Feeding stray cats
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| Thu, 11-04-2004 - 9:52am |
I don't own any pets but I have four stray cats that come to my house on a daily basis every morning because I put cat food and water out for them. I have done this for several months now so it has gotten to the point where they sit on the porch waiting to be fed. Anyhow, lately I have been having trouble with them fighting right on my porch. They used to share the food but now they fight over it. I don't like to see them fighting but I won't get in the middle for fear of getting clawed at. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to handle this?
Also, one of the cats (yellow fur) has little black spots, almost like a human has in blackheads but you could see them on the fur and when I have pet on her she has bumps on her head and neck. Does anyone know what that could be? I was thinking about getting a cage and taking her to the vet but also wonder if I would be creating problems if she in fact does belong to someone but I have to say that if she does, shame on the owner because she might be in serious need of care. Please advise if you have suggestions. Thanks much. Lucy

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My first thought is considering that the kitties are fighting that the bumps you are feeling are wounds from fighting. Cats can do serious damage to eachother. I would take him/her into the vet and find out for sure.
You know, I wouldn't worry to much about these cats having owners. It doesn't sound like the owners care to much about these cats. And probably wouldn't miss them if you did take them to a shelter. I would think of the best interests of the cats.
You might want to check into a local low cost spay/neuter program. You could get them all 'fixed' and that would most certainly help with the fighting. Cats are territorial beasts. Plus if one of them is a female in heat...that makes things a hundred times worse.
Just my 2cs.
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It made me sad to know that the bumps could be from fighting. I have names for them all and the yellow cat (I call Ginger) is the sweetest cat on earth and she is the one full of bumps. When she approaches me she immediately moves her head in a way that tells me she wants her neck and ears scratched. She sleeps on some lounge chairs that I keep year round on my porch but the sad thing is that it is getting very cold at night now and snow is around the corner (I live in MA). I am considering purchasing some of those igloo crates that I can keep outside and add some padding so they have some protection during the winter.... I think from the advise I have received from you and the other poster, I will take them to the vet one by one and have them checked out. As you confirmed, they aren't well taken care of if they are owned by someone so why not? Thanks so much for taking the time to respond. Lucy
Hi Lucygirl2004.
Thanks for the response. I may have trouble getting them to the vet because while they let me pet them now after they realize I'm not going to hurt them, I doubt they will get into a pet carrier for me. I seriously think these cats have been abused. I had a problem this very morning. One cat (Ginger) was eating the dry food I put out and another was waiting and Ginger knew it because she then went plopped onto the lawn chair and when the other approached the bowl she jumped down from the chair and the other ran off. I had some wet food that I got as a sample in one of my meow mix bags and I put it in a bowl and offered it to the cat that was run off (I call him cocoa) because he's the color of chocolates. When he came for the wet food, Ginger attacked him right in front of me. I think I should have left well enough alone. I had to just forget about it and come to work. How depressing that they fight over food when there's plenty. I am thinking about buying several bowls and putting more than one out at a time. Any thoughts on that idea? Thanks, Lucy
Hi Lucy. Yes, I would put a bowl out for each kitty and spread them apart from each other. I didn't realize they were eating out of the same bowl.
I am so uninformed about animals and am grateful for all the advise given me. Never in a million years would I have thought that one of my problems was that I was trying to feed all the kitties from the same bowl. I went out during my lunch hour and purchased 6 bowls, 3 more for food and 3 more for water... I have 4 cats that come on a regular basis. I hope they stop fighting. It distresses me to no end to see the weaker cats not eating because the aggressive ones are chasing them away. All 4 are comfortable around me now (at first they would hiss at me and run away) and they meow like crazy when they see me outside. They all now approach me for neck and ear scratching. I sincerely love them all. I know I keep asking questions and I hope I'm not annoying everyone but do you think it would be a good idea to also purchase 4 igloo crates for the cats and include the towels for warmth? Would it be a bad idea to put them side by side in my back yard? I ask because I live in a side by side duplex. My place looks like one large home but if you look closely enough you will see that there are two driveways on each side, thus making them duplexes. I am reluctant to spread the 4 crates throughout the yard because I have a feeling that my neighbors (a retired couple with a little dog) would not appreciate it. They haven't said anything about my feeding the cats, but maybe that's because I have been there for over one year and they just moved in and don't want to make any waves yet. I am surrounded otherwise by conservation land so it's very woody around the entire duplex. Would it be a bad idea to spread the crates in the wooded areas? Thanks for any more advise you can give me. Lucy
Thank you for your kind words. I am not sure but I know for sure only one (Ginger) is a girl. I think the other three are male. She is the aggressive one. The others run from her. Maybe I can take a few lessons from her?? HA Anyhow, I bought the bowls today and I will spread them out. I don't like them fighting, it might sound silly but their fighting makes me want to cry. I am getting very attached to all of them and while those of you on this board (all of you are wonderful) say that I am doing a good thing, they in fact are good to me. I get attention from them and while maybe too much information... I live 3000 miles away from my family. I moved here with my husband when he was relocated but we recently divorced and I am alone here now. My cats are of great comfort to me. Caring for them keeps my mind occupied so in essence, they are good to me. Thanks again for the advise, I will look into those blankets and I am going to contact the vet that I used to take my dogs (two beautiful boston terriers) to. BTW, they didn't die or anything, he got them. Take good care. Lucy
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