Moving and don't know what to do about cats I feed

tarasgirl06

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Well I am still going to old house to feed the cats, but now I really do have to stop. I have tried and tried to find help and nobody responds. I mean nobody. I even called a cop to see if they'd take kittens to humane society to be put up for adoption, no response. I called the only animal non profit in that town for help, no response. So anyway we have to put house up for sale here soon and I have to stop feeding them. It's not just me, my husband is of course involved too and we NEED to sell the other house. This makes me literally ill. I am so depressed about this I cannot even tell you. I know I have done as much as possible, but I can just imagine them trying to find food. This is heartbreaking. I will never feed another cat that is outside again because of this experience. There is no help around here and if there is I sure cannot find it. But a house with cats all around it won't sell and we cannot afford to keep it and just keep feeding cats. It's sad, but true.
When we moved, my ex was up at the house and I was down here, so he handled everything. I expressed the wish that if possible, we get a buyer who loves animals, especially cats, and that would agree to letting the wild snakes up there, especially the big Pine-Gopher snake I loved, live. We got a great buyer who had cats already and who agreed to let the snakes be. More people love cats than not. So I would open up my mouth and ask prospective buyers, or email them or whatever, to see if they would love and care for the cats. A lot of people ARE amenable to that And according to experts I trust, truly feral cats actually do better without human intervention. They are experts at catching their prey, which is primarily small rodents. These are found everywhere. They will also eat insects if need be, and maimed/sick/old/baby birds they can catch, which is absolutely natural and beneficial to the environment, bird survival, and us all. So don't lose heart.
 
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dawn harvey

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When we moved, my ex was up at the house and I was down here, so he handled everything. I expressed the wish that if possible, we get a buyer who loves animals, especially cats, and that would agree to letting the wild snakes up there, especially the big Pine-Gopher snake I loved, live. We got a great buyer who had cats already and who agreed to let the snakes be. More people love cats than not. So I would open up my mouth and ask prospective buyers, or email them or whatever, to see if they would love and care for the cats. A lot of people ARE amenable to that And according to experts I trust, truly feral cats actually do better without human intervention. They are experts at catching their prey, which is primarily small rodents. These are found everywhere. They will also eat insects if need be, and maimed/sick/old/baby birds they can catch, which is absolutely natural and beneficial to the environment, bird survival, and us all. So don't lose heart.
Really? Thank you for telling me that. Maybe I could ask realtor about the cats when I show her the house. We are just going to be starting the process of getting a realtor involved, but I feared I would have to stop feeding them before she sees it. Good for you on the snakes. I love all animals too, not just cats, but unfortunately I do see cats killing healthy and beautiful birds. I know it's their instincts, but that is one thing I wish they didn't do! I won't lose heart now after reading this. Thank you again for giving me some hope about this.
 

daftcat75

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How much more time do you have left with these cats? Do you have another week or two where you can ween them off your care? Perhaps if you feed them less (or every other day) they will supplement their diet with hunting (if they aren't already) until they are no longer dependent on you for food. It is entirely possible that you aren't the only one feeding them.
 

tarasgirl06

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Really? Thank you for telling me that. Maybe I could ask realtor about the cats when I show her the house. We are just going to be starting the process of getting a realtor involved, but I feared I would have to stop feeding them before she sees it. Good for you on the snakes. I love all animals too, not just cats, but unfortunately I do see cats killing healthy and beautiful birds. I know it's their instincts, but that is one thing I wish they didn't do! I won't lose heart now after reading this. Thank you again for giving me some hope about this.
A healthy bird is usually too fast and too alert to be caught by a cat. Bird fanatic cat haters love to spread the BS about how cats are birds' worst predators. They aren't. Humans are. There have been many studies done globally about this. The facts don't lie. Human overdevelopment/destruction of habitat, human-produced pollutants, and hunting kill far more birds than cats could ever dream of. Many birds are killed by flying into windows, wind turbines, and aircraft engines as well. I vehemently oppose the harmful and non-factual stuff that's being disseminated about cats and birds. alleycat.org and animals 24-7 are two sources of factual information on the subject if you are interested in reading and/or sharing. Studies are cited by the former and, I think, the latter as well.
Yes, I love the snakes! I named that snake Slither and was quite fond of her (IDK the gender. I just chose one rather than say "it").
And yes, if you get a kind, compassionate, caring realtor, it would absolutely help the cats' case. daftcat brought up a great point, too, about possibly weaning them off of being human-fed. If they truly are feral, they WILL revert to their natural prey-catching instincts.
 
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Szczygiel

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We are moving soon and I feed the strays/ferals around my neighborhood. The town I live in is horrible about cats and we did finally get a sort of TNR program here, but the woman who runs it is very unreliable and they do not follow through. Last year she came and took 5 kittens and they were spayed/neutered and returned. I have repeatedly tried to contact her to come back and do more and she doesn't respond. I have tried to call her and message her in regard to the continuing feeding of these cats, no response. What do I do for these cats once I am gone? Luckily we are doing a slow move so I will still be able to feed them for awhile, but this is very worrying. And I reached out to another neighbor that is kind hearted, but I get the impression she doesn't want to take over what I have done which is a lot. We do own the house we currently live in, but also need to sell it within the next few mos. So that's a whole other problem, most people probably will not want cats all around the yard. We have to move and I cannot move them. I cannot relocate them. Hope someone else has dealt with a situation like this.
How far are you moving
 
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dawn harvey

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How much more time do you have left with these cats? Do you have another week or two where you can ween them off your care? Perhaps if you feed them less (or every other day) they will supplement their diet with hunting (if they aren't already) until they are no longer dependent on you for food. It is entirely possible that you aren't the only one feeding them.
I am stopping this week. I can just put out dry food for a few days, but we have to list this house soon. Financially it is becoming a huge burden, both the house and feeding the cats. I fed all sort of cats at that house. Stray that people dumped, ferals, etc. I doubt anyone else will start feeding them, that area is not good to animals in general. One reason we moved. One of the many. I have tried talking to a couple neighbors and they do not seem to care. I know some hunt because I see them do it. But some will not do well and I know that and I am having a very hard time with this. But I don't know what else I can do. We cannot afford to continue with 2 mortgages. Thank you for your ideas.
 

tarasgirl06

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I am stopping this week. I can just put out dry food for a few days, but we have to list this house soon. Financially it is becoming a huge burden, both the house and feeding the cats. I fed all sort of cats at that house. Stray that people dumped, ferals, etc. I doubt anyone else will start feeding them, that area is not good to animals in general. One reason we moved. One of the many. I have tried talking to a couple neighbors and they do not seem to care. I know some hunt because I see them do it. But some will not do well and I know that and I am having a very hard time with this. But I don't know what else I can do. We cannot afford to continue with 2 mortgages. Thank you for your ideas.
Have you contacted alleycat.org (Alley Cat Allies) and/or Best Friends Animal Society at bestfriends.org? If they cannot help directly, there may be links to rescuers in your area, or groups that work with them. And if you've already seen, please disregard, but have you tried googling/binging something like "cat rescues in (your location/general area)"? Have you looked at animalrescuedirectory.net dropdown menu?
 

Flybynight

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dawn harvey dawn harvey
I would catch the kittens before you leave and take them to a no kill shelter - they have the best chance of being adopted.

Best idea is to wean the cats off your care. Slow or they will wait for the food that does not come.

A huge pity nobody got back to you from the organizations. I know Covid has created problems with people off sick and many abandoned lock down pets.

Sorry, I did not see this thread earlier, I would have advised buy a trap on Amazon. Catching who you could catch and taking to no kill shelters.
Maybe the nice neighbor will help trap after you leave? If you buy a trap.

I am not in the US but if I was local I would help you. Did you post under SOS? There is a section for that on this site. What is the largest big town to you?

Best of luck, I know it must be heart breaking.
 
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dawn harvey

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dawn harvey dawn harvey
I would catch the kittens before you leave and take them to a no kill shelter - they have the best chance of being adopted.

Best idea is to wean the cats off your care. Slow or they will wait for the food that does not come.

A huge pity nobody got back to you from the organizations. I know Covid has created problems with people off sick and many abandoned lock down pets.

Sorry, I did not see this thread earlier, I would have advised buy a trap on Amazon. Catching who you could catch and taking to no kill shelters.
Maybe the nice neighbor will help trap after you leave? If you buy a trap.

I am not in the US but if I was local I would help you. Did you post under SOS? There is a section for that on this site. What is the largest big town to you?

Best of luck, I know it must be heart breaking.
There are more kittens around there than I even knew. Some were in an old dog house and we never knew they were there until my husband checked it. I tried the only close no kill shelter awhile ago and they are so full of cats they cannot help right now. And there is just no help around this area which is not known for helping animals much anyway. I cannot just wean them real slowly because it is a huge problem for us trying to sell that house. I don't think weaning slowly is much nicer than abruptly stopping really. It's all the same in the end. Some will be ok and some will probably not be. But they have in a way destroyed parts of the exterior of that house and we have to get our house restored or we'll never be able to sell it. I need cats to not be all over the porch and places like that. I have no place to take them so it's me stopping the feeding of them and hoping they move on or at least stop staying around my house. There are a lot of cats around that area. It is a huge problem because of the lack of city planning and/or non profit help. Believe me this is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I have put this off for mos because I didn't want them to be in this position. It is so unfair (just like with the human species) that some of them get homes with love and everything they would ever want and some get no homes and struggle to find food. I never wanted to be someone that let them down, but as hard as I've tried for 14 years this is the end result. Thank you for your advice though I really appreciate it and sure wish you were near me!!!
 
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dawn harvey

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Have you contacted alleycat.org (Alley Cat Allies) and/or Best Friends Animal Society at bestfriends.org? If they cannot help directly, there may be links to rescuers in your area, or groups that work with them. And if you've already seen, please disregard, but have you tried googling/binging something like "cat rescues in (your location/general area)"? Have you looked at animalrescuedirectory.net dropdown menu?
I have tried everything, there is no help here with any organizations. But thanks.
 

Flybynight

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I am sorry dawn harvey dawn harvey for you & the cats
I found these two places online, if I got your general area correct near Illinois.
They may be able in the least to donate a trap if not help trap.
The going may be slow but if the cats are no longer fed they will be more attracted to the food in the trap.
You can catch them little by little as you fix up the house. Hopefully one or both the shelters/ rescues will accept the cats as they get trapped.

Welcome to Kings Harvest No Kill Shelter

Animal Rescue League of Iowa, Inc.
 

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:alright:. I am so sorry that your situation has come to a sad critical point - at this difficult time, you may need to resort to searching Facebook groups that may offer solutions. You could try starting a Paypal account for donations to help with expenses until the situation resolves.
You are the one most able to judge possible outcomes. If you stop feeding suddenly, you ought to probably return every couple of weeks to assess the situation and see how things are. If the cats are suffering, euthanasia might be the most humane option. I know it sounds harsh but I have attended too many death vigils to count, both human and animal, but even the kill shelter is quicker than septicemia, etc. Unfortunately, due to pandemic restrictions from last year, the puppy and kitten season has been almost as terrible as the drought & wildfire season out West and shelters & rescues are absolutely overwhelmed.
However, it may happen that prayers get answered and others will take over caring for the cats. You could email the nearest large stations' Human Interest reporters and ask them if they have any suggestions - they probably have more connections to other areas relatively nearby. Please keep us updated! :vibes::grouphug2:
 
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dawn harvey

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I am sorry dawn harvey dawn harvey for you & the cats
I found these two places online, if I got your general area correct near Illinois.
They may be able in the least to donate a trap if not help trap.
The going may be slow but if the cats are no longer fed they will be more attracted to the food in the trap.
You can catch them little by little as you fix up the house. Hopefully one or both the shelters/ rescues will accept the cats as they get trapped.

Welcome to Kings Harvest No Kill Shelter

Animal Rescue League of Iowa, Inc.
That's the shelter I already contacted (King's Harvest), but thank you. I have, in the past, taken kittens there, but this time they gave me the number of a woman who works with feral cats. She never returned any of my (numerous) phone calls. And it's the same thing all over or at least around here, they are full. And when that one says it's very full they are so full that it would be a huge burden. Feral cats can't be put in shelters as you know. And the other one I will try it, but I think it might be one I already contacted. Thank you for all the effort you went to! It's much appreciated.
 

catsknowme

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Does your local area have a county farm advisor's office? You could ask about the local 4-H group staring a TNR/colony management program. It's a long shot but it's free to ask. Just be wary about revealing location until you are comfortable that kitties will be properly cared for.
 

Flybynight

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dawn harvey dawn harvey
Where I am in Europe I volunteer at a shelter. We get lots of very shy cats, some feral and some semi feral. Semi feral are easier to socialize and it sounds like yours are semi feral.
Though I do understand that shelters being packed means not enough volunteers to work with the shy ones. Most do come around.
Kittens of course are easiest.
TNR is good as it stops the colony from reproducing and growing. But as someone mentioned, if there is no food, especially as winter comes, it may be better to humanely euthanize.
I know the US has a bigger problem with strays/abandoned cats/kittens than for example the UK or Germany where there is more demand and less supply.
With dogs there are some programs to move dogs from heavy abandoned dog areas to areas of the US who have less for adoption.
Maybe there is similar with cats.
As you are in an area with heavy winters, I think it will be harder for the cats to fend for themselves then.
As one last idea, try the Kings Harvest again, tell them the volunteer was not able after several attempts to be contacted and say it is very critical at the moment.
I know it is the tail end of kitten season so shelters will be busy but maybe they can prioritize your cats and find another shelter or group, maybe in a nearby town or city to at least take some.
Some is better than none. Maybe one place can take a few and another. Mention you are moving and the colony will have no food.
 

roguethecat

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Have you contacted any rescue organization like alley cat allies (mentioned several times in this thread already)? They are definitely covering the US. Any other cat advocacy /rescue groups you can contact in your area - where exactly are the cats located? Even the local humane society or if no one else can help, try animal control. Use social media as much as possible, if you hate it (completely understand) please find someone to post for you.
 
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