Feral cats

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Dave-o - 05 Jun 2005 04:04 GMT

Background:
My wife and I trapped, neutered and relocated a colony of six feral cats.
Their lives were in danger. We had an unused dog run that we fixed up with
shelves, potties, sealed roof, 6 individually heated styrofoam houses for
the winter, etc. This was two years ago.

We have 6 strictly outside cats besides those. We are starting to feel
bad for the 6 feral cats being couped up in the pen for 2 years. They're
healthy and seem to be doing quite well. We are mulling over the idea of
just leaving the door to the pen open and seeing if they will come and go
without running off. Of the other six outside cats, 3 are rather
territorial and probably would either spray the inside of the pen or even
take it over for themselves.

Our question is: does anyone have a feel for this being a good idea or
not? Would letting the 6 out cause more problems than just keeping them
penned up for the rest of their lives? One of those is very affectionate
and quite approachable. Another one is slightly less so. The other four
very wild.

Thanks for any input you all can give us.

Dave

Reply to this Message

patga - 05 Jun 2005 15:38 GMT

The idea of having these cat spayed is generally so that they may take care
of themselves better in the wild. When I've had it done, I just set them
free, which is what the Vets told me to do.

> Background:
> My wife and I trapped, neutered and relocated a colony of six feral cats.
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
> Dave

Reply to this Message

Gail D - 05 Jun 2005 18:00 GMT

I have three separate clans dwelling within a 20 acre rural area. Most of
these are true feral cats, though some are completely tame but choose to
spend time in the clans.
18 months ago my original plan was to adopt out kittens if caught and then
keep remaining kittens as tamed outdoor pets. The result was that many of
the once tamed kittens returned to the clans and took on a skiddish, mostly
wild nature again. Unfortunately some escaped sterilization, so were able
to reproduce in the wild this spring.
The second part of my original plan was to have several completely wild
adults humanely "terminated", thinking this would reduce the numbers. The
result was that the "balance" of experienced older cats was interrupted,
and the ratio of inexperienced young felines to experienced strong felines
was thrown off. The inexperienced younger ones were left to fight off
dogs, wild animals, rogue tom cats. Cats from outside of the clan areas
invaded the clans, ate from the feeders and reproduced also.
To my surprise, all the care and work put into that plan only proved to
increase the numbers of felines.
NOW the more workable plan is to retain ALL of the older experienced
felines, both tame and wild, have them ALL trapped, sterilized, vaccinated,
wormed, documented, ears knotched before being released to return to the
clans. ALL kittens are captured and adopted out to homes far enough away
from the clan parameters to keep them from leaving their new homes and
rejoining the clans.
At this time there are 41 grown felines in the clans. Seven females are
left to be sterilized. Three toms to be neutered.
Twenty-two tame kittens are up for adoption.
I'm looking forward to a much less "productive" fall season.
Gail

>Background:
> My wife and I trapped, neutered and relocated a colony of six feral cats.
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
>Dave

Reply to this Message