Theres a beautiful tabby stray that hangs near my place, salt and pepper whiskers, personality and temperament to die for of any feline. All she has to do is look in my eyes for a second and she knows whether to purr and approach, or not. I've never had a cat that could do that. And the reason for me not wanting her around at times is, I live in a condo, I have roommates, I can't have her inside, and can't always be feeding her on the porch. It attracts WAY too many cats if I do this. The problem is, now shes pregnant again, for the 3rd time in the past 6 mos. Here in FL, we had a mild spell the past couple weeks and it was 80 degrees. I think she went into heat and now she is buldging. It can get into the 30's at night, and she is now so very concerned when she looks at me. I can't keep dry food, because it stinks up the house and the roommates don't like it, can't keep it outside because the raccoons will dig it out no matter how you store it. I've been feeding her canned salmon and tuna. I just don't know what else there is I can do. Once this litter is born, I will have no idea where she will have it and chances are it won't survive.
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Torn over Stray
- Thread starter thecactuswill
- Start Date
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #3
I wish that was an option. Theres so many stray animals in florida, I'm sure the strays here outnumber the humans. Euthanization is really the only answer in this region as far as the system is concerned.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #5
I live in Atlantic Beach. Its 20 miles north of st augustine, 20 miles east of jacksonville.
Could you try keeping the dry food in a air tight container and evn put it under your bed so no one finds it , its soo sad i hope someone out there can help as she may be in late stages of pregnancy xxxxxxx
I would contact some local TNR groups....obviously these strays need to be spayed/neutered. Here is a list of groups in Florida:
http://www.alleycat.org/orgs.html#fl
Here is alley cat allies website on TNR:
http://www.alleycat.org/
Katie
Cactus: You need to contact the TNR groups, find someone who WILL feed and also, you should talk to your roomates about this particular cat. Do you want her? If so, you can find a group which will take the kittens and you can have her after her spay. IF IF your roomies don't mind. They may not, if you talk. but you will never know if you don't ask. As to feeding - only feed her when she's there, and you watch and pick up the food when she's done. Use wet food and kitten chow mixed (to give her a boost). And use paper plate. Pick up the plate and throw away INSIDE when done.
There are so many people looking for a friendly cat like that! I'd die to have such a great friendly lap loving cat!!!
Please don't give up on her, or the other "throw away" cats. If you do a TNR then they won't breed anymore, and you will then have saved untold lives of misery for other kittens/cats.
Look for help - someone down there WILL help!!
There are so many people looking for a friendly cat like that! I'd die to have such a great friendly lap loving cat!!!
Please don't give up on her, or the other "throw away" cats. If you do a TNR then they won't breed anymore, and you will then have saved untold lives of misery for other kittens/cats.
Look for help - someone down there WILL help!!
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #10
Someone will have to fill me in on what a 'TNR' group is, I've never heard of this. I know that these cats need care, but theres just so many, and its literally all of florida. If I were in a different situation, I might be able to keep her, but I really can't at this point in my life. Shes had several litters in the past couple years, and before myself it was a different roommate taking care of her. Hes the one that found homes for all the kittens that she had in the past. Most of them were good homes I'm sure, and much better than living outside. So at this point I really can only feed her once a day so I have time to standby and protect her from a hoard of cats coming for food. We used to just leave food out for along time, until so many cats came that they began to use the landscaping as their litterbox and marking their territory etc, it got really out of hand all of the sudden. So I'll give her a can of salmon or whatever, which is alot for a cat to eat, but she will buckle down and do it because she knows now she is only getting food once a day. But its what to do about this particular litter that I'm especially worried about.
thankyou for caring about this girl
TNR means - Trap, Neuter, Release. If you look at the link that Katie supplied you will most likely find a group in your area - give them a call and hopefully you will be able to trap this girl and get her spayed. At least this way she will have no more litters. If she is 'adoptable' then its possible she will be adopted into a home... if there is no chance then she will be released back into the area. Sure that doesnt help with food, but at least she wont have any more kittens
thankyou for caring and at least searching for a way you can help this girl
I agree - someone there WILL help - dont give up on this precious girl.
TNR means - Trap, Neuter, Release. If you look at the link that Katie supplied you will most likely find a group in your area - give them a call and hopefully you will be able to trap this girl and get her spayed. At least this way she will have no more litters. If she is 'adoptable' then its possible she will be adopted into a home... if there is no chance then she will be released back into the area. Sure that doesnt help with food, but at least she wont have any more kittens
thankyou for caring and at least searching for a way you can help this girl
I agree - someone there WILL help - dont give up on this precious girl.
TNR is a comprehensive plan where entire feral colonies are humanely trapped, then evaluated, vaccinated, and neutered by veterinarians. Kittens and cats that are tame enough to be adopted are placed in good homes. Adult cats are returned to their familiar habitat to live out their lives under the watchful care of sympathetic neighborhood volunteers.
TNR works. Cat populations are gradually reduced. Nuisance behaviors associated with breeding, such as the yowling of females or the spraying of toms, are virtually eliminated. Disease and malnutrition are greatly reduced. The cats live healthy, safe, and peaceful lives in their territories.
**********************************************
You will need to contact the groups that I provided in order to determine if they can assist you. TNR will address the needs of the entire colony...not simply this one stray. If there are many strays around...chances are that someone is feeding them...so they must all be spayed/neutered (and yes, some will be returned). It is the best way to humanely work with the situation.
Katie
Hey CactusWill,
I would suggest a few things for this cat.
1) Stop feeding her canned salmon and start feeding her canned kitten food (unless I've misinterpreted and you're feeding her canned kitten food in salmon flavor). It's better for her and it won't change your routine at all (other than a trip to the grocery/pet store). I know that Iams kitten food is decent and usually readily available.
2) Do some internet searches and use the links that Katie sent you to look for low cost/ no cost clinics. If there don't seem to be any available to you, start calling all the vet's in your area. Explain your situation. That she's not your cat, she's a stray, she's been having litter after litter, and can they work with you to provide a low cost or no cost spay. Don't be afraid to call several times if you have to leave messages or if no one calls you back in a timely manner.
3) Consider having her spayed now. She may not be as far along as you think she is. When we took in a stray momma cat this Oct. I was sure she was ready to pop! She looked huge! (but then I'd never seen a pregnant cat before!) When I took her to the vet, I was given a range of 2 to 4 more weeks before she was due. I figured this vet just didn't know what she was talking about. There was no way our little Chalupa was going to wait that long for her babies. Well, sure enough, about 3 1/2 weeks later, she gave birth! I think if I had really understood that when we took her in she was approaching the halfway mark, instead of ready to give birth that night, we may have had her spayed then to end the pregnancy. Obviously, this is your choice, I'm not saying you should do this, but I want you to know you have the option.
4) If cost is a factor, talk to your roommates and neighbors about going in together to get her spayed. Money can be left at the vet of your choice if people are uncomfortable giving it directly to you.
5) If NONE of this seems possible to you, then I would start looking for a foster home for her now. You can use http://www.petfinder.com or http://www.craigslist.org, then click to find your city, or the nearest city to you. Even if you don't have any organized resources available to you, I'm sure that there are people who do things like this on their own, and they may be able to help you out. Other members here can help you out with ways to screen potential homes for her.
Good luck to you and her, however you decide to continue. Thank you for caring about her welfare.
~Julia
I would suggest a few things for this cat.
1) Stop feeding her canned salmon and start feeding her canned kitten food (unless I've misinterpreted and you're feeding her canned kitten food in salmon flavor). It's better for her and it won't change your routine at all (other than a trip to the grocery/pet store). I know that Iams kitten food is decent and usually readily available.
2) Do some internet searches and use the links that Katie sent you to look for low cost/ no cost clinics. If there don't seem to be any available to you, start calling all the vet's in your area. Explain your situation. That she's not your cat, she's a stray, she's been having litter after litter, and can they work with you to provide a low cost or no cost spay. Don't be afraid to call several times if you have to leave messages or if no one calls you back in a timely manner.
3) Consider having her spayed now. She may not be as far along as you think she is. When we took in a stray momma cat this Oct. I was sure she was ready to pop! She looked huge! (but then I'd never seen a pregnant cat before!) When I took her to the vet, I was given a range of 2 to 4 more weeks before she was due. I figured this vet just didn't know what she was talking about. There was no way our little Chalupa was going to wait that long for her babies. Well, sure enough, about 3 1/2 weeks later, she gave birth! I think if I had really understood that when we took her in she was approaching the halfway mark, instead of ready to give birth that night, we may have had her spayed then to end the pregnancy. Obviously, this is your choice, I'm not saying you should do this, but I want you to know you have the option.
4) If cost is a factor, talk to your roommates and neighbors about going in together to get her spayed. Money can be left at the vet of your choice if people are uncomfortable giving it directly to you.
5) If NONE of this seems possible to you, then I would start looking for a foster home for her now. You can use http://www.petfinder.com or http://www.craigslist.org, then click to find your city, or the nearest city to you. Even if you don't have any organized resources available to you, I'm sure that there are people who do things like this on their own, and they may be able to help you out. Other members here can help you out with ways to screen potential homes for her.
Good luck to you and her, however you decide to continue. Thank you for caring about her welfare.
~Julia
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #14
Well shes having her kittens now, theres 5 so far. My roommate also told me she ate one of them. I didn't know whether to believe him or not, is this possible?
Will..it is possible for a mom cat to eat one of her young...especially if she is stressed and young. Where is she living right now?? Now would be a good time to contact a TNR or rescue group about this situation. They may be able to take her and the kittens into foster.
Katie
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #16
Shes a stray cat, lives outside. But she was let inside to give birth.
So she is indoors right now with her kittens?? If so, she needs to remain indoors so she doesn't become pregnant again...cats can get pregnant again very soon after giving birth.
Katie
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #18
Yes shes still inside. Only because its been 30 degrees outside. But it can't continue. I have a 'no pets' agreement in my lease and could be evicted if caught. Also I just checked on them and she ate another one of them. Shes had plenty of food, and I'm really deeply disturbed by this I honestly don't know what to do. I can hardly eat myself because of it. And I know the last litter she had, a male cat came and stole one of the kittens never for it to be seen again, so I'm afraid to put them back outside.
Will....sounds like it would be best to have mom and babies go to a rescue group.
Katie
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #20
The first place I called is willing to take her. Its a lady who works at a vet and takes care of and adopts cats out of her own home. She said she has had only one foster cat that was unadoptable, and her family kept it.
