I live in an apartment complex that is overrun by feral cats. There must be close to 50 or more and they just keep multiplying. All the time I hear them fighting and crying. They spray my porch and bleed on my door steps. They spred flea's everywhere (both my dog and my INDOOR cat have flea's as well as the rest of my apartment.
My dog now has both fleas and tapeworms because of the fleas. He scratches constantly to get them off, causing scabs and bruises on himself. We have tried biospot, advantage, flea baths, capstar, borax and other treatments totaling over $200.00 but cannot rid our dog, cat or HOUSE of the fleas!!!!!
I have gone to the management and told them about an organization that will take the cats for a small donation. They refuse to give any monies.
I called the Animal Control and they said that since there is no leash law for cats that they cannot do anything. THIS IS DRIVING ME NUTS!
Can someone Help and tell me what to do to save the cats and my dog?
2007-02-28 13:18:03 · 10 answers · asked by scromlette213 3 in Pets ➔ Cats
Moving out isn't really an option seeing as it's something I cannot afford right now.
And if your going to post something cruel and inhumane, I suggest you just don't post.
2007-02-28 14:16:34 · update #1
Also, I live in pasco county florida.
2007-03-01 00:14:36 · update #2
I agree, search the web for trap neuter release programs. i live in Maryland, and just had 8 feral cats trapped, fixed, vaccinated and returned for me to care for. They were all female. By the end of summer there would be over 69 kittens here... yikes! Animal control, despite what they tell you, will have all the cats euthanized. If they can't handle the cat immediately, it will be killed. I dealt with Animal Advocates of howard county MD. i don't know where you live, but try contacting them, because they may be able to refer you to someone that can help in your area. If you are of low income, they do it for free, or a small donation. I suspect that most of the cats are female, and they have formed some sort of "nursery". These cats are also not suitable for adoption. A feral cat taken into a home usually is given up after only 1 to 3 years. that means they could be abandoned to a new place to start a whole other colony. Normally after they are all fixed, even if another male or two wanders in, they can't get any of the females pregnant at least. Once this happens though, they will need a caretaker to provide shelters (made from insulated rubbermaid containers) feeder boxes that are sheltered, and a regular supply of food and water. You really have to evaluate the quality of their lives right now. Do they act ill, or are constantly fighting or beat up? Do they have a safe place to go? if the quality of life is really poor, calling animal control would be the option. getting a cat fixed and returning it to a miserable life is also not humane. Google Animal Advocates of Howard county, and leave them an email.. they should get back to you in a couple of days. Remember, those cats will be giving birth to more kittens by the end of March, so if you want to help them, you need to act quickly.. before more kittens are brought into a very difficult life. Good luck.
2007-02-28 15:16:02 · answer #1 · answered by C.C. 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I agree that trap, neuter and release is the best way to deal with the outside cats if you can find a way to do it. It has worked for me. Over time, some of the cats disappear and new ones come, but much less than before. I try to get the new ones done also, especially the females. I also get them rabies and distemper shots when they are neutered/spayed.
For your indoor animals, I would recommend using Frontline for 2-3 months and also treating the house with Raid spray and bomb (from Walmart - by the ant traps). My son had a terrible flea problem, and we tried everything like you did, and a friend recommended the Raid and it really did the job. First I put the Frontline on. Then I took the cats out of the house. Then I vacuumed and sprayed the spray under and on the furniture and carpet - everywhere. Then I covered the counters and cupboards with plasticsheets (from Target painting dept - box of 5 large ones for around $4), and set off the bomb. Had to leave the house for a couple of hours, but we have not had a problem since.
2007-02-28 22:39:02 · answer #2 · answered by Maje 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Go higher, film what is going on. send it in to the police or someone in the court house Or you can find a group of people to help donate money to do control. Take it to the top cause this is a serious infestation that is getting way out of control and the city has to do something about it,
Have people in the building complain more to the owner. Get together and complain don't let them push you down, If your pets are having health issues from this then yes it needs to be taken care of!
Another way is to do catch release( spay and neuter) or have them put down if health is bad. Go to a place that does that and ask for help if you can get people to donate, Call the humane society about it and see what to do
2007-02-28 23:15:10 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Work with an organization like Feline Friends or Best Friends. They will give you traps to capture the ferals, bring them back to them, they will have local vets fix/alter them, then you can bring them back to their original home. This way there will not be any fights or screaming anymore and the flea problem should not be as bad a problem as it is now since there won't be any new cats to spread them. Eventually there will be no feral cats there as they all have been fixed/altered. It is a good plan. There is no fee involved in this, just the setting of traps, picking up and delivering.
2007-02-28 21:49:50 · answer #4 · answered by Terry Z 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If you contact OSHA you might be able to have something done a little sooner. Look up their website and check out 'vermin control.' I bet you can report the flea infestation due to the cats and get that complex in a good bit of trouble!!
2007-03-01 16:51:58 · answer #5 · answered by Mari A 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I would sue the management because of your terrible living conditions. It is completely neccesary that the management takes care of the problem because it's illegal for them to let you live like that. Get your lawyer if they refuse after hearing that. If you don't want to go through the trouble, you have only one other option- move out. But that would be the wrong thing to do... you'd just pass the terrible living space to someone else.
2007-02-28 21:28:18 · answer #6 · answered by rosemary 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Write a letter to the mayor and include pictures. You'll be surprised how fast the problem is fixed once his office gets curious.
2007-02-28 21:27:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Work harder on Animal Control or contact your local humane society.
2007-02-28 21:23:20 · answer #8 · answered by something_fishy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i suggest you move to another apartment.
2007-02-28 21:24:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Start shooting them at night with a BB gun from your window.
2007-02-28 21:26:56 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 7⤋