Feral Cats, How to deal with them?

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Trap-neuter-release I think is the best way.

Has anyone noticed in India and Nepal you hardly ever see any stray cats? I thought this was very odd...

Not really. They just come out at night (I have seen some in Bangalore and Chennai; Pras has seen them in villages) and hide/sleep in daytime--cats are, by instinct, nocturnal stalking predators.

Certainly no shortage of foodsource (mice/rats/bandicoots--although prudent cats may avoid the last due to size; sparrows/mynas/city pigeons)

Stray dogs are another matter, and after having a terrifying encounter with one too many times in KTM I would advocate 'any means necessary'.

Agree--I've seen massive numbers in Bangalore, which even put on discordant "street symphonies". With these, better to use a 12-gauge shotgun if you have one.

(this shows EXACTLY how much of a chop_ that had-been model Maneka Gandhi is; while she's been known to advocate "catch-neuter-release" approach, her lack of clues on the first step make it like the infamous "bell the cat" fable).

Edited January 25, 2007 by CherryXS

[de_sjiem 0]

I"m all for the trap/neuter/release idea.. there are too many kittens being born right now..

However, I do feed the local stray kitties at our house.. Most are just neighbours cats who dont get fed enough, or are hungry when they are outside, but I do have a stray cat who eats here regularly.. We thought he was feral at first, but it seems he's just been outside too long.. He now is quite friendly to my husband and I.. although we can't take him inside because he doesn't get along with our indoor cats. I fully intend to catch him one of these days and have him neutered.. I've even named him.. (Sampson.. he's a pretty big cat..)

[nathmc31 0]

My parents live in an area in Wisconsin where this problem is becoming common. They even tried to pass a law to make it legal to shoot them. I think live traps, or trap-neuter-release programs are the best and most humane way of handling the situation. Really, what causes it is people who don't spay or neuter their animals and then the issue just multiplies. I find this happens a lot in rural areas where people get a cat to 'de-mouse' the barns and don't want to spend the money to get them fixed. And given a few years, you have kitties kitties everywhere.

Shoot them. This can be done in an humane way.

MR cat meet MR Remington 8/70 Shot Gun

[Caladan 19]

Don't feed them. That only makes more cats.

I wouldn't put down poison because the poison isn't going to discriminate between someone's pet and a feral cat.

Catch-neuter-release or the humane society; sometimes they have no-kill shelters, and well, even if not, better a quiet euthanasia than having feral cats running around.

[Alex+R 0]

My parents live in an area in Wisconsin where this problem is becoming common. They even tried to pass a law to make it legal to shoot them. I think live traps, or trap-neuter-release programs are the best and most humane way of handling the situation. Really, what causes it is people who don't spay or neuter their animals and then the issue just multiplies. I find this happens a lot in rural areas where people get a cat to 'de-mouse' the barns and don't want to spend the money to get them fixed. And given a few years, you have kitties kitties everywhere.

Ha I remember that attempt to make cat-shootin' legal. Fcukin' savages! I used to live in WI then... love Madison, take or leave the rest of the state...

[de_sjiem 0]

Don't feed them. That only makes more cats.

Not always.. Feeding can also turn feral cats into friendly cats.. The one I feed used to run away every time we came near him, but now he is very friendly and we can catch him, and pet him. I fully intend to catch him soon and have him neutered though.. not sure a trap would have worked anyways, since there is supposed to be one near here for catching feral cats and he is still here..

[Augustajim 0]

catch anf fixing them then releasing them in no way gets them out of the area trash cans. I feel if you catch them and they are not claimed they need to be destroyed.

I voted to feed them. There is no cats where I live but where my mother lives (in a very rural/farm area in PR) she buys a big friskies dry food bag and feeds them all. They eat and leave and don't even look in the trash or bother.

The funny thing is that she puts a couple of big plates and they all come and eat and when they are done and leave, the chickens/hens come to eat too! Ever seen hens eating friskies?? I didn't until I visited mom last summer!

Please don't shoot or poison them..

[raymaga 25]

I am NOT a cat lover, but neither could I harm them.

I'm just sick and tired of my garden beds being their "potty"!!!!

[de_sjiem 0]

catch anf fixing them then releasing them in no way gets them out of the area trash cans. I feel if you catch them and they are not claimed they need to be destroyed.

I voted to feed them. There is no cats where I live but where my mother lives (in a very rural/farm area in PR) she buys a big friskies dry food bag and feeds them all. They eat and leave and don't even look in the trash or bother.

The funny thing is that she puts a couple of big plates and they all come and eat and when they are done and leave, the chickens/hens come to eat too! Ever seen hens eating friskies?? I didn't until I visited mom last summer!

Please don't shoot or poison them..

Why do people think that animals who live outside and aren't claimed dont deserve to live? sure spay or neuter them so they dont become too many, but dont kill them just because there isn't a home available for them at that time... They are animals, they are capable of caring for themselves..

[Wild Wind 0]

Overseas cat makes a delicious soup you can also add chicken and a snake, which is considered a delicacy.

[almaty 19]

Overseas cat makes a delicious soup you can also add chicken and a snake, which is considered a delicacy.

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#######??????????????????????????????/ eating kitty?????????????????????????????/

[~*Maria*~ 1]

Feed them. Theyre good to have around, especially on a farm, keeps mice and rats under control

Edited October 23, 2007 by Maria~n~Dane

[Jason-Sasha 1]

Overseas cat makes a delicious soup you can also add chicken and a snake, which is considered a delicacy.

Absolutely!! I say we get rid of them. Hunt them. Put them on the hunter's list of prey. Then we eat them. Or give them to the needy. Scarves, food, etc. Kitties could be very useful!

[Mags 112]

Overseas cat makes a delicious soup you can also add chicken and a snake, which is considered a delicacy.

Absolutely!! I say we get rid of them. Hunt them. Put them on the hunter's list of prey. Then we eat them. Or give them to the needy. Scarves, food, etc. Kitties could be very useful!

I've recently heard that there is a new species called the Jason. A rare beast, it stalks around farms and tends to eat feral cats. Its meat is rather chewy though but don't let this put you off; if you tenderise it by using a mallet a few times the meat becomes quite sweet. Good for stews on a winter's night; serve with potatoes and some veggies.

[NavarreMan 10]

Obviously what your neighborhood lacks is a couple packs of wild dogs, that would even things out. Just kidding!!! Spay and neuter if you can. Definately spay if a female. Turn over to the SPCA if necessary.