I'm getting really upset and don't know what to do! Please help!
------------------------------------------
Background I am currently taking care of 10+* <see Problem #2 for more details> stray/ferals. I started back in Nov. 2005. I'm not allowed to take any of them indoors (we have 2 cats already, an 18 1/2 year old ith KD, late onset epilepsy, minor congestive heart failure, and arthritis, and other is a nearly year and a half old cat mom found in the middle of the street, crying, unweened, and couldn't locate a mother.)
Our yard has a chainlink fence, but they all can easily jump it. I have out 2 of the storage container with foam insulation winter shelters, but they go unused. I feed them twice daily, and because of the freezing temps, I've been putting out water several times a day. I don't have a job, so despite me wanting to get them spayed/neutered and shots, I lack the funds to do so.
There is only 1 No Kill Shelter in the area, but every time I've called, they've been full. There's I think 2 or 3 Kill Shelters, but they only have 3 days to find homes, and young kittens are IMMEDIATELY killed. (If someone was to call Animal Control on them, it gives cats less than 24 hours to live, where as dogs get 3 days.). I know of only one place that will rent out a single humane trap, it's a refundable $25 deposit per day. Even if I was to get it, I wouldn't know where to store captured cats while I get others. The Stray cat fixing place that I've seen advertised in the paper will only take groups of 5+ at a time, any sick cats, even if it's treatable, get put down immediately, and you have to have ALL of your neighbors sign a consent form stating they are okay with you getting the cats fixed and returned (which isn't going to happen as some are cat haters.) I do not know of anyone off-hand who wants a cat (even if as only a temporary home), and kittens listed in the paper are often in their for weeks or months.
-----------------------------------------
There are 3 groups, and they have some "faction" issues with each other.
Group 1 consists of Greyie. Had a little in the first week of May 2006 (2 were killed by a tomcat, 2 remain <see Group 2> ). Had a litter Late Oct. which apparently perished on Thanksgiving. Disappeared for a long while, appeared recently again VERY pregnant, gave birth TODAY. <See Problem #2>. She is the Alpha Female of the area. She currently resides in storage room under our back porch, which she shares with Group 3. She hisses at Group 3's kittens though if they get too close.
Group 2 ("The Herd") consists of "Boy Kitty" (one of the May litter mentioned above), his sister "Girl Kitty", "lil Grey Kitty" (orphaned litter from some time in June, which was found Mid-July by Boy and Girl Kitty, was taken in by Greyie til she abandoned them all in late August), and his sibling "Runt" (always been pretty tiny). Greyie chases them away on sight since she left them. Scruffy <see Group 3> scares them away from the yard, and all but "lil Grey Kitty" are terrified of Group 3's kittens. Those kittens will come up to him and snuggle and purr. They used to stay on our back porch until Scruffy showed up with her litter and chased them out. <Their current "residence" is Problem #1>
Group 3 ("The Brood") consists of Scruffy, and her 4 kittens who were born sometime in Sept. 2006 , "Rascal" (gets into alot of trouble), "Glutty" (is a glutton), "Stripey", and "Sooty". They currently reside in the storage room with Greyie. Scruffy doesn't get along with The Herd. The kittens seem to want to play with them, but all but one are terrified of them. The kittens are pushed around by Greyie, who's the one who led Scruffy to our food last Winter. The Brood are long hair cats.
All but Stripey and Sooty are friendly towards me. They will come up to me, want petted, do Figure 8s, and purr. Rascal and Glutty will often accept being picked up.
-----------------------------------------------
Problem #1 This morning when my mom was feeding the cats, a neighbor complained to her about The Herd. Apparently, they've gotten in through broken windows and have been staying in either their basement or garage (which is a separate building in the yard), supposedly spray in these areas, and make their dog bark (not that the fact that he's kept out in the cold nearly all day every day, on a very short teather plays a role.
). She said if they aren't removed from their property soon, they will call Animal Control on them and file charges. (Feeding strays is illegal here. Some areas even have law enforcement do a "shoot on sight" for stray animals.)
Problem #2 It's very cold outside (last week we had below zero temps. and/or several inches of snow.), Greyie just had a litter today. Her last litter died in temps warmer than this. I'm forbidden from taking any of them inside. The storage room as a light bulb, but no electical sockets (not that I have a heater nor the money for one.).
-----------------------------------------
I really need some help! I love these cats and seeing them die is ABSOLUTELY the last thing that I want to happen.
------------------------------------------
Background I am currently taking care of 10+* <see Problem #2 for more details> stray/ferals. I started back in Nov. 2005. I'm not allowed to take any of them indoors (we have 2 cats already, an 18 1/2 year old ith KD, late onset epilepsy, minor congestive heart failure, and arthritis, and other is a nearly year and a half old cat mom found in the middle of the street, crying, unweened, and couldn't locate a mother.)
Our yard has a chainlink fence, but they all can easily jump it. I have out 2 of the storage container with foam insulation winter shelters, but they go unused. I feed them twice daily, and because of the freezing temps, I've been putting out water several times a day. I don't have a job, so despite me wanting to get them spayed/neutered and shots, I lack the funds to do so.
There is only 1 No Kill Shelter in the area, but every time I've called, they've been full. There's I think 2 or 3 Kill Shelters, but they only have 3 days to find homes, and young kittens are IMMEDIATELY killed. (If someone was to call Animal Control on them, it gives cats less than 24 hours to live, where as dogs get 3 days.). I know of only one place that will rent out a single humane trap, it's a refundable $25 deposit per day. Even if I was to get it, I wouldn't know where to store captured cats while I get others. The Stray cat fixing place that I've seen advertised in the paper will only take groups of 5+ at a time, any sick cats, even if it's treatable, get put down immediately, and you have to have ALL of your neighbors sign a consent form stating they are okay with you getting the cats fixed and returned (which isn't going to happen as some are cat haters.) I do not know of anyone off-hand who wants a cat (even if as only a temporary home), and kittens listed in the paper are often in their for weeks or months.
-----------------------------------------
There are 3 groups, and they have some "faction" issues with each other.
Group 1 consists of Greyie. Had a little in the first week of May 2006 (2 were killed by a tomcat, 2 remain <see Group 2> ). Had a litter Late Oct. which apparently perished on Thanksgiving. Disappeared for a long while, appeared recently again VERY pregnant, gave birth TODAY. <See Problem #2>. She is the Alpha Female of the area. She currently resides in storage room under our back porch, which she shares with Group 3. She hisses at Group 3's kittens though if they get too close.
Group 2 ("The Herd") consists of "Boy Kitty" (one of the May litter mentioned above), his sister "Girl Kitty", "lil Grey Kitty" (orphaned litter from some time in June, which was found Mid-July by Boy and Girl Kitty, was taken in by Greyie til she abandoned them all in late August), and his sibling "Runt" (always been pretty tiny). Greyie chases them away on sight since she left them. Scruffy <see Group 3> scares them away from the yard, and all but "lil Grey Kitty" are terrified of Group 3's kittens. Those kittens will come up to him and snuggle and purr. They used to stay on our back porch until Scruffy showed up with her litter and chased them out. <Their current "residence" is Problem #1>
Group 3 ("The Brood") consists of Scruffy, and her 4 kittens who were born sometime in Sept. 2006 , "Rascal" (gets into alot of trouble), "Glutty" (is a glutton), "Stripey", and "Sooty". They currently reside in the storage room with Greyie. Scruffy doesn't get along with The Herd. The kittens seem to want to play with them, but all but one are terrified of them. The kittens are pushed around by Greyie, who's the one who led Scruffy to our food last Winter. The Brood are long hair cats.
All but Stripey and Sooty are friendly towards me. They will come up to me, want petted, do Figure 8s, and purr. Rascal and Glutty will often accept being picked up.
-----------------------------------------------
Problem #1 This morning when my mom was feeding the cats, a neighbor complained to her about The Herd. Apparently, they've gotten in through broken windows and have been staying in either their basement or garage (which is a separate building in the yard), supposedly spray in these areas, and make their dog bark (not that the fact that he's kept out in the cold nearly all day every day, on a very short teather plays a role.
Problem #2 It's very cold outside (last week we had below zero temps. and/or several inches of snow.), Greyie just had a litter today. Her last litter died in temps warmer than this. I'm forbidden from taking any of them inside. The storage room as a light bulb, but no electical sockets (not that I have a heater nor the money for one.).
-----------------------------------------
I really need some help! I love these cats and seeing them die is ABSOLUTELY the last thing that I want to happen.