neighborhood strays

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-20-2004
neighborhood strays
11
Sat, 07-24-2004 - 11:36pm
Hope this is the right place to post this, 'cuz I need to ask for some advice about the stray cats in my neighborhood. I live in what is considered the artist's section of the city, midway between a large college campus and the low income inner city, and there are always strays passing through.

The latest were from a woman who absolutely loved her cats, refused to get them spayed or neutered and actively promoted their getting pregant because she loved the litters - I know, becuase I was buying bags of food for her and saying they came from the local Humane Society's low income program, to lure her into giving them a call to access their programs. She got evicted, walked out her door and locked it behind her and abandoned 5 cats (1 pregant) and two litters on the sidewalk.

The neighborhood rallied around the cats and took them in, and over time have found homes for them. There are two half grown kittens still hanging around in my back yard that seem to have gone feral - I have teeth marks from where the smaller one broke skin on my hand when she let me close enough to pet her. There is also an older cat that's drifting through who has no hair on the 3/4 of his tail that is left and acts as though at some point he was also abandoned - I've seen him chase other cats away from their doors and cry to be let in. I'm one of a few people who have taken to leaving food out for them, but am looking ahead to the brutal winters of Wisconsin and wonder what to do for them then. The local Humane Society is not going to be able to place the one we've begun to call Mr. Stumpy, and I'm concerned that all three become one of the thousands of feral cats that are put to sleep by them every year if the H. S. is called to come and get him.

I have two cats of my own, and no room for more in the apartment I rent from an old friend. Does anyone have any suggestions?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-09-2003
Fri, 07-30-2004 - 1:25pm
Please let me know how it goes... I wish you and the kitties the best of luck. It's so great when you realize what one person really can do!

Take care....

Marybeth

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