Desperate for advice and wisdom on cat situation

I am new here. I am hoping someone will be able to offer some advice that will give me peace of mind. A friend that lives a few miles from me (in the country) has just moved out of their country rental to a different rental. For years I have gone down and "kitty sat" while they were on vacation, etc. All the cats were outdoors due to the familiy's allergies and were what you would call "barn cats." Over the years I have been stressed and saddened over the constant breeding of the cats. "Homes" were always found for the many kittens, but with no regard really to the type of home found or the calliber of the people taking the kitten. My friend just moved and took with them the 3 cats that they wanted to keep. They left a female barn cat (older) that was at the property when they first moved in 7 years ago. They also left a yr. old male because I told them I wanted to have him neutered and try to find a home for him. I have 7 cats of my own--3 indoor and 4 outdoor--all neutered. I moved in with 2 indoor but 2 feral cats had kittens in our barn before I could tame them and get them spayed. I do not feel I can bring the male here due to the number I already have, so I found another friend willing to take him on their farm as long as he was neutered. I took him to the vet today and he will be neutered tomorrow. Now I am feeling horrible about the older female left at the farm all alone. The owner of the farm does feel like it is her cat and she will feed it, but I am worrying about it being completely left alone after being used to many other cats and people living there. I just can't get her out of my mind. She is basically very "standoffish" with people but has come to like me over the years.

My question basically is this: should I return this young male to the farm where he was born tomorrow after I get him from the vet? Or should I take him to the farm I had planned on taking him to? He will get his needs met there and they love animals so he will get attention, but I am so afraid he will run off as soon as I take him there. If I take him back to the farm he was born at I am afraid that in time the owner will no longer feed the cats there if a new renter is not found. And I have no guarantee that the new renters will even want the cats there, let alone feed them. Also--tom cats will be coming as soon as the female goes into heat in the spring and he will have to deal with fighting them and guarding his "territory." I will not have access to the farm after another day or 2 to even go down ocassionally and ck. on the cats. Also, should I approach the farm owner about the older female left there, or should I let that go and hope that she gets her needs met. I guess she'll no longer be alone after she has a litter in the spring.

Another option is to bring the young male here and try to tame him a little more as he recovers from his surgery. My indoor cats will not tolerate bringing him into the house but I could keep him on a back enclosed porch a few days and work with him to gain his trust (after the scary vet experience he is getting now.) It is bitter cold winter here in Indiana and the thought of him running off right away and not knowing where to go drives me to tears. I could possibly borrow a "kennel" cage and confine him at the new farm for a week or so. My friend that lives there is agreeable to helping me do that. She has other cats that are neutered and I think he would get along fine with them in time.

So--if you have stuck with me this long--what would you do? My cats will be very upset if I bring him here and I do not feel I can financially care for any more animals, yet I am tempted to just because I want to make sure his situation is good. Any advice out there? Thanks for listening. I am just so sad and stressed over this whole thing.

Now I am feeling horrible about the older female left at the farm all alone. The owner of the farm does feel like it is her cat and she will feed it, but I am worrying about it being completely left alone after being used to many other cats and people living there. I just can't get her out of my mind. She is basically very "standoffish" with people but has come to like me over the years.

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I would definately have her trapped and get her spayed. If she is intact, she will draw more intact males and end up pregnant again.

It is bitter cold winter here in Indiana and the thought of him running off right away and not knowing where to go drives me to tears. I could possibly borrow a "kennel" cage and confine him at the new farm for a week or so. My friend that lives there is agreeable to helping me do that. She has other cats that are neutered and I think he would get along fine with them in time.

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There are certain protocols that must be followed whenever relocating a cat. This site has good information:

http://www.alleycat.org/resources_care.html#7

Katie

Wow! Usually I think cats are happier going back where they were trapped, but since there is no agreement to care for him, and no f/u on your part, I would rehome him to the friend after neutering.

And if there is any way the momma cat can be spayed, that would improve her life greatly! If she is lonely, she will allow other cats in the area to join her around the food bowl. If she ends up enjoying being the only cat, she will keep all others run off!

Thanks for getting involved and trying to help these poor kitties!

I would agree. I think your priority now, after getting the male fixed, should be spaying this poor female. She sounds like she does not need to have any more kittens, for her own health's sake. And other ferals will probably join her if she does not run them off.

I would feel responsible to TNR both cats and follow up on them. I didn't read those protocols yet, but those sound promising.