[Ooper]

I have been seeing more and more feral cats in my neighborhood... and now there are some kittens. Does anybody know who to contact about this problem. I don't want to see them euthanized but would help in trapping them for a no-kill shelter.

[islandgal]

Contact Pet Lovers Rescue: (non-profit cat & dog rescue group in TV)

Barbara Irwin 753-2321
Carole Ferguson 259-7727
Richard Ruiz 750-1190

[chelsea24]

:bigthumbsup: Good to know Wiwi. Thanks for posting the numbers.

[redwitch]

When I was trying to find a home for Sweetums, I contacted them. None ever returned my call. When I went to Petco to ask if Pet Lovers Rescue could help, I was told they had too many cats as it was. They seem to deal more with pets that were in people's homes and need new homes for whatever reason.

Getting help for these poor cats seems to be pretty near impossible. I couldn't even find a catch, neuter and release program around here and I thought those were pretty common nowadays.

[nanci2539]

I'm renting a villa and when talking with the neighbor next door, he told me that there are a few feral cats in the area, one in particular is named Lucky because he's minus a tail so the neighbors call him Lucky.

Lucky has been coming around for years now jumping on the villa wall and visiting folks who are kind enough to feed him. One of the neighbors trapped him, had him fixed and let him go back to what he knows. This is called a TNR (trap, neuter, release). This cuts down on the feral population and these smart people took charge and made sure the few feral cats that came along were trapped and fixed.

I totally support this program because it's impossible to find homes for all these strays and this is the second best option they have. I did this when I lived in IL; it's better for the cat and better for the neighborhood.

Red;l did you ever find a home for Sweetums?

[redwitch]

Nanci, I did! He has a wonderful new home with a little girl who lost her cat last year. The big lug lives in her room, sleeps with her and is totally spoiled the last time I checked. I found his home through freecycle.org. Thanks for asking.

[elbear]

Originally Posted by nanci2539

I'm renting a villa and when talking with the neighbor next door, he told me that there are a few feral cats in the area, one in particular is named Lucky because he's minus a tail so the neighbors call him Lucky.

Lucky has been coming around for years now jumping on the villa wall and visiting folks who are kind enough to feed him. One of the neighbors trapped him, had him fixed and let him go back to what he knows. This is called a TNR (trap, neuter, release). This cuts down on the feral population and these smart people took charge and made sure the few feral cats that came along were trapped and fixed.

I totally support this program because it's impossible to find homes for all these strays and this is the second best option they have. I did this when I lived in IL; it's better for the cat and better for the neighborhood.

Red;l did you ever find a home for Sweetums?

80% of cats that go to shelters are killed outright especially if you mention wild or feral.

Does anyone know if there is a catch and release program around the Villages?

Perhaps an animal loving vet would offer to provide this or at least a low-cost program to fix these unfortunate cats and kittens if we paid a certain amount?

[lovinganimals]

Cares Center in Lake Panasoffkee (about 25 min from here) does spay for $30 and neuter for $25. Shots are extra. They do surgeries on Tues and Fri. I have done TNR here but ended up keeping one and adopting another out. I can help TNR and feed but my wonderful husband is up to his neck in fur so I can't take any more cats if they are adoptable. I would be willing to TNR a cat if someone wants to pay the spay/neuter fee (as I am barely working now). As far as kittens, I will trap them if someone already has a home or shelter for them to go to as I can not take a chance on ending up with another.
I was doing this when I first moved here last summer and there were WONDERFUL people who helped me out financially and physically but then I started getting calls from people who wanted me to assume responsibility for cats and kittens who were adoptable and I just can't take any more in and I don't have the room to hold any while I find homes.
So bottom line, I will trap and help feed but I can't try to find homes for any adoptables.
Also, please keep in mind that if you are a renter, please don't feed a cat and then leave, unless it is very skinny and obviously not eating elsewhere. If it looks well fed, it is getting food somehow and if you start feeding it, you change its hunting pattern or where it is eating and then when you leave, its food source is gone.

[ssmith]

Elbear....be careful...this thread started in 2008.

Not saying it is not truthful but things may have changed since the original postings.

[kissmelatr]

A friend of mine has a feral cat comes to her house every evening for dinner and sometimes breakfast. She trapped him took him to the vet and had him all his shots and neutered. If you see a cat with its ear clipped it is neutered. That's what the vet does....

[Kitty Litter]

Please don't call animal control to trap the feral/stray cats. They will euthanize them. There are three cats in my neighborhood that I have been unable to trap to have neutered and vaccinated but I will keep on trying. I give them their supper every night and then they disappear. Please if you see kittens try to rescue them so they don't need to live the life that their parents have. If you have homeless cats in your neighborhood, try to tnr them and help them out. It is the right thing to do to help these cats and kittens. Don't simply look away. You'll be surprised how good it will make you feel.

[Kitty Litter]

Please don't call animal control to trap stray cats. They will simply be euthanized. I have been trying to tnr stray cats in my neighborhood. If you have homeless cats in your neighborhood, try to trap, neuter and release them and help them out with food and water. If you see kittens, rescue them so they don't need to live the life their parents have. Don't just look away. Do something. You'll be surprised how good it will make you feel.

[Mallory Voice]

Feral Cats/kittens - call the our local SPCA. If they can't help, maybe they can refer you to an organization(s) that can. Mallory Voice