Steve,
<> I'm so pleased that you and your sister were able to convince the lady who puts out food for the ferals to TNR! You could also let her know that it's the best solution to maintaining the colony, (better than trying to kill them in fact). When you spay/neuter the ferals they are much less likely to fight. If they have food and water, and are no longer motivated by mating, they have little reason for fighting. This will cut down the spread of disease. Also, they can at least have initial shots for rabies etc. What will end up happening is the colony will stop multipling, first because of course there won't be as many babies being born, but also the cats that are already there won't be attracting others for mating purposes. Cats are very territorial and they'll discourage the newcommers from joining the group.
I've seen first hand the horrible suffering that kittens born in the wild have to endure. We have to spread the word that just because cats are resourceful it doesn't mean they are capable of taking care of themselves. We as humans are responsible for their plight and it's up to us do something about it.
Sorry, I get pretty worked up on this subject. I know I'm preaching to the choir.
Thanks again for making a difference!
Nina
Steve Williams wrote:
My sister had planned to talk to the lady down the hill who leaves bowls of food out for her 30+ feral cats. I think I briefly mentioned that our kittens came from one of her feral momma cats and that the she abandoned the kittens. Well, perhaps Milo has left a wonderful legacy...
My sister has re-doubled her determination to do something about the neighbors feral fleet of cats. She has talked to the lady about Milo's death from FeLV and that some of the other cats may have this horrible virus; that the food is attracting skunks and causing stink in the air on way too many occasions, not to mention dogs getting sprayed quite often; that kittens are being born all the time; cat and kitten skeletons have been found for several reasons, one of which is that the cats are attracting predators that do not normally hang out in the area; etc.
Previous the lady said she could do nothing about the problem, since she couldn't approach them.
My sister offered to trap them and bring them in to get fixed through a wonder program here called *Project Purr* (http://www.projectpurr.org/). The Project advocates TNR (Trap /Neuter/ Return) The lady has finally seen the light and has agreed to pay the $25 fee to fix each cat that is trapped. Each cat will then be released back where they were found. Project Purr supplies the traps for the project.
Something good has happened, pushed forward my Milo.
Steve
p.s. See here for kitten taming and feral cat trapping: http://www.projectpurr.org/links.htm
