People Sterilizing Feral Cats Stopped By

[bluemerle]

When you work in animal rescue (or, alternatively, social services) you see a lot of very very cruel things & you start to assume the worst of people by default. It doesn't justify treating people badly without evidence, but.

 

[pennyJo1960]

That is what they do most states now home the ones they can set the others to barns

 

[pennyJo1960]

No but thankfully as I worked to help paws back then the world was a more trusting place I bet I altered 100 or more cats for them we maybe put 25 down that would die horrible deaths infecting others but did it darn near free for them

 

[NewBoots]

I suppose that's a good alternative for the ferals. Fixed then set out as a working barn cat. Does that work even for cats that were city cats? Do they have the skills to survive in a more rural setting? You'd even have the chance to make friends with them and tame them if you were so inclined. We adopted a feral once that was amazed to find how nice human touch was.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Thing with that the cats where all feral never lived in a city myself sorry pure country here old and proud of it

 

[MROO]

I suppose that's a good alternative for the ferals. Fixed then set out as a working barn cat. Does that work even for cats that were city cats? Do they have the skills to survive in a more rural setting? You'd even have the chance to make friends with them and tame them if you were so inclined. We adopted a feral once that was amazed to find how nice human touch was.

Cats are among the most adaptable creatures in the universe. You'd be surprised how well they can adjust. Years ago, we moved our two suburban kitties out to the middle of nowhere. Once they got used to dealing with flyovers by "sparrows" (Canada Geese) bigger than they were, they LOVED it outside. It was all we could do to get them into the garage at night, let alone the house!
And as far as "taming" a feral goes, canned food is a wonderful equalizer. Most of our feral rescues (we've had many over the years) eventually discovered the pleasures of attention. They wouldn't suffer being picked up (they'd panic at that) and most would never willingly cross a threshold other than the barn's, but they LOVED to be stroked and hand-fed and always came when called. Saving a life comes in many forms - and keeping a barn cat is a great way to help!