A couple of years ago my grandma started feeding a stray cat that wandered into our neighborhood. She had kittens shortly after, and since then has kept breeding. We have about 12 stray cats and kittens now wandering around our yard, and we don't know what to do. They are impossible to catch, they run away when you get close to them, and we've had a few get caught in my dad's truck engine, and we can't live with this anymore. My family doesn't know how to get rid of them, and we don't know if there is any place we can call to get help. My grandmother doesn't just want to stop feeding them, she thinks they'll die in our yard or stay for the shelter she provides for them. If you know what we can do about this situation, please tell me. (serious answers ONLY)
2007-10-07 13:29:12 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
TNR, as many have already answered before me is the way to . If the cats are impossible to catch, and are running from you, chances are they are feral and to wild to be adopted. Trapping them and taking them to Humane society will almost certainly be instant euthanization. Not only that, but your grandmother who seems to have a fondness and care for the cats would be very upset.
Trap Neuter and Return would be the best option for stopping the breeding and multiplying you have going on now, and will also not hurt your grandmothers feelings knowing that they are returning. You did mention kittens, and if trapped they actually stand a Chance of being adopted, but the older they get, the less likely so don't wait.
Its a tremendous task, but if you get your father and other involved, you can make it hap pend. Also call your local vets to see which ones offer spaying at a deep discount for ferals. They may even have the number to people for a fee that will do the trapping and returning for you.
I know you can do it with a little help and support. I'm in a similar situation, (actually only 4 wild cats) and have successfully TNR two of them. I plan to do TNR on the other two within the next couple weeks! Good luck!
2007-10-08 04:56:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are organizations that can loan you humane traps and help you get all your stray cats fixed and neutered for little or no cost. These groups educate and assist people with "trap, neuter, and return" or TNR to control the feral/stray cat population. As you get all the cats in your yard fixed, they won't have any more babies. And by releasing them back to your yard, you will give them a safe place to live and prevent any new cats from moving in. Your grandmother can shift where she feeds them and maybe set up a few more hiding places other than your Dad's truck, so they don't cause you so much trouble.
You can do an online search for "feral cats" and your city, contact your local Humane Society for recommendations, or stop by a local pet store that does cat adoptions on the weekend. Explain your problem and they can help you get started. Most of the groups who work with feral and stray cats are all volunteer and overwhelmed, so keep calling or try to talk with someone with the adoption group or at the Humane Society. There is help, but let them know you are willing to be part of the solution.
2007-10-07 14:11:29 · answer #2 · answered by refrank05 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The most important thing to do is to get these cats fixed ASAP. Most communities have groups that will help with the cost and trapping of feral cats in order to get them fixed. Without taking action to spay and neuter these animals, they're just going to keep breeding. If any of the animals are tame enough, you may want to consider taking them to the shelter to be put up for adoption.
Call your local animal shelter or SPCA and explain your situation. They can at least point you in the right direction, and offer some guidance.
2007-10-07 13:37:39 · answer #3 · answered by Peather 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should call your local humane society and tell them the situation. They can give you what is called "live traps" to catch them in and then you can take them to the shelter. The shelters almost always find homes for kittens, they are the first to be adopted. You should explain to your grandmother that she is harming them by feeding them and keeping them wild. They need permanent shelter and love to make good pets, these will turn out to be feral and hurt someone or get sick and die.
2007-10-07 14:33:25 · answer #4 · answered by mn lady 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would start by contacting the local animal shelter and ask them for some names and phone numbers of places that help with feral cat populations. There are groups out there that trap the animals and get them fixed and then return them to the area they were. Sometimes they dont all make it back if they are unhealthy and would be a risk to the rest of the feral colony. Call a vet and ask them for the names of places to help too. I promise you that there are people out there willing to help control the cat situation. Good luck.
2007-10-07 13:34:15 · answer #5 · answered by dragonfly 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
TNR of the ones she likes would be best (trap neuter/spay release), but if there are so many, and you can't easily deal with having them there, you do need to do something.
Unfortunately feral cats are hard to impossible to find homes for. I'd suggest seeing if there IS any TNR being done in your area (try the humane society) and if there is, rent their live trap (you get your deposit back when you return the trap) and get as many as you can neutered/spayed, and check with farmers in your area to see if they want extra barn cats.
You need to ASK them, not drop cats off and think they'll be welcome. Get in a car and go out and canvas the area, trying to find who will take one or several, and then get them delivered AFTER they've been fixed. Even farms don't want a sudden overpopulation of breeding cats.
The cats your grandma feeds should not be reproducing, they do need to be fixed.
2007-10-07 18:58:55 · answer #6 · answered by Elaine M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to call your local humane society. They will probably provide you with live traps that capture the cats humanely. Once at the shelter they will probably evaluate whether or not they are adoptable and decide from there if they can be put up for adoption or not. If you stop feeding them, most of them will probably suffer since you have been their main source of food and shelter. Please call the humane society and have them direct you as to what can be done. You don't want this litter reproducing as well, nor do you want them to suffer. Good luck.
2007-10-07 13:35:14 · answer #7 · answered by Lilah 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A woman in our neighborhood began capturing strays in traps, hauling them to a vet down the street - in a protected cat carrier - and having them neutered before releasing them again. After only a few years, there are virtually no strays in our neighborhood. It requires a person willing to take on the task and a vet who will offer a reduced fee, but it worked well in this instance. (I feed one of the last remaining neutered strays - "gray cat.")
2007-10-07 13:34:34 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I actually know a woman that periodically brings strays into the vet to be spayed or neutered. This can become pretty expensive, but if you'd rather not send them to the animal shelter, I really see it as your only option. Talk to your local shelter about live traps to catch them, whether you choose to spay them or just drop them off with the shelter.
2007-10-07 13:33:45 · answer #9 · answered by SuperN 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Live Trap and humane society. I lived with stray cats being fed by a neighbor. I love cats, but when they become unbearable to live around it's time to do something. I could not open a window in my house.They ate at the neighbors and used my yard for a kitty litter box. And the males spray is extremely disgusting. Try raising children in that.
People need to take care not to let their cats become strays.
2007-10-07 13:40:01 · answer #10 · answered by Kim S 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋