Betrayed and upset  

Group: rec.pets.cats.rescue Date: Sun, Feb 13, 2005, 3:57am (EST+5)
From: never@youmind.com (Kay)
I don't know what to do. I have a big problem and I don't know what to
do.
I have been taking care of feral cats that were born in my yard. I built
a shelter with heat, and have did the best I could for them.
I talked to my neighbor just two weeks ago, telling them about the cats
and what I plan to do. I asked them if they are bothered, they said they
were not and they could tell which ones were mine because they look well
cared for and act "nicely" they said they have no problem and if they do
have any trouble they would let me know and I would fix it.
this morning I was sitting on my couch and I hear a cat cry out. I
rushed to the window and saw my neighbor trapped Blackie. He ran the
cage into his garage. i called out, Is that my cat and what are you
doing? He said it was his property and he was going to catch all of them
and slammed the door. I was calling my husband and was crying, I looked
out the window and a car pulled up and they opened the garage and rushed
the cage into a truck and it sped off.
I called the police and they said I had to prove it was my cat. I tried
to explain what feral was and that they were going to be fixed and
released. but they wouldn't help, the pound said I have to prove with
vet papers. I don't even know where they took him. I have been crying
all day and have been trying to trap the other two I have one in a pet
taxi and I don't know what to do. I knew and were friends with my
neighbors for 10 years without a fight, I am in shock and I am missing
Blackie and I don't know what to do. When I catch them what do I do. I
have called every place and no one can help. My heart hurts so much
right now.
Kay

That is messed up. They could of been doing this all the time ad when
you had that heart to heart talk with them and they're telling you what
they figured you wanted to hear? They were having a laugh at your
expense & the cats. Do you have your own vet you bring those cats too. I
live in West Springfield,Mass and there's this woman who lives in
Springfield,Mass and she does the same thing you do.She know some people
who help out also. She said people think that if they get rid of the
ferral cats in their neighborhood that everything will be fine but
according to this woman they couldn't be more wrong. Only another cat
rescuer or maybe you would know what I mean. What your neighbor did is
sneaky & cruel & to make it worst they are suppose to be your friends.
That's low

Kay,

This is so sad to hear!  Unfortunately, since they are feral there
really is not much you can do about the neighbor.

Call all of your local Vets and ask if they know of any refal cat
rescue organizations in your area.  Tell them your story and see if
they can get you some immediate assistance to trap the remaining
animals.  At least by going through a feral rescue that is highly
involved with a TNR Program you will know that the animals will be
given proper care.  If adoptable, they will go to good loving homes.
It may not be possible to release the others back into their "home",
but it may be possible to relocate them to a farm home.  Relocation is
not easy and is not the preferred method, but sometimes there is no
other choice.

I applaud what you have been doing to care for these animals and I know
exactly how attached we can get to these feral cats, even if they don't
allow any physical contact.  I've been caring for a family a ferals
since last June and have found I get very protective of them!  I just
recently was able to make contact with an organization in a neighboring
county that is going to assist me with TNR and have been greatly
relieved.  The remaining kittens in my little colony are quickly
approaching that age where new kittens can be produced and that time of
year when the mother cat may also have another litter.  I am hoping to
avoid this!  The kitten sin my group are a little too old to be tamed
to any extent, although a couple will occasionally let me pet them, but
only while they are eating - my reward I suppose!

Please do try to locate a TNR group in your area so you can get some
help with this situation.

Your neighbor is a real piece of work. Still, I would try to talk to
them again; perhaps there has been a misunderstanding about what you
were going to do.

Feel free to email me directly if you'd like.  We can at least compare
notes on our feral families.

Rebecca
aka:Hemmaholic

Dear Kay
sorry to hear about blackie:(
I feed a gray mother cat and her baby cat   who is 8  months old and a
boy every morning at about 7 :30
I know how they endear themselves to our hearts!
Love Cathi

I read your post and the ones that responded & I can see that as long as
your neighbor is living there those cats are not safe. Infact it could
be possible that any cat in your neighborhood isn't safe. Some people
have cats that go outside and come back in when they're done. Has anyone
in your neighborhood have a cat missing.? Seems to me that this jerk
either hates cats or is just doing this to hurt peple like you.
Unfortuantly at least in the state of Massachusetts where I live. Cats
don't get licences like dogs do. Rabie tags yes but no license. I can't
remember if you say you have cats of your own but if you do? Get them
mircochipped. Where is your neighbor bringing them? Do you think they're
dropping them off some place or taking them to a pound.  I just
remembered something. I have a neighbor across from me. We talk but
we're not really friends. Now she has 2 dogs & a cat. Well  one dog is
hers & the cat & the other dog belongs to her parents. Now she told us
more then once that she has those humane traps set somewhere in her yard
& any cat stupid enough to get caught in one? she brings it down to the
S.P.C.A which is now called Angel of something. Think it's Angel of
Mercy. The bad thing about what your neighbor did. I can't say they'r
your friend because if they were your friend they would of warned you

You didn't state whether or not the neighbor came on your property to
capture the cats. I would be very concerned regardless because you have no
clue what your neighbor is doing to those cats. This neighbor really needs
an education here because if you take feral cats from their environment more
will come in to take over the territory which will not solve the issue at
all. Your neighbor would be fighting a losing battle. Of course this
neighbor sounds like a real stinker and I of course would alert your other
neighbors that if their cats are roaming outdoors this neighbor could be
trapping them and carting them off somewhere.

I would talk to a group that rescues feral cats and see if they would be
willing to talk to your neighbors or at least supply you with info you can
give to them. You can also talk to news media as well and see if they'd be
willing to do a story about this. If your neighbor is in the spotlight it
might embarrass them enough to either work with you or simply do nothing.
One's thing for sure they might not be seen to kindly by the general public
and also be scared off from trapping cats in the future.