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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO
Created:Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5089
Total number of notes:60366

1436.0. "Help !! How to get rid of "wild Cats" ?????" by BETA::EARLY (Bob_the_hiker) Mon Jun 06 1988 17:51

HOW TO GET RID OF "WILD CATS" ??
    
    Now the problem is this: How to best get rid of a cat (and her kittens)
    in a humane fashion, and at minimal expense ???? 

    Maybe the solution is obvious to someone, but so far ... not to me. 
    
    The problem is this: Somewhile back an (apparant) stray cat took up
    residence in my barn. Didn't seem to be damaging anything, so I saw no
    reason to get rid of it (then). Cute little bugger: sort of a
    caramel/white tiger striped thing (female, I'm sure now), unspayed. 
        
    We didn't feed it, so apparently it "lived off the land" somehow (we
    only fed our cat in the house). 
    

    We saw two kittens (one a miniature of its mother, and the other a more
    'yellowish' tiger striped variation). However, we were unable to get
    very close to them, as they are very skittish and run off when
    observing us (like many old barns, there are lots of little places
    these little urchins can get into thaty by the time we got to them
    they'd be long gone from that hideaway. 

        
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
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1436.1the humane society can help trap the catsSTERLN::WILDEGrand Poobah's first assistant and Jr. WizardMon Jun 06 1988 18:3114
If the cats are not caught and neutered, they will continue to breed, 
possilby incestuously if either kitten is male so....

Call the local humane society and get cages to trap the cats.  Watch the
trap CLOSELY - and remove the cats to the humane society as they are
trapped.  DON'T do this until the kittens are old enough to be weaned.
Give it at least a month or more after first sighting of kittens to be
sure.  The humane society will tell you how to bait the cage.  The cats
will need to be moved as soon after they get caught as possible - and
don't leave the cage in the weather - that way the trapped cat will not
have to be out in the weather until you move it.

Now, won't you consider adopting mom, spaying her, and keeping her as a
barn cat?  You won't have mice if she's around, you can bet on that.
1436.2Before they breed like crazyCLUSTA::TAMIRACMS design while-u-waitMon Jun 06 1988 20:2623
    Sounds like Mom is feral and is raising the little ones to be feral
    as well, especially since you're not providing any food (just the
    roof over their heads!).  The local humane society will rent you
    a Hav-a-hart trap which you can use to capture the critters.  Usually,
    this rental is merely a deposit for the trap; they return it when
    you bring the trap back.  The kittens will be very easy to trap
    as they are incredibly cute, but incredibly stupid.  I've snared
    feral kittens without putting any bait in the trap; they just walked
    into it.  Mom may be more street wise and may be harded to trap,
    especially if she's around to see what happened to her babes.
    
    Once in the trap, the animal should be transported immediately to
    the shelter.  Some shelters don't consider putting feral cats up
    for adoption; there are too many other cats looking for homes. 
    Don't leave them in the trap too long as they get very frightened
    and will thrash around and hurt themselves.
    
    I do this every spring (and summer and fall and winter...) and have
    my own trap (easier than reserving one at the shelter).  I'm located
    in Nashua; if you're nearby, you're welcomed to borrow mine...
    
    Good luck,
    Mary
1436.3Why get rid of them?CHEFS::GOUGHTue Jun 07 1988 15:121
    Why not have them neutered and keep them?
1436.4YEAH!SWSNOD::DALYSerendipity 'R' usTue Jun 07 1988 15:174
    If I had a barn, I'd have the kittys fixed and keep them.  I'd probably
    even stock the barn with mice!
    
    Marion
1436.5re: .0 Solution found (see also Note 415.xWOODRO::EARLYBob_the_hikerFri Jul 01 1988 16:5056
	re: .0 Solution Found
    Hav-a-hart trap can be purchased for $28.00. Worcester shelter
    only lends them to Worcester residents, all others are $10.00 for
    three days plus $1.00 per day after.
    
    Taylor rental charges $20.00/3 days or 9.48 per day for less or
    over three days.

    The three shelters which are available are full, but they will take
    additional cats. The kitties are truly cute, and the mother seems
    cute also. She is also a hunter.    
    
    These cats came of their own, and I suspect that she's my cats'
    mistress. He is also quite hunter in his own right, so I don't
    need more. While I have  barn, there are no mice or rats about,
    and it disturbes me to think that the squirrels are becoming decimated,
    as are the birds. The cats gotta go.
    
        Would you like kitty or two ?
    
    Four lovely kitties, 1 adult, three kittens.
    
    Adult: Female, mother of three, non-spayed (not neutered, either).
    	Color: Tiger stripe, carmel/white. Loves squirels.
    	Size:  Medium (about 2-3 pounds).
    
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    			Mother		K-1	K-2	K-3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Located			Leominster, Ma	same	same	same

    Gender 			Female		??	??	??
	Nuetralized	NOT Spayed	no	non	neither

    Age			2 yrs ?		2 mon?	2 mo?	2 mo ?
    
    Long-hair/short-hair	short		same	same	same (may become
					    long like their Dad

    Coat pattern		Tiger		Tigger	tiger	Tigerre
    "	Color		Carmel/White	C/W	C/W	Grey/White

    Breed		Cat		cat	cat	cat

    Size			2 popunds ?	kitten	kitten	kitten

    Endearing traits	likes squirrels	eats	eats	eats regularly
    (if you particularly like squirrels or other outdor wildlife, these
    kitties may not be for you. I don't feed them, but they are very
    healthy looking, and so far I've found two squirrel bodies).

    Important (indoor or	Outdoor		May be able to domestizice

Bob Early DTN 264-6252 or 
    home:(617)-534-7948 (after July 16 (508)534-7948
1436.6Update: "Where have all the kitties gone ..."WOODRO::EARLYBob_the_HikerThu Jul 28 1988 18:4817
    re: .0, et al
    
    Update: The Kitties and  Mom cat are gone. Hopefully, for good.
    
    WHat happened is this: I did manage to trap one of the kittens,
    and the other cats witnessed the event with some apparent
    distraughtness (or so it seemed).
    
    After I put the kitty into a cardboard box, and prepared a more
    secure "temporary cage", it managed to escape. I haven't seen it
    or any of the others since. I suppose they thought they weren't
    welcome anymore, and left. Case Closed.
    
    So, if anyone needs a "Hav-a-hart" animal trap, I have one to 
    rent (or sell).
    
    Bob