Stray/Feral cat keeps coming to my backyard. What to do?
- Thread starter Dream
- Start date
^ So you're saying "Read the Diary of Anne Frank of do what's right." instead of calling the Kitty Gestapo.
Always wanted to Godwin a stray cat thread, and now I have.
I'm too tired to even begin to comprehend this post.
I have seen some people tame "feral" cats... at least that's what they were called, but I beg to differ. When a domesticated cat is left to its own resources for long periods, it goes back into the feral mindset, but can be gradually coaxed out of it. A truly feral cat CANNOT be domesticated, without brute force subduing (not worth it at all). So any of those stories where someone tames a stray cat, there's a 99% chance it was only a stray from another home, and not feral.
Feral cats breed and create more cats that become a menace to other wildlife. I would NOT feed them at all. You can try calling animal control, because there's a chance that may make a difference. But if that doesn't work, then start installing things that will scare the feral cats away. They're not good to attract and again, feeding them just enables their breeding.
Feral cats breed and create more cats that become a menace to other wildlife. I would NOT feed them at all. You can try calling animal control, because there's a chance that may make a difference. But if that doesn't work, then start installing things that will scare the feral cats away. They're not good to attract and again, feeding them just enables their breeding.
See, this one is so friendly that for along time we thought it was just some neighbor's cat without a collar. A lot of people in the complex let their cats out. He has come with us on walks and tries to jump on my lap when I'm outside. He also rubs against me a lot and seems to like it if I pet him. I don't think I'd have a problem capturing him, but I don't know what I'd do with him.
I am still wary though, because as nice as he is, he's still a stray cat and I don't know him that well. I'm also mildly concerned about bringing fleas or something into the house, so I scrub myself down if he's been cuddling me. I know whenever we move away from here I'll worry about him a lot.
See, this one is so friendly that for along time we thought it was just some neighbor's cat without a collar. A lot of people in the complex let their cats out. He has come with us on walks and tries to jump on my lap when I'm outside. He also rubs against me a lot and seems to like it if I pet him. I don't think I'd have a problem capturing him, but I don't know what I'd do with him.
I am still wary though, because as nice as he is, he's still a stray cat and I don't know him that well. I'm also mildly concerned about bringing fleas or something into the house, so I scrub myself down if he's been cuddling me. I know whenever we move away from here I'll worry about him a lot.
I would definitely figure something out long before you move away (either adopting him or getting him to a shelter). It's silly for you to be setting yourself up for guilt later.
If he's not adoptable, I would try to see if you have a Trap-Neuter-Release program in your area that you can call, rather than calling animal control.
We can't adopt him (can't handle another cat right now) and I've reached out to a few shelters but they've all said they don't have space.
Yeah, that's doable, and something I've been thinking about doing. He's probably adoptable, we just can't take him in ourselves and there are just too many cats in the shelters here.
Don't feed them bread, get them some cat food and leave it out regularly until they are happy to see you. Then collect them all (a box with a lid would be handy) and bring them inside. Take good care of the mother cat and start asking around if anyone wants kittens. This is assuming they are not actual ferals who attack you, I'm going by you saying the mother doesn't seem too afraid.
If you can't give them away and you don't want to keep all of them you will have to take them to a shelter
If you can't give them away and you don't want to keep all of them you will have to take them to a shelter
I really don't think this is called for. Knock it off.
Also, if the cat bites you, you could end up with Cat Scratch Fever. It's not deadly, but it's loads of fun taking the antibiotics.
America is always so full of scary things.
^
This.
Another solution might be contacting an area cat rescue group in your area.
If the momma cat is truly ferral, you'll have no chance of taming her. Taking one of her kittens might net you a fine pet, or a house wrecking buzz saw.
Some groups trap ferral cats, spay and release them. They keep their freedom and no longer multiply.
I wonder if that was the case with a cat my uncle and aunt adopted. He was a stray that they eventually took in, and he was a loyal part of the family for a good 10-15 years afterward. He never seemed to mind people and was in fact quite affectionate towards us, so it's possible he could have been someone else's pet at some point. If that's the case though, I can't recall any former owner(s) in the area looking for him.
^ So you're saying "Read the Diary of Anne Frank of do what's right." instead of calling the Kitty Gestapo.
Always wanted to Godwin a stray cat thread, and now I have.
I'm too tired to even begin to comprehend this post.
Hrm... I guess I should've provided a more detailed comment.
***
"Neighbor, I've got a family of cats living in the yard. What should I do?"
"You should call animal control, who will send men to round them up, put them in the back of a truck, and haul them to a facility with pens where they'll be given food. They might get broken up, and perhaps put down after a while, but either way they'll be out of your hair."
"Ah, so you've had a family of cats in your yard, too."
"No, a family of Jews were living in my attic. But the principle is the same."
***
My adopted stray cat made me write that. He was trampling me underfoot and head-butting me.
The other day I finally saw kitty interact with one of the rabbits. I dropped a Pringle and the rabbit went over to it, but the cat faced off with him, put his head square up against the bunny's head, and they engaged in a pushing contest to try and get their mouth over the potato chip. Neither animal normally eats potato chips, especially the cat, but since it became the prize in their pushing contest they both were determined to get it. The cat pushed the bunny back just enough to take a bite, the chip snapped in the middle, so they both ate half.
Normally they pretend the other doesn't exist, even though they drink out of the same water bowl and see each other all day long.
I managed to catch a stray kitten as a kid. Boy this was hard too. The bugger fell on me out of a tree as I was walking home from school. Then it kept following me! It wouldn't go away! Which in hindsight really was funny being I was doing figure eights, jumping over fences and all kinds of silly things to shake it.
So I get home, it trots in as if it owned the place(mom and dad loved -that- one when they got home)... and was still there until it died years later.
What's this catching problem you have again?
So I get home, it trots in as if it owned the place(mom and dad loved -that- one when they got home)... and was still there until it died years later.
What's this catching problem you have again?
Several years ago, I was at my aunt's house, visiting my cousin for the evening. We heard a meek wailing outside and we quickly realized it was a stray kitten. we generally ignored it and after a little while we went out to dinner. Upon our return almost two hours later, we discovered the kitten was still there! It had not left! we got out of the car and instead of fleeing "strange" humans, it "bipped" over to the vehicle, getting underfoot. Again, we tried to politely ignore it, but when we opened the door to the house, the lil' bugga' darted straight into the kitchen as if it belonged there! Thankfully, we were able to scoop it up without having to chase it all over creation. Neither of us were in a position to adopt, but we disn't want to simply adandon the wee critter.
So, with my cousin cradling the kitten, we got into the car again and drove to the local shelter that was less than 2 miles away. That lil' thing mewed but did not freak out from the car ride. I located the "night deposit" area outside the shelter (since there was no one staffing the place after hours) and placed it in one of the kennels along with a heaping handful of kitten kibble (there was no bowl around) so it wouldn't be hungry. I will admit we both got a tad misty eyed as it was obvious that animal was used to people and clearly demonstrated it was quite affectionate.
I went back to the shelter the next day while it was still open to learn of the animal's status. They had retrieved it and placed it in the examination room to check its health. though I couldn't adopt, I did give the shelter a twenty to help towards its (hoped for) adoption by someone else.
I returned a few weeks later and the staff stated it had been adopted.
Sincerely,
Bill
So, with my cousin cradling the kitten, we got into the car again and drove to the local shelter that was less than 2 miles away. That lil' thing mewed but did not freak out from the car ride. I located the "night deposit" area outside the shelter (since there was no one staffing the place after hours) and placed it in one of the kennels along with a heaping handful of kitten kibble (there was no bowl around) so it wouldn't be hungry. I will admit we both got a tad misty eyed as it was obvious that animal was used to people and clearly demonstrated it was quite affectionate.
I went back to the shelter the next day while it was still open to learn of the animal's status. They had retrieved it and placed it in the examination room to check its health. though I couldn't adopt, I did give the shelter a twenty to help towards its (hoped for) adoption by someone else.
I returned a few weeks later and the staff stated it had been adopted.
Sincerely,
Bill
I've never heard of a night deposit at a shelter. 
That is a sad story--but glad it at least ended with the little guy being adopted.
That is a sad story--but glad it at least ended with the little guy being adopted.
My first cat was a kitten I found in the street. I put up signs and did a door knock but it appeared she had been dumped or lost. I had her for about 15 years. My next door neighbour had a very old cat that used to spend all day sleeping on a chair on her porch. One day her old cat died and the very next day my cat appeared on my neighbour's porch chair. She moved in with my neighbour who while somewhat bemused was happy with this arrangement. She just started eating out of my neighbour's cat food bowl immediately.
