Every cloud has a silver lining
I know, a campy saying, but it’s true…
A few days ago some butthead dropped in the middle of the night on our property five feral cats. I know, because I heard the car drive up, saw the headlights in the window, heard the door slam. But the dogs kept quiet, the doorbell didn’t chime. I was bushed from the day’s activities so I fell back asleep.
5:30 a.m. during the feedings, I noticed 5 cats in the pasture. I had never seen them before and 2 years ago, I had the stray/feral cat population under managable control. These cats were gathered together, however I noticed two were giving each other the “controlling eye.” I surmised they were the clashing alphas, the others were either submissive males or females.
A black cat, small frame, narrow faced (female) peeked at me through the grass. Another larger, beautiful (though dirty) yellow cat, a golden boy, a white kitty and a gray and white. I tried to get close to them but they ran off.
Most of my traps are on loan. I had one left, I set it that night. Captured the white one. She was a mess. Her ears had been torn off (the surface flesh and a small section) suspect during the mating ritual (she’s very pregnant). I put her upstairs in the cat room. When I let her out of the trap, she twirled around and around my ankles, I thought she was going to fall-over! I call her Twirl. She is very affectionate, but then, her hormones are out-of control.
The next night, I captured Golden Boy. He was put in the introduction cage. He kept getting out! He had two fresh wounds on his head (courtesy of my alphas) when I finally discovered the escape hole and patched it. Once he was confined and couldn’t get out, he settled uneasily down. I call him RodneyD. A friend of mine, when she saw his glowering photo- said he reminded her of Rodney Dangerfield.
The following night, the trap was again set, but I came up empty. The grey and white guy is very trap savvy. I watched from a distance as he jumped on the trap, walked around it, lay next to it, pawed the food (or tried to) but he wouldn’t go in it! I tried all the tricks I knew, tuna, mackeral, canned dog food, dry dog food, stinky cat food. He seemed to gravitate towards the dry dog food (it has a stronger smell) not recommended as a permanent diet, but successful for hard to catch cats.
Although, he wanted the food, he wouldn’t go in. I happened to be talking to my friend Cimeron (Project Bay Cat Founder and Director) she told me to put a small amount of the dry food outside the cage about 2 feet away. “Use the paper bowls” she said. “Put both the foods in the same kind of bowl. Once the appetite is whetted, the cat looks around for more, sees the bowl in the cage and walks right in.” TA DA! Worked like a charm! Grey and White (no name yet, very feral) is upstairs probably baptizing the room as I type.
I haven’t trapped the other ones yet. I am simply out of rooms to put them in. My path has crossed with another woman who also rescues. She has ties to an organization that pays for spaying and neutering. They work with a vet who spays and neuters early! YAY! 2 pounds, is the minimun the kitten can weigh. Except for Twirl, the cats are going in on Weds to be neutered. I should have the rest of my traps back before that, so on Tuesday night I will set them all. I might trap a possum, a skunk, a coon but hopefully the other cats as well. They will go to the same place to be fixed.
I am so relieved! I still owe a king’s ransom to my vet for the last spays and neuters from late last year. I wouldn’t have been able to get these cats fixed for at least another month.
Going upstairs now to treat Twirl’s ears and see if the grey guy will come out of hiding and say hello (doubtful this early) there is feral written all over him.
And for the low-life who dropped these poor creatures off here. I wish for them- a nice stint on a fire ant hill buck -naked!