My colony is growing!!! (questions also)

ricalynn

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You all knew it would happen. As soon as I decide to try and do something about the strays in the neighborhood and start putting food out, they start coming out of the woodwork! I'm up to five now: Mama, the cream colored calico that has a litter somewhere across the street; black boy, my friendly fighter; ginger tom w/white belly and feet; gray girl, (least I think she's a she) light gray or beige w/medium hair; and ANOTHER Mama, beige calico whose ready to give birth any day now.

This mama showed up on my step the first evening I put food out. I have a bay window from which I can see my front stoop, so I watched to see who would come for dinner. Black Boy came first - sometimes he beds down under my bay window, so he's already comfortable around here. Then ginger tom came to check things out. Then fat Mama came, and basically said "Get outta my way, I'm eating for six!!!!" She took possession of the dish and growled at Black Boy and ginger as they stood by salivating and trying to get in just one more bite. She cleaned the dish, so I know she's hungry
And last night when I set out the dish on the back patio after dark, it was cleaned out in twenty minutes and I didn't even get to see who ate (I had just gotten home and was emptying litter boxes and eating a hurried dinner myself).

Now my question: I have a motion sensitive porch light out back. Should I turn it on if I feed them after dark, to keep an eye on them? Or will this just scare them away? I do try to feed in the early evening, so I can watch for newcomers/progress, but some nights I get in late.

Another question: I'm giving them my Nutro Natural Care, since Bella has turned her nose up at it. Is it harmful for them to gorge themselves on such premium food when they're used to scavenging for meals? I put enough in the dish for two days' recommended feeding, and it was gone in a flash so I suspect it was one cat. Will this hurt their tummies??
 

hissy

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Rica feeding them is admirable of you to do, but if you have no plans to spay and neuter the colony, my suggestion is that you stop feeding them now. They are survivors and they will find food elsewhere, but again, if you have no plans to TNR please don't feed, or you will just compound the problem.
 

houseofcats

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Hissy's right, you need to have them fixed or your colony will get out of control. If this is your plans, you're doing the right thing with establishing a feeding station. Once your colony feeds on a regular basis, this is when you need to start trapping. There are all kinds of websites out there with instructions on how to do this.

As far as gourging, this will stop once they see they're getting fed on a regular basis. Ferals will do this since they never know when or where their next meal will be. You may also have more cats eating than you realize. When I started with my colony I thought there was around 30 cats, it turned out I've TNR'd over 100!!

Good luck and if you need any advice on how to trap, just ask!
 

scott77777

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Yes, you should have them spayed and neutered or try to find someone locally who may be able to help you or willing to handle the TNR. It's tough to find people, but there might be someone already running a program.

Obviously, these cats were already out there - they were just attracted to your area because of the food. The best thing you can do is try to have them neutered/spayed/vaccinated.
 

scott77777

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When I started with my colony I thought there was around 30 cats, it turned out I've TNR'd over 100!!
The thing about these reports is that the anti-TNR groups try and make it seem like the colonies "grow" from dumping. These cats were already out there, reproducing in their own separate areas. Personally, it seems to me that it's better to get them spayed/neutered/vaccinated if they're spread out and reproducing than not.
 

houseofcats

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Originally Posted by Scott77777

The best thing you can do is try to have them neutered/spayed/vaccinated.
We spay/neuter but do not vaccinate. We feel this is money wasted since most likely you wouldn't be able to trap again and keep vaccinations current.
 
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ricalynn

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I DO intend to s/n as many as I can. I have an appt for Bella on Friday and I'm going to ask the vet if he does low cost s/n or can direct me to someone who does. I'm also going to be making some calls/inquiries to see if I can find anyone to help. This is just the beginning, and I appreciate any and all advise I have received and will receive here! I guess it's just beginning to dawn on me what I'm getting myself into

I just started feeding three days ago, and I haven't been able to approach any but the black boy so far. If they're out and about when I come home, I'll talk to them, but most just take off as soon as I open my car door. And unfortunately I don't have any screen doors, so as soon as I open the door to the apt. they take off. While I'm out Sat I'll be stopping by the feed stores to look into humane traps.
I think my biggest hurdle in this will be that I'm such an impatient person. I know it's going to take time and a lot of patience to gain their trust, but I want it NOW
I'll content myself for now with doing my homework and keeping an eye on the food to see who's out there. I hope to start trapping very soon, though, as those kittens are growing and so's my kitty population!
 

tnr1

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Rica...first...THANK YOU. So many people feed cats out of pity, but then are not willing to get them spayed/neutered thus they are not helping the cats or the problem. I'm sure you will find many helpful individuals who can answer any questions regarding trapping...the best time, the best food to use etc. Good Luck with finding a vet to help you.

Katie

P.S. If you can catch and fix ONE cat a month..that is one cat that will now have a much better life!!
 

tnr1

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The thing about these reports is that the anti-TNR groups try and make it seem like the colonies "grow" from dumping. These cats were already out there, reproducing in their own separate areas.
That is very true Scott....people will use whatever statistics they find to fit their own agenda. Dumping happens...and we must do what we can to help people to "rehome" their cat versus dumping it. I love the fact that I volunteer with an organization that adopts out cats and I can talk to many people about the benefits of an indoor cat, the importance of spay/neuter and the need for TNR. I'm on a PR mission....but don't tell that to ABC.


Katie
 

houseofcats

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Originally Posted by TNR1

That is very true Scott....people will use whatever statistics they find to fit their own agenda. Dumping happens...and we must do what we can to help people to "rehome" their cat versus dumping it. I love the fact that I volunteer with an organization that adopts out cats and I can talk to many people about the benefits of an indoor cat, the importance of spay/neuter and the need for TNR. I'm on a PR mission....but don't tell that to ABC.


Katie
Cats are dumped at the park, but these were all there when we started TNRing. Fortunately we got it under control by doing what we do! We've maintained our colony for over 5 years now by supplying food, water, and shelter. If a dumped cat is friendly, we find a home. Unfortunately we do not have organizations that foster and tame the ferals, so we do the best we can by helping the cats not reproduce and provide the necessities.
 

lotsocats

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Lisa,

I've always wondered about vaccinations. It is quite expensive and you're right that it would be difficult to keep the vaccinations up to date. I'd be interested to know how manyother groups spay/neuter but do not vaccinate.
 

linda_of_pgff

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Hi All,

State and local ordinance in my area require cats to be vaccinated against rabies, so we always vaccinate for rabies. The alternative - having cats in our program destroyed if they ever scratch or bite or if there's even a rabies *scare* - is not worth the risk to us. (And we are a group that does not think vaccination is without risks).

If expense is an issue, I hope people will consider asking to purchase the serum FOR their veterinarians, or checking with local programs and vets to find the "best deal" rate for a rabies shot (are some of those expenses "Office charges" that could be waived if you're caring for cats not your own?) Rabies shots in my area are NOT very costly, and I'm near a major metropolitan area with a high cost of living.

I also hope that if people can't retrap and revaccinate, for some reason, they are at LEAST documenting having vaccinated on the first (spay/neuter) contact. Since immunity to viral diseases is often long-lasting, at least there is a chance that a cat won't be ASSUMED to be infected, if it got at least one vaccination.

I HOPE that not many groups are cutting this kind of corner. Really, in most places where rabies is still a threat, it can amount to an automatic death sentence for a feral cat.
 

susan greene

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Originally Posted by HouseofCats

We spay/neuter but do not vaccinate. We feel this is money wasted since most likely you wouldn't be able to trap again and keep vaccinations current.
I disagree. I retrap all my own ferals plus the ferals for people I help with, in a year, no problem. Then the cats are set for three more years. Every once in awhile a cat is hard to trap, but at least the rest are boosted.

Also, I just got a call from a person with a nine-cat colony. Her pet (vaccinated) cat bit the vet tech at her vet hospital. The health dept. showed up at her home to finish the bite report and saw the ferals on the porch. When she could not provide the original rabies certs. (they were vaccinated) and they had expired anyway, she was ordered to get them boosted within ten days. I just took her a pile of traps.

Also, TNR gets a lot of criticism for not rabies vaccinating the cats. So my opinion--buck it up and just do it.

I used to do wildlife control and we vaccinated the RACCOONS every year in the butt. If we can vaccinated the raccoons, we can vaccinate the cats.
 
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