feral cats in my barn

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G.T. TYSON - 17 May 2006 17:24 GMT

    I live on an old farm with several barns and other outbuildings. A few
months ago I noticed some wild cats hanging around. They were very wary
of human contact and I couldn't get within 20 feet without them scattering.
    Unfortunately, nature seems to have taken over. The other day
I noticed kittens in the same barn. They too will not tolerate human
contact and will skedaddle when approached. Apparently they are finding
food somewhere.
    What's a good way to deal with this situation? The local animal
control officer doesn't seem too interested in coming out to deal with
them unless they pose "an identifiable health hazard". I would prefer
to relocate them in a humane manner if at all possible. My only
alternative is the pound, where their fate would be more or less
certain. And then there's the problem of actually capturing them.
    Any suggestions appreciated.

GTTyson

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Matthew aka NMR - 17 May 2006 18:15 GMT

It take it there are no rescue groups in your area or no kill shelters or
are if you aren't sure if you post what are you are in I can post if there
is or not

> I live on an old farm with several barns and other outbuildings. A few
> months ago I noticed some wild cats hanging around. They were very wary
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> GTTyson

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Anna - 17 May 2006 18:16 GMT

> What's a good way to deal with this situation? The local animal
>control officer doesn't seem too interested in coming out to deal with
>them unless they pose "an identifiable health hazard". I would prefer
>to relocate them in a humane manner if at all possible. My only
>alternative is the pound, where their fate would be more or less
>certain. And then there's the problem of actually capturing them.

Can you keep them there and not turn them over to the pound? They will just
put them down, even the kittens as they are feral. It would be great if you
could capture the adults (how many are there?) with a humane trap and bring
them to vet to have them neutured. If you capture the kittens (once they are
done feeding off of the mom), they can be domesticated as they are still
young. They will need human contact to become domesticated. Even the adults
may be domesticated if they haven't been feral for years. It just takes a
lot of time and patience. Are there places in your city that take feral cats
and help them? Or, since you have a barn could you keep the adults let them
live in the barn? You would just have to provide them with food and water.
If you get them neutured, you don't have to worry about more kittens being
born. The kittens, once domesticated, can be adopted out to people.

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wester@laway.net - 18 May 2006 00:10 GMT

> I live on an old farm with several barns and other outbuildings. A few
>months ago I noticed some wild cats hanging around. They were very wary
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
>GTTyson

I'd get humane traps and spay/neuter the adults. You have a built-in
squad of Terminators. They are keeping your property free of rodents.

Now, the kits should also be desexed. If they care to become more
human-oriented, they'll let you know, but by the same token, if you're
way off the beaten path and have no qualms about their being roadkill
or taken by predators, they may just replenish your line of
ready-to-hunts.

The choice is yours.

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