Posted on 09/27/2009 8:17:57 AM PDT by JoeProBono
I was attacked by a feral tomcat about 18 years ago, in my own yard. It couldn’t be located, so I had the series of rabies shots. Its behavior was entirely consistent with some sort of major brain/mental disorder. I eventually spotted it again months later, so it wasn’t rabid, but it was truly vicious, and went into attack mode like a crazed pit bull — it clearly couldn’t think about anything except trying to kill me. I got hold of one of its front legs and flung it into a cinderblock wall . . . and it came right back at me. Still have scars on my ankle from that incident — blood was spurting out like crazy, and I tied a tourniquet around my ankle and drove myself to the emergency room.
But I’m STILL a “touchy feely bleeding heart” when it comes to feral kitties, and prefer to see a trap-spay-release strategy employed. I keep food out on the porch for my own kitties, two of whom enjoy snacking outside (one is a former feral who I snagged and spayed just as she was coming into heat the first time). I keep a watch on what’s eating the food, and make sure any cats who are patronizing my free kitty restaurant get caught and fixed (and rabies-shotted) if they aren’t already. A few years back, a couple of my irresponsible neighbors had their cats disappear for a few days and turn up again fixed.
Spayed/Neutered and vaccinated feral cats released back to their local haunts also keep down the population of feral cats in general - natures way - competition for food - there is a set amount of food available in a given set of acres or vacant lots...the strong survive.
In you live in a rural or semi-rural area as I do in Texas - you will also have skunks, raccoons, armadillos, wild feral hogs, crows, ravens, turkey buzzards and even large pumas - plus a lot of coyotes eating most anything sitting still and some things moving.
I agree with your post... However, chemical sterilization via food can be tailored to cover both males and females... But for some reason those in power won’t do it....
I guess because someone’s pedigree animal might eat it or ? ... But it would work.
In Texas there has been a big surge in coyote hunting - I haven’t seen a pack of coyotes on my land in almost two years (used to be nightly in summer). but the feral cat population has increased...
Although it is not really a pleasant thought, I prefer natural methods of population control... predator/prey.
But alas the coyote population was getting out of control too... Chemical sterilization also works for coyotes. But it is not done - likely because of the same reason cited above.
Has nothing to do with "pedigreed" animals. Anyone whose "pedigreed" pet is wandering around loose AND not spayed/neutered, is obviously not concerned about its breeding potential. The problem is that all sorts of wildlife would also be susceptible, potentially devastating certain species and/or upsetting the ecosystem.
Yes - I knew of this - and agree... I’ll clarify... For those feral cats who come begging for food - where one can control the situation - then the use would be plenty safe enough...
Lots of feral cats - most of them cannot be approached - but will come to a place for food
I’m not suggesting that such chemical sterilizers be spread in wild life areas.... or left out unattended.
My 15 pound, 10 year old cat that we got as a freebie kitten in the lobby of Wall Mart just brought me a chipmunk.
The single best thing you can do for feral cats is rescue a couple of their kittens - when they are young enough to be socialized. I did. I adopted two sisters and they are 5 now and still the sweetest, adoring and most gentle creatures on God’s Great earth.
Joe, as far as rodents go, I do like chipmunks. They can play dead so well. The cats drag them in and you go to get the carcass and they spring to life and run all over the house for the next two days. But the flying squirrels are even more cute.
Nice goin’
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