Cats of Colonia de las Rosas

I haven't brought him in yet. I need to figure out how since I don't think he'll just let me pick him up and bring him in. Yes, he seems very healthy now, just despondent.

Good luck tomorrow night! I'm really rooting for Mamie to go in.

I hope Contender's not ill, poor guy!

Saturday, April 01, 2006

THIS IS SO EXCITING I CAN HARDY CONTAIN MYSELF!!!!

RED IS ALREADY NEUTERED!

Yes, thatâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s right! Tonight he was sitting on the rec building and I could see him clearly silhouetted against the sky and his right earâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s tipped. Several years ago when I was actively trapping I trapped a stray cat and now I think that must have been Red. I had a feeling I would see him again. Itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s a wonderful relief to know that I only have to trap little Mamie now and Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m through. The job has gotten too physical for a woman 4â€[emoji]8482[/emoji]11†tall and 63 years old!

I also saw Louie tonight on my way out of the garden. He was running across the very busy street outside the complex and into the neighborhood beyond. I donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t know what that means besides I have to worry about him getting hit by a car on that very busy street.

I said I was going to trap tonight, but that was a mistake. I meant tomorrow night for the vetâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s trip Monday morning.

Roll Call: Blackie, Bonita, Contender, Eleanor, Growltiger, Jose, Lady Day, Louie, Mamie, Red, Sneakers, Tiger.

Originally Posted by clixpix

Good luck tomorrow night! I'm really rooting for Mamie to go in.

I hope Contender's not ill, poor guy!

Click to expand...

It was over a year ago that he first showed up, when Jose was feeding the cats. Jose made sure Contender was well fed even going back upstairs to get him more canned food when he wanted it.

He's much healthier now, but still hunches a lot and seems despondent. He has made friends with a lot of the other cats. They rub on him, etc. Tonight I saw him make a mrrrr sound to Sneakers and they brushed against one another.

It's just that knowing he had a good home once makes me want to bring him inside. I'm even wondering if he has a microchip.

I have a friend that has a foster parent shelter for cats and she has helped me find homes for three other cats -- two abandoned, and one feral kitten. I think she would help me again by placing Contender's name in petfinder.com, etc.

Oh no! There was a girl last year that I tried for the entire summer to trap, but never could...she knew this trick too. Of course, I didn't have the daily access you have for Mamie, so all you can do is keep trying. I think a bigger trap is a good idea...shove the bait as deep as you can inside the trap. Maybe it's a good thing that she keeps trying...perhaps she thinks she's outsmarted you, and will continue to go in. We can hope so anyway.

Good luck!

BTW...great news about Red!

Monday, April 03, 2006


It was a hard dayâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s night last night. It turns out that little Mamie can move faster than the trap doors can fall down and trap her. Nothing wrong with my old trap. Sheâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s just a very fast little girl (about 7-8 months now). She escaped twice last night. The first time I thought was just an accident. The second time I saw it and my head just exploded. I didnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t know any cat could be so fast. Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m going to try again tomorrow night with a larger cage.


Wish me luck because Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m truly flummoxed. All ideas appreciated.

Roll Call (tonight): Blackie, Bonita, Contender, Eleanor, Growltiger, Jose, Lady Day, Louie, Mamie, Red, Sneakers, Tiger. Twelve total.

Originally Posted by clixpix

Oh no! There was a girl last year that I tried for the entire summer to trap, but never could...she knew this trick too. Of course, I didn't have the daily access you have for Mamie, so all you can do is keep trying. I think a bigger trap is a good idea...shove the bait as deep as you can inside the trap. Maybe it's a good thing that she keeps trying...perhaps she thinks she's outsmarted you, and will continue to go in. We can hope so anyway.

Good luck!

BTW...great news about Red!

Click to expand...

Thank you clixpix. I almost cried last night......

You never got your little girl? She must be out in the night time forests, making more feral babies.

The females suffer terribly giving birth over and over. Our Big Mama, Bonita had four litters in just a little more than two years. She was very thin, and very hungry, when she finally walked into a trap for some delicious Fancy Feast. Now she's a rounded and healthy girl again. Her grown children that we still have are: (possibly) Growltiger, Jose, Sneakers and Tiger.

Six found places at no-kill shelters for adoption, one was adopted to a home, one disappeared.

Originally Posted by katie=^..^=

Thank you clixpix. I almost cried last night......

You never got your little girl? She must be out in the night time forests, making more feral babies.

The females suffer terribly giving birth over and over. Our Big Mama, Bonita had four litters in just a little more than two years. She was very thin, and very hungry, when she finally walked into a trap for some delicious Fancy Feast. Now she's a rounded and healthy girl again. Her grown children that we still have are: (possibly) Growltiger, Jose, Sneakers and Tiger.

Six found places at no-kill shelters for adoption, one was adopted to a home, one disappeared.

Click to expand...

No, I never did get her. You have no say over who walks into your trap, and others walked in willingly, but she just wouldn't. Within a two block area, we trapped, I think, about 25-30 cats and kittens, and that was just last summer. Most of them were girls, so we made what dent we could. She was pregnant when I first saw her, then I heard reports of her being seen non-pregnant, but no babies, so I think they died. She hasn't been seen in months, so I think something happened to her. She would only be about 2 years old now. I live in the city, so there are no forests for her to wander off to, more likely she would have been hit by a car, if indeed something happened to her.

(((katie)))

I love you.....

Originally Posted by clixpix

No, I never did get her.

You have no say over who walks into your trap, and others walked in willingly, but she just wouldn't. Within a two block area, we trapped, I think, about 25-30 cats and kittens, and that was just last summer. Most of them were girls, so we made what dent we could. She was pregnant when I first saw her, then I heard reports of her being seen non-pregnant, but no babies, so I think they died. She hasn't been seen in months, so I think something happened to her.

She would only be about 2 years old now. I live in the city, so there are no forests for her to wander off to, more likely she would have been hit by a car, if indeed something happened to her.

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I'm so impressed that you were able to trap 25-30 cats.

Have you ever keep records of your cats like that recommended by Alley Cats Allied?

Thank you, sweet Bobbie!

Thursday, April 06, 2006

Since daylight savings time, I am feeding the cats at 7:30 p.m. Thatâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s still dusk and thatâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s when their little tummies tell them to eat. They no longer all come running when I come out. They are starting to take me for granted! Now only Blackie, Contender and usually Jose are there waiting for me. Then all the others meet me about half way.

Tonight, Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m going to try to trap Mamie again. I have a larger trap. Thatâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s my only plan.

Last Sunday, when I set out to try and trap her, I took down the trap loaded up with canned salmon. I also took the rest of the salmon down with me and some catnip. So while we waited for Mamie to come, we all had a party. I gave out little tastes of salmon to everyone who would come for it. Sneakers and Eleanor for instance wonâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t get close enough to take it from me, before another braver cat eats it up. They enjoyed the catnip that I sprinkled on the sidewalks though. Everyone did. It was cute to see latecomers join the party with their noses out smelling everywhere. I couldnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t tell if it was salmon or catnip that excited them. We partied right up to dinnertime, and the catnip seemed to give them munchies because the salmon treats didnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t slow them down at all! Even Eleanor jumped out and pounced on her son Blackie, confusing the heck out of him.

Mamie and Red came after the party when the meal was already served. I scooped up all the dry and put it away, hoping that Mamie would be hungry enough to go in the trap. She was, but she was also too quick to get caught! I love the feistiness of that little cat!

Roll Call: Blackie, Bonita, Contender, Eleanor, Growltiger, Jose, Lady Day, Louie, Mamie, Red, Sneakers, Tiger. Twelve total.

Thursday, April 06, 2006

A beautiful indigo blue sky hangs over the garden at the time I feed the cats now. Just before the black night sky, but still dark enough to see the North Star and find the Big Dipper. I love it and Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m glad I have a reason to go out into it every night. The cats love it, too, and chase and pounce after bugs and each other on smooth grassy parts of the garden. Itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s a delight – a peaceful, gentle delight.

The cats are calm now and except for Red and Louie, are usually waiting for me. Those two still feel the need to sneak up when Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m not watching. I give Growltiger a separate bowl of canned food, which he appreciates very much. Sometimes little Mamie still likes to eat from her own private bowls under the bench. Thatâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s where Jose always fed her.

Roll Call: Blackie, Bonita, Contender, Eleanor, Growltiger, Jose, Lady Day, Louie, Mamie, Red, Sneakers, Tiger. Twelve total.

.

Originally Posted by katie=^..^=

I'm so impressed that you were able to trap 25-30 cats.

Have you ever keep records of your cats like that recommended by Alley Cats Allied?

Click to expand...

No, I didn't. I was part of a group of 3, and the other two do not have it in them to put the cats back where they were trapped, so all were socialized and adopted out (except for JinJin in my siggy...still trying to find her a home). It was a ton of work, and I don't plan on repeating it. Although I feel good about them all finding homes, I think we've probably created the "vacuum effect" in that neighborhood, so I'm sure more will just move in there. They weren't my colony, I found out about them from a co-worker who told me about kittens in her yard. She's not a feeder, although there are plenty of them in that neighborhood. The problem is, nobody is fixing the cats. So the equation over there is: Cats + ample food = kittens. Unfortunately, I'm not planning on going back to trap. As you can imagine, we spent tons of money on vet bills, and I just can't afford it. I tried contacting agencies to help, like Alley Cat Allies, but I never heard from any of them.

That's why it's so nice to read your posts. You are doing what colony caretakers should be doing, TNR'ing the cats you care for!

Oh,Katie, it makes me so sad to hear of what these female kitties must go through!

Originally Posted by katie=^..^=

Thank you clixpix. I almost cried last night......

You never got your little girl? She must be out in the night time forests, making more feral babies.

The females suffer terribly giving birth over and over. Our Big Mama, Bonita had four litters in just a little more than two years. She was very thin, and very hungry, when she finally walked into a trap for some delicious Fancy Feast. Now she's a rounded and healthy girl again. Her grown children that we still have are: (possibly) Growltiger, Jose, Sneakers and Tiger.

Six found places at no-kill shelters for adoption, one was adopted to a home, one disappeared.

Click to expand...

clixpix, I think you are the best, too!

Originally Posted by clixpix

No, I didn't. I was part of a group of 3, and the other two do not have it in them to put the cats back where they were trapped, so all were socialized and adopted out (except for JinJin in my siggy...still trying to find her a home). It was a ton of work, and I don't plan on repeating it. Although I feel good about them all finding homes, I think we've probably created the "vacuum effect" in that neighborhood, so I'm sure more will just move in there. They weren't my colony, I found out about them from a co-worker who told me about kittens in her yard. She's not a feeder, although there are plenty of them in that neighborhood. The problem is, nobody is fixing the cats. So the equation over there is: Cats + ample food = kittens. Unfortunately, I'm not planning on going back to trap. As you can imagine, we spent tons of money on vet bills, and I just can't afford it. I tried contacting agencies to help, like Alley Cat Allies, but I never heard from any of them.

That's why it's so nice to read your posts. You are doing what colony caretakers should be doing, TNR'ing the cats you care for!

Click to expand...

Originally Posted by clixpix

No, I didn't. I was part of a group of 3, and the other two do not have it in them to put the cats back where they were trapped, so all were socialized and adopted out (except for JinJin in my siggy...still trying to find her a home). It was a ton of work, and I don't plan on repeating it. Although I feel good about them all finding homes, I think we've probably created the "vacuum effect" in that neighborhood, so I'm sure more will just move in there. They weren't my colony, I found out about them from a co-worker who told me about kittens in her yard. She's not a feeder, although there are plenty of them in that neighborhood. The problem is, nobody is fixing the cats. So the equation over there is: Cats + ample food = kittens. Unfortunately, I'm not planning on going back to trap. As you can imagine, we spent tons of money on vet bills, and I just can't afford it. I tried contacting agencies to help, like Alley Cat Allies, but I never heard from any of them.

That's why it's so nice to read your posts. You are doing what colony caretakers should be doing, TNR'ing the cats you care for!

Click to expand...

You are right about the vacuum effect. Especially if people are feeding and not trapping. Trapping is the hard and expensive part of caring for a colony. When Jose took over the colony again (after he was sick the first time), I had reduced it to only seven cats. Then when I came back this time there are now little Mamie and four stray males eating with the group. If Mamie is not trapped, even though all the males are neutered, toms will come in from other parts of the neighborhood and we'll soon be having kittens to add to the group.

One of the sad things is that the people here like the kittens, but don't want the grown cats!

Bobbie, thank you. You are so sweet. Don't worry Bonita and all our girls are fine now. We just need good wishes for Mamie!

Originally Posted by katie=^..^=

One of the sad things is that the people here like the kittens, but don't want the grown cats!

Click to expand...

Well, there it is, isn't it. I think that perhaps a fair number of ferals are someone's kitten that just "got too big".

Sending plenty of vibes for Mamie!

Originally Posted by katie=^..^=

Bobbie, thank you. You are so sweet. Don't worry Bonita and all our girls are fine now. We just need good wishes for Mamie!

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Katie..did you see this:

Free feral cat spay day in downtown LA, Sunday April 23, 2006. Call 310-281-6973 or email [email protected]

oh, I pray that you can trap Mamie and get her spayed! Poor lil angel!

Originally Posted by katie=^..^=

You are right about the vacuum effect. Especially if people are feeding and not trapping. Trapping is the hard and expensive part of caring for a colony. When Jose took over the colony again (after he was sick the first time), I had reduced it to only seven cats. Then when I came back this time there are now little Mamie and four stray males eating with the group. If Mamie is not trapped, even though all the males are neutered, toms will come in from other parts of the neighborhood and we'll soon be having kittens to add to the group.

One of the sad things is that the people here like the kittens, but don't want the grown cats!

Click to expand...