Neighbors Want to Kill These Cats
Donation protected
They have been here for 20 years, these cats of The Feral Cat Sanctuary. They didn't ask to be born here, but they were. It turns out it has been a great place for all 50 of them. Open space as far as the eye can see and the Pacific Ocean only a block or two away. But now two neighbors want them killed after all these years. The cats were here before either of them arrived; I know because I have been the one taking care of them.
Like all feral cats that live in a TNR (trap, neuter, and return) colony that have daily care which includes two feedings a day and any medical support they need; they thrive. They are happy, chunky, and healthy with beautiful coats and clear eyes. Some push past their "feral-ness" to become friends with me, while others remain aloof their whole lives. No matter what path they choose I love each and every one of them. They are spunky, independent little fur balls who band together in small groups to create their own family unit and, woe to the one who encroaches on their family!
I have a shelter structure for them to use when it is cold, but since this is California our winters are rarely freezing. After their morning feeding the majority saunter up to the "hill" within the open space to spend their day napping in the sun or chasing each other around in a game of hide and seek. I rarely see them in the community during the day until it is dinner time and they stroll down from the hill to eat.
Over the years I have worked hard to keep the community informed about the colony and the relationship of the cats to us. I have explained about TNR, how it works, and why it works and asked regularly for help financial or otherwise. But, the community shows no interest, except for one or two families. Though no one ever said they were unhappy with the cats, I have heard about the neighborhood's displeasure with the raccoons, skunks, and possums in the community as if I was the reason those creatures were here.
So, what made people want to kill them? I have no answer to that question. I wish I did. I wish I understood it. What I can tell you is that when I got word of what was going on, I knew I hadn't seen one or two cats for a few days. Then a neighbor told me her pet cat got trapped by some Wildlife lady and taken to the animal shelter, and that the lady had been trapping cats from the colony.
Luckily, I was off work that day and flew over to the county animal shelter. And yes, there was a rogue Wildlife lady there claiming the cats were destroying my neighbor's property and that she would trap and continue to trap for as long as it took until she trapped the whole colony.
The problem with this neighbor's front and back yards are they are a natural attractant to wildlife to use as their "litter" box since it is nothing but dirt. Not a tree flower or plant grows there. And while I helped her set up motion activated sprinklers that would drive the cats out of her yards, she didn't like them and turned them off.
Since I had always stayed in touch with County Animal Services, I couldn't understand why they seemed to be okay with the trapping, but there was a new Director at the shelter and she knew nothing about me or about the care I give to the cats.
Within a week I got word that all the cats would have to leave the area. It devastated me. I called into work to say I wouldn't be in the next day, and two days later I learned Walmart had fired me because of excessive absences. (I was one absence over the limit). To say that was the worst day of my life would not be an exaggeration! The sole reason for working at Walmart was to cover the cat expenses.
But, since I was apparently on a roller coaster ride I learned within the next few days that the County had relented after much discussion with County entities and decided the colony could stay. Within days, I had 8 cats back home in the colony. I am not sure who was happier them or me.
The County recognized, rightly, that eliminating a colony of cats creates a "vacuum effect" where new cats move into the void and so the original process of trapping and spaying and neutering must start all over again. Even removing just some can create the same vacuum effect, a known phenomenon in the wildlife kingdom.
Another known phenomenon is that if no one feeds the cats in a feral colony, they will not leave the area because it is their home. They will stay and try to survive on what they can find to eat. That creates the very situation that no one wants: cats feeding on birds and any other wild creatures they can find to survive. Well-fed cats in a colony couldn't care less about eating birds or other wildlife it is much too much trouble with all those feathers and things!
I would like to say that the crisis is all over, but it is not. The first cat-hating neighbor emboldened the second cat-hating neighbor and now she is actively trapping cats and taking them to the shelter. A friend asked her why she was doing it since the County would kill the cats and, she replied: "she didn't care, she wanted them gone".
So, until I can find a replacement job I am asking for financial help to feed the cats and to raise the money I will need to bail the cats out of the County Animal Shelter when they get trapped and taken there. I also have a large Veterinarian bill that I need to keep making payments on while I look for a job. I appreciate any help you can give for these remarkable feral cats and I know they are so appreciative too.
Like all feral cats that live in a TNR (trap, neuter, and return) colony that have daily care which includes two feedings a day and any medical support they need; they thrive. They are happy, chunky, and healthy with beautiful coats and clear eyes. Some push past their "feral-ness" to become friends with me, while others remain aloof their whole lives. No matter what path they choose I love each and every one of them. They are spunky, independent little fur balls who band together in small groups to create their own family unit and, woe to the one who encroaches on their family!
I have a shelter structure for them to use when it is cold, but since this is California our winters are rarely freezing. After their morning feeding the majority saunter up to the "hill" within the open space to spend their day napping in the sun or chasing each other around in a game of hide and seek. I rarely see them in the community during the day until it is dinner time and they stroll down from the hill to eat.
Over the years I have worked hard to keep the community informed about the colony and the relationship of the cats to us. I have explained about TNR, how it works, and why it works and asked regularly for help financial or otherwise. But, the community shows no interest, except for one or two families. Though no one ever said they were unhappy with the cats, I have heard about the neighborhood's displeasure with the raccoons, skunks, and possums in the community as if I was the reason those creatures were here.
So, what made people want to kill them? I have no answer to that question. I wish I did. I wish I understood it. What I can tell you is that when I got word of what was going on, I knew I hadn't seen one or two cats for a few days. Then a neighbor told me her pet cat got trapped by some Wildlife lady and taken to the animal shelter, and that the lady had been trapping cats from the colony.
Luckily, I was off work that day and flew over to the county animal shelter. And yes, there was a rogue Wildlife lady there claiming the cats were destroying my neighbor's property and that she would trap and continue to trap for as long as it took until she trapped the whole colony.
The problem with this neighbor's front and back yards are they are a natural attractant to wildlife to use as their "litter" box since it is nothing but dirt. Not a tree flower or plant grows there. And while I helped her set up motion activated sprinklers that would drive the cats out of her yards, she didn't like them and turned them off.
Since I had always stayed in touch with County Animal Services, I couldn't understand why they seemed to be okay with the trapping, but there was a new Director at the shelter and she knew nothing about me or about the care I give to the cats.
Within a week I got word that all the cats would have to leave the area. It devastated me. I called into work to say I wouldn't be in the next day, and two days later I learned Walmart had fired me because of excessive absences. (I was one absence over the limit). To say that was the worst day of my life would not be an exaggeration! The sole reason for working at Walmart was to cover the cat expenses.
But, since I was apparently on a roller coaster ride I learned within the next few days that the County had relented after much discussion with County entities and decided the colony could stay. Within days, I had 8 cats back home in the colony. I am not sure who was happier them or me.
The County recognized, rightly, that eliminating a colony of cats creates a "vacuum effect" where new cats move into the void and so the original process of trapping and spaying and neutering must start all over again. Even removing just some can create the same vacuum effect, a known phenomenon in the wildlife kingdom.
Another known phenomenon is that if no one feeds the cats in a feral colony, they will not leave the area because it is their home. They will stay and try to survive on what they can find to eat. That creates the very situation that no one wants: cats feeding on birds and any other wild creatures they can find to survive. Well-fed cats in a colony couldn't care less about eating birds or other wildlife it is much too much trouble with all those feathers and things!
I would like to say that the crisis is all over, but it is not. The first cat-hating neighbor emboldened the second cat-hating neighbor and now she is actively trapping cats and taking them to the shelter. A friend asked her why she was doing it since the County would kill the cats and, she replied: "she didn't care, she wanted them gone".
So, until I can find a replacement job I am asking for financial help to feed the cats and to raise the money I will need to bail the cats out of the County Animal Shelter when they get trapped and taken there. I also have a large Veterinarian bill that I need to keep making payments on while I look for a job. I appreciate any help you can give for these remarkable feral cats and I know they are so appreciative too.
Organizer and beneficiary
Sally Dwyer
Organizer
Moss Landing, CA
Feral-Cat Sanctuary
Beneficiary
