Neighborhood cat problem- HELP!

[mudnuri]

I will try to explain this as best I can, without it seeming like I'm being over the top, or rude regarding a neighbor...hopefully you can stay with me till the end LOL.

live in apartment- building next door owned by same landlord. 2nd floor of next door has a cat problem. Well, it's not really her problem anymore, as she just lets them outside when they are old enough. ie..12 weeks or so..and never lets them back in the house. Sometimes she lets them in the hallway- but generally they are outdoors.

Other neighbors have fed the cats outdoors, because we are animal lovers and feel bad for the cats, so technically they are not starving etc. They also find a way to get into our trash garage bay (6 bay garage, all with closing doors, 1 bay is the 'trash room' lined with trash cans). Personally cleaned out the trash room 4x this summer due to cats being in the trash room...

We have spoken to the landlord- nothing he can do, because she can/has claimed the cats are not hers. Since they are never in her apartment, the landlord can't 'prove' they are hers. SHe has 2 allowed cats on her lease.

So.......the problem is- its not pretty darn cold here. A couple have taken up house in the engine of my K5, because of the lift, they are able to jump on the tire, then climb onto the engine, and be out of the rain/wind/snow. This is fine, I really dont mind, EXCEPT their may come a time when I start my truck, and they are in the engine compartment. Sometimes even after checking, opening and shutting the door, they jump out from who knows where under the hood...chances are, at some point, they may be too cold to move...??

The other cats who can't or havent figured out to live in my engine....are hibernating under the porches on our two houses. We removed a piece of the lattice on both houses, so they at least will be out of the wind/rain/snow...BUT....once the snow flies and stays- it covers the lattice opening...

I called the humane society- just to inquire about 'what if I find stray cats, can I bring them to you"...basically they will euthinize them...because they are 'stray'...okay...not gonna do that.

i called an animal rescue league- they have 27 cats/kittens now waiting for adoption...and are only taking cats that are use to people now, so they can place them quicker...they have no more room. She did say if I had exhausted all other options, she might be able to take 2, problem is there is SEVEN!

So.........DBF says- they're outdoor cats, we can bring them to the farm. This is a farm that the he use to milk at on the weekends, says they would be much better off than outdoor here, and way better than dead. I guess we could, but shesh...I dont know if thats the right choice either.

Basically where we are at is, the landlord has told the tennant, that the cats will be caught, and removed from the premis, I'm fine with this, but I know that if they do it, they'll bring them to the HS, and they will be euthinized.

Should I round them up and take them to the farm? If you've made it this far, please offer your advice.

Thanks
Brandy

 

[eclectics]

The farm seems to be the best solution. Are her two allowed cats having kittens and then she just lets them out after they are old enough? If this is a recuring thing, I would have a talk with her and maybe offer to pay for the female to be spayed. Explain to her that an outdoor wild life is not fair to the poor cats she is abandoning.

 

[kilee]

It is a very sad situation all around. Sounds like the farm situation might be the only one. I feel bad for them.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Just to be sure, the people that own the farm are okay with the cats being brought there, right? Because if they aren't fixed they are just going to multiply

 

[tiggger1]

where are you located? If you are near MA, I can take 2 as barn kitties....I have a nice warm barn, so they will be out of the cold..

If you arent I would try a few local barns and see if anyone is looking for a barn cat....

 

[mudnuri]

She is not receptive to discussion regarding the cats- tried that route.

Basically she has an indoor cat, female that keeps getting pregnant- because she is an indoor/outdoor cat. I told her the rescue league will spay the cat, for free, she's not interested.

The farm is okay with the cats, and they are okay that the cats may multiply. The other option I have, is to call back the rescue, see if they will spay/neuter them, and then bring them to the farm.

UGH looks like a cat catching weekend, as we're expecting the winter to begin here in the next few days.

Brandy

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Go the farm route. It is better to have the cats sleeping in a nice warm barn than freezing under your porch or euthanized.

 

[AKLRULZ]

I hate free roaming cats. Our neighbors used to permit their cat to roam outside in our neighborhood and it often left prizes for us on our deck including a dead baby rabbit one time which was a great surprise for my kids. Last year the cat was killed when it was struck by a car.

 

[Tazicket]

I also would go the barn route. At least that way they'd have room to play and you'd know they weren't being euthanized.

 

[Heidict]

I would go with the farm route. They are great for keeping the mice population at bay, so the farm owners generally love them.

Since there are 7 though, call around and see if there are a couple of other farms that can take some also. That way there aren't 7 in one barn. Seems like a lot and if they start multiplying it can get out of hand real quick, if you aren't able to get them fixed before bringing them there.

 

[MzDiz]

I'd snap up her female cat and get her fixed, then when she's healed, let her back out. Ooops, sorry, didn't mean to get your cat spayed. My next door neighbor had some outdoor cats when we moved in. One ended up having kittens in her garage, one in my garage. Between us, we got them fixed and found a few homes. I have two of them living in my house now and they aren't allowed out.
She doesn't speak to me anymore, I'm pretty sure she's peeved that I "stole" her cats. Oh well, she never let them inside, even in the winter. I'm pretty sure that having them in my house is less traumatizing to her than having them smushed on the road.