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Feral Cat issue-What to do?
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CallaLily
Thank you, Saint Gerard!
Member since 10/07 4937 total posts
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Feral Cat issue-What to do?
My friend is purchasing a new home and has a concern. It's obvious that the owner is feeding a colony of feral cats. There are about five cats that hang out around the house. The owner said that she had them TNR'd. My friend said that she saw fleas on one of the cats and that worried her. She's afraid that she or her dog will track them inside. She is concerned about what will happen to them when she moves in. She has no intention of feeding them and was wondering if the food stops, will they all go away? Can anyone offer up any advice? Thanks.
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Posted 9/11/13 9:03 PM  |
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Arissa444
Lovin my Little guy :)
Member since 5/06 2280 total posts
Name:
Marissa
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Re: Feral Cat issue-What to do?
By not feeding the cats, you will actually create a greater nuisance since cats will be forced to rely on scavenging and foraging for food.
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Cats with no regular food source will encroach closer to your property and there will be an increase in chance encounters with people as they are driven by starvation. Feeding the cats on a regular feeding schedule is the first step in colony management and will allow for humane trapping and sterilization of the cats. Feeding stations can be placed in areas away from people to reduce chance encounters.
I found this on a website entitled Paws.....I'm sure there are quite a few articles that would state the same thing. I too take care of a colony and have had the cats all fixed. Basically now they rely on my husband and I for food. We consider them to be our outside cats...they are pretty much on our property all of the time. It's a hard situation. I would suggest as a precautionary your friend treats her dog for the fleas with an Advantage or some thing of that nature come flea season...they can be tracked inside...but not because of the cats...they are outside any ways....the cats just enhance them being there....if this makes sense. It's a shame the person prior is abandoning these poor kitties....and sadly your friend is in a hard place as well. Hope this information helps 
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| Posted 9/11/13 10:39 PM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
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:)
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Re: Feral Cat issue-What to do?
Posted by Arissa444
I would suggest as a precautionary your friend treats her dog for the fleas with an Advantage or some thing of that nature come flea season...they can be tracked inside...but not because of the cats...they are outside any ways....the cats just enhance them being there....if this makes sense. )
ITA about the fleas
I don't have much to add as I have no experience but when we moved into our home, we didn't even have a cat issue and my dogs got fleas a few times in my own yard. I found the fleas on my dog, after coming in from the yard. One flea even jumped right off my dog as soon as he entered my kitchen! We killed that guy as we saw him land on our floor. I believe the rabbits passing through were the ones dropping the fleas, b/c I often see rabbits go through my yard and scratch themselves! So my dogs are on a year round flea protection even though we don't have a feral cat issue. We use Frontline plus and even though I have found fleas on my dogs, they are dying when I spot them and we never have an issue ever. If you have random animals passing through, then you can have fleas in your yard anyway.
Message edited 9/12/2013 5:25:21 PM.
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| Posted 9/12/13 5:24 PM |
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CallaLily
Thank you, Saint Gerard!
Member since 10/07 4937 total posts
Name:
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Feral Cat issue-What to do?
Thank you both for your replies. I feel so bad for those poor cars but can understand her not wanting to take over feeding them.
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| Posted 9/12/13 8:10 PM |
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