I need Help

[Lunabell]

I could be violating TOS, I don't know. But the story is that i am currently feeding between 8-10 feral cats in Midway. Florida. I am happy to feed these fur babies. I am happy to do my part. BUT! The are reproducing at a rapid rate.This a very small community in rural Florida. There are no resources to help me. I want to catch and Spay/neuter these animals. I have 3 humane traps, but no resources to afford to spay/neuter these feral cats and nothing is in my area to help. I have set up a gofundme account and would like to advertize to get about $500 to spay/neuter these wonderful animals. Can you please help? http://www.gofundme.com/tcsdpw



I know about several cats. Two tortoiseshells, Mama cat and split face. There is a Tom, silver man. A couple of babies, Oreo and Jell Bean and Orange boy. Recently Mama cat and Splitface have had litters. When their babies are old enough i want to catch them. Spay/neuter and release. I need help though. My rural Florida community doesn't have any resources for this. I am an hourly waged nurse with a disabled spouse and can't afford to do this on my own. Please help if you can. I will use all funds to help these babies. Thank you.

[narnian60]

1. Glad to have helped.

Good luck with this. Caught a feral kitten just in time age wise 2 years ago. She is now my precious girlie girl.

[BrotherIvan]

2. Hi Lunabell

I trap-neuter-release stray cats in my neighborhood and I would like to help.

Are you in Seminole County? I found a link to some info that may help. If this is not your county, look on this page for other counties that have low cost spay/neuter. It will really cut down the cost. They might even be able to lend traps so you can bring in more at once.

SEMINOLE COUNTY $10 spay / neuter for Feral, Free Roamers & Community CATS for residing in zip codes 32701, 32714, 32750 and 32779 Altamonte Springs, Florida & Longwood, Florida during the month of SEPT at SpayNSave (988 N. Ronald Reagan Blvd. Longwood FL 32750)(www.spaynsave.org) to make your appointment call 407-920-4894 $10 includes spay/neuter + rabies vaccine + distemper vaccine. LIMITED SPACES! Info as of NOV 2014

http://www.spayflorida.org/Feral_Cat-Resourses.html

If there are kittens, make sure they are old enough that mama can be away overnight. They won't spay a mom that's feeding until the babies are a little older, so check out information for that. If the kittens are over 12 weeks, they can be fixed as well. A lot of times, depending on the size of your trap, you will get two kittens at a time as they like to stick together. That should be fine (check with the vet if you can bring them in the same trap--my place is ok with it).

Here is some good info on trapping if you haven't done it before.

http://fixnation.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/FixNation_Trap_Training_2012.pdf

Let me know what you find out. If you can get the cost of the fixing to be lower, I may be able to help you with the whole thing.

[TorchTheWitch]

4. You are so awesome!

Great info, too! I was really hoping someone with a lot of knowledge about this feral kitty help would chime in. And bless you for being willing to foot the bill if the price can go down some! That's really fabulous!

[BrotherIvan]

5. Aw shucks!

What's awesome is Lunabell jumping in with two feet!

I started doing it because my neighbors abandoned their cat outside when they moved. I had tried my best to get them to fix her after having two litters, but they wouldn't. I even offered to pay. I even thought about kidnapping her and getting her fixed and then returning her--figured they didn't care about her so they would never know. I should have. Because in short order, she had two litters outside before I knew it and then more cats moved in. So I hooked up with an awesome organization who does do the fixing for free and worked for months getting them all fixed or adopted out if possible. I still do it whenever a new cat comes through as I feed them everyday, but the population is very stable now. It's a lot of work but it is very rewarding. I've never gotten to pet or play with any of my ferals, but at least I know they have food and water and thankfully our weather in California is mild year-round.

So I know how much work it is and I applaud Lunabell for trying. I know there are a lot of awesome DU folk who have a lot of great info too and will chime in as well.

[tblue37]

23. TTW, people were worrying about how you were doing a couple of weeks ago.

I hope your situation has gotten better.

[TorchTheWitch]

30. thank you so much!

I've been as low as the underbelly of a snake for awhile that's gotten so much worse day by day since I'm playing a rigged beat the clock game with the stinking court. My slumlord/scumlord/landloon/Satan's spawn of a beast got an attorney and filed a Complaint against me in the same county court as my appeal but the Complaint doesn't even mention her eviction in district court or my appeal both of which she new of before the Complaint was filed. Not only that, she blames all the damages here on ME! I'm writing the Answer myself though I'm going to need to get no-cost attorney help since I'm not sure how much I should be saying about everything (including VERY interesting things about the scumlord that a couple of particularly fantastic DUer's ferited out for me!) in the New Matter part or if I should be doing a New Matter with a Counterclaim. I'm familiar with these since I did tons all those years I worked as a legal secretary and paralegal though I never new a thing about landlord/tenant legal disputes, and all the ones I did were mostly boilerplate or the attorney would dictate what to write on a dictaphone machine.

I also have to make a ton of copies since there's a HUGE amount of exhibits that go with it, and I've now got VERY little money to my name, and I know I'll need to get both color and black ink for my printer to do this. Yesterday I counted out what was in my change jar and was over the moon that I actually have about $35 whole dollars!!! Duer Texasgal was so great and donated money to my paypal account so I can get a bag of chow for Yoshi since he now only has a few days of food left.

I FINALLY got a case worker and met with her for hours yesterday, so I'm feeling much better about things. Together we still have to come up with $1250 by May 5th or 6th (I have to find out exactly which day is my last day I have to pay the court or the appeal that's been at least keeping a roof over my head, keeping Yoshi, and my stuff and also give HER time to dig up every resource she can find to keep helping me to get the hell out of here before I'd have to pay the court again. So, I'm REALLY scared that no matter what we do together we still won't be able to come up with the amount I have to pay the court or my whole life is just over... I lose a roof over my head with a bathroom, I lose Yoshi, and I lose every damn thing I own that I worked like a dog all my adult life for including all those things like personal papers, sentimental things from as far back as my childhood, my Dad's photographs that are almost all the artwork on my walls (my dad passed away in '98 and he was my hero), and on and on.

The total abandonment of my family has just been a knife in my heart that's been unbarable though one of my brothers has been helping me for weeks as far as getting me hooked up with the social services.

Social services SUCK SUCK SUCK sooooooooooooooooo much more than people who haven't had to deal with them especially in a narrow time frame can possibly imagine in their wort nightmares. And I live in PA not like Texas or Florida or some backward conservative state! It's also ridiculous that you're stuck with only what services there are in the county where you happen to live. There's so much more available if I lived in a more poor county than the one I do.

I think my case worker is awesome, and I was soooooooo afraid that it would end up being some git that didn't give a crap. She's a really focused go-getter, black woman whose age I can't tell, but she has to be a lot older than she looks just from some... er... gynocological things that we talked a bit about. I would have thought mid-20's but she just can't be that young. She looks like she could pass for a high school senior though. She also has a truly uncanny ability to read me that is almost scary she's so good at it. She really is everything I always wished I could be. She's truly an incredible confidence builder. Before she came over to meet with me yesterday I was about as down and hopeless as a person can get. But once she left it was like I almost back to my real self again though I'm terrified out of my mind that we won't come up with enough money to pay the court in just a few days. She can get me a little cash with her resources but I'm going to have to come up with the bulk of it and I haven't had any new ideas on that for days and days. She made me swear I'd do another humiliating begging thread here again today, and OMG, I'm absolutely dreading it. One of my neighbors suggested the pastor at her church as she's known him all her life, and her teenage son has always gone to school there. She said he's helped people out financially before, but I'm really nervous about that because I'm not a parishoner. I'm also really nervous about going begging there today because she's the most flighty person I've ever met (I always thought she had mental issues, and I think she's always been on SSI for it). I'm scared to death that she won't remember she told me this yesterday and also scared to death that her church won't help me.

I need to call the court to make certain whether May 5th or May 6th is the last day I have to pay them, so I'm off for now. Gods, I just have soooooo damn much to DO!

But thanks again so much for asking about me!

[tblue37]

31. I'm glad to hear that you are making at least some progress on your case, but sorry to hear that

you still face so many obstacles. Maybe you could post this as an update thread so everyone who has been concerned about how you are doing will know. Also, some might want to donate a bit more to your GFM page to help with that $1250 you have to come up with by next Wednesday or Thursday. I will drop by your page and add a bit when I go to help the cats in the OP.

[Lunabell]

7. Gadsden County

One of the poorest in the state. No funds available for spay/neuter of feral cats. Thank God Silver man is looking better lately. He had a neck injury a few weeks ago, probably a dog or other wild animal. And you know feral Toms, they don't live long or very healthy. But recently the neck wounds have healed and he has picked up weight. I think he is the daddy to all my kitties. Oh and, none of these cats will let me come close or even hardly look at them. Feral. poor babies.

[BrotherIvan]

8. Yes, ferals won't let you touch them

They won't even meow at you and will stay silent in the trap. They don't know how to talk to humans. That's the first sign a cat might be adoptable, if they meow at you.

Here is information for Gadsen

GADSDEN COUNTY as per the Gadsden County Humane Society, spay / neuter assistance is available via Be The Solution, Inc. spay / neuter voucher program. For information to spay / neuter dogs call [phone] and for cats call [phone]

It looks like they give vouchers so cats are only $5 a piece if you can show proof of need. Call them and see what they can do for ferals (it is in the county/city's best interest) and if they take them in a trap.

There's still hope. They even have a van that goes around, but it doesn't mention your town. But talk to them because they will help you with resources.

[Lunabell]

9. BTS

Proof of need means you have to be on an assistance program and they give yo a voucher. It will cost you $20 not $5. Anyhoo, I contacted them and because I am not on assistance, Food stamps or other assistance I don't qualify. I have about 8 feral cats thet need spay neuter release. At aobut $75 to $85 each ((includes shots), I just can't afford it all on my nurses salary.

An anonymous donor put $50 into my account and I am so happy. I am on my way to getting all my feral babies spayed/neutered!!!!!!!!!

[BrotherIvan]

32. Ok, I will donate

Please let us know how it goes. Good luck!

[Lunabell]

14. I have 3 traps.

And some cans of sardines. These guys are used to me. I can't come near them, but they hardly run anymore when I look at them eating on my front porch. Still skittish, but i have been trying to get them used to me.Will put the traps out to get them used to them at first, then I will bait them. I want to be able to afford to get them all don as soon as I catch them.

[TorchTheWitch]

3. I think you might get a better response in the Pet Group

There's a lot of posts there about helping feral kitties as well as resources for getting spay/neutering done for cheap or free and all kinds of great info on trapping, etc. There's a number of people in there that help feral kitties as you do and are very knowledgeable and helpful. I'm one of the hosts of the Pet Group and know you will be very welcomed there. As far as I'm concerned it's just the bestest group on DU... very loving and caring. Unfortunately, I know just about nothing about kitties personally (I'm allergic, sad to say), but lots of people there are very familiar with issues concerning help for feral kitties and would be happy to help you in any way.

Here's the link to the Pet Group...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1161

I'm really sad that your area has no resources for your feral kitty issue, and I'm so glad that you are feeding them and working so hard on this project! Is there any way you would be able to adopt out at least some of the kitty babies when they're born and are old enough to leave their kitty mommies? The life of a feral kitty is just so harsh, and it just makes me so sad for them! Every domestic animal should have a good and loving home where they are well cared for.

[BrotherIvan]

6. Great idea

And the sooner you catch the kittens, the better so perhaps they can be adopted out.

[Lunabell]

11. These guys are too feral.

By the time they come up to the house to eat solid food, they are 8-10 weeks old. Too old to tame. Very skittish.

[RiverLover]

15. I've rescued about 20 feral cats, all ages, over the years.

Its a myth they can't be tamed.

It just takes patience. The really hard part is finding homes for them afterwards.

There are way more cats out there than available homes. I'm so glad the poster is doing this!

[Lunabell]

16. That is heartening

Once I can spay/neuter i will think about taming. Until then i just want them to quit reproducing.

[RiverLover]

18. That is so great. I've done the trap/spay/release thing, & its WORK, but so rewarding to know

you're a least making a small difference in the massive overpopulation problem.

I think its criminal that vets charge such a high price, esp for neuters. But that's another thread!!

Will be contributing to your cause & I hope many others do as well, Lunabell. Cat lovers everywhere thank you!!

[cwydro]

24. Me too, I've tamed quite a few over the years.

All three of my current cats were feral. Ever yone is a little love-bunny now.

In fact, Peach is trying to help me type this.

[IVoteDFL]

27. Agreed. Total myth!

I discovered a colony of feral cats on my in-laws farm. At first they just took off around any humans, but I started feeding them everyday in the barn and just patiently sitting about 10-15 feet away. The kittens came first, but eventually the mamas came to eat too. I just sat there and talked to them and moved slowly. Even one Tomcat in particular became very friendly and would rub against me just as a house cat would. He would meow outside my camper door and wait for me in the morning to come to his barn and feed him.

They are very tame now. I pet them, do a tiny bit of grooming, the Mamas now come and show their babies to me every spring. I don't know if this is a way of showing that they trust me, or are trying to tell me they have extra mouths to feed, but it makes me smile.

[tblue37]

25. I spent a few months last year cuddle talking a young adult feral boy cat.

I finally managed to lure him close enough to pet--and then I grabbed him and adopted him. He was about 18 months old when I brought him in to join my 3 girl kitties, and he is very loving with me, and best friends with my youngest (a 4-year-old Siamese).

IOW, *some* ferals can be domesticated past the normal cut-off age.

[Lunabell]

10. I haven't seen to newborns.

The mommies have them squirreled away somewhere. I don't usually see the kitty babies until they are too old to adopt. By the time they come around to eat solid food, they are too feral and skittish.

[PowerToThePeople]

12. not sure about your area

But I can drop off cats at the shelter without charge. I do it several times a year, since my neighborhood is overrun as well.

[Lunabell]

13. I could catch them and drop them off at the shelter

But they would be euthanized. i have grown so attached. I couldn't let that happen. They all have names. They are so beautiful and fat and healthy now that i have ben feeding them for a few years. I just need them spayed/neutered so they don't keep having babies.

[Ms. Yertle]

17. There are like-minded people in your community

If you can find them, you can form an organization, get your 501(c)(3) and apply for grants. Yes, that takes time, but while you are waiting for all the legal/government crap to get straightened away, you can fundraise. Feral cats are a huge problem in many communities, and there are people who would gladly donate to your cause.

As a group, you could probably find a vet who would give you a discount.

Don't limit your actions to the kittens, though. You must also see to it that the adult cats are also spayed or neutered, or the problem will continue.

Good luck with your efforts!

[Lunabell]

19. Yes, thank you

I will catch, spay and release the older kitties. They're the ones who are making babies!

[TorchTheWitch]

21. What a fantastic idea!

Never in a million years would I have thought of the organization and applying for grants idea... and it only takes a very few people to make an organization (maybe even only two!). I'm really glad you brought this up.

[Ms. Yertle]

22. We have one in our town

It works closely with our local no-kill animal shelter. The vets here are willing to spay kittens very young, (before they become feral) and the shelter will take the adoptable kittens.

Animal lovers are dedicated, passionate, and very rarely take "no" for an answer!!! When they work together, good things happen!

[tblue37]

20. As soon as I get home later I'll send a bit your way.

Our local shelter and the Leawood, Kansa, rescue group I adopted one of my cats from in 2005 are my main charity targets. I am all about helping with animal welfare efforts. I can't afford a lot, but I give them what I can, and I will donate to your efforts, too.

I teach college as a full time long-term adjunct lecturer (no tenure, pretty low salary, though better than for part time contingent adjuncts, plus with health insurance and pension). This means no income from the end of May to the middle of September.* At the beginning of October my fnances ease a lot. I am telling you this because I hope you will post for help again in the fall, when those of us who live on a teacher's financial schedule will be able to offer more help. I will forget if I am not reminded, but I don't want to forget. I want to help.

[Sunlei]

26. I recomend providing your vets name and the cost to spay/ neuter. go fund me takes 8%.

I would donate directly to a vet who also should give a discount for feral spays/neuters and give the eight cats their vaccinations.

[Hiraeth]

28. ^ That is an excellent suggestion!! ^

[csziggy]

29. There used to be an organization in the Tallahassee area that rehomed barn cats

Or ferals as barn cats. I'm getting ready to go out of town for a week but when I get back I'll check with some people I know who were in contact with the group. The barn cat group used to advertise on Craigs List but I don't see any ads now. They had a local vet who was working with them to vaccinate, worm, and spay and neuter the cats before they were relocated. You could try calling Tallahassee vets to see if anyone knows who that was.

Also, contact the Leon County Humane Society - they used to work with other counties on taking cats from other counties. One of the cats I now have was born as a feral in Wakulla County and turned over to Leon for a better chance to be adopted.

I'm going to be able to find this thread when I get back, so will try to get with you then.

I wish I could help - I'm going down state to see my Mom who just broke her hip.