yakalskovich | Fluffy little black animal

Moreover, as inbred as they are -- if you catch them early on and domesticate them, they make fabulous pets.

Now that's just nonsensical!

So you more-or-less have this feral colony churning out wonderful brand-name pets?

How very odd!

If only I could turn that into $$$$. *sigh*

Can't you just charge the new owners for expenses, generously so, that the next generation can be take care of?

The new owners pay for the shots, neutering/spaying -- which can run as much as $300 depending on the clinic. When the economy was better, Emancipet would come and neuter/spay for free. I did it for awhile (the clinic gave me a discount) but am too broke to continue. I am just grateful they have homes so that we do not have to pick their little bodies up off the road. I live near a major thoroughfare. :(

How many people are there, involved in finding homes from that colony of feral brand name kitties?

The colony lives on the 60-acres JCC lot (it used to be empty woods until they moved the JCC there and started building -- which is what pushed them to the edge of the woods, eg, my back yard!).

The ladies at the JCC feed them and try to find them homes as well.

How many cats are there, all in all, in that colony?

It's hard to tell. This is the city and we are surrounded by businesses on two sides and then large sprawling houses on the other. Some estimates put it at 250+. I rather doubt that since the coyotes (desperately hungry with the drought) moved in and have settled in the woods on the campus.

The Austin Humane Society recently captured, neutered/spayed, and released some 650 cats. Other organizations also work to prevent growth.

That said, one reason we feed even the ones we can't get near to catch is because they keep the rodent population at bay. When Round Rock exterminated their feral cat colonies, they were overrun with black "roof" rats. It was pretty awful!

We have no rodents even with the huge dumpsters outside the fast food locales full of rotting food.

Thanks to the feral cats!

Cats are very useful! Some people even believably co-blame the Black Death on medieval anti-cat superstitions. Cats were 'devil' animals and witch companions, and not welcome to the faithful; hence, cities were overrun with rats, which in turn were overrun with fleas etc. etc...

I remember reading that! The medical community in Round Rock came out and said not to kill the feral cats because the rats carried diseases!

Sure enough, Austin did not kill their population and our city is all but rat and snake-free.

When I first moved here and saw the business owners feeding the cats (I was charmed to see Siamese cats in the wild), I asked them about it and they told me the story.

I am a firm believer in feral cats but the kittens just deserve a better life! Every cat can produce something like 50 kittens in their short lives. I would rather have them fixed so they can get back to rat hunting. *grins*

I guess the ones you don't get still manage to keep the population stable and the rats down?

Does the Austin Humane Society have a web site about that amazing colony? It's a great story.

Blessings on your household!

I went in search of an article and found out they are doing free neuters/spays. <3

I am off to pick up some live traps to bring them in.

http://network.bestfriends.org/2956/news.aspx

And tomorrow is Friday! What a lucky coincidence.-

I know! Now if they will only go in the trap...

Will need tuna for that.

Tuna might be good.

Do you think you could post more pics of that little dustbunny? That little grey piece of fluff is seriously cute! I love how grey cats have grey noses...

This is even cuter! The Siamese one (she's all white right now, they grow into their markings) is skitterish (the Siamese ones tend to be that way). I can handle her but she doesn't come willingly (I have to catch her). So this morning I woke up and looked down --

and she was curled up on my German Shepherd's tail!!! (My dog sleeps right beside my bed). I guess she decided the bigger creature was her mamma. :D

Edited 2011-09-08 15:23 (UTC)

Awwww how utterly charming!

I know. <3 Keeper is such a good nanny. She takes care of all the kids at the barn and then comes home and watches over the kitties.

She's old now -- with glaucoma and arthritis but the most faithful companion in the world. I brought her with me from Canada (she was going to be euthanized there).

There is nothing better than an old reliable dog. I still miss the Metropolitans' big ole rottie who died in 2005...

d'awwwwwwwwwwww! (love the selling pottery pic lol)

Yes, I am dreading Keeper's demise, but just about the time I think she is done for, she rallies and goes romping around the polo field.

And last night she was busy watching the kittenpalooza in the living room.

Q was such a personality...

'Kittenpalooza' sounds slightly chaotic, though.

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idylchild.livejournal.com - 2011-09-08 15:46 (UTC) - Expand

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yakalskovich - 2011-09-08 16:08 (UTC) - Expand

I got my new pony in for training last night. :)

That's a pretty little white creature.

That is a BEAST!

Give me six months and that one will be unbeatable. :)