In the past year 5 of my ferals have died and I feel helpless. 2 were hit by cars, 1 disappeared, 2 were euthanized after suffering with cancer and becoming weak. I am devastated. One of the ones euthanized, Smudge,was already TNRed but had found a woman who was going to let him live with her after being vetted. I trapped him again, not easy and the vet said his mouth was filled with cancer. He was always on the outskirts and now I know why.
The 1st one hit by a car, Willow, was afraid of some of the colony and kept her distance. She was my favorite and a great mom. She followed my and waited for me by the curb but kept her space. I planned on bringing her home if I could get her and then I found her dead in the road in a puddle where she waited for me to arrive, devastating me.
Rosie was a friendly comedienne. I would find her in trees in flowerpots, on porches, everywhere and all the cats loved her. She was also killed by a car.
Pepe was a busy guy always having fun, babysat all the kittens, always in the yard I feed in, disappeared now for almost a year.
Phantom is my cat at homes' twin brother, small and skittish. He would hide on a porch of an empty house and I would slide him some food. He was displaced when new people moved in but would always show up for meals until this last winter spring. He was more matted, scrawny, coughing, sneezing. I bought lysine treats to help him but couldn't always find him. He started appearing a block away with another group of ferals and eating now and then with them and he started traveling more. Recently I found him perching in odd spots and when I would try to feed him he would not eat and he looked so weak to me so I worried about parasites. 2 nights ago he was perching at the entrance to the gate where I feed the most cats and I asked him if he was ok and needed help. All the other cats were hungry so I told him I'd be right back and to wait. He followed me and walked towards me honking like a goose almost. Then he walked back outside. I dropped a bowl of food for the others and went to check on him. He was perching in the first spot. I gave him h20 and said there waiting for the ACO to bring me a carrier. He tried to get away from her net and collapsed in the street. We took him to the shelter gave him a bed and water and got him to the vet in the morning. The vet said he had tumors in his nose and a hole in his palette and that he had been suffering for a long time. The ACO had him euthanized when I was not there.
I have 2 jobs to try to support them. I feed them every night wet and dry. I don't live where they are and live in a small apt. I feel helpless and heartbroken and unable to help them as much as they need. How could I have let him suffer so badly so long? Is there anyone else who has gone through this too and does caring for ferals ever get easier? Does anyone know a great animal communicator. I am so sad.
The 1st one hit by a car, Willow, was afraid of some of the colony and kept her distance. She was my favorite and a great mom. She followed my and waited for me by the curb but kept her space. I planned on bringing her home if I could get her and then I found her dead in the road in a puddle where she waited for me to arrive, devastating me.
Rosie was a friendly comedienne. I would find her in trees in flowerpots, on porches, everywhere and all the cats loved her. She was also killed by a car.
Pepe was a busy guy always having fun, babysat all the kittens, always in the yard I feed in, disappeared now for almost a year.
Phantom is my cat at homes' twin brother, small and skittish. He would hide on a porch of an empty house and I would slide him some food. He was displaced when new people moved in but would always show up for meals until this last winter spring. He was more matted, scrawny, coughing, sneezing. I bought lysine treats to help him but couldn't always find him. He started appearing a block away with another group of ferals and eating now and then with them and he started traveling more. Recently I found him perching in odd spots and when I would try to feed him he would not eat and he looked so weak to me so I worried about parasites. 2 nights ago he was perching at the entrance to the gate where I feed the most cats and I asked him if he was ok and needed help. All the other cats were hungry so I told him I'd be right back and to wait. He followed me and walked towards me honking like a goose almost. Then he walked back outside. I dropped a bowl of food for the others and went to check on him. He was perching in the first spot. I gave him h20 and said there waiting for the ACO to bring me a carrier. He tried to get away from her net and collapsed in the street. We took him to the shelter gave him a bed and water and got him to the vet in the morning. The vet said he had tumors in his nose and a hole in his palette and that he had been suffering for a long time. The ACO had him euthanized when I was not there.
I have 2 jobs to try to support them. I feed them every night wet and dry. I don't live where they are and live in a small apt. I feel helpless and heartbroken and unable to help them as much as they need. How could I have let him suffer so badly so long? Is there anyone else who has gone through this too and does caring for ferals ever get easier? Does anyone know a great animal communicator. I am so sad.
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