Aw, Momma cat is bacck!

[sfreeman8]

She was never our cat. She was a feral that showed up one day and stuck around for a couple years but never got pregnant until last year. Anyway, she was gone for a year. Yesterday, my husband came in and said, "Look who's back! The male cat." I took one look and said, "That's not the male. That's momma! And she's got another full belly" So, I fed her again, but she was a little skittish. She did follow hubby up to his garage and lay there until I let the Runt out (the last of her kittens from last year). She ran away.

This morning, Runt was carrying on trying to wake me at 5 a.m. I finally got up and went to leave her out when... there was Momma! I fed her and she allowed me to pet her, which was unusual. I opened the door to let Runt out, but Momma hissed at her. When she was finished eating, she started walking away and then turned and looked at me. I figured Runt wouldn't follow, but she did and Momma took off again. I did get Runt back by shaking the dray food bowl and she came running back so I put her back in the house.

I'm not happy about this. We don't need another litter of kittens hanging around. It took me 6 months to socialize the last batch and find them homes except for Runt. I hope I can catch Momma this time and get her fixed through a feral service but then, again, we got Runt fixed and having to keep her in the house in a cage for a week got her used to the house and now we can't get rid of her.

[betlynjua]

I'm so glad to hear that Momma is back.  If only these kitties weren't so fertile.  Before I got my brood spayed, neutered or otherwise altered, I would get a new batch of kitties every time I turned around.

They are so beautiful and I love them so very much but it is overwhelming.  I was going to suggest some type of Trap Neuter Return ( TNR ) service. 

In the area where I live, TNR is set up so that outdoor cats can remain outdoor but they have been spayed or neutered, vaccinated and examined.  Then they are returned to their habitat with the understanding that someone will be responsible for feeding and watering. 

It actually keeps the cat population down because the colony that remains can no longer reproduce and no other cats will come into the area. 
 

[pectacon]

I love animals and the kittens are cute but we have such a terrible and growing feral cat problem. They spread disease so our dogs aren't safe to be in their own yard. No one can afford to trap and fix a dozen or more animals and indeed it seems like there's a new litter every time you look. Does anyone know a way to repel cats without harm?

[bshee58]

Cats are at times good to have, but sometimes they can be a nuisance.

[sfreeman8]

I'm so glad to hear that Momma is back.  If only these kitties weren't so fertile.  Before I got my brood spayed, neutered or otherwise altered, I would get a new batch of kitties every time I turned around.

They are so beautiful and I love them so very much but it is overwhelming.  I was going to suggest some type of Trap Neuter Return ( TNR ) service. 

In the area where I live, TNR is set up so that outdoor cats can remain outdoor but they have been spayed or neutered, vaccinated and examined.  Then they are returned to their habitat with the understanding that someone will be responsible for feeding and watering. 

It actually keeps the cat population down because the colony that remains can no longer reproduce and no other cats will come into the area. 
 

I checked out all the TNR services with the last batch. i went through No Nonsense Neutering. We had to drive 30 miles but it was cheap. They not only spayed, but ear-tipped, tatooed, de-wormed, gave first rabies shot, flea treatment and nail trim, so it was well worth it and was a lot cheaper than the other sites I checked, even though I could have gone 11 miles to one. I just couldn't afford the other rates.

I also didn't expect Runt to want to be a house cat after being fixed. My Avatar shows Runt and her brother in the background and momma in the front. The brother stuck around until the night before they were both supposed to get fixed. Never saw him again. He never came back in the morning for food. I think he knew something was up. LOL

I'll need to contact NNN again or else TNR for momma when she delivers but I have no idea when, how many babies, etc. Our neighbor takes care of 19 ferals! That would drive me crazy!

[lmrbean]

We had a feral male cat that started hanging around our yard so we started feeding him. We weren't able to pet him but he did come up to our back door when he was hungry. This went on for about two years then we never saw him again. Hope he found another home!

[dwggs]

I wish you luck .. you must be a magnet for stray cats like I am .. LOL