Laurel, feral cats do not have favor with animal control. Any feral cat that is taken in is put down immediately, whether it is a healthy adult who can be relocated or a healthy, tameable, adoptable kitten. Entire colonies are killed even when there is no sickness or problems with local wildlife. If they are fed and properly cared for (and Maria, you never have to touch them, in fact you shouldn't), feral cats are extremely healthy and not a risk to anyone. On another note, one of my biggest pet peeves is people who feed stray and feral cats without spaying/neutering/vaccinating them. That creates health problems and overbreeding which can be a big problem for local wildlife. I never help anyone who feeds but doesn't spay/neuter/vaccinate. Feral cats are healthier than the tame cat population, they have less disease. We manage fleas by feeding and sprinkling feed-quality diatomaceous earth in their bedding areas.
I have tamed, spayed/neutered/vaccinated/tested and placed thousands of feral kittens in my lifetime. I also have a problem with people who re-home kittens without spaying/neutering/testing them because that is just contributing to the stray/feral problem - some get out, some get dumped. There is a difference between feral and stray - strays are formerly tame pets that reverted to wild and can be easily tame and pettable again, ferals are born wild and almost impossible to tame after they are more than 8 weeks old. I have tamed a few older ferals but don't recommend it unless you have experience and a lot of time. Feral kittens are easy and tame better if you can get them younger - 6 weeks is ideal. You can't tell the difference between a purebred born-tame kitten and a formerly feral kitten later on, they make great house pets too. My best friend is a formerly feral kitten and he's tame as can be - with everyone. My housecats are indoor-only because we have coyotes here and cats just don't live as long outdoors but we have two spayed ferals outside too - and no bird kills at all, they are free-fed dry food. The alpacas like them, by the way.
Susan Olson
Alpaca Loco
Riverside, CA
In a message dated 4/6/2013 6:53:14 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, burnsfamilycentral@gmail.com writes:
I really know nothing about cats as I have been allergic (severly so) my entire life When I talk with folks about having a barn and bringing animals home they warn me about ferrel cats coming to take up residence in our barn. (I'm new to being a country girl) They warn me of the decease and sickness that they could bring. On here I learned about ferrels being taken in and immunized, vaccinated ect and then put up for adoption. I liked that idea. Like I said, I am new to this all and want to learn more about it. I do know that I can care for cats that live outside with minimal contact from me.I feel all animals/living creatures need much love and touch to thrive so I was concerned that if they didn't get 100% loved on by me and just when the kids were home it may be hard on them. If its true that that will be content and safe living outdoors and being cared for well, kept warm in winter and cool in summer, well fed and routine doctor visits ect the I would be happy to give a couple of ferrel cats a home. If they require much physical contact from me I cannot do it. I will read up some more and I find it very interesting how knowledgable you all are. I get to see all sides of this and for that I am thankful.
Maria (VA)
--- In AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com, "maria b" <burnsfamilycentral@...> wrote:
>
> Learning a lot here! Thanks folks.
>
>
> --- In AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com, "farmer_mam" <mam2@> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > I have to agree with Laurel 100% regarding releasing feral cats. Sterilization does not resolve the destructive nature of these cats. We used to live on a lake and a colony (17 or more) took up residence along the lake. Mallard ducks, Canadian Geese, Squirrels, Rabbits, Morning Doves, Robins, Blue Jays, Cardinals, neighbors leg (28 stitches caused by a fleeing cat's claws inadvertently blocked in a shed), and my wife's hand and dogs nose were only a few of the casualties to feral cats. When I talk about casualties, I mean complete decimation of wildlife in two years - no nesting birds, no squirrels, rabbits, and the waterfowl avoided our area of the lake.
> >
> > Please reconsider the impact and do not release.
> >
> > The last time I made a public appeal regarding feral cats we received calls day and night telling us they would kill us for our stand. Never understood how one could not kill a cat but killing a person was ok....
> >
> > Michael Morack
> > Waukesha, WI
> > [262] 970 - 9633
> >
> > --- In AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com, "Bluebird Hills Farm" <bluebirdhills@> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I hate to stir the pot, but..
> > > Having accidentally bushogged several feral cats over the years, I do not
> > > agree with the neuter release program. They get in fights with my cats and
> > > they decimate songbird populations. I have never understood why cats seem
> > > to have favor with animal control. I get fined $300 for my LGD being off
> > > the farm, while cute fluffy is free to roam and kill wherever it wants,
> > > pooping in my flower bed or kids' sandbox.
> > >
> > > I have barn cats, all dumped at our farm and subsequently neutered, but I
> > > just can't buy into the catch, neuter and release. Before you label me a
> > > cat hater, one of my favorite critters is our cat Giblet who arrived at my
> > > father's back door last Thanksgiving, ate the giblets, and a week later
> > > was a permanent fixture. He actually thinks he's a dog, but whatever...
> > >
> > > Laurel
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > The Shouvlins
> > > Bluebird Hills Farm
> > > 3617 Derr Road
> > > Springfield, Ohio 45503
> > > 937-206-3936
> > > www.bluebirdhills.com
> > > bluebirdhills@
> > >
> > > > Actually, feral cats are VERY
> > > healthy. I do feral rescues and have never
> > > > even one time
> > > trapped, neutered and spayed any cat that tested positive
> > > >
> > > for
> > > > leukemia. It is pretty easy to keep them healthy, they
> > > have hybrid
> > > > vigor.
> > > > All you need to do is make sure
> > > they are neutered/spayed/shots and keep
> > > > their bedding sprayed
> > > with flea spray or sprinkle feed-quality
> > > > diatomaceous
> > > >
> > > earth on it. They make great mousers and you won't have to handle
> > > them.
> > > > It not really fair to keep house cats outside, the
> > > average lifespan of an
> > > > outdoor cat is only 2-3 years, vs the
> > > 13-15 year lifespan of an indoor
> > > > cat.
> > > > If you have
> > > ferals in the area, they are more coyote and dog-savvy.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Susan Olson
> > > > Alpaca Loco
> > > > Riverside,
> > > CA
> > >
> >
>
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