Stray Cats

[countrygirl12]

I don't have a lot of cats roaming the neighborhood where I live, a couple are neighbors' pets I think... they just walk around & patrol.

I feed the birds in my backyard with seeds & bread... we like to watch them.  So I really don't want stray cats around to eat the birds.  We had a neighbor cat catch one of the doves & it was tramatizing for us all.  Thankfully that was only time.   

It's pretty regulated here on how many animals someone can have.  Outdoor cats don't surive out here too long... there are coyotes & hawks & cars...

We have city and county ordinances here too.  But sometimes it is hard to enforce things.  We have coyotes too.  Like a friend said - they got to eat too. lol.

[kaat1220]

santa7:

Don't forget to let me know what state that your Orange County is located. There are too many in the US for me to simply guess.

Thanks.

[ktheodos]

ok - you can call animal control

[kaat1220]

They are the ones bringing the trap, and he doesn't want them put down. He is trying to get them spayed/neutered so they don't reproduce.

[santa7]

To CountryGirl and the other person who wanted to Know what state I live in.  Florida.  Sorry, but I don't know how to reply directly to people on this.  One kitten was trapped today and they came and got it.  I wasn't outside at the time, so don't know if they took Orange Kitty to be spayed/neutered or they just left it go because it was too young.  They left the trap, so I refixed the trap with food.  It's Mama Cat at this time I want them to spay.  They can bring her back.  It's ok with me.  I just don't want them euthanized as it's not their fault that they were abandoned.  They told me if the kittens were too young, they would not fix them.  My place is like a rain forest even though I live in downtown Orlando Southwest.  I grew up in the country up North so I like to garden.  Have lots of trees and plants.  A kitty of my own (who stays in the house).  I don't like to see them euthanized. 
 When they bring them back spayed, neutered, I would like to find them a permanent home.  Animal lover here.  Thank you both especially and everyone else for replies.  Have a great day.   

[mamatygress]

I have to say that when I read the subject, I immediately thought of the 80s band.  Stray cat strut...

[annadote]

A stray cat decided to adopt my family back when I was in elementary school. He was the nicest cat I have ever met (to humans, not other cats though). I really miss having that cat around.

[bshee58]

We have neighborhood cats, so I don't have any of my own.

[HotKentuckyMama]

HotKentuckyMama:

Is it her left ear that is snipped off? If so, she is what we call an "ear-tip kitty"  which means she was trapped, spayed, and put back out at some point.

If it is not the left ear, probably just an injury.


Thank you very much for that information.  I really had no idea.  Yes, it is the left ear.  Ok, stupid question, maybe, but how do I know if she has been spayed?  The only way I knew was maybe is she does not go into heat?  Is there another way to tell?  Please tell me about the ear-tipping process, too.

[HotKentuckyMama]

And I don't believe Elvira was ever a ferile cat.  She is very loving and cuddly.  She's very precious and very much a part of the family. 

[kaat1220]

HotKentucky:

You can tell she is spayed because of the ear-tip. The ear-tip means she was trapped, spayed or neutered and put back out. If she was scared, they may have thought she was feral. They make mistakes because it is hard to tell a feral cat from a scared cat sometimes.

A cat does not get ear-tipped UNLESS they have been spayed/neutered.

[kaat1220]

Santa:

I would call animal control and ask about that orange cat. You want to make sure they bring it back and do not euthanize it. Mistakes can be made.

Just call and check on it. If they decide it is too young, if it's sociable, they may be keeping it until it is old enough, but find out.

It is also good to let them know someone is keeping track of this cat. They may have a case number or something to give you for each cat, and the cats may have also had a microchip installed.

Since you have the trap/neuter under control, I will start searching for info for you for the future, and possibly for pet food banks.

If you want someone to know a message is for them, just put their name at the beginning.

Thanks.

[kaat1220]

Santa7:

Here are some local "no kill" animal shelters to try to get the kitties into. If you end up letting Animal Services keep those cats and they are wild, they WILL be euthanized.

If they are not wild, there is a chance of euthanization if they do not get adopted within a certain time frame.

So, the following are all no kill, so you can start working on this:

http://thecatprotectionsociety.org/lobby.html

The Cat Protection Society
Open 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Monday thru Friday
Saturday: 10a.m. - 2 p.m.
Closed Sunday & Holidays
(352) 383-0685

Halo No Kill Animal Shelter
H.A.L.O.’s Main Shelter is located on US HWY 1 at Jackson Street
across from the Walmart Plaza
710 Jackson Street
Sebastian, Fl 32958
772.589.7297


Humane Society of South Brevard
2600 Otter Creek Lane
Melbourne, FL 32940
(321) 259-0601


http://www.carefelinetnr.org

This bottom email is a group who LOANS out traps, and educates the public
in trap/neuter/return.

appointments@CAREFelineTNR.org

If none of these work out, let me know, and I will find more shelters. Also, never list your cats as "free cats." Always ask for around a $25 adoption fee. This protects your cats from those who go around collecting free cats for nefarious purposes.

If someone seriously wants a cat, they will have no issue paying an adoption fee. In my experience, those who balk at an adoption fee will not want to spend any money on the cat once they have it.

Cats are an expense and commitment, and you want them to go to people who will actually take care of them.

[sfreeman8]

HotKentucky:

You can tell she is spayed because of the ear-tip. The ear-tip means she was trapped, spayed or neutered and put back out. If she was scared, they may have thought she was feral. They make mistakes because it is hard to tell a feral cat from a scared cat sometimes.

A cat does not get ear-tipped UNLESS they have been spayed/neutered.

i had a litter of ferals last year and was able to socialize them and found 2 of them homes. When i found out about help for neutering/spaying, I got vouchers for the male and female that was left. The morning of the appointment, the male was no where to be found (did he know?) but I got the female done. They gave her rabies shot plus green tattoo besides the ear tip and spaying. She became our baby (see avatar) and all was fine. She was so loving until about 4 months later, she went weird on us one night and got mean. She went out the door and we haven't seen her since. I do miss her but....her momma came back with another litter, 2 males and 2 females and one we never found out because he went onto the road and got killed. The other 4 are still here. I'm trying to socialize them. Got 3 of them to a point. Some days they'll gather around me; other days they run. One female I could probably get fixed and the 2 males but we were told to keep them in the house to keep an eye on them for 7 days. oh, the music that would happen with 3 of them...Anyway, can't get near the other female at all.  The one male is really jealous of the others and he won't let me pet the others. He'll push his head under my hand and butt the others away. Then he'll lay down on his back for me to scratch his belly.

I can't afford to get all 3 fixed even with a voucher program, but I refuse to call the local 'shelter" because they euthanize immediately. Anyway, the law here is you feed 'em, you own 'em and the shelter would bill us for food and shelter if they wouldn't euthanize. So that's my problem. Both females got pregnant and both were so small, their babies died or were stillborn. Found 2 on the porch from the one mom, and found 2 in the trunk of our car after a week of warm weather from the other mom. Sad. Thankfully, their mom hasn't come back with more. She leaves as soon as the kids can fend for themselves.

[kaat1220]

What city, county, and state do you live? I will also research places that may come out and trap/neuter/return.

Some groups will come out and do it for free. You really need to get mama fixed, or you will have more babies.

If you don't do this now, before too long, things will be out of control for you to handle.

Let me know, and I will try to do some research for you.