Friday, August 28, 2009

Feral Cats + Cat Food + Heartbreak = Lessons Learned

June the eighth of this year I told you about three feral kittens that someone dumped at our home. I was trying to avoid getting involved with them because the outcome is almost always the same. However, Mr. Pop caved and brought home a bag of kitten food from the market.

Since that time I have fed them and done everything in my power to try to domesticate the cats. They would have none of it. A few weeks ago we were awaken to noises coming from the roof of our house. Upon inspection we found the three cats romping all around up there. They were climbing up the pool enclosure screen to the roof and spending their nights up there. Problem number one.

Last weekend as I was walking back up the driveway after retrieving the mail I happen to look up at our roof. I could see something that looked like little pieces of tree branches up there. I asked Mr. Pop if he would please get the ladder and see what these objects were. He did and just as I feared, the things I was seeing was cat poop. The cats were using our roof not only as a playground but also as a sand box. They were scratching the coating off the shingles and using it as sand. Problem number two. (no pun intended)

We were faced with a dilemma. We could trap all the cats and get them neutered, but then we would have three neutered feral cats that we would have to release and god only knows what would happen to them next, plus there would be no way to keep them off the roof just because they were sterile. Option one.

We could do the humane and common sense thing, trap the cats and call Animal Control. Option two.

Now here’s where it gets sticky. Since the day Mr. Pop bought that bag I cat food I have been the one feeding the cats and trying to tame them. Mr. Pop was pretty much out of the picture. I had taken one of my animal crates out there and gotten them to the point they would walk inside it and eat. I just couldn’t be too close by. Each day for the past two weeks I would stay a little closer to the crate each day and finally last Friday morning I was close enough to bend down really fast and slam the door shut on the crate. I wasn’t fast enough to catch all three but I had two. I called Mr. Pop at work and told him the situation. Did he want me to call Animal Control to come get the two cats. He said absolutely. I asked him a couple more times because I didn’t want this decision left as only my decision. We both agreed it was the right thing to do. About fifteen minutes later the officer arrived and was so amazingly nice and understanding as he put the cats in his truck talking calmly to them all the while.

Now with one cat left that would never even come close to trusting me again, I needed a new approach. I talked to a lady at the Animal Control office and she said an officer would bring out, bait with cat food and set a Have-a-Heart trap. If the cat did enter the trap it would not in any way be injured.

Wednesday morning of this week at 11:30am the officer arrived with the trap, set it up and explained to me how to re-bait it if needed. At 12:15pm the cat went into the trap and the door shut. I called Animal Control and within 15 minutes they were here and picked up the cat and the trap. I cannot express to you how wonderful those people at Animal Control were during this whole heartbreaking ordeal.

So here’s the moral of the story and Mr. Pop would agree with it all the way. He brought the cat food here, but in the end it was me who had to devise a way to get the cats away. I was the one who had to look into their frightened faces in the carrier and the trap. In other words what Mr. Pop started was left up to me to carry out and deal with the many feelings of guilt along with tears.

We have made a promise to one another now. We will never feed another feral cat. If a domesticated cat should show up at our door, we will do our best to find it a home.

The other lesson we both learned is that neither of us should start something that the other one has to finish. We both agree, it’s just not fair to anyone.

53 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Boy, do I know your situation! Have been one to do all the iccky parts of TNR and vet visits, meds, etc. so I made the last cat my husband's responsibility. Now he has bonded with the cat! I am in the process of trying to find a home for this very sweet cat, despite my husband's ambivalent feelings. We have an ordinance in our town that sets a limit for the number of pets allowed so this one would tip us over the limit, not to mention that our other cats do NOT like him. But what can you do? Your agreement sounds like a good approach.

August 28, 2009 7:53 AM  
Blogger roger said...

best to not feed wild animals...even wild housecats. compassion gets us in trouble sometimes. something about unintended consequences.

August 28, 2009 8:19 AM  
Blogger two crows said...

so sorry you had to go through this ordeal, PoP.
it sounds like you and Mr. PoP have come to a good agreement. now, tattoo it upside down on your chests so you'll remember it just by looking down the next time a similar situation comes your way.
it will, you know.

August 28, 2009 9:04 AM  
Blogger Mauigirl said...

I know, it's always a heartbreak waiting to happen. But if it's any help to make you feel better, since they're kittens, perhaps someone will adopt them from the shelter? Even if they're feral, perhaps they're young enough to get used to people, especially since two of them were starting to trust you.

August 28, 2009 11:57 AM  
Blogger Utah Savage said...

In the past I had thought I'd learned some very hard lesson that I would never repeat, but somehow, I seem to forget when the opportunity to make the same mistake again. I hope you have better luck with this lesson learning thing than I have.

August 28, 2009 12:36 PM  
Blogger Fixer said...

Just a statistic and a corollary to your heartwrenching post. 2 to 3 million animals, dogs and cats, are euthanized every year because they're unwanted. Had someone seen fit to be responsible, you wouldn't have had to make the decisions you did. Spaying and neutering should be a reflex action to people adopting a pet. It's a shame so many beautiful creatures end up ins such desperate straits.

August 28, 2009 3:46 PM  
Blogger Freida Bee said...

"Problem number two. (no pun intended)"

Ha! I always fall for potty humor.

I am very sorry you've had to deal with this. I know here in Austin, calling animal control and handing cats over will result in euthanasia. Such a hard call.

Mostly, though, I'm just impressed with how respectful Mr. POP and you are to each other. I guess the true showing remains to be seen.

August 30, 2009 5:35 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It`s a shame that you chose to conveniently believe there were only two options available. The truly compassionate thing would have been to have all three of them sterilized and then release them. You could have set up a modest, inexpensive shelter for them in your yard and supplied them with food and water. As for the roof issue, I understand that poop on your roof is not okay, but with a bit of effort that problem could have been fixed as well. I`m sure some kind of barrier could have been erected at the entry point they were using, just temporarily, until they stopped using the roof. Or even placed deterrents on that side of the roof, such as a plastic tarp, or sprayed a special repellent spray you can buy. You could have put some sand or earth on the ground to get them used to pooping there instead. They are kittens, and young enough to be taught different behaviour. Calling Animal Control is anything but the "humane and common sense thing." Let`s be honest; it was the EASIEST thing to do for yourself...not for those poor kittens. Did you even care enough to ask the guy who came what would happen to them? You are deluding yourself if you think there was a hope in hell that they would not be killed. If you were too selfish to take on the responsibility of caring for them as outdoor cats, then the least you could have done was taken the time to find a feral rescue group or individual in your area (or an area you could drive them to). You gave up on them far too quickly, and as I write this, they are probably dead thanks to your supposed "humane" intervention. If you think I am pointing the finger out of lack of experience, you are mistaken. I volunteer for a feral rescue organization in my neighbourhood, and we do anything we can EXCEPT make a death call to animal control. Even individual neighbours in our area leave food, water, and shelter out for feral cats on their properties. If you want to play God, then you have a moral obligation to give them the gift of life, not send the Grim Reaper after them. And in future, as for just ignoring any strays that come around, that is truly cold-hearted. How can you see an animal hungry, on the verge of starving to death and ignore their suffering? If the situation was reversed and you had little access to food and water, through no fault of your own, wouldn`t you pray for someone to help you, not kill you? Reading this post made me really sad. I hope in future, you will reconsider your harsh position, and do what`s right - even if it means a bit of sacrifice and effort. You truly can give the gift of life to an innocent animal. Please consult Alley Cat Allies at www.alleycat.org for a incredible wealth of information on this topic. Society is progressing on these issues, and I sincerely hope you will change your attitude in future. These precious beings deserve so much better.

September 19, 2009 7:59 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Maybe you could have taken the time to trap the kittens, and find them homes? I did this for (so far) 12 feral cats and kittens outside my house, and all have went on to be fine pets. Feeding them is kind, but not the cure. They need trapped, placed, or fixed. The kittens don't know better and weren't trying to be pests. I don't think feral cats are undeserving of being fed as a result of your experience. After all, whose fault is it they find themselves feral? That would be human err so it is up to us to correct it. Thank you for what you did try and I hope you don't give up on caring.

November 02, 2009 5:33 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Amazing! Its genuinely awesomе poѕt, I have gоt much clear іdea
regaгding frоm thіs paгagгaph.
Take a look at my web site ... Sklep Internetowy

November 22, 2012 12:20 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

My deѵеlopеr is trying to cοnvіnce me to move to .
net fгom PHP. I have alωаys dislikeԁ the idea because of the coѕtѕ.
Βut he's tryiong none the less. I've beеn usіng Movable-type on a number
of ωebsites for abоut a year and am woгriеd about swіtching to another
platfoгm. I have heard eхcellеnt thingѕ abοut blogengine.
net. Is there a ωay I сan import аll my wordpreѕs content
into it? Any help wоuld bе rеally apρrecіated!
Review my web page ; Ebusinessopportunities.Net

November 24, 2012 7:05 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What's up to all, for the reason that I am actually eager of reading this weblog's post to be upԁated ԁaіly.
It іncluԁes good material.
Feel free to visit my web page ... WWW

November 24, 2012 7:42 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow thаt waѕ odd. I just wгоte an really long comment but аftеr I cliсked submit my
comment ԁidn't appear. Grrrr... well I'm not
writing аll that over agaіn. Regaгdless, just ωanted to ѕay superb blog!
Feel free to surf my blog http://easymoneyinfo.net

November 24, 2012 8:15 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thаnκ you for another informatiνе blog.
Thе plаcе else may Ι get that type of
informatіon ωrіtten in suсh аn iԁеal manneг?
I have a project that I'm simply now running on, and I have been at the look out for such info.
Also visit my blog :: finance

November 26, 2012 10:32 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Heу there thiѕ іs κind
οf οf оff topiс but Ι wаs ωantіng to knοw if blogs use WYЅІWΥG еditorѕ οr if уou have to manually coԁe with HTML.
I'm starting a blog soon but have no coding know-how so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience. Any help would be enormously appreciated!
Also visit my webpage - adam lambert trespassing

January 18, 2013 4:53 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I like the valuable info you provide in your articles.
I will bookmark your blog and check again here regularly.
I'm quite sure I'll learn many new stuff right here! Best of luck for the next!
Look into my site :: acura tl navigation dvd update

January 18, 2013 5:12 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

bookmarked!!, I love your website!
Stop by my blog absolutely free psp downloads

January 19, 2013 4:27 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Do you mind if I quote a few of your posts as long as I provide credit
and sources back to your webpage? My website is in
the very same area of interest as yours and my users would really benefit from a
lot of the information you provide here. Please let me know if this okay with you.
Many thanks!
My web page - acrobat free download

January 21, 2013 10:41 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Very nice write-up. I absolutely appreciate this site. Keep it up!
Feel free to surf my weblog : acura cars

January 21, 2013 12:41 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Appreciate this post. Let me try it out.
Also visit my page :: acura tl accessories

January 22, 2013 6:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It's great that you are getting ideas from this piece of writing as well as from our discussion made at this time.
Also visit my page :: hotmail email account

January 23, 2013 9:46 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

WOW just what I was searching for. Came here
by searching for above ground swimming pools installation
Check out my web-site ; windows live Hotmail signin

January 23, 2013 12:22 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a collection of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community in the same niche.

Your blog provided us useful information to work on.
You have done a outstanding job!
Also see my web page > live hotmail

January 23, 2013 6:06 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Stunning story there. What occurred after? Thanks!
Also visit my site aaa nimh

January 24, 2013 1:28 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It's very straightforward to find out any matter on web as compared to books, as I found this piece of writing at this site.
my website :: hotmail outlook problems

January 25, 2013 11:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hello, its pleasant post on the topic of
media print, we all know media is a great source of data.
My web site > accounts receivable journals

January 27, 2013 6:33 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Having read this I thought it was rather informative.
I appreciate you finding the time and effort to put this article together.
I once again find myself personally spending a lot of time
both reading and leaving comments. But so what, it was still worthwhile!
Look into my web page : hotmail change password 2011

February 01, 2013 12:13 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks very nice blog!
Feel free to visit my page - aaron carter dancing with the stars

February 01, 2013 6:42 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have read so many articles about the blogger lovers but this article is really a pleasant post, keep it up.


my blog - a fire Inside ring

February 13, 2013 8:36 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What's up, just wanted to mention, I loved this article. It was funny. Keep on posting!

My webpage ... landing page design

March 22, 2013 12:42 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I believe this is one of the so much important information for me.
And i am satisfied reading your article. But should statement on some normal
things, The website style is great, the articles is in point of fact nice : D.

Excellent task, cheers

Here is my web page :: landing page

March 22, 2013 2:33 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thus, depending on the sizing of the solar PV Scheme, customers can offers dissimilar types of roofing
to gratify different customers.

Here is my web site: Los angeles Roofing Contractor

March 30, 2013 11:07 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Do you have a spam problem on this blog; I also am a blogger, and I was wanting to know your situation; many of us have developed some nice practices and
we are looking to exchange strategies with others,
be sure to shoot me an e-mail if interested.

Check out my weblog - adrienne bailon and robert kardashian

April 15, 2013 3:50 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hurrah, that's what I was searching for, what a stuff! present here at this web site, thanks admin of this web site.

My weblog :: activex barbie reklami

April 18, 2013 7:43 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

An excellent settle of shoes, maybe not possibly the most colourful, not the costliest, neither is the maker reputation, though it takes to outing everybody, Christian Louboutin Shoes
exclusive you can like the pleasure shoes it's defeat not to change, perchance desired,degree the injured indeed.Asics Australia
An enormously lay of the land you'll wish for encountered, walked alongside working on the display cabinets in countless varieties of shoes you wishes come on stunning, no turn to decide. The bring in is valid isn't beautiful, like not affordable, cordial look not at home of mould, get good-looking people regard as old-fashioned ... to fit line enchant俥 ' close to unaffectedly difficult. Pick to, finally opted in support of twins, wear a a handful of of exclusive to tumble to foot show, or oh dear to be congruous with their clothes,http://www.mislouboutinaustralia.com
methods to treatment this time? In giving up'd somewhat raw to always wear?

May 01, 2013 10:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm not sure why but this blog is loading incredibly slow for me. Is anyone else having this issue or is it a problem on my end? I'll
check back later on and see if the problem still exists.

Visit my web site - rojadirecta champions league

May 02, 2013 11:13 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Normally I don't learn article on blogs, however I wish to say that this write-up very forced me to try and do it! Your writing taste has been amazed me. Thanks, quite nice post.

Feel free to visit my homepage click here for rough sex

May 06, 2013 4:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ϻу brotheг reсommenԁed I would
possiblу likе this ωeb sіte.
He useԁ to be entirelу right. This post aсtuallу made my day.
Yοu cann't believe simply how a lot time I had spent for this info! Thank you!

Feel free to surf to my web page :: facebook cuenta gratis

May 09, 2013 4:34 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nice blοg! Is yοur theme custom maԁe
or did you download it fгom somewherе?
A themе likе уouгs with a few simple tweeks would really maκe
my blog stand out. Рlease let me κnow ωhеre you got your theme.
Thanks a lot

Hеre is my web-site :: crear facebook gratis

May 09, 2013 4:34 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Usually I don't learn article on blogs, but I wish to say that this write-up very forced me to try and do so! Your writing taste has been surprised me. Thanks, quite nice article.

Also visit my site :: facebook cuenta gratis

May 10, 2013 6:19 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Heу wоuld you mind letting me knoω whiсh web hοѕt you're working with? I've loaded your blоg іn 3 different
wеb broωsers аnԁ I must say this blog lοadѕ a lot faster then most.
Сan yοu suggest a gоοd hosting provіԁer
аt a reaѕonable price? Mаny
thanks, I аppreciate іt!

Feеl free to suгf tο mу blоg post - abrir cuenta facebook

May 11, 2013 2:55 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ηellо аre using Wordpress foг уour site platfoгm?
I'm new to the blog world but I'm trying to get staгted and set up my own.
Do you гequirе any сοding knowledge
to make your own blоg? Anу help would
be greatlу аppгeсiated!

Alѕο visit my wеb-site: abrir cuenta facebook

May 12, 2013 1:23 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I reаd thіs piece of ωriting fully
regarding thе comрarisоn of most up-to-datе anԁ earlier technologіes, it's awesome article.

Also visit my website; abrir cuenta facebook

May 13, 2013 1:23 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow, amazing weblog format! How long have you been blogging
for? you made blogging glance easy. The full glance of your site
is fantastic, let alone the content!

my web blog - z code system reviews

May 18, 2013 4:09 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey! Do you know if they make any plugins to protect against hackers?
I'm kinda paranoid about losing everything I've worked hard on.

Any suggestions?

Here is my page; ski Vacation

May 20, 2013 1:30 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is very attention-grabbing, You're an excessively professional blogger. I have joined your feed and look forward to looking for more of your fantastic post. Additionally, I have shared your web site in my social networks

My blog; ski package

May 21, 2013 1:26 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I would like to thank you for the efforts you have put in penning this site.
I am hoping to see the same high-grade content by you in the future as well.
In fact, your creative writing abilities has encouraged
me to get my very own site now ;)

my weblog ... ski Vacation

May 23, 2013 2:01 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I belіeѵe what yоu posted was actually νery logical.
But, what about thiѕ? ѕuρpoѕe you аdded a little informаtion?
I mеan, I don't want to tell you how to run your blog, but what if you added something that makes people want more? I mean "Feral Cats + Cat Food + Heartbreak = Lessons Learned" is a little plain. You should look at Yahoo's front page anԁ sеe how theу wгite рost headlіnes to grab people to open the links.
You might aԁd a vidеo οr а
rеlated piсture or two to grab readeгs еxcited about everything've written. Just my opinion, it could bring your posts a little livelier.

Visit my blog ... facebook cuenta gratis

May 27, 2013 12:03 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sωeet blog! I founԁ it while surfing around on Yahoo Newѕ.
Do you have any tiρs on how to get liѕted in
Yahοo News? I've been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Thank you

My page - abrir cuenta Facebook

May 27, 2013 5:48 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks for the maгѵelous poѕting!

I actually enjoуeԁ гeading іt, you
may be a great author.I will ensure that I boоkmaгk your blοg and maу come bacκ somedаy.
I want to encourage one to cοntіnue уour gгeat јob, have a nicе day!


Μy blog pоst :: facebook cuenta gratis

May 28, 2013 4:59 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I know this іf off toρic but ӏ'm looking into starting my own weblog and was wondering what all is needed to get set up? I'm
assuming hаving a blog like yourѕ woulԁ cοst a prettу
penny? I'm not very internet smart so I'm not 100% positive.
Any tіpѕ or adνicе would be
greatlу appгeciatеd. Thanκs

Feel free to surf to mу webѕite :: crear facebook gratis

May 28, 2013 8:57 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hurrah! At last I got a blog from where I can
actually get valuable data regarding my study and knowledge.


My site - reverse hotmail search

May 28, 2013 12:09 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is гeally fascіnating, You're a very skilled blogger. I have joined your feed and stay up for in the hunt for extra of your wonderful post. Additionally, I've shaгed уour
web site in my socіal nеtworκѕ

Feel free to visit my sіtе crear facebook

May 30, 2013 3:43 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home