Community Cats (feral) Colony help
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Hello everyone! My name is Laura, I live in Orlando Fl, and I have managed a community cat (also known as feral, but I am trying to re-brand) colony for over 11 years. I could not even tell you the amount of cats that I have TNR'd, rescued, adopted, the number of kittens that I have fostered and found homes for over the years, and I still have a fairly sizable colony of about 20-25 cats. I have always tried to be a very responsible caretaker. Any time a new household moves in to my part of the neighborhood, I provide information about the cats, show that they have recent rabies vaccines, and offer information about the TNR process as it is sometimes necessary for me to ask that same new neighbor if I can set a trap in their yard. I have been financially responsible. I provide cat deterrents, if wanted, and have paid for minor claims of property damage. Over the 11 years, I have had exactly 2 complaints ever made about the cats, and for the most part, the colony is fairly fat and lazy. New cats show up all the time, and as any caretaker will know, managing a colony requires constant diligence.
Now, after all this time, my colony as well as other colonies in the neighborhood are under threat.
I live in a pre-manufactured home community, so I own the house but not the land it sits on. New property management have a very different view of the feral cats, and as a result, I have been served a notice of eviction for 'feeding stray cats', and they plan to trap and kill all the cats. I am 'not allowed' to feed the cats, nor am I allowed to continue any TNR process, because trapping involves food. This is a story all in itself, and not the reason I am here.
The monetary impact of managing a colony is substantial. I spend an average of $200/week on food, plus an additional $100/week for spay/neuter, medicine, flea control, upkeep, etc. Because of this, and the fact that I now need to save money to hire an attorney to fight the eviction, I am asking for help.
Yes, I have every TNR and rescue group in my area trying to get the property management to understand that trap and kill is not going to solve the problem. The PM Company has thus far been very unresponsive and seem to be content to allow these cats to go without food or water. I find the unnecessary suffering more disgusting than the idea of trapping and killing.
I desperately need to save my colony and the other colonies in my neighborhood. There is an area off property, about 500 feet away, that I am trying to discretely investigate as a possible new feeding location. Relocating a colony is not necessarily difficult, but it is time consuming and rather expensive. I am also asking for funds to purchase materials to build new shelters. Lastly, as I hope to "Pied Piper' as many cats as possible to feed and trap off property, the current budget I have will not be sufficient.
Some will come inside to eat, but not all of them.
Some recent kittens
Thank you for reading, and thank you for any consideration given. I had no idea how much to set the goal for, so I hope it is not a ridiculous amount.
Now, after all this time, my colony as well as other colonies in the neighborhood are under threat.
I live in a pre-manufactured home community, so I own the house but not the land it sits on. New property management have a very different view of the feral cats, and as a result, I have been served a notice of eviction for 'feeding stray cats', and they plan to trap and kill all the cats. I am 'not allowed' to feed the cats, nor am I allowed to continue any TNR process, because trapping involves food. This is a story all in itself, and not the reason I am here.
The monetary impact of managing a colony is substantial. I spend an average of $200/week on food, plus an additional $100/week for spay/neuter, medicine, flea control, upkeep, etc. Because of this, and the fact that I now need to save money to hire an attorney to fight the eviction, I am asking for help.
Yes, I have every TNR and rescue group in my area trying to get the property management to understand that trap and kill is not going to solve the problem. The PM Company has thus far been very unresponsive and seem to be content to allow these cats to go without food or water. I find the unnecessary suffering more disgusting than the idea of trapping and killing.
I desperately need to save my colony and the other colonies in my neighborhood. There is an area off property, about 500 feet away, that I am trying to discretely investigate as a possible new feeding location. Relocating a colony is not necessarily difficult, but it is time consuming and rather expensive. I am also asking for funds to purchase materials to build new shelters. Lastly, as I hope to "Pied Piper' as many cats as possible to feed and trap off property, the current budget I have will not be sufficient.
Some will come inside to eat, but not all of them.
Some recent kittens
Thank you for reading, and thank you for any consideration given. I had no idea how much to set the goal for, so I hope it is not a ridiculous amount.
Organisator
Laura Paschall
Organisator
Orlando, FL
