They're demanding we stop feeding the strays

[barb0802]

Hi,
I live in a condominium, and there's about 7 cats that the neighbors and I feed daily, although I'm the one that feeds them the most and the canned food, they put out some dry food and water. There's only 6 units in our building and we all don't mind the cats there. I know it's starting to become a problem because the Mama keeps having kittens, but they're so cute and depend on us for their food, that we all just dealt with it.

Now we received notices saying we will be fined if caught feeding them. Apparently it's a big problem in the entire complex. They say some sections of the complex have 30 strays hanging around.

They claim they are going to try and trap them and put them on a farm of some sort. I don't know if they are being completely honest with us or not.

I've been throwing a little food out when it gets dark, but I really don't want to get caught, plus the little bit of food I'm throwing out, isn't nearly the amount they are used to getting.

It's so sad because the cats know my car and come running when I get home and they'll be sitting outside my door every morning. It broke my heart this morning to walk right by them. They looked very confused too

What would you do? would you still try and feed them? Do you think they'll be able to fend for themselves?

I can't take any of them inside because of my 16 year old cat. If I didn't have him, believe me, they would all be inside rather than being trapped or whatever they're going to do.

Am I being overly concerned? Have I crossed the line where animals become more important than rules?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks and Happy Easter,

Barb

 

[momof3rugratz]

I hope they do get food from somewhere. Is there anyway to get the mommy and fix her. Poor things I will pray they are going to safe spots.

 

[barb0802]

Hi,

Thanks for responding...

we all want to try and catch her, but she won't have that at all.... There's only 2 that you can really touch. I can pet the younger ones when they have their faces in the plate of food, but other than that they don't like to be touched.

 

[jen]

I think you should get a trap and get her that way. That is the best way with who do not want to be caught. You can get one from the vet or shelter to rent or you can buy one for around $50 from a farm type of store, like a feed store maybe. She really really needs to get to a vet to be spayed at least.

 

[trouts mom]

Hmmm, can't you just sneak food outside at like 3am or something?

 

[barb0802]

you're my kind a gal!!!

I thought about setting my alarm for 2 am and giving them a huge plate of food.

I just wondered if it was wrong of me to keep trying to feed them. what's the chances of them setting up a camera or something?? do you think they would go that far? I just threw out some food since it's now dark and made sure they ate it all.

How do I break them of the habit of eating when I go out my front door and when I come home???

 

[trouts mom]

Just start putting the food somewhere different than you usually do..maybe away from your place a little..and do it at a different time..the cats will get used to the new time once your in a routine.


Ooooh, I love this sneaky plan to feed the furries

 

[momof3rugratz]

I think she doesn't want to be homeless. If caught she could get fined and after a few they could evict her or the fees will be to high to pay them and feed the cats

Just hope she doesn't get a judge like we have in UTAH...

 

[barb0802]

yeah, I'm worried about the fines and just basically "getting in trouble" but my heart is definitely overriding my brain. I just can't let them down like that, they depend on all of us, but mostly me. I'm the one that regularly makes sure they are fed. It just seems so cruel to stop, especially since the little ones only know to get food from us, not on their own. I know I shouldn't have started this, but the owner of the condo before me also fed them. and it doesn't help that there's no one in this unit that is complaining... I think if it was my direct neighbor complaining I would have to stop.

I'm afraid to pick another spot to feed them, because I think I would be noticed more.... it's easier to open my door and throw some food, than to carry it around outside to another spot.

they are so used to the canned food on a plate, and now I don't think they can have that anymore, that is too conspicuous, can't have a plate out there anymore.

 

[momof3rugratz]

Toss the open canned food in a bush

sorry out of ideas.

 

[barb0802]

no problem, I know I'm being a pain... I guess I just want someone to tell me what to do, as usual.....

but are you saying that you would continue to feed them regardless of the "warnings"??

 

[tru]

I think that if you still want to feed them and do it off the property then they can not issue a fine.

Another possible option would be to get help trapping and relocating.
Is there a rescue organization that can come in to trap and make sure the cats are put in good homes of no kill shelters?

Perhaps discuss with the owners what exactly they plan to do and if they are planning to trap and relocate that should ease your mind or you could offer to help.

After that I am all out of ideas. :-)

 

[zissou'smom]

Why don't you tell the landlords that you guys will take care of it by X date and promise not to feed anymore cats after that. Then find a shelter or rescue groups who can take all of the cats and rehome them. And spay / neuter them all.
If you strike a compromise, you can keep feeding them for, say, a week, and then have them all on their way to a better life.
Trapping them would be more like the live traps they use for wild animals, not like you trying to catch them and wrastle them into a carrier.

If you don't trust the owners to actually take them to "a farm"-- and I wouldn't either-- you owe it to these kitties to make sure they are taken care of to the best of your knowledge.

 

[momof3rugratz]

Originally Posted by Zissou'sMom

Why don't you tell the landlords that you guys will take care of it by X date and promise not to feed anymore cats after that. Then find a shelter or rescue groups who can take all of the cats and rehome them. And spay / neuter them all.
If you strike a compromise, you can keep feeding them for, say, a week, and then have them all on their way to a better life.
Trapping them would be more like the live traps they use for wild animals, not like you trying to catch them and wrastle them into a carrier.

If you don't trust the owners to actually take them to "a farm"-- and I wouldn't either-- you owe it to these kitties to make sure they are taken care of to the best of your knowledge.

I think those are great ideas.

 

[catsknowme]

Perhaps you could find a co-worker or friend to come by and feed them for you! And if you could find a few people to help out, then it would be difficult for the landlords to find out who to charge with trespass. Meanwhile, you could check the Alley Cat Allies website, for a sample letter that you, and hopefully other concerned neighbors, could copy; a letter that says that you are willing to assist in the removal of the cats. Then you could find out for sure that there is really a farm, and that they do actually have the farmer's permission to drop off the cats. You might send a PM to TNR1 for some suggestions on local groups who might be able to help with trapping & neutering, which needs to be done regardless if the cats stay or get relocated. Please keep us posted with any updates!! And here's some TCS "Board Magic" {{{prayers and vibes}}} for good solutions soon!! And bless you for caring so much for those cats!!

 

[jennyr]

I agree totally - there has to be a combined effort to sort the problem out from the roots - and htat means trapping and neutering hte entire colony. If I were you I would call a meeting of the owners and tenants and decide how to go about it. Ask a local vet if they will work with you and offer discounts for fixing all of them, and then work with the owners as to the best way to manage them. If they are no longer increasing in number they may be prepared to let you go back to feeding them. Maybe any young ones can be socialised and rehomed. There must be advantages you can point to - a managed colony prevents more cats coming in and filling the 'vacuum', they will keep down vermin, and if healthy and happy are nice to have around. I hope you manage to sort it all out.

 

[batgirl2good]

barb, I would keep feeding, and i like the idea of the 2 a.m. alarm clock, the putting the food in the busses, etc. do you have water in there, too, for them?
I doubt they would set up cameras.

Can you talk to some of the neighbors who are on your side and get them to help you trap some of these babies?
What about maybe getting some of the people in the condos to adopt some of these cats?

 

[tnr1]

Is anyone spaying/neutering these cats?? Or are they simply "feeding" them. The reason I ask is that when people simply "feed" and do not TNR...they are encouraging other cats to come and eat and reproduce...thus you have a LARGER issue than when you started. I belong on another message board and there was a woman who recently posted the following:

My husband has been walking our dog lately when I've been sick, and has
heard some very interesting comments from neighbors. Several of them
have commented that there do not seem to be as many cats around the
neighborhood. They know this because they don't hear the sounds of
fighting/mating, don't smell the urine marking, don't see as many cats
out and about. Their comment is that they don't know what I did, but it
sure took care of the cat problem.



My husband, bless his educated little heart, has explained many times
that what we did was TNR. We trapped, vaccinated, neutered and
eartipped the cats, then returned them to the neighborhood. The reason
that there is little noise is that the noise was from cats mating and
fighting over mates. This no longer happens. The reason that there
don't seem to be as many cats is that there are no more females in heat
to attract toms from far and wide. And it was intact toms who did all
that nasty spraying.



This seems to go completely over most of their heads. Other than the
few cat people who live here, nobody cares what we did or how we did it.
All they know and care about is that there was a growing cat problem
that was irritating them and we fixed it. Details are unimportant.
They listen politely and say, "Well, tell your wife that whatever she
did, it worked, and thank you."



Our efforts at TNR and education have been successful. Our cats are
fat, happy, and relatively safe. This summer, I plan to work on getting
closer to some of the friendlier ones, with an eye to taking them in, as
I did with Carly.



I realize that I have a much better situation than many of us do, but
this is an example of how TNR can completely turn things around. Just
thought I'd share the joy!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/feral_cats/message/77727

I am posting this here as an inspiration to you....please consider that this woman was actively TNRing these cats. If management says there are 30 strays due to the feeding....that is a major problem for them...you MUST meet them half way. By getting actively involved in TNR, the number of strays will go down, noise complaints will go down and it will be a better environment for both cats and your neighborhood. If you only feed at a later hour and do not TNR...chances are there will come a time that management will call animal control regarding your "colony". Please go to the Alley Cat Allies website and learn about TNR so that you can help these cats:

http://www.alleycat.org/

Katie

 

[barb0802]

Hi Everyone,

Thank you so much for all your responses and great ideas. I think I may just have to take this burden on myself as i doubt the neighbors will go as far as i will to make sure the cats aren't harmed. They care about the cats but I really don't think they'll go out of their way to hep with them.

Now, what is the process for getting an outside rescue association to come in and help? I'm willing to pay for them to come as well. I wrote a letter to a local shelter a while back asking what I can do and even offered to provide money for a years worth of food, which I figured was about $400 (I buy cheap food for them), but they never responded. I'm looking in the phone book right now and I don't see any "rescue" associations. I don't know if I could trap them on my own.

They left me a mouse this morning....

they've never done this and I can only think they did this because they thought I was mad at them or something (I'm a wacko) but they were probably saying "heres a mouse now please feed us again"

I just wish I could take them all in... I checked around and of course no one wants a wild cat, some of these cats have been outside for 4 years... I think it's going to take a lot of patience for someone to make them house cats. Will the rescuers work with them or give up too soon?

My vet is the one that suggested the first place I contacted, I even used his name but I guess they weren't interested.

How can I find someone that will care enough to come and get them?

 

[barb0802]

That is an inspiring story... thank you. I think though, even if the cats are neutered they wouldn't allow me to bring them back to the community.

I can't read the link you posted because I don't have a Yahoo ID. Did I miss anything important???