I can't stand evil people

[Guest]

[Eve]

Here's the situation....We have stray cats that come and visit us in our back yard from time time - 4 in all.  They're very sweet, and they don't hurt anything. I'd love to take them in, but we already have two cats.  One of the cats happened to be pregnant, and she gave birth in a yard adjacent to ours. We went to our neighbor's house, whom we're not acquainted with, and asked if we could see the kittens. Upon hearing this, she freaked! "Take them, Take them", she said. "I don't want them in my back yard!  If you don't take them, I'll throw them away. I'll turn the water hose on them, and it will get very wet down there."

Well, we were blown away.  I can understand that not everyone loves animals or appreciates stray cats in their backyard, but damn that's just heartless(and against the law!) 

Anyway, so we took them and tried to relocate them to our back yard - twice, but Mama cat took them right back to where they were.  So, we both felt the only alternative was to take them in. We did, and couldn't capture mama, she's too feral.  So we had two kittens in our house for a week. We bottle fed them and watched them 24/7. They did very well, we saw signs of good health and they grew daily. However, neither one of us are veteranarians, and clearly, we were in over our head. So, one warm day last week after much discussion, we put them outside and watched from the window.  Mama cat came within seconds, and took them this time to a different yard, a nice person's yard, thankfully.

We were torn about giving them back, but ultimately decided they would have a better chance with their mother than with us.  We don't know if we made the right choice. Anyway, we can't see them in their new yard, but we do hear them.    .

Here is a link to some photos I took.
http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f273/catcardlady/baby%20kitties/

[Nienna]

So tiny .... 

Sadly not everyone has the kindness and generosity of spirit towards animals as you do Eve and you have an obligation to your own cats who take precedence over these cute little bundles I'm afraid.
I do sincerely hope Mam cat and these kitties have found a better place than your 'nasty' neighbour and please let us know how they get on won't you?
To be honest, Mama cat needs to be caught and spayed asap so she won't keep having litters of kittens that may or may not survive the potential problems some of your neighbours might cause them.
It's hard to know what to do for the best, but at least you can say you DID try with these two but really ... they needed to be back with their mum. 
Fingers crossed they may be visitors to your back yard before too long ...

[tialessa]

I would have totally flipped out on the evil neighbor!

And I agree, that mama cat (and the rest of the feral kitties) need to be spayed/neutered to prevent more litters.  Ask your vet for references to local rescue societies or other advice...

[Eve]

I would have totally flipped out on the evil neighbor!

And I agree, that mama cat (and the rest of the feral kitties) need to be spayed/neutered to prevent more litters.  Ask your vet for references to local rescue societies or other advice...

We have...the problem is timing.  The rescue organizations that do the free spaying only do it during certain times....

I'm going to buy one of the humane traps that the Animal Control officers use, and hopefully I can at least get our Mama cat spayed.

My neighborhood is a bastion of stray cats. Both of our cats were cats we took in from the street in our neighborhood. My mother-in-law took in two cats from our neighborhood, and my brother-in-law took in one cat.  I'm trying to convince my sister to take one of these little cherubs, but we're out of family members...

[grecopa]

It's such a shame that people think it's ok to just dispose of their pets anywhere at anytime.  Feral cats come from somewhere-born to cats who have been put out on the street.  I used to work at my city's Human Society and let me tell you, when springtime hit it was a mad house of stray litters.  Cats AND dogs.  Unfortunately there just aren't enough good people to adopt the massive amounts of animals brought in.  If the litters weren't absolutely 100% healthy (this included eye discharge), they were euthanised.  A sad fact that could be prevented if more people would spay/neuter.  You wouldn't believe the excuses people gave for not having it done: "It will make my dog lazy", "I wouldn't want it done to me, so I won't do it to him", "It's healthy for cats/dogs to have one littler first", "I want my kids to see the miracle of birth" (how about coming into the back and showing them the hard facts of death?)  I could go on and on.  Anyway, I'll get down off my soapbox now.  Eve, you're a good person to take on your neighborhood cats.  God bless you.

[Nienna]

Good luck with the trap Eve and I only wish I lived a little closer to help with the offer of a new home ...
There again, I wouldn't want to bring two tiny kitties to the UK and have them spend months and months in quarantine either.

Kelly, you're absolutely right in what you say about people's stupidity over the neutering/spaying issue with their own animals - I could've left my cats 'whole' for want of a better expression as they're indoor cats, but I had all of them spayed at the proper time (ie. when they were old enough at around 6 months or so) and I wouldn't hesitate in doing it again if I have any more kitties in the house in the future.

[sketchqueen]

All my males are fixed - they'r indoors as well, but I have the luck that one of my toms might have gotten out and "around" and then we'd have more than the 4 we have now

[Eve]

Well, speaking to your neighbors can do wonders!  We met a lady on the next block who actually has one of the humane traps. She's offered to loan it to us and help us get the female cat spayed as soon as the kittens are weaned.      You know, the thing about spaying and neutering is there is help if you're not super rich.  Back when we got our female, Lilah, we weren't rolling in money. A local shelter had a program, and we got her spayed for $20.00.

[Eve]

Here's a picture of Mama...

[goldenavenger]

We had a pregnant stray cat out and about around our house. But we got the mom cat into our house before she delivered. Well, it was on Easter morning 2 years ago ( 3 a.m. to be exact) when she woke us up by having them right in the middle of our bed.  We were lucky enough to be able to get some blankets under her for most of them. We kept 3 of the kittens and found a home for the other 2. And the mom along with the 3 we kept have been inside kitties ever since.

BTW, nice pics.

[tialessa]

Here's a picture of Mama...

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh what a sweet kitty face!!!!!!!!

It's a face like that that sucked me into getting kitty #3.  I found her wandering around outside my local post office.  She was friendly so another customer kept talking to her & petting her while I raced home to get a cat carrier.  She was freaked that night, but within 24 hours she just wanted attention.  She's turned into a fat cuddle kitty who follows me everywhere...  And she LOVES boxes...



Keep us updated on Mama Cat & the babies!

[Nienna]

Mama cat is GORGEOUS!! 

Fingers crossed with the humane trap Eve and it would be lovely if homes could be found for all of them.
Sadly that probably won't happen, but if Mama cat is spayed and the two kitties are homed then that's the best you can hope for I think.

Tia - you have a beautiful tabby kitty there ... well she looks to be almost an adult cat - hee hee ALL my cats have loved boxes and the one I have left (Thea) adores plastic carriers bags to sit in and lie upon, boxes of any size to sit in/on and also my plastic washing (laundry) basket I use when pegging out the washing to dry outside!!

[tialessa]

Tia - you have a beautiful tabby kitty there ... well she looks to be almost an adult cat

She's an adult now - I guesstimate she was half grown when I found her last June.  I suspect she was a Christmas gift to someone (she was spayed) and when she grew up & wasn't a baby anymore they didn't want her.  She's gained 3-5 pounds since I've had her - no more easily felt ribs.

And  with Thea - hope she doesn't get in with the CLEAN clothes!

Tim, glad you kept Mama & babies that weren't given away.

Don't get me started on my soapbox about indoor vs outdoor kitties...

[Nienna]

hee hee well she's nearly had heaps of wet clean clothes on top of her on more than one occasion cos she's jumped in the basket and I've not noticed till almost too late!!
Mine would all have been outdoor cats if it weren't for the fact the first one of the three had been kept indoors when I lived at the flat and when I move to this house I hoped to let her roam outside .... because of the volume of traffic passing the front of the house I thought it best she stop indoors (I didn't want her to get run over! ) and so I got Kizzie as a kitten to keep her company when I was out at work!
Funny thing was, Beepie (no.1 cat) used to vanish if I let her out for any length of time, Kizzie and Thea would stick close to me and follow me round the garden ... weird I know. In fact, if I'm in the garden now, Thea howls till I call her name and then she comes to find me ... it's like she's 'lost' me!
I couldn't have owned more different cats in temperament and nature than these three ... 
I would rather have kept them indoors than risk any of them getting taken or hurt - I take looking after my cate very seriously indeed!!

There was a time many years ago when it wasn't wise to leave your cats roaming outside at night and many of them went missing never to be seen or heard of again. 
At the same time, food inspectors were raiding restaurants and fast food places and finding that instead of them serving chicken, it was cat meat they were serving instead .... :'(
It was awful .... and I'm sure it still goes on even today ...

[tialessa]

There was a time many years ago when it wasn't wise to leave your cats roaming outside at night and many of them went missing never to be seen or heard of again. 

There was a story in the news last year about some coyotes eating cats in Cobb County (part of the Metro Atlanta area in Georgia).  My babies never go outdoors (though if I had a fenced yard I'd reconsider it - at least while I was outside with them).

[savage727]

Wow what great stories and photos.  You all are to be commended!     Our cat is an indoor cat except when she goes out on an "H" harness and leash for walks with us in our garden and yard.  Where I live in the mountains of New Hampshire we have to watch out for grey wolfs, coyotes, lynx, fisher cats, weasels, bobcats, and great horned owls.  All of those animals have preyed upon local cats in my area to the sad misfortune of their owners. 

[grecopa]

I just found 7 kittens behind our shed in the back yard.    All are feral except the runt.  What should I do?  They look about 6 weeks old and I know that the humane society won't adopt out kittens under 8 weeks.  Should I take the runt and turn it in later?  I'm afraid it will turn wild if I don't, but I'm not sure I can keep it for 2 weeks.  We have a dog and I would have to keep the kitten on the screen porch.    Should I have animal control come and trap the others?  We're having a huge problem with wild cats this year.  I took the dog out last night at about 11 pm and saw 5 adults in the street.  I just don't think we can have any more.  I found cat poop in the kids playhouse outside. 

[Bitsy]

Oh, Kelly! I sympathize with you...I cannot go into a pet store without wanting to adopt the whole store (I have a serious problem when it comes to animals--I want to keep all that I find). 

I know that our Veterinarian will actually take in strays, keep them, and find them new, loving homes with her clients, usually focussing on those who have recently lost a pet.  Sometimes she will even seek elderly individuals who may want and need companionship (usually working with a non-profit organization specializing in bringing strays or abandoned animals with elderly), having just lost a loved one or who may not have any other family. 

You could possibly check with your local vets to see if they run any programs like ours. What about your neighbors? Any cat lovers that may be in need of a new pet or someone who could take them in at least for awhile?

Oh, those precious little ones! I wish I lived there--I'd take them in an instant!  :'(

[tialessa]

Check if your local shelter is a no-kill shelter.  If so, I'd verify that the county animal control sends animals to THAT SHELTER ONLY, and call animal control about the cat population.  If they can't handle feral cats (the kittens CAN be socialized with some time & attention) call around/search around via the net and find a rescue group that might be able to help...  Good luck!!!

[grecopa]

It looks like the mother cat has moved the kittens.  I haven't seen them since Tuesday morning.  I'm glad I don't have to decide what to do with them, but it's not like I'm really happy about any of it.   The probem has moved but not been resolved.  Eventually animal control will have to be called to round up all the feral cats in our niegborhood.  It's amazing how fast all of this happened!  We had a few stray kittens last year, now they're grown and having litters all over the place.  They all seem to meet in the road at about 11:00 pm.