Need help re: feral cats.

[dgibby]

My niece has been involved in Trap/Neuter/Spay/Release. Unfortunately, the "release" part is becoming more and more difficult. She has relocated approximately 60 to a farm, but is going to have to relocate them again due to circumstances beyond her control.

In addition, some were small kittens that she nursed back to health and are now tame, so she can't release them into the wild, but the healthy ones are being sent to various stores, like Petsmart, where they are placed for adoption.

Long story short, she has way more cats than she can care for, and things have gotten out of hand. She is doing this with the help of one friend, and is not a non-profit.


Is there anywhere she can get help relocating these cats? She's working with the local spca and friends of Assisi, but they can only do so much, and she is drowning in cats.

Any suggestions/info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[freeplessinseattle]

1. Kudos to your neice!

That is so wonderful what she is doing, and I know it can be overwhelming, it sure sounds like she has her hands full with some challenges! That must be frustrating to want to help but can only do so much...if she maybe connect with others like her that may be out there and have connections, maybe visit or call as many independent shelters and pet stores to see if they have any ideas.

In Seattle at least there seems to be an underground network of connected and disjointed feral cat trappers and caretakers, I knew they existed but didn't really know how to connect when I needed to rehome a semi feral cat-so I ended up putting an ad on Petfinder and Craigslist explaining the situation (I wanted someone who could tame her down and adopt her out), feeling hesitant but I needed to do something.

Luckily ended up connecting with a really exceptional lady who was experienced at taming and adopting out cats, I spent time at her set up visiting "my" cat and it was obvious she took great care of the animals and knew what she was doing. She used to volunteer at a shelter and followed their protocol for adoptions, visiting the potential home first, lots of screening and paperwork. I may have just lucked out, but she was just doing this on the down low and I wouldn't have known about her at all if I hadn't placed an ad and it was so cold outside she was compelled to respond. Maybe worth a shot, and if your niece is a cat person she probably has good intuition:)

Also might try contacting www.alleycat.org to see if they know of any contacts in the area.


Good luck to your niece and all the kitties!

[dgibby]

6. Thanks for the suggestions and link.

I'll check it out. Hadn't thought of Craigs list or Pet Finder. Duh!

[hamsterjill]

17. I second Alley Cat Allies...and

There is a feral cat group on the Yahoo discussion boards. She might join that group and see if there are any other members in her vicinity, and see if they know of resources that she's not aware of.

I wish her the best! And I commend her efforts!!!

[stuntcat]

2. oh wow, good luck!

Wow, what an angel! I wish I knew how to help, I can just wish her luck. It is good to do what they just said there^ contact the Alley Cat group for advice!

Year before last a local group helped me with two little gray ferals in my neighborhood, and now I've brought them in! One is still scared, we have a wild animal in the house lol But we live in such a busy neighborhood, bringing her in is better than worrying about her.

Good luck to your niece!!! I hope someone from one of those feral cat groups can help.

[dgibby]

7. Thanks!

She could definitely use the good luck! I'm just waiting for her to cough up a hairball! LOL!

[Lorien]

3. Has she done a Petfinder search to contact ALL the no kill shelters in her area? nt

[dgibby]

8. I don't think so, but I'll check them out for her.

Poor thing. She works full time as a social worker and does this in her "spare" time. I'll do the research for her. We've got to get those kittehs out of there before she ends up on tv like those crazy cat ladies!

[BrklynLiberal]

4. Is there a local group of Alley Cat Alllies?

[dgibby]

9. She's never mentioned them, but I'll check. Thanks! n/t

[applegrove]

5. Make up flyers with pictures of them. Post the flyers at grocery stores and vets offices.

I found a home for a tame rescued cat that I had fixed this way.

[dgibby]

10. Good idea! Thanks! n/t

[hyphenate]

11. One of the majot charitable groups that should be able to help her

is Alley Cat Allies. Their HQ is in either Maryland or D.C., and their web address is http://www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=379

That is to their resources page. They are one of my favorite charities, because they're quite knowledgeable about the the TNR program, and about helping out those who like your niece are doing it.



After reading some of the other posts, it's good to see others who are aware of Alley Cat Allies. They are well known for their work in this area.

[kimi]

12. Alley Cat Allies is FANTASTIC!!

I contacted them several years ago because I had a feral cat I was feeding and I was concerned about him. He was wild, fighting with other cats in the area, raccoons, whatever. He'd even bitten me, broke the skin, and at that point, I got in touch with ACA. They contacted me within the hour, literally, very concerned that I may have contracted a disease from this guy.

Well, I hadn't, but the concern I received was heartwarming. They put me in touch with a woman in the area who did TNR, and eventually we did trap the offending guy, and he now resides in my home - a big fat happy tuxedo kitty known as "The Bearcat". He's never laid paw or tooth on me since his trapping and neutering, which is a whole story in itself.

This is an organization which truly cares, and I urge you to get in touch with them, they will do their level best for your niece's situation.

Best of luck. Your niece sounds like a lovely woman. She has a good heart. It must run in the family. :)

[dgibby]

14. Thanks!

What a great story! So glad you and Bearcat found each other!

[dgibby]

13. Thanks! I just signed up! n/t

[rbnyc]

15. Pass through grants

She could apply for funding if a not-for-profit will partner with her so she can apply under their 501(c)3. Perhaps funding can help her with outreach or maybe even building a no-kill shelter. If she already has a good relationship with 2 not-for-profits, this is an easy way they can help.

If this is something she's like to explore, you can send me a message and I can provide some guidance. I'm a not-for-profit fundraising executive.

[dgibby]

16. Thanks so very much!

Check your inbox. PM sent. Thanks again!

[BlueIris]

18. I'm currently saddled with five ferals, so no can help.

But I wish her the best of luck.

[dgibby]

19. Thanks for taking care of those furbabies.

I'm feeding 4 ferals and their friend,Pogo the possum. A friend is buying my house and part of the deal is that he'll continue to feed them after I move back to Va.

[Warpy]

20. Adult feral cats should ideally be released where they were trapped

Spaying and neutering prevents multiple litters of kittens being born into miserable lives and the unadoptable adult cats do their job of keeping vermin down. Cats are highly territorial animals, and likely the ones released as barn cats have left in favor of their former territories. They will travel many miles to get to those territories.

She might need to slow her program down if she's getting more cats than she can handle. She's doing great work, but she can do only what she can do. She can't do it all.

Good for her for taming feral kittens down. The window for doing that is pretty small.

[dgibby]

21. All 60 of the barn cats are still at the barn.

Those are the ones she has to move. Some of them were ferals who were rescued from a hoarder, who had almost 80 dogs, and innumerable cats. The cats were in another county, which had a kill shelter, and that was one of the reasons he was hoarding them. Sad situation.

She has slowed down,not taking any more cats at present, but she's caring for at least 100 cats, and has saved another 200+. I honestly don't know how she's managed. I'd have dropped in my tracks if I had to do it!