Many of you call and confess that you are feeding a group of stray cats. And, that you most likely have brought on a problem yourself. Here are some thoughts to consider...the problem out there is that there are too many cats and that they need to be fixed (slang) so that they don't populate. Feeding is NOT the problem. If you have taken the first step in feeding them, you must take the second step and start getting them altered so that they can't reproduce. This then limits your colony of cats and makes it manageable. You maintain control over the situation. If you don't, then every female will have the
chance to have
4-5 kittens 3 times a year. That's a lot of cats. Many decide that it is too
expensive to get them fixed, but your time and emotions will suffer when you try
to expend the labor it takes to find those kittens homes. And, if they aren't
caught and handled in time, they will just be new mouths to feed. Make it a rule
to ALWAYS get the kittens and their mom the minute you spot them. Either call us
or go to animal control and get a trap. Never take kittens away from their mom.
We can help you as well. If you are in a neighborhood, then consider yourself
doing a good thing...that you have consolidated the cats by feeding them and
made it easier for the second step in getting them altered. We have a flyer
already made for you to distribute to the neighborhood for you
to distribute to
get donations. It is designed so that both folks that don't like cats and those
that do will want to donate. It states that Cool Cats is working in YOUR
neighborhood to humanely control the feral cat population and that we need
donations. Call us and we can email it to you customized for your neighborhood.
This will help get
funds for the altering. Don't give up and don't try to assume
the responsibility for all the kitties you are feeding. It is the neighborhood's
issue and you are the project lead...look at it that way! Hopefully this gives
you some ideas. Finally, don't forget that the kitties also need water. But it
needs to be changed daily so that you don't end up having a mosquito problem.
