Last winter I noticed that a stray cat was hiding under the deck of an office I go by on the way to work (the office is in a house in a residential area). I started putting food by the edge of the deck on my way to work and told some friends that lived in the area about the cat and gave them my live trap. Unfortunately, they never saw the cat so didn't get on the trapping. So, as you can guess, in the spring one cat became a cat and three kittens. I have been feeding them under the deck (which has some bushes along it) and waiting until the kittens got old enough. Just two days ago, my friend that lives near to the cats came over while I was feeding them so I could show them to her and we discussed the plan for trapping. The kittens will eat in front of me and will come most of the way out from under the deck, momma cat is still very cautious.
Anyway, I was feeling good about things and then the next morning when I went to feed them, there was a note on the deck with big black writing saying "Please do not feed the stray cats." No explanation like "I am planning on trapping them and need them hungry" or "I am feeding them too." I went ahead and fed them but realized I needed to come up with another plan. I called my friend who was going to trap them and we discussed the options. I happen to know the guy who owns the office next door to where the cats have been hiding so I called him and he agreed to let me feed them on his property and said we could set up the trap there. His office is also in a house and has a big pine tree with a bunch of vines around it and some decent undergrowth. This morning I put the food over by the tree kind of in some vines so the cats would have some cover. I called them but didn't see any of them. I am worried that they won't come over to the food. The area is maybe 15 feet from the deck where they hide.
I guess at this point I am just looking for reassurance that they will venture out to the food. We don't want to set the trap out until we know they are comfortable with the new feeding arrangement.
Anyway, I was feeling good about things and then the next morning when I went to feed them, there was a note on the deck with big black writing saying "Please do not feed the stray cats." No explanation like "I am planning on trapping them and need them hungry" or "I am feeding them too." I went ahead and fed them but realized I needed to come up with another plan. I called my friend who was going to trap them and we discussed the options. I happen to know the guy who owns the office next door to where the cats have been hiding so I called him and he agreed to let me feed them on his property and said we could set up the trap there. His office is also in a house and has a big pine tree with a bunch of vines around it and some decent undergrowth. This morning I put the food over by the tree kind of in some vines so the cats would have some cover. I called them but didn't see any of them. I am worried that they won't come over to the food. The area is maybe 15 feet from the deck where they hide.
I guess at this point I am just looking for reassurance that they will venture out to the food. We don't want to set the trap out until we know they are comfortable with the new feeding arrangement.