As you know we have a feral cat population in our backyard. Some may argue that they really aren’t that feral, but they certainly aren’t cuddly house cats either. Our population is down from, at its highest, 15 to 6. I don’t count all the males who show up whenever a female smells so good. Because they aren’t one of the regulars. Yes. There are 6 cats that routinely show up with their paws out and their mouths open. It drives me nuts and we’re going to have to sort this problem out at some point.
The first step is this: There are three females sitting in humane traps in the garage right now. The better-half found a clinic that isn’t quite as stringent on the rules as the SPCA. Tomorrow the three girls go to have their tubes cut and then there will be no more kittens at our house. ThankyewJesus. We’re holding out hope that the lone unfixed male will be dumb enough to get in the last trap, but really, he won’t be bringing any of his offspring home. His name was once Dumbbubba so maybe we do have some hope.
Last night when we set the first trap, one of the longest lived females who has already been spayed stepped right into the trap. She spent last night and all of today in the dog kennel we still have in the garage from when Lucy bit the SPCA worker. She was not happy about that turn of events, but we didn’t want to keep trapping her. She had food, water and a litter box. I don’t think she used any of it. She high-tailed it out of the garage after we caught the last female.
Maybe she’ll get so mad that she’ll find another kind-hearted couple to mooch off of for the rest of her days. Yeah. Right.
My farmer friend was “gifted” three female barn cats a few years ago. He wisely said that “free kittens” means about a $250 trip to the cat fixin’ vet.
You guys have been dealing with this for so long. It sounds like you are becoming a real solution to a real problem. I know it’s not easy but I applaud you both for having such big hearts.
Working with this new clinic meant we shelled out some money, but if we can stop this colony of cats from expanding, it’s worth it.
Also, this clinic is going to take three of our traps and the kennel so that’s a bonus for us and them. We don’t have to figure out how to dispose of the stuff and they can pass it along to some other folks who are also catching ferals.