I've been feeding some strays behind the dumpster enclosure at my apartment complex, but not for very long. Because the dumpster enclosure is pretty exposed to everyone, you can't hide a whole lot around it, especially any shelters or traps. So this morning as I went over to the office to pay for next month's rent, I thought I'd mention the cats casually to test the waters a bit. I've seen people leaving dry food for the cats (not on a schedule), so I thought I might have some luck with talks of TNR. I said to the manager "So, all those cats out there; are they strays?" No sooner than I had finished the sentence, she launched into a huge tirade about diseased animals and wanting to shoot them with a BB gun.
Turns out, the manager had weeks of frustration in dealing the animal control of Wyandotte County (KS), who said they were not willing to trap and take away the cats because their shelter was full. They would not even lend her any traps, as she wanted to bring them to the (kill) shelter herself, but I guess she didn't want to shell out cash for a trap herself. She said she is contemplating reporting to the local news that animal control was negligent of their duties.
After that rant, she scared me off, and I didn't mention anything about me feeding cats. I'm afraid that my face is known, though, in the event any of the apartment staff catches me around the dumpster.
I'm a practical guy, so I don't have the impression that I can save all the strays in the neighborhood or even all the dumpster cats. The reason I'm concerned is there's three strays that I think could be adopted. In particular, there's this cute skin and bones gray tabby that has been really adventurous, so much so that she will walk right up to me and meow for food. She arches her back when I pet her while she's eating. One time she rolled over on her back for me. Unfortunately, her trust extends only about as far as she is eating or about to eat. Worse with the other two cats; when I pet them as they're eating, they keep looking back at my hand like "what the heck are you doin-nomnomnom- what the- nomnomnom- HEY -nomnomnom." These three aren't close to being caught yet, but I can see it in them.
I personally am in a difficult situation, as I live with my mother now ever since bad roofers showed up at her house trying to extort money and scared her badly. I still keep my apartment so I have a place for myself, but I'm only there about 2 hours in the early evening 5 times a week. My mom hates cats and can't stand me being around cats because she's allergic and thinks I bring the "allergy odor" into the house (she only develops "symptoms" when I tell her I've been messing with cats, a total psych case). Everything I do is in secrecy, as I'm surrounded by cat-haters. Even if the cats were catchable, it's not like I can keep them inside my tiny studio apartment when I'm only there 2 hours out of a day, and at the moment I can't afford the $150 pet deposit and monthly rent price hike for owning pets.
Any advice before the manager brings the hammer down on these strays? Should I just give up since the chance of TNR is vanishingly slim? (I'm going to have to donate all this canned cat food I have)
Turns out, the manager had weeks of frustration in dealing the animal control of Wyandotte County (KS), who said they were not willing to trap and take away the cats because their shelter was full. They would not even lend her any traps, as she wanted to bring them to the (kill) shelter herself, but I guess she didn't want to shell out cash for a trap herself. She said she is contemplating reporting to the local news that animal control was negligent of their duties.
After that rant, she scared me off, and I didn't mention anything about me feeding cats. I'm afraid that my face is known, though, in the event any of the apartment staff catches me around the dumpster.
I'm a practical guy, so I don't have the impression that I can save all the strays in the neighborhood or even all the dumpster cats. The reason I'm concerned is there's three strays that I think could be adopted. In particular, there's this cute skin and bones gray tabby that has been really adventurous, so much so that she will walk right up to me and meow for food. She arches her back when I pet her while she's eating. One time she rolled over on her back for me. Unfortunately, her trust extends only about as far as she is eating or about to eat. Worse with the other two cats; when I pet them as they're eating, they keep looking back at my hand like "what the heck are you doin-nomnomnom- what the- nomnomnom- HEY -nomnomnom." These three aren't close to being caught yet, but I can see it in them.
I personally am in a difficult situation, as I live with my mother now ever since bad roofers showed up at her house trying to extort money and scared her badly. I still keep my apartment so I have a place for myself, but I'm only there about 2 hours in the early evening 5 times a week. My mom hates cats and can't stand me being around cats because she's allergic and thinks I bring the "allergy odor" into the house (she only develops "symptoms" when I tell her I've been messing with cats, a total psych case). Everything I do is in secrecy, as I'm surrounded by cat-haters. Even if the cats were catchable, it's not like I can keep them inside my tiny studio apartment when I'm only there 2 hours out of a day, and at the moment I can't afford the $150 pet deposit and monthly rent price hike for owning pets.
Any advice before the manager brings the hammer down on these strays? Should I just give up since the chance of TNR is vanishingly slim? (I'm going to have to donate all this canned cat food I have)