Need Advice From the Feral Colony Experts

orange&white

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I'd like some advice from the feral experts about the stray/feral cats on my property, and one cat in particular.

There are multiple ferals which frequently pass through my large backyard, and a few litters of kittens are born each year. There is a large, probably 150-200 unit, apartment complex built behind my back fence on what used to be a forest (circa 2002), and a 30-50 unit condominium complex on the other side of the fence on what used to be an open field (circa 2005). With that many transient tenants, the stray/feral cat population is never ending.

I have no interest, nor the finances, in managing a feral colony on my property. To some extent, they are preventing me from vegetable gardening because of finding cat poop in the tilled soil. Cat poop may be natural and organic, but it's not the kind of organic I want to grow vegetables in. That makes them nuisance animals. I'm not sure there is a long-term solution since there are always going to be idiots people who believe in letting their cats roam but don't believe in spaying/neutering (or the cats just get lost when people are moving in or out). I'd appreciate any ideas, but over the last multiple years, have just pretty much accepted roaming cats as a given.

The other question is that there is this one cat who sits in my yard and watches me play fetch with my dog. It sits in the shadows and watches when I take my senior cat out for a few minutes of sunshine, and I see the cat sitting outside the bedroom window looking at the feral kitten we trapped in my office warehouse in January and I adopted early February. Essentially this one cat seems tamer than the all the other cats who run and scatter. It does run if I approach it.

The only attraction to my yard I can figure is that I keep a 5 gallon bucket of rainwater for the one planter I keep. I've seen this tamer cat drinking from it, but none of the other ferals are brave enough (at least not during the day).

Sorry for the long story, but I'm considering trapping this one friendlier feral and having it spayed/neutered and vaccinated. I'd be happy to feed this one cat as an outdoor kitty, but I do not want to feed the entire colony of community cats. Should I do that, or just leave things as they are?

Any advice would be appreciated.
 

shadowsrescue

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Is there a rescue group in your area that might assist with this problem?  If you contact rescue groups, The Humane Society or ASPCA, they might be able to come out and start doing some TNR.  

Most likely all of the cats are not feral, but instead some are strays that now have feral behavior from lack of human contact.  The particular cat that watches you, most likely was owned at one time.

It would be very kind to do TNR on this kitty at least for spay/neuter purposes.  Yet, if they kitty is friendly it might be best to see if he/she is adoptable.  If you do start to feed this kitty, most likely the others will find their way.  Cats can smell when others are getting fed well.  
 
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orange&white

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Is there a rescue group in your area that might assist with this problem?  If you contact rescue groups, The Humane Society or ASPCA, they might be able to come out and start doing some TNR.  
The county offers free spays and a rabies shot for ferals.  That's what I did with the feral kitten I'm raising.  I was going to release her back to the colony next door to my office until I picked her up from spay and realized that she was a lot younger than I originally thought.

I wasn't sure my boss would let me off to pick her up.  The shelter employee mentioned that a feral group volunteer might be able to bring her back to her original colony or they would adopt her as a barn cat.  That was the original plan. 

So there is an organized feral group.  I can call the shelter for a contact. 
 
Most likely all of the cats are not feral, but instead some are strays that now have feral behavior from lack of human contact.  The particular cat that watches you, most likely was owned at one time.
It would be very kind to do TNR on this kitty at least for spay/neuter purposes.  Yet, if they kitty is friendly it might be best to see if he/she is adoptable.  If you do start to feed this kitty, most likely the others will find their way.  Cats can smell when others are getting fed well.  
I'd be happy to TNR this cat, but I can't be taking time off work to try to help the whole colony.  The county shelter is about an hour's drive out, and I can't be asking my boss for time off to be, as he would put it "driving cats around".  He got agitated that I took the kitten who got into his warehouse to be spayed, and again when I asked to go pick her up.  He wanted to just let her go back out unsprayed, or to drive her to a park a few miles away so she wouldn't get back in the warehouse again.

I haven't fed any of the cats, but in terms of being willing to feed this one cat, I was going to give it canned food at some set meal times to try not to encourage the other cats.  I hear what you're saying though.  The cat's poop will "smell better" to the other cats.  The cats all seem to be well-fed.  I expect a few of the apartment/condo people are leaving food out on their patios, so the colony is eating cat food (I think).

So are you recommending that I TNR it, release the cat back onto my property but don't feed it?  I don't have room in my house to socialize another one for adoption while I'm still working on the kitten I'm keeping.  I've got animals separated in every room right now trying to integrate them into one big happy family.

Barn cat adoption is an alternative, but I think the shelter euthanizes them when there are more barn cats than barns.

(I hate calling cats "it", but I don't know the sex.)  My guess is that "it" is a tom or "it" would probably have been pregnant by now.

Thank you for your help.
 

shadowsrescue

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It's a really tough call what to do with this one.  If there is any chance the cat is adoptable, maybe the rescue would step in and evaluate.  If not, you could do the TNR and then feed the cat at a set time each day being sure to never leave food outside unattended.  It still may draw other visitors, but I cannot say for sure.  

I would ask the rescue group for help.  Unfortunately kitten season is upon us and most are so very swamped.  Yet if you tell them the large number of cats, they may put you on a wait list.  Do try the Humane Society and/or ASPCA as well.  You could try a Google search for rescue groups in your area.  

It is so so so sad to watch all of these cats all around us being left by irresponsible owners.  The kitten is cute and cuddly while small, but that kitten soon grows and people lose interest.  Then the cats are not spayed/neutered and allowed out to wander.  People move and then just leave the cat.  That one sweet kitten has now reproduced over and over putting more unwanted cats on this earth.  I am glad the cats appear well fed.  Yet well fed, unaltered cats are made even stronger to continue reproducing.  Most people could not sit back and watch cats starve.  Feeding them seems easy and harmless.  

Just be careful you don't involve animal control.  They will trap the cats and euthanize them.  

Thank you so much for caring and wanting to try and help.  Every little bit helps!
 

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Cats who hang out in yards and apt complexes are not really feral born cats. Even those who have been born outdoors are only semi ferals, despite their running off when a person is near.

Cats need continuous regular human interactions to be tame and stay tame. 

So when cats are left behind to fend for themselves they don't have that regular interaction and life changes for them, they no longer have a safe home to go home to, or food access. It's a constant fight for survival and is scary and keeps them in a constant state of alert. 

It's a very tough and sad life. 

The lack of exposure from people causes them to fear people, the longer they're without it, the deeper and bigger the fear becomes.

However, cats who were once owned never really lose the trust completely and forever, it just gets buried below the now fearful way they've become.

But with regular human interactions again will tame again.

The amt of time it takes depends on how long it's been without humans in their life.

So to me, most of not all of these cats have that same lost feeling and have transitioned to a feral state, yet those same wants and needs that our house cats have are still in them. This to me is the saddest part of all, and people are so misinformed, ferals are so misunderstood, treated like disposable trash. 

So with my advice, for your particular questions about saving the one cat, know I can't help but feel saddened for the others too. They are outcasts. 


You can take a trap and tie the door open, and using tuna, get him to eat from the trap, but only putting it out there when it's only him, for instance set it out when you and the dog go back inside, then watch.

Once you see he goes to eat, set it with the door set to shut and trap him, cover the trap right away so he calms down.

Get him fixed and your fence will need the stiff chicken wire cut down the center (it comes in 4 foot width, take the 2 ft strips and attach it to the top of the fence using a staple gun with heavy duty staples and hammer them in fully.

The cut edge should be at the top. When the fence has wire all around it, bend it inward, this will keep everyone inside the yard in, and outside the yard out.

Then you can work with this kitty with a routine of food and shelter outdoors.

My bet is over time he will make his way in to your heart and become more of an indoor outdoor family member.

Please try to get help for the others.
 
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orange&white

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It's a really tough call what to do with this one.  If there is any chance the cat is adoptable, maybe the rescue would step in and evaluate.  If not, you could do the TNR and then feed the cat at a set time each day being sure to never leave food outside unattended.  It still may draw other visitors, but I cannot say for sure.  
I know that the older they are, the harder or at least the more "iffy" they are to fully socialize.  The cat runs over the fence every time I have called "kitty, kitty" or tried approaching it.  It comes back out when I walk away from it.  When I totally ignore it, it sits and watches me.  We have exchanged blinks through the bedroom window.
I would ask the rescue group for help.  Unfortunately kitten season is upon us and most are so very swamped.  Yet if you tell them the large number of cats, they may put you on a wait list.  Do try the Humane Society and/or ASPCA as well.  You could try a Google search for rescue groups in your area.  
I'm probably still on the foster list with the local Humane/ASPCA shelter.  My orange and white tabby brothers were a failed foster....I adopted them after 2 weeks when they were about 8 months old.  That shelter doesn't take non-owned cats.

I will call the County shelter for a contact from the feral group.  And no, I won't call animal control.  I've been watching cats and not gardening for several years now.  I don't want an army of wild cats on my property, but I don't want any of them killed either.  Most of the ferals are just "passing through" my yard, not hanging out like the one cat.  My dog chases them over the fence.  He doesn't chase cats that don't run...like this tamer one.
It is so so so sad to watch all of these cats all around us being left by irresponsible owners.  The kitten is cute and cuddly while small, but that kitten soon grows and people lose interest.  Then the cats are not spayed/neutered and allowed out to wander.  People move and then just leave the cat.  That one sweet kitten has now reproduced over and over putting more unwanted cats on this earth.  I am glad the cats appear well fed.  Yet well fed, unaltered cats are made even stronger to continue reproducing.  Most people could not sit back and watch cats starve.  Feeding them seems easy and harmless.  

Thank you so much for caring and wanting to try and help.  Every little bit helps!
They don't think they are being irresponsible.  I think it's a cultural thing.  I have had long conversations with a couple of Hispanic friends who let their pets run free and don't spay/neuter.  I've asked why.  They are traditional Roman Catholic and don't believe in birth control, including for their pets.  It's against their religion.    Letting cats/dogs be indoor/outdoor is "natural and healthy" for the pet and "cruel" to make the pet live confined indoors its whole life.  They're raising their pets the same way "most people" in Mexico raise them, and no one will convince them that pet over population is that big a deal.  The more the merrier!  Ole'!

I don't want to sound racist like Donald Trump saying, "All feral cats come from The Mexicans!  Build a wall!!!"  LOL  Not saying that at all.  But regardless of any demographic group, people who let their cats run without being spayed or neutered are following a cultural family tradition which is ingrained and they believe it is right.  The only people I ever talked to face to face about it happened to be from Mexico, so I'll shut up now before I hijack my own thread.

Maybe I should just erase the last paragraph.  Political humor is usually not well received...especially this year. 


Anyway, thank you again.  I'll try calling the county shelter for advice and a feral group contact.  I know they are overloaded with kitten/puppy season.
 
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orange&white

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Cats who hang out in yards and apt complexes are not really feral born cats. Even those who have been born outdoors are only semi ferals, despite their running off when a person is near.

Cats need continuous regular human interactions to be tame and stay tame. 

So when cats are left behind to fend for themselves they don't have that regular interaction and life changes for them, they no longer have a safe home to go home to, or food access. It's a constant fight for survival and is scary and keeps them in a constant state of alert. 

It's a very tough and sad life. 

The lack of exposure from people causes them to fear people, the longer they're without it, the deeper and bigger the fear becomes.

However, cats who were once owned never really lose the trust completely and forever, it just gets buried below the now fearful way they've become.

But with regular human interactions again will tame again.

The amt of time it takes depends on how long it's been without humans in their life.

So to me, most of not all of these cats have that same lost feeling and have transitioned to a feral state, yet those same wants and needs that our house cats have are still in them. This to me is the saddest part of all, and people are so misinformed, ferals are so misunderstood, treated like disposable trash. 

So with my advice, for your particular questions about saving the one cat, know I can't help but feel saddened for the others too. They are outcasts. 
Yes, I know that all ferals have a domestic cat somewhere in their genetic history.  Most of these cats are several generations feral and very wild. You are right; they are outcasts.  Like ShadowRescue wrote, "well-fed" outcasts, making them stronger to reproduce more wild ones.  It is sad.

I don't think this cat was ever anyone's pet, but surmise that it may have one feral and one domestic parent.
You can take a trap and tie the door open, and using tuna, get him to eat from the trap, but only putting it out there when it's only him, for instance set it out when you and the dog go back inside, then watch.
Yes, I know how to use a trap.  My boss bought one when I told him that I saw a cat in our back warehouse at work.  I'm sure he'd let me borrow it for a few days.
Once you see he goes to eat, set it with the door set to shut and trap him, cover the trap right away so he calms down.

Get him fixed and your fence will need the stiff chicken wire cut down the center (it comes in 4 foot width, take the 2 ft strips and attach it to the top of the fence using a staple gun with heavy duty staples and hammer them in fully.

The cut edge should be at the top. When the fence has wire all around it, bend it inward, this will keep everyone inside the yard in, and outside the yard out.

Then you can work with this kitty with a routine of food and shelter outdoors.
That is a good idea, but I'm afraid I can't afford to do that.  I have a seriously huge back yard, and other expenses that need to be met.
My bet is over time he will make his way in to your heart and become more of an indoor outdoor family member.
The most pets I've ever had was 3 cats and 2 dogs.  All my cats have been 100% indoor.  Dogs are mostly indoor, but given run of the yard several times a day and for "fetch".

If the local people advise bringing him home and feeding him, he would be my first ever outdoor cat.  Were he to become very tame and friendly, I would welcome him as a third indoor-only cat.  Right now, that seems like a very long way down the road.  I simply don't have room to try to socialize two indoor feral cats.  I've got to get Miss Farrell adjusted first.
Please try to get help for the others.
We would all like to save every one of them.  With the apartment/condo people, there is a never-ending "supply" of cats.  I'll see if the local feral group can help with the current population, but I'm fairly discouraged that there is a permanent solution.  As we've discussed the ever-changing cycle of apartment neighbors are creating them and feeding them.
 
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orange&white

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After the helpful conversation and advise, I decided to find out what type of food the cat prefers, so that when I decide to trap it I can put out the most enticing food.  So this evening I offered the cat some food for the first time.  I put about a tablespoon of kibble, a thawed "ice cube" of canned food, and 2 chunks of raw turkey on a plate.  The cat was close to the patio when I went outside and ran to its "safe comfort distance", sat down and looked at me.  I put the plate down and went back inside to watch through the window.  The cat came back almost immediately and sniffed at all the food.  It did spear one of the pieces of turkey  with its claw and drug it off the plate, but didn't eat it.  It sniffed all the food again, then walked over to the rain bucket, took a long drink of water and walked away.  Didn't eat a bite of food.  So the cat is definitely not starving.  I got a fairly good look at it and it looks lean, but well muscled, like a 9-10 month old cat should.  It's a black and white tuxedo with long lanky legs and a lean body type.

It occurs to me that someone has possibly already had the cat spayed or neutered at a regular vet clinic where they did not clip the ear for identification.  That would explain the cat being more docile.  Maybe someone already had the same idea to have it fixed and just give it food if it doesn't want to be touched.  Anyway, I suppose the only way to know is to trap the cat and take it to be checked.  I'd be very happy if someone has already altered the cat.
 
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orange&white

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I've never heard of that. I'm Roman Catholic & have had innumerable cats fixed. Sounds like an excuse to me.
Exactly!  That's why I made the tasteless quip about not wanting to sound like Trump...to clarify that I was not stereotyping "all" Mexicans or "all" Roman Catholics as holding the same views.  Just the couple I spoke with.  This is Texas.  I have a lot of Hispanic friends, most of whom are modern Roman Catholics who are on board with indoor-only spayed and neutered pets.  The couple I spoke with who are not on board have more traditional views.
 
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orange&white

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Update:

The cats which have been roaming through my yard appear to be gone.  I haven't seen them since the day before I started this post when the landscapers who mow the apartment grounds behind my backyard started mowing and drove several of the ferals into my yard until things got quiet again.

The tuxedo cat who has been hanging out on my property stopped showing up during the day, too.  Kit-Kit (I've been calling it) is still around though.  It has been coming around right after sunset, just before dark to drink water, every evening.

I called the county shelter to see if they could give me a contact name and number for any feral cat group who I could consult with.  They could not refer me to anyone.  I explained that I was considering having Kit-Kit TNR'd.  They looked up my address and said they couldn't help me because my property is annexed into a city limit and referred me to the city humane shelter.  The humane shelter does free TNR, but only for city residents who live in one of the two counties the city encompasses.  I live in the city, but in the wrong county for free TNR city services.  I called the county back, and they said city services have first jurisdiction before the county services.  So I pay city and county property taxes, but cannot receive services offered by both the city and the county because of the location of my particular property.

I give up.  I also think Kit-Kit is starting to get a big belly for a 9-10 month old kitten.  I now think "it's" a she. 


End of update-rant.
 
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orange&white

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Update #2 There is a man who lives in the apartments standing outside yelling the "F"-word and "Holy 'F'!!! " at the top of his lungs.  He started 3-4 minutes ago.  He's still going.

I stepped out on my back patio, and saw 3 of the wild ferals coming through a gap in my fence like a little choo-choo train of cats.  They're still here.  Apparently, they are only running into my yard now when the apartments get, errmmm, "noisy".

This used to be a nice quiet property in the country, on the edge of a moderate-sized city.  I hate it here now. 
 

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Update #2 There is a man who lives in the apartments standing outside yelling the "F"-word and "Holy 'F'!!! " at the top of his lungs.  He started 3-4 minutes ago.  He's still going.

I stepped out on my back patio, and saw 3 of the wild ferals coming through a gap in my fence like a little choo-choo train of cats.  They're still here.  Apparently, they are only running into my yard now when the apartments get, errmmm, "noisy".

This used to be a nice quiet property in the country, on the edge of a moderate-sized city.  I hate it here now. 
I feel your pain.....  I too used to live in a nice quiet area.  Now it is full of noisy neighbors who yell and scream all day.  My 3 feral cats freak out.  

We are looking to move and hopefully it will be sooner than later.  My 3 outside boys will be coming along as well as my 3 indoor boys and my dog.  I just want some peace and quiet!
 

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Damn inconsiderate neighbors, I can SO relate.

My street and area are mostly owned houses, with random rentals that were bought when the market here really crashed and they could be found cheap, so they turned them in to rentals, and my block is so quiet and ideal, well that is, except for 1 house that is across the street to my next door neighbor, and they are all day every day people, traffic, the lady is always yelling at someone, music, even Sunday game time of football (thankful that's over!) always had many cars and the son's buddys yelling all day in to the night after drinking, outside yelling so loud as if the dude next to him is deaf, the drama, the sheer number that live there is unbelievable, the woman, her 2 grown sons, his kids, and the house is tiny! I mean like 680 sq ft.......

So the kids' friends, both the son's friends, girlfriends, so much traffic, always so many cars in front of my house, and all the neighbors, I just hate it.

Makes the block sound noisy 24/7, yet if you were to listen, the only sounds you will hear all come from one tiny rental.......just shaking my head, never see the landlord ever, clearly he couldn't care less who he rents to as long as he gets paid. Junk cars too, ugh.

I can only hope someday they will move out and put the peace back.

Wow that was my rant!! haha  


So now you have a new situation, well at least one with a time frame, and if you are seeing a tummy there is not much time left to trap her.

Cats do hate loud noises and yelling.
 

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Damn inconsiderate neighbors, I can SO relate.
My street and area are mostly owned houses, with random rentals that were bought when the market here really crashed and they could be found cheap, so they turned them in to rentals, and my block is so quiet and ideal, well that is, except for 1 house that is across the street to my next door neighbor, and they are all day every day people, traffic, the lady is always yelling at someone, music, even Sunday game time of football (thankful that's over!) always had many cars and the son's buddys yelling all day in to the night after drinking, outside yelling so loud as if the dude next to him is deaf, the drama, the sheer number that live there is unbelievable, the woman, her 2 grown sons, his kids, and the house is tiny! I mean like 680 sq ft.......
So the kids' friends, both the son's friends, girlfriends, so much traffic, always so many cars in front of my house, and all the neighbors, I just hate it.
Makes the block sound noisy 24/7, yet if you were to listen, the only sounds you will hear all come from one tiny rental.......just shaking my head, never see the landlord ever, clearly he couldn't care less who he rents to as long as he gets paid. Junk cars too, ugh.
I can only hope someday they will move out and put the peace back.
You could anonymously call the police. There are laws against excessive noise. I'm in the 'hood & one time an apartment building just down the street from our house was blasting their music so loud during the day I literally could not have a conversation with someone in my house because we couldn't hear each other speak. So I called the cops. They came right away with a bullhorn & shouted to them to turn it down or turn it off. Boom. End of story. Later, when I was telling my neighbors, they made the good point that the people in the apartment building were so terrified of the cops coming inside & finding drugs.
 
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orange&white

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Wow that was my rant!! haha  


So now you have a new situation, well at least one with a time frame, and if you are seeing a tummy there is not much time left to trap her.

Cats do hate loud noises and yelling.
That was a good rant.  Now I don't feel so all alone. 


The city and county both told me today that I can't get the TNR services offered from the city I live in or the county I live in, so...I'm just going to go back to minding my own business and my own indoor cats...and watch the feral parade continue like I've done the last several years. 
 
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Update 3:

Kit Kit didn't show up around dusk yesterday for the first time, but when I stepped out on the patio early this morning, I scared her into the grass just off the patio.  She was apparently on the patio drinking out of the rain bucket when I opened the door.  I said, "It's ok, Kit Kit.  Come get yourself a drink." and I squatted down and looked the other direction (ignoring her).  She actually came up to the rain bucket with me just 3-4 feet away, so I got a little better look at her.

She looked lean from the side when she was stretched up with her paws on the rim of the 5-gallon bucket.  After her drink, she sat down facing me and started bathing herself.  I noticed her bottom two nipples were fairly prominent.  She has a bit of a swag belly with four paws on the ground.

So the city tells me the county should help me and the county tells me the city should help me.  Neither one will help me because of my zip code "jurisdiction".  I may try one more attempt at trying to find help for Kit Kit by independently contacting some rescue groups versus the city/county shelters where I pay taxes to both, but receive service from neither one.

Also, I looked up Yelp and Apartment Ratings for the complex behind me.  4-5 reviews mentioning the feral cat problem all over the property.  One of the reviewers said that there were two ladies who were feeding the ferals by the apartment back fence.  Yeah....and the other side of that back fence is my backyard.  That was an old review from 2012, but sheesh!
 
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I didn't see Kit Kit at all yesterday, but she came around this morning after I let the dog out and back in.  90% sure she is pregnant now.  Her belly is looking more round than it did just two days ago.

The city shelter opens in 30 minutes.  I'm going to make one more plea for an exception to get service or help from someone.  At this point though, I need to try to find a foster home for her until she has babies, rather than trying to get her TNR'd.

Worst case scenario...should I try to set up a Rubbermaid bin or something outside under my patio if she wants to use that as a nest?  It's not ideal, but she's going to go somewhere to have kittens if I can't find help with a foster arrangement.  She may not want to use my patio anyway with the dog running out and in several times a day.
 
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orange&white

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No answer at the city shelter, but there was an extension for the shelter's "Feral Cat Supervisor" which said to send an email.  I sent an email, explained the situation, and requested help finding a foster home for Kit Kit...or any other advice he could give me.
 
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orange&white

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I just received an email response from the feral manager at the humane society.  It doesn't seem like he read my note about not living in the county they provide free TNR service to, so I've asked him to clarify if they can make an exception.  He recommends spaying Kit Kit, even though she is pregnant.  I'm not sure how I feel about that.  I know there are more cats than homes for cats, but terminating a pregnancy just doesn't sit well with me.

Also he said that she would have to be "very friendly" for their adoption program.  lol  Her comfort level right now is 10-12 feet from me, and that doesn't happen very often.  I doubt any human has ever touched her.

This is his reply:

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"Thanks for helping this cat.  Due to the huge # of kittens that are born into homelessness, we want to get this momma spayed before she has the kittens so that would be step one.  You can bring her in to our clinic to have her spayed via our program.

If you’d also like to find her a home, you can schedule an intake appointment with our Intake department who I’ve copied on this email.  You might want to try keeping her indoors and socializing her more if possible because she’d need to be very friendly in order for us to take her for our adoption program.

You can also borrow a humane trap from us in order to catch her."

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