Getting rid of cats??

Question

We have over 30 cats on our farm--we feed them and they go through like 30 pounds of food a week...it's getting quite expensive. We have neutered and spayed all the cats that we want to keep and are tame. However, there are about 10 cats that are too wild to catch to spay or neuter, and we don't want them. The wild cats keep reproducing and my dad gets rid of some of the kittens, but I feel horrible about it--but my parents buy the food, so what they say goes. I would trap the wild ones, but I have tried that before and only the tame ones wander inside the trap. There is no Humane Society near us and my parents don't want to pay for any more neutering or spaying, since we have neutered the cats we want to keep. Does anyone have any ideas of how we can control our cat population and catch the wild cats without killing them?

My parents really don't want to pay for the wild cats to get neutered/spayed. Also, our vet gives us a deal as it is, but my parents are farmers so we don't have a lot of money...and it would be pretty mean to not feed the cats--I don't want the tame ones to leave and we can't just feed the tame ones--they have feeders where everyone can eat out of.

We really REALLY don't have anything out here with us--as far as Humane Society or anything like that--we don't even have a stoplight in our county. Also, we can't put the tame cats in the house--we have 2 house cats and one neutered male starts urinating inside if we bring other cats inside. Also, there are like 20 tame ones and that would be a TON of cats in the house. Keep the ideas coming though!! I really appreciate it!!!

We can't feed the tame cats separate than the wild ones--they eat out of the same feeder....

Answer 1

One thing that might help is to feed your tame cats in an area the ferals can't access - the house or a barn with the door shut. Then pick up the food once they've all been fed. Ferals tend to leave an area when the food supply dries up. They will also breed less when food is not plentiful.

There are groups that will come and trap, neuter and release feral cats on other ranches and farms that need them for rodent control. But it's a problem without a humane society near you to help. I'd contact the closest one you can find and ask their advice on other things you can try. Look for the closest one on www.petfinder.com and give them a call.

Anything else you do may result in harm to your tame cats.

You may need to round up all of your tame cats and try trapping again and then packing the feral ones off to a group that will do TNR if you can find one. Sometimes local vets will also spay and neuter ferals at a discount to help the overpopulation problem. It's not that difficult if they know the technique. That said, I realize the difficulties in rural areas.

As for the kittens, humane societies will take the litters of feral cats and hand raise them to be tame for pets. It's a problem if you don't have one near you, but its better than killing them. I understand though that you'll just end up with another litter before long when that happens. But cutting off the food supply should cut down on the number of litters and even the adults, who will move on to places where food is more available.

Edit

I truly sympathize with your situation. But you really have only three choices to get rid of the ferals - kill them (which I agree, I wouldn't want to do either), trap them and take them to someone for TNR, or change your feeding methods so the ferals leave. As long as the food is around in open free feeders and always plentiful, they will stay and continue breeding. Plus you are already having to kill kittens, so if you want to stop the cycle, the feral cats have to be removed from the picture or spayed and neutered. You really don't have any other choices.

Answer 2

feed only the tame ones if u c a wild cat dont let it get the food, try scaring it away. also try catching the tame ones and set out traps with cat food after about a week of not feeding the wild cats. they should go into the traps from hunger. good luck and dont give up, u just got to outsmart them. hope this helps!

Answer 3

I think the only humane thing to do under these circumstances in to trap, spay/neuter and release. It may be expensive, but it's the only way to get rid of the population without killing the cats. Is it possible there might be a sympathetic vet around who would give your parents a break on the cost? Are there affected neighbors who might chip in? ...sounds like a tough spot to be in. I wish you and the cats luck.

Answer 4

let me start by saying....please don't hurt them, the deserve to be treated like everyone else even if they are wild.


i suggesst you just let them wonder around the farm like a stray and feed them left overs so it wouldn't be costy, i'm sure they can hunt thier own food and won't be too hungry. This is more better then sending them to the human society or shelter because they will surely be put down (put to sleep) because of thier behavior. Just let them wonder around and be wild cats. Pretend they don't excist just don't kill them.

Answer 5

First,put all the cats that are tame inside,then put out some catnip plants outside. While there entertained with the catnip,slam a cadge over them so they can't escape.

Answer 6

Feed them some of that food that has been all over the news... you know the new rat poison flavor.

Answer 7

Don't feed them and they'll leave.