ago, they had kittens at the same time (7 total). I tried finding homes and trapping in late fall with little success. Recently, my friend's landlord threatened eviction if he keeps feeding them, so I decided to trap and get shots/spay-neutered thinking I could place them as I go. Well, I caught one Wednesday and brought her to vet. Vet called today and said she is too feral to be placed and wants me to pick her up tomorrow. She just had surgery and needs to be caged for a week and she can't even be fed where she came from, so I don't know what to do.

I am in NJ and after calling all over someone suggested a feral sanctuary in Maryland but there are some bad reviews online and I don't want to bring them somewhere they will be neglected, but I don't have any other options so far. My friend and I will compensate any place that takes her (or all of them). If anyone has suggestions PLEASE let me know via a PM.

Thank you for your help.

Brooks

Hi @buddhabear

Thank you for trying to help these cats. I don't think you can really judge how feral a cat is by the way she behaves in a vet's clinic. She's just had surgery and she's surrounded by strange sights and smells. Even the calmest cat would be at her worst.

Are you able to keep this cat at you place while she recovers from her spay? Once she's in a quieter place without so many other animals around she could calm down a lot. If you're able to do that we can give you lots of tips on how to get her used to people.

Generally speaking it's easier to socialise younger cats than adults, but even the older ones aren't impossible to work with.

Even if all you can do is get all these cats spayed and neutered and then release them back near your friends apartment it's will be better than nothing. At least you won't have to worry about the population of cats increasing that way.

I think you should carry on with your plan of getting the fixed and vaccinated and keep looking for homes for any adoptable cats. 

I'm not in the US, but hopefully one of our members closer to you will have some more suggestions soon.

Please keep us posted.

Unfortunately I can't bring the little girl home. Small apartment and I am still trying to integrate my two boys with Miss Kitty, who I rescued from outside a while back. If I had ANY room, I would bring her home, but there just isn't a place where she wouldn't be in contact with one of mine. I would feel so bad if I had to release her back, especially right after surgery. Below is a picture. Thank you so much for your reply.

Sweet little thing! She doesn't look that feral to me.

Even if you can keep her indoors for 48 hours while she recovers from her spay it will help. Could you keep her in her crate in your bathroom for a day or two? I've kept a cat crated in the back of a car overnight. It's better than nothing in a pinch.

Hi. Have you contacted Happy Cat Sanctuary in Merrick, NY. They will take any kitties you have that need a home

buddhabear said:

Unfortunately I can't bring the little girl home. Small apartment and I am still trying to integrate my two boys with Miss Kitty, who I rescued from outside a while back. If I had ANY room, I would bring her home, but there just isn't a place where she wouldn't be in contact with one of mine. I would feel so bad if I had to release her back, especially right after surgery. Below is a picture. Thank you so much for your reply.

 

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These 2 NYC based groups may be able to help, they are both reputable but with limited resources like any other group.

http://www.neighborhoodcats.org/

http://www.urbancatleague.org/

Thank you for the suggestions guys! The vet was incredibly kind and agreed to keep her over the weekend. After that, I am pretty sure that my friend, the one who has been feeding them since they were born, is going to take her in. He will also. He would also be taking in her sister, who is VERY social (she lets you pet her belly and will jump on your lap!). I am hoping that the "feral" will have an easier time becoming s house car with him, as he had been feeding her since she weaned. Also, we hope that having the socialized one there will help the situation. I will contact the places reccomended above for the others. Thanks again for all the help!
Brooks

buddhabear said:

Thank you for the suggestions guys! The vet was incredibly kind and agreed to keep her over the weekend. After that, I am pretty sure that my friend, the one who has been feeding them since they were born, is going to take her in. He will also. He would also be taking in her sister, who is VERY social (she lets you pet her belly and will jump on your lap!). I am hoping that the "feral" will have an easier time becoming s house car with him, as he had been feeding her since she weaned. Also, we hope that having the socialized one there will help the situation. I will contact the places reccomended above for the others. Thanks again for all the help!
Brooks

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Ignore what the vet said about being "too feral".  A feral cat would not allow a picture like that to be taken.  It's close, exposing it's belly, it's not on all fours so it's off balance... feral cats don't do anything remotely like that.  Fearful, definitely.  Hissy/defensive, almost surely, but that's a cat that can be socialized.

JMJimmy said:

 
Ignore what the vet said about being "too feral".  A feral cat would not allow a picture like that to be taken.  It's close, exposing it's belly, it's not on all fours so it's off balance... feral cats don't do anything remotely like that.  Fearful, definitely.  Hissy/defensive, almost surely, but that's a cat that can be socialized.

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A feral cat that forgets it's not supposed to pose for cameras is forgetting how to be feral.  

Thank you SO much for putting your caring into action for these sweet cats!  Other posters have given quite a few good suggestions, but in case you ever need more, if you are on facebook, input "lacroixtees" into their searchbox.  This should bring down a by-state menu you can click on to see cat rescues/sanctuaries in your state and location.  Some other references are: pgaa.com/rescues.html, muttcats.com/shelters/index.htm,  and hoosierkitties.com/rescue.rescue.html.  These are references I've had on hand for quite awhile, so they may or may not still be valid; but they may link to other helpful references even if not.  

I just want to say thank you to everyone who took the time to reply. I spoke to the vet today and she is willing to keep the little girl one more night, as she is doing very well! She is using her litter box, isn't hissing or spitting and is starting to already aclimate to people! The guy who has been feeding them keeps changing his mind about taking her as an indoor cat, and I have contacted a sanctuary in Long Island that a few of you reccomended and am waiting to hear back from them. Thank you again for all the support and kind words. This online community has kept me going in my pursuit to find homes for the little guys! Hopefully, by tomorrow, I will have some good news to share!

Great!  Hoping for best news.  The kittens are extremely fortunate to have been born at this time.  Kitten season is just about to start going into full swing. 

UPDATE: So today I have to pick her up, and have been spending the day trying to find a place for her by 6pm. I was going through my phone contacts and called a woman I had spoken to a few months ago, at a shelter about 30 min away. Turns out she doesn't work there anymore, BUT after telling the person I was speaking to what is going on, she agreed to take in the kitty and house her for adoption!!!!!!! Please wish her luck in finding a loving, patient, forever home. I explained that she has been outside and will need some time to open up, but I know she can do it! Thank you again to everyone here for your help. Today started out really bad, and I was hours away from having to release her, but it looks like everything could just work out for this adorable little girl.

Every pretty kitty's photo I see, such as this little one, my heart leaps from my chest thinking I could take them in if only a mail carrier could ship them overnight.  It's just my crazy heart dreaming beyond reality.  Like I can't possibly rescue every pretty kitty in a picture.  Heck, I can barely manage the one I have inside, along with a close to my heart outdoor TNR, plus another that breaks out of it's home to join her for dinner.  Hey, can't a guy dream a little if his heart so desires.  Just for giggles and to sate my own curiosity, I jokingly asked my employer's USPS carrier if they could overnight a kitty and she replied, "I imagine so, as we have delivered "live" birds to people."   

So very happy that she has found someone who will love and care for her.  May she have a happy, warm'n cozy and cheery life in her new home.  May she also have a companion of her own with which to share fun play times with.  Thank you Buddhabear for caring enough to take action and following through.

“While wandering a deserted beach at dawn, stagnant in my work, I saw a man in the distance bending and throwing as he walked the endless stretch toward me. As he came near, I could see that he was throwing starfish, abandoned on the sand by the tide, back into the sea. When he was close enough I asked him why he was working so hard at this strange task. He said that the sun would dry the starfish and they would die. I said to him that I thought he was foolish. There were thousands of starfish on miles and miles of beach. One man alone could never make a difference. He smiled as he picked up the next starfish. Hurling it far into the sea he said, "It makes a difference for this one." I abandoned my writing and spent the morning throwing starfish.” ― Loren Eiseley

UPDATE 2: I just got home from the day and everything went amazing! I picked Tempe up at the vet and for spay/vaccinations/tests and five days of boarding, they only charged me $120!!! They said that staff has been able to pick her up in a blanket and pet her with no crying or struggling. She was great on the car ride to the shelter (almost an hour, she didn't cry and got comfy quickly). She was scared once she got to the shelter, but once she was in her cage, she let us pet her!! They are a no-kill shelter and will work on bringing her out of her shell while finding her a forever home. They also said they have room for her sister and will adopt them out together, so that is my next step! I am so grateful to everyone that helped make this happen and that this beautiful girl will have the forever home that she deserves.

That's wonderful news! I'm so glad you've found this shelter to help you.

Please keep us updated. I hope everything works out well with the rest of the cats.

The best possible news *except, of course, for you adopting them both*    Please do keep us informed of any updates on them!

Bless you for being so concerned -just love happy endings!

She looks JUST like my Honore.  I used to sweep for Alley Cat Allies and that's where I scooped Honore up.  He was in with a pack of really mean ferals but when I passed through the alley and they would run, he would get close and flip over, abscesses and all.  I KNEW that this was a special cat and he has been the love of my life beyond words.

She truly looks to me like a special cat.  I live in MD (cringing about the ugly shelter you spoke of) and would like to know if she is still adoptable??