Feral Cat Problem

[morganika]

Hi, I have a problem at my place and I would welcome input from anyone with suggestions.

There are feral cats living in Wintergreen Woods which is behind my house. I do not feed them since I do not want them hanging around my house, as it is they leave gifts in my flower beds.

The problem is, they've now had a litter of approximately 7 kittens, which are very cute, but have AMPLIFIED the problem. To make matters worse, my neighbor feeds them in her front yard. Obviously they don't know the difference between my yard and hers, and they are all over my deck, our cars, in the flower beds, they are a nuisance and I want them to go AWAY.

Any suggestions???

[oldetowne]

Call the health department or animal control and see if they have any ideas. I thought there was a problem with stray and feral cats a couple of years ago and the town debated whether to do an ordinance or something but it ended up being something that the health department and police were supposed to handle.

[morganika]

I called animal control last year and they said they could not afford to pick up the cats. A bit much considering the last tax increase, but maybe the health department can help me, good idea!

[oldetowne]

From the February 2, 2003 minutes of the Town Council meeting:

Ordinance to Control Feral Cats (referred to Public Safety Committee)

Councilor Cascio reported that on January 17 the Public Safety Committee met to discuss the issue. The animal control officer and health department coordinator were both in attendance. After lengthy discussion is was decided that this ordinance would be very difficult to enforce. There are concerns that the animal control and health department coordinator had regarding staff training and additional personnel. It is the committee's recommendation that this ordinance not move forward at this time. He said that Councilor Flynn was also present at this meeting.

Councilor Flynn, after hearing from staff, said that unless the Council is willing to make an additional investment in staffing in the Police Department and Animal Control Facility, it doesn't make sense to implement this ordinance. He suggests that the ordinance could potentially address the situations that residents have raised to Council. This may want to be revisited at budget time.

Chairperson Czernicki asked Interim Town Manager Swetcky if the residents experiencing problems with cats on their property have any recourse. Interim Town Manager Swetcky said that there may be recourse through the Health Department if it is deemed that there is a health issue. Residents can make a complaint to the Health Department and problems will be handled on a case by case basis.

[morganika]

I emailed the health department yesterday, we'll see if they can help me out. Unfortunately, some of them probably won't even make it through the winter, but I'm sure there will be more litters next year.

[SyZyGy]

morganika wrote (in part): Hi, I have a problem:... feral cats living in Wintergreen Woods ... they leave gifts in my flower beds...(now) 7 kittens...my neighbor feeds them...a nuisance and I want them to go AWAY.

feral: "untamed, wild - in a natural state; not tamed or domesticated "

There are a few approaches, but consider this.

• Stop trying to chase them off - you need to gain their (relative) confidence first.
  
• Feed them for the time being for the same reason.
  
• Buy or acquire one or more "Have-a-heart" traps (from perhaps the CT Humane Society, a local farmer, a large pet store, or a local veterinarian).
  
• Trap them all humanely. Keep on trapping them until you have caught all of them - especially the mother-cat; don't try to pick her up.
  
• Take them all to the CT Humane Society on Russell Road (off of Wells/Cedar Road at the Newington/Wethersfield border) and unload them there. There may be a charge for each animal you leave there; call them to find out. Just keep saying to yourself - the expense will be worth it. Don't ask them what they plan to do with them.
  
• If there is one or more that you trap and "fall in love with", keep it as an indoor-only, altered/spayed, house cat.
  
• Pat yourself on the back for having completed all of the above successfully - you have just improved your own mental health and performed invaluable public service. I know that you can and will succeed.
  (end of helpful advice)

Regarding oldtowne's posting:
Wisely, the Council at that time did not fall prey to the berg-sized whining and wailing of a few cat-challenged citizens. There is no good reason to single out cats in any feral animal control measure. Why not also go after all ferral birds, squirrels, voles, moles, groundhogs, racoons, porcupines, skunks, coyotes, fox, deer - all of which might at times pose a private inconvenience but rarely a public hazard. Only the poor beaver gets the shaft locally with any regularity when it has the temerity to do what comes naturally.
(end of troll-bait)

[morganika]

The heck with the traps, I'm thinking BB gun!

[SyZyGy]

"Code of the Town of Wethersfield
PART II GENERAL LEGISLATION
Chapter 80, FIREARMS AND WEAPONS
§ 80-5. Air guns.
It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or offer or expose for sale or to discharge in the town any air gun, air rifle or similar device in which the expulsive or impelling force is compressed or condensed air or gas. Nothing in this section is to be construed to limit, except as already limited by ordinance or statute, the sale or use of a firearm."

[morganika]

Just an update for everyone. I know you need someone to belittle today.

I emailed the Health Department, and 2 weeks ago they left a message on my answering machine at home. They stated they would come to my home the following day, which would have been Friday October 15th I believe, and pick up the cats.

Unfortunately I work full time, so I don't know if they came to my address or not, but the cats are still there.
Looks like I am back to square one.

[SyZyGy]

What to do; 
	yes, what to do?
Poor morganika, 
	woe is t'you! 
You don't know; 
	did they come?
	It didn't show. 
The cats are here, 
	I'll let you know!
No one to help? 
	Give a yelp, or
	eat some kelp.
What to do; 
	yes, what to do? 
Too much poop
	too much to scoop;
	Underfoot - oops!
Too much work;
	no time to call
	even at lunch, et al.?
Cry and weep,
	you cannot sleep;
	try counting cats
	instead of sheep!
Morrow morn bate the traps,
	catch the cats
	that eat the rats.
To Russell Rd. away
	they'll go;
	Catch the cats
	that make the poo!
What to do; 
	yes, what to do? 
No one cares;
	not even a hare,
	or even a hair!
Poor morganika, 
	woe is you!

[oldetowne]

you rock!!!!

[morganika]

Mister, you have waaaayyy to much time on your hands.
You should try volunteering somewhere, all your malicious energy and talent is so wasted here!

I am not into wasting my energy. I have tried to do the right thing with these bothersome pests, and now I shall rid myself once and for all in my own manner.

[SyZyGy]

morganika, tootsy,

You can put down your shot-gun, air-rifle, sling-shot, cross-bow, rat poison, your gunny sack, cat-TASER or whatever you planned to use on your feral cats, unless you have butchered them already.

I think I found a reasonable solution to your problem: 1-888-FOR-TEAM, Tait’s Every Animal Matters. Also:

Phone: 1-888-FOR-TEAM (367-8326)
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
USPS:
TEAM
P.O. Box 591
Westbrook, CT 06498

TEAM sponsors a mobile spay / neuter clinic for feral animals, including cats. (See the drop-down menu from the "Mobile Spay/Neuter" link.) Then you can give them away to friends, enemies, neighbors (with whom you are still speaking), family members or give them to the humane society.

Yes, it will take a little effort on your part, but at least you won't be breaking the law and you will not be tormented for the rest of your life about how you butchered these poor, harmless, lovely feral cats in your neighborhood just because they pooped on your petunias. It's the right thing to do.

The ball's in your court, sweetie-pie

[RustyGates]

April 13, 2005

Wisconsin residents OK hunting of feral felines
By Ryan J. Foley
ASSOCIATED PRESS
From the Nation/Politics section
Ryan J. Foley
ASSOCIATED PRESS
MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin residents ignored passionate opposition from cat lovers and supported a plan that would allow hunters to take out wild felines that kill birds and other small mammals.
Residents who attended the meetings of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress voted Monday night to allow hunters to kill cats at will, just like skunks or gophers -- something the Humane Society of the United States called cruel and archaic.
A total of 6,830 persons voted for the plan and 5,201 voted against it. Fifty-one counties approved the plan, 20 rejected it, and one had a tie, according to results released last night by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
At the Monday night meetings, animal lovers held pictures of cats, clutched stuffed animals and wore whiskers as they denounced the plan.
Katy Francis of Madison was one of about 1,200 people who attended the Monday evening meeting at Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. She wore cat ears, whiskers and a cat nose and held a sign that read, "Too Cute to Kill."
"The cat hunting thing brought me out because it was very extreme," Miss Francis said.
The congress, which acts as an advisory group to the DNR, asked residents in 72 counties whether free-roaming cats -- including any domestic cat that isn't under the owner's direct control or any cat without a collar -- should be listed as an unprotected species.
If so listed, the cats could be hunted, as they have been for decades in South Dakota and Minnesota.

[morganika]

Ha ha! I saw that article yesterday and I was considering posting it myself, but was afraid there would be an outcry of contempt for me!

I'm only going to say this one thing: Keep YOUR cat in YOUR house. I have a cat. I keep her inside. It's rude and unneighborly to allow your pets to roam.