Hello TCS,
I am in need of some advice and reassurance.
This April I came across a colony of cats, three females and two kittens. All the females were pregnant and the two kittens were sick. I have seen one male, too, but he doesn't hang with them much.
One of the cats (Meka) was pregnant and she had two kittens (or at least these two survived) at the end of April. I have tried to catch her several times before she gave birth, no success. She kept her kittens hidden until they were 8 weeks old.
During these 8 weeks (when I decided I should not try to trap Meka because she was nursing her kittens), I trapped with a humane trap and neutered a second female (Verde) and I took in her two 3 months kittens that were already there. Although I initially wanted to find homes for Harley and Amelie (both had herpes virus, Harley was worse), I have decided to adopt them myself so now they have a home here with me.
Jonny, the third female also had one kitten. I have found a foster for her kitten but I can not trap her - she doesn't go in the trap, she doesn't let me touch her.
But now my biggest issue is regarding Meka: I have finally trapped her last night and she is hospitalized for neutering and recovering after the surgery. Meka is the sweetest cat possible. Verde and Jonny are semi-ferals or ferals, but Meka is searching for affection. She is more the one petting me when I put down the food. I am 100% sure she could be someone's perfect cat.
BUT:
- it breaks my heart, but I can not take her in too. Initially I wanted to adopt her, but in the mean time I got Harley and Amelie. Please don't judge too rough, I know many of you have 8-9-11 cats, but I am restricted by my circumstances to have these three (my first cat and these kittens I took from the colony). If I were alone, I would take all the colony in. But I am not and life is a compromise, I guess.
- please understand that Romania just started to figure out the TNR thing. We have a couple associations which I contacted already, they are all full and can not take any more cats in, less alone an adult. We do not have cat shelters or sanctuaries, we have some volunteers that take fosters in. I do not have where to search a home for her through official means. I will post her picture and her story everywhere online in .ro sites in hope of finding her a home, but I can only buy her as much time as my vet is willing to keep her in his office.. and after that she has to go back on the street.
This thought (the returning part of TNR) breaks my heart. I knew Verde could never be someone's pet, she is a feral and is doing good on the streets three months after her spaying. But Meka could do so well in a home. She was a wonderful mother for her kittens, she took such good care of them and are both healthy.
So long story short, what is the average life expectancy for a stray cat? In your experience, how much did they live, having some hideout places and constant food? Do you have snow in winter? Did they make it through having an enclosed but not heated space?
Thank you.
I am in need of some advice and reassurance.
This April I came across a colony of cats, three females and two kittens. All the females were pregnant and the two kittens were sick. I have seen one male, too, but he doesn't hang with them much.
One of the cats (Meka) was pregnant and she had two kittens (or at least these two survived) at the end of April. I have tried to catch her several times before she gave birth, no success. She kept her kittens hidden until they were 8 weeks old.
During these 8 weeks (when I decided I should not try to trap Meka because she was nursing her kittens), I trapped with a humane trap and neutered a second female (Verde) and I took in her two 3 months kittens that were already there. Although I initially wanted to find homes for Harley and Amelie (both had herpes virus, Harley was worse), I have decided to adopt them myself so now they have a home here with me.
Jonny, the third female also had one kitten. I have found a foster for her kitten but I can not trap her - she doesn't go in the trap, she doesn't let me touch her.
But now my biggest issue is regarding Meka: I have finally trapped her last night and she is hospitalized for neutering and recovering after the surgery. Meka is the sweetest cat possible. Verde and Jonny are semi-ferals or ferals, but Meka is searching for affection. She is more the one petting me when I put down the food. I am 100% sure she could be someone's perfect cat.
BUT:
- it breaks my heart, but I can not take her in too. Initially I wanted to adopt her, but in the mean time I got Harley and Amelie. Please don't judge too rough, I know many of you have 8-9-11 cats, but I am restricted by my circumstances to have these three (my first cat and these kittens I took from the colony). If I were alone, I would take all the colony in. But I am not and life is a compromise, I guess.
- please understand that Romania just started to figure out the TNR thing. We have a couple associations which I contacted already, they are all full and can not take any more cats in, less alone an adult. We do not have cat shelters or sanctuaries, we have some volunteers that take fosters in. I do not have where to search a home for her through official means. I will post her picture and her story everywhere online in .ro sites in hope of finding her a home, but I can only buy her as much time as my vet is willing to keep her in his office.. and after that she has to go back on the street.
This thought (the returning part of TNR) breaks my heart. I knew Verde could never be someone's pet, she is a feral and is doing good on the streets three months after her spaying. But Meka could do so well in a home. She was a wonderful mother for her kittens, she took such good care of them and are both healthy.
So long story short, what is the average life expectancy for a stray cat? In your experience, how much did they live, having some hideout places and constant food? Do you have snow in winter? Did they make it through having an enclosed but not heated space?
Thank you.