Moral Q regarding feral cat

[J-P]

Background:
ok... this cat (we call him Shiro) had been a daily visitor now for quite a while. I forgot the exact dates but it is in my "bear" post.

We feed him ever morning and every night. He comes in the morning and begs for food, goes about his business and comes back at dinner time, begs for food and goes back about his business.

He will not let us near him, he always keeps a safe distance, but as the weather is getting colder he comes closer and closer to the house. For the last week or so he comes to the front door and sits on the stoop.

My 2 existing cats get overly excited and jealous when he comes around. My male indoor cat gets physically violent and attacks us and my other cat (female) when he is around. Thus, I don't think we'd be able to let him in the house.

The question:
Now that winter is coming what do we do with him? I would like to keep him, but given his skittishness and the other cat's reaction to him, I know it is not a realistic possibility. Also we are putting the home up for sale and I would like to have him come with us as our "outdoor" cat for the new home, but I don't know how realistic that is either.

I am in a total quandary.. do I build a little house for him where he can go for the winter or what?? Any and all ideas / options are welcome.

[Brandon8521]

You can allways set a trap out to catch him right b4 you move and release him at the new house. In the mean time since it seems you do care for the little fellow you can build a den next to a nice tree for him to stay in during the winter. If you go a decent depth he should be able to stay comfortable dureing the winter.

[J-P]

I thought of that... I think it would have to be under the deck.. we'll have 6' of show here by Jan

[LilGreenPuffer]

Are your cats fixed? Unneutered males will fight each other and get aggressive towards females. Even if it's just the one feral male that's unfixed, that could be it. You can get him fixed at a TNR clinic (call the Humane Society).

I think that building him a little shelter is a great idea! He's gorgeous, by the way.

[J-P]

Are your cats fixed? Unneutered males will fight each other and get aggressive towards females. Even if it's just the one feral male that's unfixed, that could be it. You can get him fixed at a TNR clinic (call the Humane Society).

I think that building him a little shelter is a great idea! He's gorgeous, by the way.

Both my indoor cats are fixed... but the indoor male is in puberty I think.. he has some jealousy / self esteem issues I don't think the feral male is fixed.

[LilGreenPuffer]

Definitely take him to get fixed, then! If nothing else, you're going to be able to keep him from adding to the feral cat population. TNR clinics are the best ever. Most will even lend you a trap to get him in.

[J-P]

thank you! I'll certainly make some calls

he is a beautiful cat that had "adopted us" and I'd hate for anything to happen to him.

I was just sketching out his winter home... it looks great on paper.. I just have no idea if he'll actually use the thing

[xrayjeeper83]

ya I say build the house, catch him when you move

[Cuchulainn]

I am in a total quandary.. do I build a little house for him where he can go for the winter or what??
Quote

Yah, this would be a tough decision. Nice lookin cat. Are U sure its a stray? Sounds like it probably is. Since U started feeding it, it has become dependent on U to continue. If U have or can find a larger pet carrier people use when they take there animals on planes and such, U could maybe insulate it,put the food near it, and see if it starts using it as its shelter The reason I'm saying to use a pet carrier is if U end up moving, there will be a door for it. Poor thing will more than likely be freaked out when the door closes him in, but at least the cat will be somewhere familiar and comfortable. I'm not for trapping animals, don't get me wrong here people's. I just don't really know if its a viable alternative to wean it off its dependency...or is it? Canada has some pretty harsh winters. Who knows...maybe by the tyme U sell the place, the cat and ur family will be trusted friends, and happily move with U guys

[J-P]

excellent point!

I never thought of using a carrier.. but we don't have one. I could build a sliding door into the shelter that would act as a "trap" to take him to the vet etc.. that is IF he decides to use the shelter.

I am 99% sure it is a stray. No collar, afraid of ppl and we don't live too far from the dump (thus the bears that stroll through our property). I know cats can survive the winter up here but they are more the long haired type that roam around the dump.

Well I'll get started on the shelter and work from there Keep those ideas coming!!

[Pufferpunk]

Maybe if you get him/her fixed, you're cats will be more open to him. You can always try cat pheromones, they seem to work wonders.

[Cuchulainn]

I never thought of using a carrier.. but we don't have one. I could build a sliding door into the shelter that would act as a "trap" to take him to the vet etc.. that is IF he decides to use the shelter. Quote

DIY shelter will work great
Taking a feral cat to the vet outta be an adventure!

[J-P]

just found this link:

http://www.indyferal.org/index.php?page=shelters

very interesting stuff:D

PP thanks for the advice Will try it. I know of a non-profit organization that can do the fixin.

Cuchulainn: haha yea... I should have the video camera ready

[J-P]

on that site.. there are some serious things to consider:
"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."

"If you choose to trap cats, there are specific trapping and care and treatment ordinances you must follow. Each of these provisions can carry a fine of
up to $2500 per count! Bear in mind that over 99% of feral cats taken to Indianapolis Animal Care & Control in 2005 were euthanized. Feral cats are not
socialized to humans and are not candidates for adoption. It costs the city (i.e. taxpayers) roughly $100 for every cat that is picked up. This is very expensive for a
short-term solution. Please call IndyFeral at 317-596-2300 to seek a long-term, non-lethal solution."

"Things to consider before you think about taming an outdoor cat:

Cats may behave much differently in captivity than in casual contact outdoors. They may panic in an effort to escape, injuring themselves and damaging things within the home.
After 10-12 weeks of age, most cats' behaviors are well established, so even taming an older kitten, let alone an adult cat, can be difficult, and in some cases impossible.
What happens if the cat cannot be tamed? Do you know when to quit? IndyFeral believes that attempting to tame a cat for more than 3 months is unduly stressful on the cat. Will you return it outdoors, if it cannot be tamed? Has the weather changed since the cat was brought indoors, and will it suffer by going outdoors in radically different weather to which it has not had a chance to acclimate?
Bringing an animal indoors is stressful to them. This stress may cause behavior problems and illness. Are you prepared to deal with spraying or elimination outside the litter box? Are you ready to provide medical care to a sick cat that you may not be able to handle?
Bringing another animal into a household with existing animals causes stress to them as well. A household with animals is an intricate environment. Consider that the house and it's occupants are the only world your pets know. Bringing in another animal is an enormous disruption to their world. It may cause them to have behavior problems and illness.
If the cat is healthy outdoors, what is the benefit to them to come indoors? Is it worth the risk of putting them through months of stress and confinement, only to find out they cannot be tamed? Please try to make sure the cat's well-being is your primary concern. Many people find it painful to see cats outdoors because they feel the cats are miserable, or all cats must be indoors with people to be happy. Or that a cat is better off to be "humanely killed" than to live outdoors. Many of these outdoor cats have more in common with wildlife, than your indoor pet cat. Would you attempt to tame a possum or raccoon? Would you "humanely kill" a raccoon because it can't cuddle with a person at night? Should a cute, fuzzy squirrel be euthanized, rather than run the risk that it might be hit by a car some day?
For a cat whose home is the outdoors, adequate food, water and shelter are sometimes all you need to do to improve their lives. Be open to the idea that like people, not all cats are the same."

I don't think I am going to try and make Shiro an indoor cat. Just more comfortable for the time being

[Flutter]

We have captured, fixed, and tamed many adult feral cats. None of them were difficult and only one of them ever tries to go outside. All are now in multicat/pet households.