I've gone from a kitty cuddeler at the local Humane Society to cat caregiver to some feral friends.
Sometimes cats just show up on your doorstep. We were reluctant to adopt them as inside pets. Our house cats have since past on and we decided not to adopt any for the time being. These new feline friends were so irresistible. With winter upon us, we began providing water, the least we could do. Which led to offerings of scraps, then buying bags of cat food. We were hooked. My husband then began the challenge of creating shelter for the colony that was developing.
Our first friend was Mustard a young male who was very curious about us and even circled the rim of our hot tub curious to know who we were. Just a fearless feline. Many others have come and gone but Mustard also known as Honey by the neighbors has remained and he fathered two great girls who have now been added to the list of neighborhood residents. Bunny and Bob (short for Bobcat kitty). The girls were of concern because they quickly got pregnant and during that summer, as nature would have it, there were kitties everywhere.
After doing the math we knew something must be done but what to do. We didn't want to take on the expenses associated with fixing and vaccinating dozens of cats. Ultimately we knew the right thing to do was herd the kittens for a trip to the shelter and hopefully they would find there forever homes.
The three adults were another matter, they were technically feral with a bond toward us for giving them shelter and food in the winter months. We sought out the help of a local organization called Alley Cat Allies. They assisted with the spaying of the two girls and we released them back to the woods here where they grew up. We also had their ears tipped indicating they been fixed and released.
We appreciate their company when they decide to show up and even more for their efforts in controlling the rodent population. There are lots of myths and misinformation about feral cats being a nuisance. For more information check out www.alleycat.org.
I hope you find this site helpful if you find yourself just loving the creatures outdoors.
Sometimes cats just show up on your doorstep. We were reluctant to adopt them as inside pets. Our house cats have since past on and we decided not to adopt any for the time being. These new feline friends were so irresistible. With winter upon us, we began providing water, the least we could do. Which led to offerings of scraps, then buying bags of cat food. We were hooked. My husband then began the challenge of creating shelter for the colony that was developing.
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| Young Honey Mustard |
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| Bunny the Medicine Hat Cat and Bob |
After doing the math we knew something must be done but what to do. We didn't want to take on the expenses associated with fixing and vaccinating dozens of cats. Ultimately we knew the right thing to do was herd the kittens for a trip to the shelter and hopefully they would find there forever homes.
The three adults were another matter, they were technically feral with a bond toward us for giving them shelter and food in the winter months. We sought out the help of a local organization called Alley Cat Allies. They assisted with the spaying of the two girls and we released them back to the woods here where they grew up. We also had their ears tipped indicating they been fixed and released.
We appreciate their company when they decide to show up and even more for their efforts in controlling the rodent population. There are lots of myths and misinformation about feral cats being a nuisance. For more information check out www.alleycat.org.
I hope you find this site helpful if you find yourself just loving the creatures outdoors.
What a purrfect solution for you. Taking care of feral cats would be quit rewarding and without any litter boxes to clean up.
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