Might be trapping feral cats

[Booktigger]

I work in what could be classed as a slightly rural area. We are a mile off the main road, through lots of fields, and there are farms past us. I found out a few weeks ago that our security guard is feeding some cats, I have been told 4, but not seen him since to confirm. I left a note for him saying that if they started becoming ill or pregnant to let me know and I would see what I could do. I got to work this morning to find a note saying that he thinks the female is pregnant, and that she keeps on being chased by two tom cats (so if she isn't, she soon will be) - I didn't get chance to see him tonight, so don't know how he knows what sex they are, I know one of them (I am presuming the female, i just hope there is only one) is fairly friendly, he has managed to get her to tolerate being approached, stroked and picked up. I have spoken to the woman I foster for (hence not posting earlier), and she wants me to see if CP can help with vouchers due to them being feral first - have done that, and have got to ring someone else tomorrow to see if any financial help is available. CP can't help with manpower to trap though, but it does appear that they are fed every day, and go to the security guard to be fed, so might not be too hard to trap, one of the cats I saw was very friendly. Any tips would be welcome.

[borderdawn]

I have trapped ferals without problems, you should be fine. If the Cats can be handles and picked up, they certainly arent feral, maybe they could be neutered and rehomed?
Dawn.

[smudgley]

I have trapped ferals & it is a lot easier than I ever imagined it would be.
I agree with Dawn, if they will come to you & you have picked one up - they are not feral cats.
I'm sure CP will help & pay for them to be neutered.
If they are feral - I would neuter & put them back (make sure the vets tips one of their ears if you do that) ;)
Otherwise if they are friendly - see if you can rehome them.

Another tip - trapping - I use Tuna - works a treat & we always stay with the trap until they are caught - ie we don't leave a set trap & go back later.

[Booktigger]

WEll, they could have been dumped pets - here is a pick of where I work - the white blob at the top is the main road, the white blob near the bottom is my offices - there are at least 3 farms and a trout farm further on. I think our security guard has been building their trust up - I have seen two (poss males with the facial shape) this week and both scarpered. I think I might do the trapping myself, and assess what they are like in a home the night before the op and the recover time, the security guard thinks the female could be rehomed, but obv that depends on what they are like in a house - if I leave it to CP, they might just release without bothering to find out if they can be tamed due to space.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b45/booktigger/Picture001.jpg

[yola]

BT - sounds like you have a lovely, kind security guard there who's taking care of these cats. I've no experience with trapping ferals, but have read about others that do it, and even if feral, you might find the cats can be socialised.

Good luck with your worthwhile challenge :D

[Booktigger]

Well, have requested a form for CP for the finances, am going to attempt to get the female myself, as I feel that CP wont give her a chance to be socialised. Someone else has said not to mess if they are looked after and happy, but I don't know if that is best - at the moment she is being chased by the two toms and they are spraying in the areas she has been - am I right in assuming that means she is unspayed? Or could it be that they dont like her?

[Booktigger]

Things have all changed now - female isn't feral (unless ferals now let you stroke them, pick them up, check their sex and then come back and try and stand on their legs to touch you for attention once you have put them down!!). The rescue I foster for are willing to let me foster her, she is so affectionate and gets chased by the males, so want to get her out of the situation, and may be able to do it next week (fortunately the woman who gives me a lift home is very understanding, think she has just given up passing comment on the number of cats I have!!), even though I should be waiting till the home imps are done - just concerned that if she is unneutered (she may have been there a year without any apparent kittens) waiting a month isn't good. As for the males, the rescue have just told me she does have a trap, and when her back is better, she will be able to help me set it up. Need to clear that by the security guard next week. So, just waiting for the form and geting the finances from CP, so things are looking promising. They are only fed by one security guard rather than both though.

[Booktigger]

have gone soft - couldn't bear to think about her being out in this weather, so I rang the security guard last night and am meeting him tonight to pick her up and bring her here. then will make a vet app for Tues for her, I know she will at least need worming. Am also going to take some dry food with me and ask him to start putting some down for the males in preparation for us trapping.
One more bit of advice please - these cats apparently shelter under the caravan. I don't know if it is open on all sides (I have a suspicion that the caravan is on bricks rather than wheels, so might provide some shelter). Is there anything I can provide to give them some more warmth that wont get wet and nasty if rain can get under?

[smudgley]

I'm sure they will be warm & snug. They tend to find really cosy spots to sleep. I have had lots of litters of kittens come to me that have been born outside & have lived outside until someone spotted them. If newborn babies can survive in the cold & wet weather, then adult cats who are used to the outdoor life should be fine. ;)
Do keep us posted & let us know how you get on tomorrow night.

[Booktigger]

I hope so. I know she has lived outside all this time, and has been out in similar weather, but I know about her now - same with the two males that will prob be put back, although that depends on how they are when they are trapped. Newborn kittens tend to struggle to survive outside though don't they? I am hoping this female is neutered, which would explain why there has been no kittens - or that the males are neutered.

[smudgley]

I hope so. I know she has lived outside all this time, and has been out in similar weather, but I know about her now - same with the two males that will prob be put back, although that depends on how they are when they are trapped. Newborn kittens tend to struggle to survive outside though don't they? I am hoping this female is neutered, which would explain why there has been no kittens - or that the males are neutered.

Well you would think newborns would struggle to survive, but they always survive. (well I'm sure some die, but all the ones I've come across have been fine) I had a litter of 4 that were 5 weeks old came to me in December. How they survived in that cold & wet weather :shock: . But they did & they usually do. I think their mom just ensured they were warm & cosy & well cared for.
I think you are doing the right thing to trap & neuter her, it sounds like she is friendly, so every chance she could be rehomed. Then you'll have to see how the boys respond to you. If they are friendly - they too may be able to be homed. But remember if you are going to put them back - ask the vet to tip their ears so that if any other rescue people spot them in the future they will know they have been neutered.;) (even for the boys, although you can see they've been done, if they are not easy to catch, it means people can see clearly without having to trap them that they are neutered)

[Booktigger]

I am hoping she tolerates living in a house - if not, once I have established whether she is neutered, will I have to put her back? I will also need some help with names please - I have only had two unnamed cats, and my neighbour picked both. I am so unimaginative though that she would end up being called Sooty with being pure black!! I hope that the rescue will help with the trapping and then let me see how they are, we do have limited space though, and kitten season is nearly here. I will make sure their ears are tipped - doubt any other rescue people would come near, but just to be on the safe side.

[Booktigger]

Well, she is here. She was very easy to catch and get in the carrier - thought we were going to have to leave the carrier in the car, coax her in the caravan and then get her in, but she allowed herself to be picked up and put in. She was wild when she was first seen though, so not sure about her background. Will make a vets app this week to see how old they think etc.
I have learnt a very valuable lesson though - don't put the opening of a carrier facing you when you don't know the cat - my arm and hand aren't too bad as I had put two pairs of gloves on and two jackets on, but I only had one pair of trousers on, so have some lovely puncture marks on my knee. Fortunately I am used to scratches, so have antiseptic disenfact in, and had a tetanus less than 4 years ago.
Will post pics later, am letting her get used to the room and have her tea first.

[Booktigger]

Pics as promised. She is doing really well, as you can see from teh second pic, nothing like a feral. Still waiting for the form from CP to get the boys sorted though.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b45/booktigger/Standing.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b45/booktigger/lapcat.jpg

She is seeing the vet at 3.50 to get her age guessed, checked for a chip and a general checkover - she does have a bald patch on her belly, and I would be surprised if she doesn't have worms.

[Naomi]

She is very pretty well done you for helping her. Was gonna suggest checking for a microchip.

[Julie84]

Well done you!

She looks lovely! How did the vet's visit go?

[Booktigger]

Thought I had posted - the vet thinks she is 2-2 1/2. No sign of fleas, her teeth are good (one is broken), her bald patch is prob a skin infection, so she is on antibiotics for 5 days, the vet would guess she had been neutered as she is a decent weight (3.79kg), and she has no signs of ever having kittens. She was so affectionate at the vets, she nearly fell off the table. She got a worming tablet too. I got her playing on Wed night, and she knows there are other cats in the house and does want to come and investigate. I do keep fosters isolated for the first 2 weeks though, just in case they have cat flu or anything.