Feeding stray animals....

[DizBelle]

Do you do it?

Why or why not?

 

[glitterkittyy]

Do you do it?

Why or why not?

I do. Because their owners moved away and left them to fend for themselves, and I can't stand the thought of them scrounging for food. I even put up a big dog house in my backyard for them to have shelter from the rain.

I also take them to the vet to get fixed (if they're not) and to get their annual basic shots. I have a soft spot for animals, I guess.

 

[dawson5]

my mom used to feed the stray cats, then she got chiggers. Now she feeds the birds only.

My neighbor feeds the birds. I won't bother with strays because it will attract raccoons. We also had a wolf two years ago. I live in a subdivision and we're right next to a grade school, this wolf was not afraid of people. Scary thought letting the kids play outside, our dogs, etc.

 

[tinkntraining]

I do. Because their owners moved away and left them to fend for themselves, and I can't stand the thought of them scrounging for food. I even put up a big dog house in my backyard for them to have shelter from the rain.

I also take them to the vet to get fixed (if they're not) and to get their annual basic shots. I have a soft spot for animals, I guess.

I just LOVE your kindness, glitterkittyy What some pet owners do sometimes, I just don't get it

Our neighbor has stray cats. Lots of them. He does feed them, but he does nothing about sterilizing them or taking them to the vet when they are obviously sick. As a result, there's a new litter of kittens every few months, and I've found dead kitties more than once in our yard. On the up side, we adopted one of the most sickly kitties from him, and nursed him back to health. He is now a MASSIVE 2-year-old who brings more laughter to my life than I can imagine. If I could, I'd adopt them all!

 

[Dancemom03]

Our neighbor has stray cats. Lots of them. He does feed them, but he does nothing about sterilizing them or taking them to the vet when they are obviously sick. As a result, there's a new litter of kittens every few months

This was our problem. Our small rural neighborhood was home to two of these irresponsible pet owners - one at the end of the road who just fed them each day and ignored the rampant upper respiratory infections that killed and maimed so many of the young kittens - and another who started with three outside cats but kept having litters then moved away and left them all behind.

It was truly heartbreaking to see the cats go up to the patio door and wait all day on the deck where they'd always been fed, when I knew no food would be coming. The new homeowner had a boy who'd go out and kick them, making it even worse. We started putting food on our deck and eventually spayed/neutered, then found homes for all but two of their remaining cats.

With the help and financing of another neighbor, we then turned our attention to catching the adult cats at the end of the road when they'd wander down. After a visit to the humane society to get spayed/neutered/shots, we'd release them again with nobody being the wiser. The teens made it their personal mission to find homes for the kittens. The neighborhood cats all seem to be FIV positive which presents more a challenge but not many people can look both the kid and the kitten in the eye to say no. We still put out food and see the same few cats but they feel like they belong to us now. Thankfully, we eventually caught up and only see a new stray now when somebody chooses our country road to abandon their pet. Sadly, that seems to be every few months lately...

 

[dakcp2001]

My mother has turned into a crazy cat lady in her neighborhood and I feel sorry for her neighbors. She has started putting out bowls of food on her screened in porch. She has droves of stray cats that come in and eat and then run away, and she has not been able to catch ANY of them, except one that got really sick and crawled on her porch, she did take him to the vet. Her porch smells like cat pee, and her yard is filled with cats that dart across when you walk through. They live in the shed, under the shed, under the deck , pretty much everywhere. The neighbors complain, but nothing gets done. There is no reasoning with my mother, she is not stable.

BTW if I found a lost kitty, I do feed it and put up posters and call around. I love cats too, but I do not want to attract gaggles of strays. I did once feed and make a bed for a cat that was living in my garage for like two months, and we did find his owner who had given up hope. It took a lot of searching and posters!

 

[Jenvenza]

I do. Because their owners moved away and left them to fend for themselves, and I can't stand the thought of them scrounging for food. I even put up a big dog house in my backyard for them to have shelter from the rain.

I also take them to the vet to get fixed (if they're not) and to get their annual basic shots. I have a soft spot for animals, I guess.

You sound like me! I cannot stand the thought of those poor animals trying to find food and shelter. I have a HUGE soft spot for all animals, so if one looks hungry, you can bet I am going to feed them!

We have a new cat right now, because around Thanksgiving she came around looking all pitiful and hungry and I gave her some food. Well, she didnt leave and I couldnt just stop putting food out! She is getting to be a little chunk now, but she is sweet and a good kitty. My daughter named her Lola.

 

[Vixen]

I feed the pigeons that come in my back yard.. they aren't even scared of me anymore! i have a mini central park in my back yard with them there lol

 

[Planogirl]

We never have strays. I suspect that the coyote sightings are the reason for that.

I think that you guys are super for helping animals!

 

[glitterkittyy]

My mother has turned into a crazy cat lady in her neighborhood and I feel sorry for her neighbors. She has started putting out bowls of food on her screened in porch. She has droves of stray cats that come in and eat and then run away, and she has not been able to catch ANY of them, except one that got really sick and crawled on her porch, she did take him to the vet. Her porch smells like cat pee, and her yard is filled with cats that dart across when you walk through. They live in the shed, under the shed, under the deck , pretty much everywhere. The neighbors complain, but nothing gets done. There is no reasoning with my mother, she is not stable.

You can get a trap (a lot of animal charities will even let you borrow them) so you can catch the wild ones. I've had to do that on occasion so I can take them in to get their shots and get fixed. We haven't had any babies in a longggg time. People in town know to keep their cats inside because if I see them, they're going to the SPCA to get fixed and immunized. lol

 

[Planogirl]

You can get a trap (a lot of animal charities will even let you borrow them) so you can catch the wild ones. I've had to do that on occasion so I can take them in to get their shots and get fixed. We haven't had any babies in a longggg time. People in town know to keep their cats inside because if I see them, they're going to the SPCA to get fixed and immunized. lo

Make sure that no one leaves theirs out on purpose just to get you to do that!

 

[glitterkittyy]

Make sure that no one leaves theirs out on purpose just to get you to do that!

LOL good point! But hey, if it means less homeless kittens, I'd be okay with that.

The SPCA calls me "cat welfare" because I took so many kitties in.

 

[Jenvenza]

LOL good point! But hey, if it means less homeless kittens, I'd be okay with that.

The SPCA calls me "cat welfare" because I took so many kitties in.

I think that is great.

 

[Planogirl]

LOL good point! But hey, if it means less homeless kittens, I'd be okay with that.

The SPCA calls me "cat welfare" because I took so many kitties in.

My aunt always did that when she lived way out in the country. People routinely dumped cats and dogs at a rest stop near her home and her kids were always bringing home terrified animals. She of course took them to the vet to be neutered and so on and then kept them. (Outside for the most part!) I counted once and she had 38 cats and 6 dogs.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

Never again! I used to, until I got bit.

We had a momma cat and 4 cute little kittens in the woods behind the kids swing set. I was feeding them daily, and had worked up to petting the kittens when they came up to eat. They were really small, still drinking mommas milk. Well one day I tried to pick up one little kitten, and he bit me hard! It drew blood. I called my doc, about a tetnus shot. He had me go in get the shot, plus antibiotics. (I hadn't taken an antibiotic in years.)

They also said they were required to call animal control who had to capture the animal to test for rabies. The problem was they all looked the same, so I didn't know which one bit me. All 4 little kittens had to go for testing, and they took the momma too. She didn't have to be tested, but since she was so wild she had to be put down.

I had fed strays, and handled them before. I had picked up wild kittens. I never expected her to bite me. I felt so bad about all the kittens being put to sleep. I will never feed strays again!

 

[tinkntraining]

Never again! I used to, until I got bit.

We had a momma cat and 4 cute little kittens in the woods behind the kids swing set. I was feeding them daily, and had worked up to petting the kittens when they came up to eat. They were really small, still drinking mommas milk. Well one day I tried to pick up one little kitten, and he bit me hard! It drew blood. I called my doc, about a tetnus shot. He had me go in get the shot, plus antibiotics. (I hadn't taken an antibiotic in years.)

They also said they were required to call animal control who had to capture the animal to test for rabies. The problem was they all looked the same, so I didn't know which one bit me. All 4 little kittens had to go for testing, and they took the momma too. She didn't have to be tested, but since she was so wild she had to be put down.

I had fed strays, and handled them before. I had picked up wild kittens. I never expected her to bite me. I felt so bad about all the kittens being put to sleep. I will never feed strays again!

That is so, so sad! I would have thought that animal control could have just watched them for a period of time to see if they were rabid. So sad.

 

[curious3069]

I do. Because their owners moved away and left them to fend for themselves, and I can't stand the thought of them scrounging for food. I even put up a big dog house in my backyard for them to have shelter from the rain.

I also take them to the vet to get fixed (if they're not) and to get their annual basic shots. I have a soft spot for animals, I guess.

I do this same thing...have 3 semi-stray outside cats that have been fixed, have shots and lots of warm shelter. I live in the middle of farm fields and across the street from a grain elevator and as much as I like them, they are more for mouse control than anything!!!

 

[pixiewings71]

I've been known to feed strays and try to rehome them. My BFF lives in the country on a farm, she's always having animals dropped off, mostly cats, so far no dogs thank goodness!! She catches them, takes them to her workplace (she's a part time vet tech) and gets them shots, gets them fixed and takes them back to her farm where they live in the barn and on her porch. She feeds them and takes care of them, sometimes she finds them new homes, sometimes they are just hers.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

That is so, so sad! I would have thought that animal control could have just watched them for a period of time to see if they were rabid. So sad.

They said that because they were wild they would never place them in homes. There are too many tame kitties needing homes. If they did the observation method they would have been put to sleep in the end anyway.


I have fed, and handled many stray dogs and cats. My Grandma had barn cats I used to play with when I was a kid. This is the first time I ever was bit. I don't want to be responsable for any more animals being put to sleep so from now on, I will just stay away from them.

 

[tinkntraining]

They said that because they were wild they would never place them in homes. There are too many tame kitties needing homes. If they did the observation method they would have been put to sleep in the end anyway.


I have fed, and handled many stray dogs and cats. My Grandma had barn cats I used to play with when I was a kid. This is the first time I ever was bit. I don't want to be responsable for any more animals being put to sleep so from now on, I will just stay away from them.

I totally understand your reasons, Mickeypooh. And I'm sorry you had to go through that. And as sad as it is, I guess animal control is probably right. Who's going to adopt a wild kitty when there are tons of cute, cuddly tame kittens out there needing homes?