Good news and bad news. Ferrel cat updated from yesterday. ?

Question

The good news is that I found a place to help, with traps, transportation and a place to have them fixed, get shots and microchip ed for $15. each cat. (only for truly farrel cats) though. They are even going to help me trap them, when I'm ready.

The bad news is I can't get it done for a while as I'm on a very limited income and just went through two thousand in vet bills as my dog was diagnosed with K-9 Addison's disease and have to pay $100 a mt. for shots for the rest of his life. I also have two teenage cats myself, that need to be fixed etc. in the coming weeks.

I guess my question is should I just continue to feed them? I won't be able to afford to pay for them for a month or two or maybe longer? I don't want them to become too friendly as they will not fix them unless they are truly Ferrell cats, as it's a trap and release program.

One of them is beautiful she looks like a show cat. I looked it up and she's a Seal Point Balinese, very similar to a Siamese but has long hair. She's cream color with black legs, ears,tail and huge deep blue eyes, about a yr. old. Once she is fixed I'm sure I won't have any trouble taming her and finding her a good home. I'm in Pinellas county in FL if anyone live nears and wants a kitten or cat.

Answer 1

Yes, please try to feed them as long as you can.  Clip coupons, they help a lot.  I trade coupons with friends who have dogs or children so I can keep feeding the ferals in my area.

Feeding them certainly doesn't domesticate them. The TNR organizations just don't want you slipping in your own pets to get some cheap/free care.  I think it's a safe bet that any stray cat in a cage is going to act feral - terrified and angry or just plain terrified.  So don't worry about that.

I've been feeding stray and feral kitties for over a year, a few are friendly and pretty much always have been, most still run for their lives.  They're either tame or they aren't.  Taming ferals is a long and difficult process.  So don't worry about them being tamed by just feeding them.  Just try to get the trapping done asap so there don't end up being even more out there.

Sorry about your sick dog.  good luck!

Answer 2

My Aunt has a lot of Ferrel cats in her neighborhood (out in the country) She has tried to tame them and cant. Be careful. They do let her feed them and play but no house the freak out. I think it is nice that you are concerned about them. We need more people like you. Sorry to hear about your dog having to get shots once a month. Hope he/she feels better soon. The cat you described sounds beautiful.

Answer 3

  I HAVE 4 FERAL CATS I TOOK IN and have had them for years  ages now are   13--10--9--5-- and were all born outside and are all good and loving pets today..i would never trade any of them today 3 are very freindly  and 1  is frightened of strangers..i took some time and also paitents but it can  be done i  also feed about 9 or 10 feral cats outside some are freindly and others are frightened and some have been around for 5 and 6 years..that were dumped by other people and also owners moved of and left them....they do get to know you some  will run but some who are around for  years will sit and wait for you and will not run...my sujestion is feed them and make sure.. they have the food and water untill you are able to do something else  or let them catch them and take them to a shelter that may be able to treat them and find them good loving homes.. you can ask those people who are willing to help you catch them if they know of a place where they can go to  ( hopefully a no kill shelter ) and as i said  may be they will find them a good loving home.........hope i have been of some help to you..........GOOD LUCK  AND GOD BLESS AND I  PRAY THAT SOMEONE WILL FIND IT IN THERE HEART TO FIND THEM GOOD LOVING HOMES   GOD BLESS......