Feral Cat Placement

TerryH · TerryH's Garage

Against my advice, my wife captured two feral cats yesterday. There were 4 cats hanging around the warehouse where she works and management recently decided to have them professionally removed. For feral cats that almost always means death, as adoption as a pet isn't recommended and is almost impossible unless they are kittens. These appear youthful, but not kittens. My wife won't stand still for having them euthanized and I'm not for that either, but I was even less in favor of having two feral cats, in our portable dog kennel, in my garage as I type here.

Feral cat experts recommend neuter/spay and return which is not an option. I would gladly pay the vet, but returning is a death sentence. This post is mostly just a plea for anyone in a rural/farm setting in southern California that might need a couple mousers that are low maintenance. We won't simply abandon them. Also, if anyone here has a recommendation or knows of a feral cat habitat with vacancy, please let me know. We've called dozens of agencies already.

Right now larger cages and vet visits for neuter/spay aren't in my budget, so the quicker this is resolved the better. And I'm sure my wife will attempt to bring the other two home soon, so the problem here could double. Ugh....

speedracing944 · speedracing944's Garage

You might find an organization which does low cost spay/ neuter for ferals around $10 a piece. We have 2 local organizations, Friends of Ferals and Maddy's Fund which organize spay and neuter days at a vet once a month. As to where they go afterwards? Maybe someone can help you find a location. Sometimes the same organizations which help pay for spay and neutering also have people willing to take them.

Speedy

Tim Hancock · 08-19-2009, 08:02 AM

This what my wife, daughters and I use for nuisance pests on our property. But it sounds as if you are going to have to use some other more complicated/costly solution.

ClickClickBoom · ClickClickBoom's Garage

Brick, pond/river/ocean, burlap sack, seats about 4 cats, duffel bag is the bus version. They really are varmints.
eric
P.S. A while back we had so many feral cats you couldn't walk in the yard without getting cat poo on both shoes, within 20 ft of the door.The local coyote population took notice and ate at least 100+ feral and domestic cats before moving on down the creek. Our cat population is nicely in check. Nature(coyotes) vs nurture(burlap bags).

dd74 · 08-19-2009, 08:54 AM

There is a cat habitat next door to Willow Springs Raceway in Rosamond. I can't remember the name of it, but I bet if you call the racetrack, they'll know the name. I'd give them a call and ask their advice.

Best of luck. Poor little critters.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

They're a huge problem in Phoenix. County charges $96 per cat to spay or neuter. You can guess how that's encouraging folks to bring them in. Too bad most of the problem areas are within city limits where gunfire can get you into big trouble. Otherwise, Tim's method would be perfect and very low-cost, not to mention far more humane than what they go through in the wild.

trekkor · 08-19-2009, 09:14 AM

"Mr. Zoey" does not like some of the comments on this thread.

KT

Tim Hancock · 08-19-2009, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trekkor

"Mr. Zoey" does not like some of the comments on this thread.

KT

"Mr. Zoey" would be wise then to stay out of our yard when my wife is home.

trekkor · 08-19-2009, 09:25 AM

He's an 'indoor only' kinda guy!

KT

Burnin' oil · 08-19-2009, 09:56 AM

Feral cat placement? Through the head or just behind the shoulders.

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

around here they have programs to catch feral cats, then neuter em, clip the ear to mark they are neutered, and release them in the wild again...
They don't get old in the wild (average 2 years), and if neutered , don't do any harm :no singing for lady cats, fighting, or breeding..
They might even do good, as they still kill rodents...

rhjames · rhjames's Garage

OH yeah?????

at least your cats don't eat your watch every time you play with them!!!!!!

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

you do cage fights with that one?
My Boris is working up to bigger opponents, he mawled a Beagle on tuesday,
i think with some more training, i'de be willing to cage him with yours..
the betting odds i think would be in the 1 to 7 range ...

PM me, and we can talk arrangements

dd74 · 08-19-2009, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svandamme

you do cage fights with that one?
My Boris is working up to bigger opponents, he mawled a Beagle on tuesday,
i think with some more training, i'de be willing to cage him with yours..
the betting odds i think would be in the 1 to 7 range ...

PM me, and we can talk arrangements

Are you friends with Michael Vick?

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

No don't know who that is, but Boris needs to be kept busy, or he buggers up my furniture.
There were railway sleepers as garden decoration when i bought my house, i've been here 4 months or so, and all i got left is tiny little sticks bordering off the flower beds...

pwd72s · 08-19-2009, 11:25 AM

Feral cats can be turned into loving pets...but it takes work on the part of the human to gain their trust.

Noah930 · Noah930's Garage

My wife found a place in Sherman Oaks that spays/neuters for $50 per cat, if you opt to go that route.

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Feral cats can be turned into loving pets...but it takes work on the part of the human to gain their trust.

I'll have to disagree with you on that, if a cat is truly feral, you will never get it out of their system again...
You might get them to occasionally feed near your house , but not pick em up, and have them sit on your lap purring, let alone come to you to be picked up.

Now if you get kittens from a feral nest, no problem, the younger the better,
but a fully grown, feral cat, is never going to be a house cat.

targa911S · 08-19-2009, 11:50 AM

Head first in a bucket of water.

Bill Douglas · 08-19-2009, 12:07 PM

Interesting and timely question.

A year and a half ago I took on a starving wild/stray cat and he has become my pet. I got him de-sexed and he became very settled and loves his new life. Lots of good food/warm/safe/games he gets everything he could wish for. My GF didn't like the idea of him being around as she didn't trust him.

We made a deal that if he ever scratches anybodys face that's it. No more Toby.

Over the time I grown to really love this cat and he definetly is my pet. Two days ago Toby wanted a cuddle then completely out of the blue took a swing at me cutting my eye lid, and pucturing the soft tissue below my eye and my cheek. I had always joked that he's nice but "not worth loosing and eye over". Well my eye is OK now but I bundled him into the cat box and took him to the vets. We discussed having him euthanased, and they said they would look into having him re homed but that option was not likely as he is FIV and very scared looking. They said they would keep him 24 hours and we'll talk tomorrow.

Over night, a sleepless night, I decided to have him back. So he's back but I keep my face out of range of his quick right hander.

So what I'm getting at is I regret having done the good charity thing of providing him with a home and a good life. I have a pet that doesn't feel the same about me as I feel about him. Also thousands of cats could do with a home and miss out so I should have given poor old Toby the bullet and given a home to a 100% domesticated cat that could be trusted.