[mulligan]

We have owls, hawks, kestrels, eagles, foxes, coyotes, and bobcats in abundance to control the rat population.

[bobbym]

Two years ago we were staying in New Smyrna they have over 800 Farrell cats why don’t you go over to New Smyrna or Edgewater and ask them about feeding Farrell cats and do they think that it is a good thing to do.

[Kitty Litter]

Originally Posted by mulligan

We have owls, hawks, kestrels, eagles, foxes, coyotes, and bobcats in abundance to control the rat population.

If we have so many of these animals then why do we still have an abundance of rats? The humane thing to do with the feral cats that live in the Villages is to TNR them. This will stop them from having endless litters of kittens. The ferals in my neighborhood have been neutered and vaccinated and are fed once a day. We have no rats, mice or snakes. The biggest reward is that we have helped them. They have a life!

[zonerboy]

If feral cats stuck to a diet if rodents, that would be fine. But they also eat a good number of birds. I say get rid of them!

[Jima64]

Originally Posted by zonerboy

If feral cats stuck to a diet if rodents, that would be fine. But they also eat a good number of birds. I say get rid of them!

Poop in my garden beds and nobody likes a handful of shizzzzzz.

[lamplighter]

Neighbor had rats in his attic and then some feral cats were seen...no more rats in our neighborhood. I vote for a catch, fix and release program. Near our stores would be a good idea. What is good enough for Disney World is good enough for me.

[Kitty Litter]

Originally Posted by lamplighter

Neighbor had rats in his attic and then some feral cats were seen...no more rats in our neighborhood. I vote for a catch, fix and release program. Near our stores would be a good idea. What is good enough for Disney World is good enough for me.

Thank you Lamplighter!

[Jima64]

Originally Posted by lamplighter

Neighbor had rats in his attic and then some feral cats were seen...no more rats in our neighborhood. I vote for a catch, fix and release program. Near our stores would be a good idea. What is good enough for Disney World is good enough for me.

Sorry but I have never seen a cat with a large rat in it's grip. These things are huge. Talked to a lot of pest control people and they seemed to agree that rats were just too big.

[lamplighter]

Originally Posted by Jima64

Sorry but I have never seen a cat with a large rat in it's grip. These things are huge. Talked to a lot of pest control people and they seemed to agree that rats were just too big.

Ha, ha. Rats come in all sizes....if you have seen monster rats, I'm outa here.
I think this topic has run its course and we are now in play mode. I've got more important fun things to do today.

[Terri TVG]

I am finally here in The Villages (yay!) and will help TNR. I have a humane trap. If a few of us want to join forces, that would be fantastic. Please PM me if you are interested in helping keep the feral population controlled. Thanks!

[lamplighter]

Sent PM

[Chi-Town]

Originally Posted by Jima64

Sorry but I have never seen a cat with a large rat in it's grip. These things are huge. Talked to a lot of pest control people and they seemed to agree that rats were just too big.

Small cat vs. large rat, still no contest. Cats are fast and armed.

Not for everyone....

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip05Al...ature=youtu.be

[Uptown Girl]

Food stations to entice and trap them for neutering is one thing.
Some folks make it sound like they intend food stations to be a permanent feature for feral cats. Is that what is intended?

If so,
I'd like an honest answer as to where these food stations will be.

Will homeowners/caregivers maintain them on their own property?

Will they instead sneak out to common areas and maintain food stations there?

AND.... how do you protect the food from being eaten by critters other than feral cats... or is that okay?
One poster said she'd been feeding feral in The Villages for the last two years.... no trapping, no neutering during that time.

The same poster has reported the cats have now been trapped and neutered.
My question is, are they still being fed at a feeding station?
------------
Also- is Winn-Dixie okay with food being left in the open, on their property, for animals?
I imagine the the health department may not dig that- or their landlord either, for that matter.

I have read that Disneyland (California) monitors and makes use of their feral cats to keep rodents down.

I have not read that about DisneyWorld.

[Jima64]

Originally Posted by Uptown Girl

Food stations to entice and trap them for neutering is one thing.
Some folks make it sound like they intend food stations to be a permanent feature for feral cats. Is that what is intended?

If so,
I'd like an honest answer as to where these food stations will be.

Will homeowners/caregivers maintain them on their own property?

Will they instead sneak out to common areas and maintain food stations there?

AND.... how do you protect the food from being eaten by critters other than feral cats... or is that okay?
One poster said she'd been feeding feral in The Villages for the last two years.... no trapping, no neutering during that time.

The same poster has reported the cats have now been trapped and neutered.
My question is, are they still being fed at a feeding station?
------------

I would also like to add one more question to the above. When the cats are trapped and taken to be fixed, are they also vaccinated against all the pet diseases which we as petowners do for our pets, including the city required rabbis? My neighbors love to brag about their feral cats they feed and let roam, but when I ask them about vaccinations, "oh they aren't mine".


Also- is Winn-Dixie okay with food being left in the open, on their property, for animals?
I imagine the the health department may not dig that- or their landlord either, for that matter.

I have read that Disneyland (California) monitors and makes use of their feral cats to keep rodents down.

I have not read that about DisneyWorld.

I hope people realize when you feed feral cats and any food is left out the rats also feed on it. Raccoons also like to feed on the litters of newborn kittens.

[Uptown Girl]

Originally Posted by Jima64

I hope people realize when you feed feral cats and any food is left out the rats also feed on it. Raccoons also like to feed on the litters of newborn kittens.

(ALSO from Jim??)
"I would also like to add one more question to the above. When the cats are trapped and taken to be fixed, are they also vaccinated against all the pet diseases which we as petowners do for our pets, including the city required rabbis? My neighbors love to brag about their feral cats they feed and let roam, but when I ask them about vaccinations, "oh they aren't mine". "
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Is the paragraph above part of your post Jim? You inserted it within my last post (when quoting me) making it appear as though I wrote it.
I did not write it.