Yesterday I got a
phone call from a fellow that I had taken in cats for. He said that 2
new kittens had shown up at his place, that needed to be trapped and
fixed. He thinks that the cats must be coming from one of two
neighbors houses. That these folks have a puppy mill and that he has
had problems with them in the past. He also mentioned that a
boyfriend of the one gal had borrowed some traps from the Coalition
and had taken in some cats for spay/neuter. It sounds like a case
where someone started a TNR job and didn't complete it. Recently I
got involved in another similar situation, where the colony
caregivers started the job catching a few cats at a time, until they
got down to the last few cats, then I got called in to finish up the
job. Now it is quite a challenge to catch 1 or 2 cats out of+/- 30
cats that have watched all the others get caught, and are trap wary.
I wouldn't mind spending hours catching the last 2 cats if I had
gotten paid to catch the previous 28. But to spend hours and hours
for one cat...not going to happen. (I say that, but what did I do but
spend hours catching the main mama cat). My advice to future trappers
if you have a big colony like that, set it up so that you are able to
trap the majority of the cats in one go, then while those cats are
having surgery and recovering, go ahead and catch the remaining cats.
Get the job done then move on to the next job. Catch all the cats.
TNR fails when you leave behind a female or that male cat who by some
miracle has kittens the next spring. Also, follow up several months
later with the colony caregiver to see if you missed any cats or if
any new ones have shown up. You can then teach them how to target
trap, using a plastic water bottle to hold the trap door open and a
string to pull when the cat you want, goes into the trap. Or use a
drop trap and let them sit there for hours while you are out trapping
another colony.
OK, back to the
story, having gotten the addresses I decided to take a ride out there
and check out the situation. It was a pretty day for a drive, sunny
and cool. I have had good luck in the past when I have gone knocking
on doors, most people welcome the offer of help. The first house was
a bit daunting with a big sign on the door announcing that
trespassers would be shot. There were plenty of chickens, cats and
dogs. I was greeted by a big friendly lab. I thought I heard someone
inside but nobody answered the door, and I didn't want to press my
luck. I have a tendency to knock on a door then step back and try to
make myself look small and non threatening. At the second house an
older lady was just coming out of the door. I explained I was with
the Blanco County Cat Coalition and someone had mentioned that she
may need help getting some cats fixed, she wanted to know who, I told
her that a neighbor had had 2 kittens show up on his property and had
thought maybe that they came from over here. She said that she would
have to ask her son about it. She then went inside, while she was
inside I saw at least ten cats who scattered when I looked over the
porch rail, at least half were calico or torty's (meaning females).
She came out and told me her son had said no, and that they only have
one litter of kittens a year, except last year they had 2 litters but
only 2 kittens survived because a neighbor's dog had come by and
killed the other kittens. Well what could I say, except that I would
leave my phone number in case they changed their minds. Also that if
they did get the cats fixed and started running low on cats I would
be happy to bring them more. She walked with me out to the car and
while I writing down my phone number, out of the house comes her son.
I was then told in no uncertain terms what he thought of people that
didn’t mind their own damn business. And that on his own property
he can have as many or as few animals as he pleased. I had to agree,
but felt it necessary to point out it becomes other peoples business
when his animals start showing up on other peoples property. He said
then those people should shoot those animals, that is what he does.
After he went back in, his Mom confided in me that his bark is worse
than his bite, and that he doesn't even like to give animals shots,
because he doesn't like to hurt them. I replied “well he may like
animals but I am not so sure how much he likes people, so I will now
back away slowly and be on my way.” Looking back on the interaction
I can see that these folks were already defensive, that having so
many dogs they have been questioned in the past about how they take
care of them. The shame is that the cats will be left as is to
continue breeding, and dying.
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