I'm not really expecting a solution - I just need to vent and express my frustration. I've tried everything to help these poor kitties.
We live in a rural area in a rented house. We're going to be moving in the next month. 6 mos. ago someone dumped a pregnant cat off on the property. (We didn't know she was pregnant at the time, she wouldn't come near us.) We found her 4 kittens eventually, hidden in some bushes. They are all fine, and we've been feeding them. We have dogs and can't keep any of the cats, though we'd love to - but one dog wouldn't tolerate them.
I contacted Alley Cat Allies (far away from us) who gave us a short list of Rescues. No one responded, except one person who twice said she'd come & try to help us trap them - but never followed through. The shelters I contacted said they would take them if we could get them there, but they didn't even have a trap to loan us. The Animal Control people don't loan traps, either - and won't come outside the city limits. These kittens - who are now quite large - will come get their food, but run from us. The mother can probably be taken to the shelter, since she is now more friendly - but I don't know what to do about the remaining four cats. They will of course breed - and here's a feral cat colony in the making. I can't believe how little can be done to prevent this.
I don't mean to be a downer, but I'm thankful to be able to tell my story. I feel terrible for the cats - and regret feeding them in a way, since now they are dependent on it. If they are to live in the farmland around this house, they'll need to hunt. It's an awful thought, with winter coming. Thank you for listening to my dilemma - it is much appreciated.
We live in a rural area in a rented house. We're going to be moving in the next month. 6 mos. ago someone dumped a pregnant cat off on the property. (We didn't know she was pregnant at the time, she wouldn't come near us.) We found her 4 kittens eventually, hidden in some bushes. They are all fine, and we've been feeding them. We have dogs and can't keep any of the cats, though we'd love to - but one dog wouldn't tolerate them.
I contacted Alley Cat Allies (far away from us) who gave us a short list of Rescues. No one responded, except one person who twice said she'd come & try to help us trap them - but never followed through. The shelters I contacted said they would take them if we could get them there, but they didn't even have a trap to loan us. The Animal Control people don't loan traps, either - and won't come outside the city limits. These kittens - who are now quite large - will come get their food, but run from us. The mother can probably be taken to the shelter, since she is now more friendly - but I don't know what to do about the remaining four cats. They will of course breed - and here's a feral cat colony in the making. I can't believe how little can be done to prevent this.
I don't mean to be a downer, but I'm thankful to be able to tell my story. I feel terrible for the cats - and regret feeding them in a way, since now they are dependent on it. If they are to live in the farmland around this house, they'll need to hunt. It's an awful thought, with winter coming. Thank you for listening to my dilemma - it is much appreciated.