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Hello, I am new to this forum. I chose this crazy user name because I am in between a rock and a hard place and the attacks are getting nastier and nastier each day-so it sums up things pretty well. I am a struggling unemployed cat feeder who scrapes by in feeding the outdoor cats and trying to nurse sick cats back to health. I was feeding 5 backyard kitties, this time last year. The problem started when one of the other cat feeders on my block moved and left her cats in the care of another cat feeder on the block who said she could take them on. I don't know exactly how many cats the other feeder has, it may be around 15 while the previous cat feeder had 6 cats. Well slowly over the late fall and into Winter these cats started coming to me one by one until I had a small cat colony hanging around my front stoop everyday. I got dirty looks from some of the neighbors and I heard their grumblings. I did try to shoo them away in hope that they go back to the other feeder. No such luck! They got attached to me, and truth be told I like them too. I found out that they were being bullied out of the other feeder's yard by the bigger cats she feeds. That explained a lot! However in the last month 3-5 more cats were coming to me, including the "bullies". I tried to shoo them away, but they were stubborn and I ended up feeding them. All the while my neighbors were getting more and more pissed off. There is another feeder on the block, but he is what I called a casual feeder. He has never feed full time and I don't think he knows what is involved in cat feeding, especially in the winter. He has given me cans of food at times. He means well, but he has the the idea that you throw a little food at the cats and they will be okay. He gives some of the cats food in the morning. I am thankful that he helps out that way.
I have two of my backyard cats get sick. I was running out getting them special food and supplements. These cats keep drifting away from me and then coming back to me for food. Maybe they found another feeder, but I am very concerned because they seem sick to me. I intended to take them in the garage, and nurse them back to health, but I have a major problem with the owner of the house I live in, she does not want me to feed any cats now and will not let me take them in to nurse them back to health. I get hell from her on a lot lately.
On top of that my neighbors are talking crap about me, one of them bragged about putting complaints in on me and that I should get sued for cat feeding. TG I live in a state that does not consider the cats you feed as your own, opening you up to legal action. My state is very decent when it comes to outdoor cats. Also, I keep everything clean, as not to cause health issues.
To try to make a long story short. I reached out to rescuers and organizations at the request of the feeder's husband who wants his yard back and said he would pay anything for this to happen. There are too many cats roaming our streets despite nearly all of them being tned( just one older male the other cat feeder feeds). Also we have had new people move on the block with young children. For that and other reasons, including cats lying in the streets(accident waiting to happen) I searched for help. Some rescuers offered me some help with food and medicine, while one person who runs a cat sanctuary offered to work with me and my neighbor to get some of the cats off the street. The other feeder was furious with me when she found out I was trying to get the cats off the streets. I told her it is for the best and that I was worried about these cats and their survival. Well now we are not on speaking terms and her husband is not standing by me doing what I was asked (begged) to do. Just threw me under the bus!!!
Now the cats remain on the streets and I have to prepare for winter while looking for my sick cats. They ate well in the last few days and then they disappeared again. One of them has matted fur that I want to shave down so badly and get him to feel better. I am agonizing over how I can help them and all the kitties. Everyone is crowding me with negativity and the old "Stop feeding the cats and they will go away." I need some moral support. I feel so alone in this situation. Thank you for reading this very long post. I appreciate any advise you can give. Please no negative replies--i get enough of that everyday.
I have two of my backyard cats get sick. I was running out getting them special food and supplements. These cats keep drifting away from me and then coming back to me for food. Maybe they found another feeder, but I am very concerned because they seem sick to me. I intended to take them in the garage, and nurse them back to health, but I have a major problem with the owner of the house I live in, she does not want me to feed any cats now and will not let me take them in to nurse them back to health. I get hell from her on a lot lately.
On top of that my neighbors are talking crap about me, one of them bragged about putting complaints in on me and that I should get sued for cat feeding. TG I live in a state that does not consider the cats you feed as your own, opening you up to legal action. My state is very decent when it comes to outdoor cats. Also, I keep everything clean, as not to cause health issues.
To try to make a long story short. I reached out to rescuers and organizations at the request of the feeder's husband who wants his yard back and said he would pay anything for this to happen. There are too many cats roaming our streets despite nearly all of them being tned( just one older male the other cat feeder feeds). Also we have had new people move on the block with young children. For that and other reasons, including cats lying in the streets(accident waiting to happen) I searched for help. Some rescuers offered me some help with food and medicine, while one person who runs a cat sanctuary offered to work with me and my neighbor to get some of the cats off the street. The other feeder was furious with me when she found out I was trying to get the cats off the streets. I told her it is for the best and that I was worried about these cats and their survival. Well now we are not on speaking terms and her husband is not standing by me doing what I was asked (begged) to do. Just threw me under the bus!!!
Now the cats remain on the streets and I have to prepare for winter while looking for my sick cats. They ate well in the last few days and then they disappeared again. One of them has matted fur that I want to shave down so badly and get him to feel better. I am agonizing over how I can help them and all the kitties. Everyone is crowding me with negativity and the old "Stop feeding the cats and they will go away." I need some moral support. I feel so alone in this situation. Thank you for reading this very long post. I appreciate any advise you can give. Please no negative replies--i get enough of that everyday.