As it is nearing the end of the year already…where did the time go? I am staring at the many emails in my file labeled blog questions.
Since I started this blog, and it was a tough go at first, I have had so many readers contact me regarding questions they have about either my life, or their own struggles with stray kittens or cats.
Generally at the end of the year, I dump all the emails and start over again, but this time, I decided to try something new and blog some of the questions and my answers- in a condensed form!
I do answer everyone’s comments either privately or publicly if the answers are legitimate ones. The ones I refuse to answer come from those ghoulish types who want to know details about the abuse suffered by some of the cats and kittens here. Those I refuse to answer. I also don’t answer if you want to link up to my blog. If you want to link it, go ahead, but I have no real clue how to return the favor. I am not on here to turn this into an advertising billboard, like other sites seem to go towards. I am here simply to share my life, for better or for worse. To help out others when and if I can. So without further ado, here are some questions asked of me this year- and there is no way I can put them all here- so I have selected just a few:
Q: I just saw pics of your cat enclosure on another website. It doesn’t look very plush for the kitties. Why is that?
A: I guess I could say that perhaps the plushness isn’t my clowders style. These are cats used to hiding in dark corners, under cars, inside barns, boxes, bushes, anywhere they can find refuge. It has been my experience that buying the best cat condos, cat perches, and cat furniture results in two things. 1) The furniture gets sprayed on. 2) It lasts about a nanosecond under the constant assault of kitty claws and kitty play.
Most of the furniture i do have was given to me in return for professional reviews found on another one of my websites www.catreviews.com
I need to make these cats feel at ease, so you will find rough planks, straw beds, and other outside type objects in my cat enclosure. I haven’t heard one of my cats object to what they are provided. The best object in the enclosure, the one that gets the biggest workout is a tree trunk and limb we dragged in early on in the construction. It makes the best scratching post around, dulling those sharp kitty claws that can do so much damage.
Q: I just spent two days reading your blog in its entirety. I cried so many times over your stories. How can you do this day in day out without killing people?
A) Trust me, when I first started out, it was all I could do to contain my rage over some of the cats and kittens who came under my care. But I learned, that sadly, most of it was from ignorance, although some of it was intentional, because we do have people with dark souls who walk this earth. I just pray daily over these creatures and ask God to help me keep my perspective and my temper in check!
Q: I’m curious how long it takes you to change litter pans in your house?
A: This is a tough question because it depends on how many cats are here at the time. Currently, I will tell you that it takes me 1 hour and 45 minutes to change out and clean all the litter trays in the cat enclosure. This doesn’t even touch the pans in the house- and i don’t use regular litter pans. Personally think they are worthless except for young kittens. Stray cats will instinctively want a large area to cover their waste. They poop in one container, then move off and find another location to pee. Domesticated cats have had that bred out of them over time, but not the strays. I use large kiddy pools as my litter containers in my enclosure, and they can get clumsy and heavy when you are trying to lift them and pour soiled litter out of them into a wastebag.
OK, one more question and then I need to go to bed, as I open the shop in the morning. This one needs a bit of explaining before I post it. The woman who asked this initially- well, we both had some heated emails between us and I do not believe in what she does. She calls herself a “feral kitten tamer” and her MO is that she has many strays that she feeds- she does not trap, neuter, release- BUT when the queens give birth and she finds the nest, she takes the kittens from the mom, no matter what age they are, and she “tames” them. GRRRR…don’t get me started on this cycle of life she is wreaking havoc with.
Q: How DARE YOU tell people that any aged feral cat can be tamed! What gives you the right to lie to people?
A) (And I had to really pray over this one before I answered her)
First off, I don’t claim to be an expert. I learn every day about the ways of these cats. I also don’t “tame” them. They cannot be tamed- they can however be socialized. In the thirty some years that I have been working with strays. I have met three true feral cats that could not be worked with on any level. One was sent to a feral cat compound, the other two were so aggressive and ruined that they were euthanized.
I read your email several times and cried more than once. The damage you are inflicting on this so called “kitty family” is insurmountable. Your clowder is more than likely inbreeding now and you are allowing this mating to go on unchecked. Honestly, if I knew where you lived, I would have a team of true rescuers at your door with traps and vouchers for the vets to spay and neuter every one of them. Your email leads me to believe that your feel strongly you are a “Kitty Savior” I have met several just like you in my life, and I will tell you that you seriously need help with your stray cat population. You are not a rescuer my dear, you are a hoarder. You never once talked to me in the series of emails about vetting your cats, taking the kittens in to be tested. Your homemade recipes to cure fleas, worms and ticks makes me shudder. Honestly, I would shut you down in minute if I could.
Wow! It seems enough to do what you do for the cats but then to take attacks from other people is really crappy!
With regards to “taming” feral cats…my 3 outside “Mommy” and her daughters “Cora” and Clarice” are not tame. Mommy has gradually become very affectionate to me and I think she was someone’s cat at one point in her life. The daughters were born outside though and I can pet them and tickle and even playfully tug their tales but ONLY when I am feeding them. If I approach them other then while I’m putting food out, they will run like they have never seen me before. I have another stray that’s been coming around now since Feb. and by just ignoring him for the most part, I can actually now get within 15 feet before he runs.
The other evening, I wanted to take pictures of the sisters right after I fed them. They were ok for a minute but because I just was there focusing on them for too long, they both got uncomfortable and had to leave!
My husband and I tried, unsuccessfully, to put Princess, our last un-spayed outside female cat, into a carrier this afternoon to take her to our vet for spaying. She exploded, hissing and spitting, biting and scratching! There was no way we could get her into the carrier — I know she was terrified and I feel horrible that we scared her that much. I don’t know that we’ll ever be able to capture her and get her spayed. I have scratches and punctures on my hands and arms — I finally let go of her when she went for my face. (My face is old and wrinkled, but I don’t think that scratches and bites would improve my looks a bit!)
Our lack of success is particularly disheartening because it has taken a couple of years to get our vet to agree to spay a feral cat — he’s the only vet within 40 miles of our house…
Could you recommend a trap we could purchase over the ‘net that you have used successfully? And, perhaps, some tips on trapping her? She has already had 3 litters this year, although she only raised one kitten each from the first two litters this year. She is about 4 years old — is that too old for spaying? I’d appreciate any advice you can give me.
If she is outside, I highly recommend a Tomahawk trap. It has two doors and I removed one of the doors and replaced it with plexi glass. I drilled holes in the plexi glass (very carefully) securing it to the space where the door originally was with wire. This gives the cat the illusion of freedom and even hard to trap cats will do inside, because they see beyond the wire to freedom.
I am so sorry it turned into a war. I always use traps and not carriers when trapping outdoors. I have had several cats in the past bust through the carrier doors faster than I could close them. Plus, you have to put the cat inside which leaves you open to battle scars. Even if you tip the carrier up on it’s backside and lower the cat through, he is quicker than you are with no doubt. But the double door trap has proved to be the best way (besides a drop trap) You can google tomahawk humane cat traps and find it online.
Please see a doctor IMMEDIATLEY if your scratches are hot, painful, or you see the redness and swelling increasing. If you got bit, please see your doctor and be sure your tetanus shot is current. Cat Scratch Fever is not only a song, but a horrible reaction to scratches and bites which can land you in the hospital or worse! I soak any scratches in epsom salt and hot water to help draw out any bacteria, then dry my arm, apply betadine lotion and neosporin then bandage the bad scratches. I am sorry this had to happen, and your girl is going to be spooked for awhile- so if you do buy the trap, leave both doors open and put her food inside for a few days. Be sure you put the trap in a concealed area, not out in the open, and after a few days put the plexi in place and she will be trapped. LEAVE HER IN THE TRAP cover it with a dark cloth and move her to shelter until you vet her. They will sedate her while she is in the trap and it makes it safer for all to just leave her in there. Just keep telling yourself, that it is only a matter of 24 hours and then she will be back home and released never to breed again.
Thank you for caring and doing what you can to stem the tide of unwanted kittens in this world.
Just wanted to add- best bait for these type of cats is KFC chicken (fried) and cut into bits.
Thank you so much for the information — I will definitely purchase one of those traps. And we will modify the trap just as you’ve described. What really amazes me is that Princess still comes up on our deck, although she is very wary of us now and ready to run if we make a wrong move…
My wounds are still painful, but are simply red and not infected. My tetanus shot is up-to-date. But I am keeping an eye on the wounds and will go to the doctor at any sign of infection. I’ll get some Epsom salts and try that, too.
I took my cue from you and reading your blog on trap, neuter and release. People in this area (we’re not from here) seem to treat cats as being disposable pets. They like the kittens, but if the kitten becomes pregnant, they have no problem with dumping the cat out in the country — and then the cat comes to our deck. I feel so sorry for these cats who have lived in a “loving” home and suddenly find themselves abandoned in an alien setting. We don’t have a lot of money, but I cannot let these animals starve to death or continue to have litter after litter of kittens until their health is ruined. So far we have spayed two females and neutered nine males and given away 18 kittens. We never planned to do any of this, but we’re kinda proud of ourselves that we have helped these cats. I greatly admire your work with cats and when I hit a snag I ask myself what would you do and it keeps me on track… You’re my hero!
Oh My, you made me cry. I am in turn PROUD of you and your husband. You describe a scenario that is all to familar to me and so many other kind-hearted souls. A lot of the time, people will feed only which simply turns into a hopeless situation for them and the cats. It is like the movie Field of Dreams where he says “If we build it, they will come.” If you feed one cat outside, more will arrive. The one feeding will start spraying your bushes, trees and walls with a safe scent that can be smelled for miles around by other cats. They know they can come and eat, and not get chased or tormented. If they are fertile, then you get the fighting/mating pattern going, then kittens having kittens and it turns into a real mess……sigh……At least TNR gives the colony a chance to thrive and stay healthy and doesn’t cause the person feeding them to declare bankruptcy!
Bless you for your work and keep an eye on those scratches!
Hi. I live in NYC and we seem to have a growing population of feral cats. It’s a strange site to see in the city. I imagine most came from homes and were let loose and started breeding. I can’t necessarily do what you do but am having a hard time seeing all these cats living on the street. I have dog myself and couldn’t imagine him on the street. What do you suggest? Would the local ASPCA help if we notified them or are there any groups in NYC that you could recommend I contact?
Thanks in advance.
I would contact the Urban Cat League- you can google this I believe. Urban Cat League New York City. Good luck-
To Classof65 I wanted to give you some thoughts from when I first trapped my ferals. My biggest fear was that they would be frantically, smashing their faces in the traps and freaking out. I spent the better part of a month rigging the traps to stay open and fed them every meal in there until they were consistently going in “on queue”. When I had made the arrangements with the vet for the following day, I trapped two cats in under 1 minute because I just set the traps live, put in the food and walked around the corner of the porch like I did every time before. I immediately heard “clink” then a second “clink” and there were Mommy and Cora sitting in the traps! I had towels ready and while they were still in a state of “what happened?” I draped the traps and they never made a peep or a move! I put the traps on strips of 1″ x 1″ wood overnight on the patio, in case they peed or pooped, so it would fall through the wire, then off to the vet they went the next day!
3 years later they love me for it and the all three, (Clarice was trapped a few days later) still are with me. Good luck! I hope your scratches are ok!
Thanks to both of you for your encouraging words and suggestions. I admire anyone who engages in trying to save these abandoned cats. If I can just get Princess spayed I will be satisfied for now… until someone drops off another “project”! I’ve always loved cats, but never dreamed I’d have this many!
I have a Feral cat that has been living in my yard for over 5 years now. When we first saw him we noticed that his right front leg was injured. I trapped him and took him to a vet, the vet said that it looked like he had been kicked really hard as all his bones were crushed, they had to remove his leg. My husband made a “recovery” cage for him and I gave him antibotics for 3 weeks and then returned to vet for a follow-up…he has now become somewhat domestic as I can hold him and pet him when he wants me to. He comes to the back door at night and I go and sit on the swing and he comes up on my lap to be loved then he goes to sleep. Sometimes he just acts weird, he will come to the door and when I go out he will run…I just don’t know what he wants when he does this…otherwise he is a very loving cat but after 5 years he still is feral . We do love him and he doesn’t leave the back yard anymore, but I just get really puzzled at his behavior sometimes…any clues???