- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #61
I am dashing this off while I have a signal here. Tech issues where I live so access is sporadic. Need help! I rebaited the traps this evening but no takers so I went out after dark. Jazzy came, but not to the trap. She came from the neighbors house. I know she must have eaten there. I sat still by the fence and Coal came and rubbed against me. Jet played nearby but not as trusting yet. I have caught most of the kitties ( with the exception of the two kittens) by making friends with them. I guess I have been doing it the hard way? Lol That was just the only way I knew to save them. But I am learning. It was my quest for info and help that led me here to this site and I am so grateful I found it. There were so many kitties out there at the end of last year I was overwhelmed with the urgency of the situation so I just started grabbing every cat I could get my hands on. I can’t say that every single one thought of me as a friend but at least that I offered refuge from the immediate threats to them. Poor kitties! If anyone has an idea about how to get them trapped I welcome the help. I don’t know how to compete with the free food at the neighbors, house. The friend that regularly traps is out of town but when she returns I will ask her if she can help with a drop trap. I am feeling my age but I desperately want to get the last kitties in to start socializing. My time right now is divided between finding homes for the kitties that are now ready for adoption, getting others vet care and spay/ neuter, socializing the ones I caught that are not yet ready for adoption and catching the last ones still running around outside. I admit to exhaustion. With the first 20 or so kitties I was doing it without any outside assistance or support. I was very afraid for the kitties. I wasn’t sure if I could really help all of them in a way that would offer them a good life, but I wanted to do as much as I could. Time was not on my side. It often left me in tears. However, now I have received the support of others. With every kitty that is adopted my spirits are lifted. With every post from other cat lovers I feel less alone in my efforts. With every bit of knowledge that has been shared with me I have been given new tools to aid me in the rescues. I am more hopeful now than I ever thought possible. A huge part of my support has come from those of you who have helped me on this site. My first post on any website ever was here back in December 2017. I had no idea how to maneuver on the site but I received help and guidance from others who were understanding and patient. The people who are here on this site have made a difference in my life and the lives of all these kitties. Thank you! You all inspire me to continue in spite of any losses or setbacks and energize me through my exhaustion. I now look to you all once again for knowledge. A way to bring the last kitties to safety. I will keep trying to trap as well as making friends or just grabbing any kitty that I can but if there is a more efficient way to do this I sure would appreciate some advice. Especially with the feral that is the wildest kitty. She is one that will never want to be caught by making friends. I tried to get her last winter but when all but one of her kittens were shot and killed I lost any chance of gaining her trust. She even injured me this past week just for putting food near her. The sooner I get the kitties, the better it will be for them. I will be getting the last adult male I have in hand fixed this week. If I catch the girls then I can get three kitties fixed this week and then the final 2 cats can be fixed the following week. The last cats to be fixed! That would be a day of pure relief for me. Then all that would remain for me to do would be to get the last kittens, continue the socializing, vet care and adopting of all that remain. We are so close to the ending of a feral colony! On the day the last kitty is fixed I may cry happy tears. Lol I will be sure to share that day with everyone here so that they can celebrate their part in this! I am at a point where I really think it can happen. Gold stars for everyone!!!!