Barn cats

[buck1032]

The past few years I have been struggling to keep the feral cat population under control here around my house. Someone dumped a few house cats on our dead-end road and well you can guess what has happened. Last year I took 14 to the Bradley County ASPCA. I just got off the phone with them and they are at capacity and asked if there was anyone I knew that needed barn cats. I don't, so I figured I would ask here. Anyone in the S/E corner of TN need any barn cats? I have caught three today and know of three more that need to be caught.

[peejman]

Look into low a cost spay/neuter service.  Sometimes it can be a cheap as free. My mom used to volunteer for one in Soddy.  If they're a nuisance, call animal control and they'll dispose of them. 

[buck1032]

10 minutes ago, peejman said:

Look into low a cost spay/neuter service.  Sometimes it can be a cheap as free. My mom used to volunteer for one in Soddy.  If they're a nuisance, call animal control and they'll dispose of them. 

The ASPCA pointed me to Dixie Spay and neuter. Seems its $40 an animal. Not sure I want to bear the price for these critters that I don't want on my land. Would rather just be rid of them. I don't want to kill or harm them, just want them gone. They have decimated the rodent population, as such I haven't seen snakes this year, no hawks in my woods either. Have only seen one fox in my game cam this year and no yotes. The feral cats have taken over as the alpha predator. I was going to use the 10?22 but the wife isn't a fan of that idea.

Edited June 22, 2016 by buck1032

[peejman]

I'm an animal person too, but feral cats cause all manner of problems. As you said, they eat nearly everything and run off other, more beneficial critters. I hope you're able to find homes for them, I'd request a condition of taking one to be that it gets fixed. If not....  SSS.  

[buck1032]

I hate to stress ASPCA but I cant really afford to pop $40 each on these guys right now. So far, not takers and I am not going to keep these cats cooped up too long. Tomorrow afternoon they will get taken in if other options don't open up.

[Murgatroy]

I have a neighbor that takes in feral cats. I can't believe that the neighborhood still has rabbits, but we do. There is a local shelter that does their spay/neuter at no cost. If you asked around locally, you might be able to find one. I understand not wanting to have them around, but if you don't want to SSS it is the humane solution. Or the ASPCA. As it is the legal version of SSS.

Myself, I don't know that I could do it, as I am an animal lover, but it does burn me up when someone isn't responsible enough to maintain their own pet population.

 

Speaking of, I have a kitten that needs to be gelded...

[buck1032]

I am looking and asking around if anyone wants them. These are 5 kittens and 1 momma, all feral. They are not overly aggressive, but they are not ready to be housecats either. These cats have run amok the past few years. We haven't had hawks in our woods, haven't seen but one 'yote, and one fox this year. Very few chipmunks and no snakes this year. These cats need to go. Last year I took in 12, my neighbor took in 10.

[CTolliver]

If you're coming to Knoxville soon, I'll take one of the kittens.

[buck1032]

2 hours ago, CTolliver said:

If you're coming to Knoxville soon, I'll take one of the kittens.

I just got home from taking them to the SPCA, sorry.

[CTolliver]

No problem.