FERALS - or - What happens when you don't have your cats FIXED!

[Rayarena]

I want to give you are big Thank You for all that you are doing for these cats. Its wonderful that there are concerned and caring people like you out there trying to help these abandoned and feral cats. God Bless You!

[robbiethree]

NO animal deserves to spend its life in a cage.

And, just so you know, the (most likely) leader in a group of ferals is usually a female - called a "Queen", it is almost always a female. She makes the rules. NOT the males.

Please fix your animals and give them some freedom. You know they can't possibly be happy, ferals can NEVER be happy indoors without a LOT of work... usually months - if not - years.

[robbiethree]

And, please never force an animal who is healthy to live in a cage!

[SailingShoes2]

Wow!! Did anybody get a head count?

Hope they are doing well!

[lclagu]

I'm caring for two feral cats, i feed them everyday. I will get them neuter soon.

[robbiethree]

They are going to be completely different - behaviorally. Don't wait until you can manage them on  your own, find an animal organization that will provide you the help and advice you need. LOCALLY.

[Rubystars1000]

Excellent commentary in the sidebar!

[gVaiwa]

That's very good :) Now i see, they are eartipped!

[gVaiwa]

Are they fixed?

[robbiethree]

Definitely! That was the first thing I did once I learned that wild cats are immediately put down at the "shelters". I found a group that provided traps and I caught them all, one by one... if you will notice, their ears are tipped, this marks them as having a caretaker, in case animal control comes along and thinks they are strays. Collars are dangerous for a cat in the wild, they can get caught on things and strangle themselves. Ear tipping means they are fixed and have a caretaker.

[MeOnYT]

I know haw time consuming it is. I adopted a 3 year old feral and she hid from me for 6 months. It was 1 year before she would let me touch her. It's now 2 years and she is completely comfortable in the house and lets me touch her, pick her up and almost anything else. She is the sweetest, most well behaved cat and a great companion.

You are doing a great job.

[megadude610]

i found a brother and sister cat and they stayed for about two hours and when we went in they left in like 30 minutes i wanted them so bad.... ;(

[robbiethree]

Maybe the will return... if they do... I hope you will have them spayed or neutered so you won't have more little "surprises". LOL

[the117360]

I am a veterinarian and I must say that getting your cat "fixed" is the best thing you could ever do for you cats/pets!

I have made many customers happier with their fuzzy companions!

[OutdoorsBlackMan]

Is it really such a bad thing for cats to breed wildly?

[robbiethree]

Touchy topic. I say yes for good reason, I was saddled down with two litters born to feral cats. You decide... when the MOTHERS can't feed their babies... and you can.. that is all fine and dandy... until each one of the KITTENS begin to bring their babies to you.. and then the cycle continues... forever, or at least until you can't manage it all, monetarily. Within two years you should have ... judging moderately... at LEAST one hundred to feed and look after.

[bassetbaby67]

I commend you for what you are doing. I have recently heard of a group of people trapping, neutering/spaying and then releasing the ferrals & I think it's a very compassionate thing to do. These guys are just too cute!

[lilcountrygirl101]

thats alot of cattss haha. theyre cute!

[comrade904]

That is the cutest infestation I have ever seen

[TakeiChan]

lol

[newjerseyattitude]

It breaks my heart how many cats are born because people don't spay.We just built a cat enclosure for our rescued cats so they have the best of in & outdoor.A big hug for you,for all that you have done for your kitties.((HUG))and don't listen to the moron's who have no clue what their talking about.

[jtking2504]

Your video is gorgeous, sooo adorable, you're doing a great job looking after all those beautiful cats, keep up the good work

[naytarpy]

Good for you for taking care of all these kitty's. There should be more people like you in this world. xx

[KitterKittie21]

Reminds me of my house LOL! :P

I live in the country where cats get dropped off all the time. Sure you can take them and get them fixed but the next day you may have 2 or 3 more you've never seen. O_O....it's a tedious process so occasionally we'll take some in, clean them up, take care of them, and get them good homes. :)

But this is basically what it comes to when shelters won't take them and you can only do so much....*sigh*

[Lisann52]

Robbie, your cats are so adorable and vocal! I had to watch it again.

[violet2048]

The Humane Society has lists of animal clinic who do low cost spae and neutering. Just call. They will even help you if need to capture ferral cats. When a female comes into heat they are miserable for about 2 weeks and if they don't breed they will come into heat again with in 2 5o 3 weeks. This makes a very miserable life.

[ShornOfSpades]

teasing them. how mean. hehe

[robbiethree]

I wasn't really teasing them. I had to get them to come up so I could get the vid. They are feral (wild), and they will hesitate - unless food is involved. :-)

This morning I got to pet each cat (at least for a moment), they ran out of food overnight and they were feeling especially friendly towards me since I had a bowl of food for them. LOL

[ShornOfSpades]

haha. cute. your voice is so cool by the way. sounds like the voice from the tuscan milk cat advert. search for it. its funny times

[bunnyinskates]

Yes but make please do keep feeding them, and caring you know EVERYTHING! :)

We rescued all our cats as kittens from someones farm, had 2 cats didn't feel the need to spay and nuter. He ended up with 35 hiding in trees and cars hissing when people came near. Ours were abandoned from their mother at 4 days old and are sweeties but I do worry about the others.... The people were not all there. We called the SPCA but hell if they do anything, all they care about is saving their abused horses :(

[wiecherdinand]

stay away with youre poison for needing to put a sleep,do you think you are god,???????????????cats have more than some know.don,t they?and no its not good in some animalshelters to put the stray away,yeah sounds simple,be my gast!!!!!!!!!!!!it will follow you as long as needs,to get you insane? and thats whats worht it!!!!!!!!!!!would you like to put you in isolation for the rest????its the same.think wake up1

[robbiethree]

Please read what I wrote about this video, wiecherdinand. I don't think you did before you wrote this.

They were all caught and taken to the vet for vaccinations and are well and happy here. I didn't take any of them to a shelter!

These are wild cats, they are not pets, they would be killed if I had taken them to a shelter! I had them "fixed" and they are healthy and happy living outdoors on my land.

They have been loved and looked after, I did not abandon them.

[wiecherdinand]

listen their voices,the are more than angels,

[bleachtoshiro4]

HOLY CRAP (cat attack)

[rabbitsrock07]

aaaaahhh cat storm!!! *runs maniacally* oh dear, those are a lot of kittens! dearie dearie. Yes, bravo for fixing the cats! Kudos to you, my friend@

[TsukasaBaby]

you are such a sweet person... i agree with you in this matter, sterilization could help prevent the fate of these cats getting worse, just imagine if there are too many of them, and they started carrying and spreading disease, they'll end up in worst condition if you didn't help. I had take a care of kittens since 7 years ago, some of them have their fourth or fifth generation with us.

[robbiethree]

Winter shelter:

Sterilite containers ($4-5) cut entrance - top up so you can get into it later.

Line with sheets of styrofoam - top bottom sides, secure with duct tape.

Solar blanket (as 4 a pool -will be enough for SEVERAL shelters) OR use blankets/towels to wrap around the exterior, (don't use natural fiber items, they retain moisture). Secure everything with duct tape. Wrap everything with plastic, a shower curtain works, $1 for a clear liner, & again with the duct tape. Voila!

[robbiethree]

It may not be pretty but it may mean survival for them. These instructions are only meant for those of us who may not be handy with a hammer or who may not have the means to do better, this works, please do not line the insides with anything made of natural fibers, polyester plush lap blankets are excellent, they do not retain moisure and do not mildew. No water bowls inside, they tip over and wet the cat's fur and it might freeze.

[robbiethree]

Please don't trust any information that tells you to use HAY or BLANKETS, anything based on natural fibers. If you must, that is ok as long as there is no humidity or rain/sleet/snow... but you will need to go out and check daily. It's not worth it when you can buy a plush CHEAP blanket for 2 or 3 bucks.

If you have something to lean against the entrance, do.

If you have anything gridded to put on the ground to allow for dirty feet, do.

[robbiethree]

Notes: Do not place water bowls inside containers in cold weather, if spilled the cats will get wet and make things worse, instead use hot water and allow it to warm the frozen water, you will only have to stand there momentarily before the water is safe to drink.

[Foxfur]

Thank you sincerely for all your hard work with your sweet ferals! It's so hard to keep up with so many babies to care for but you're doing a great job with them. It's so nice to see that they trust you so much. I just wish more people would care as much as you do. :)

[robbiethree]

I don't think you understand, these cats were born in the wild, they are FERALS. If you don't fix them, they will continue to breed, and will eventually die of starvation because there are too many. I am taking care of these but I could not have managed vetcare, food, etc., for more. I did the responsible thing when I had them fixed. That is not selfish, selfishness is letting the problem get out of hand when there is a solution before more were born and left to fend for themselves.

[KrisKelly1970]

You are a wonderful person with a kind heart. I wish more people would take an active roll in helping to control the pet population. This is such a preventable situation. Thank you for sharing!

[plaidskunk]

I love what you've done for these cats. Hopefully anyone that is thinking about writing a nasty message to you will read this first. You have prevented MANY cats from having more unwanted litters. The problem was created by irresponsible neighbors. You stepped up to the plate as a responsible citizen. Next time someone says that anything you are doing with these cats is wrong... simply ask them what they do to help reduce the pet over population problem!

[kdawg7736]

how many cats are there? there has to be at least 10 or something around there.

[BossStrifeGixxer]

bloody hell thats alot of cats. got 4 myself

one is a russian or brittish blue (I personally cannot tell the difference), another is a long hair teal point simease that I rescued out of a barn (the first was rescued from an apartment complex in 0 degree weather in the parking lot when nobody claimed her. she was only a few weeks old and I took her in my car, put the heaters on her and her favoirte spot has been my lap ever sence)

[MSIslave28]

It is wonderful that you've spayed and neutered these cats and gotten them the care they need. I honestly don't understand why anyone would suggest you have them put to sleep considering what a responsible caregiver you seem to be.

[kikiidoggie]

When I see this many, I have to wonder whats happens to them if (god forbid) something happens to there owner.I have 5 myself, 4 were strays.

[kathyk214]

Well then if you feel that way maybe we should kill all the dogs for they are killing the cats and other animals as well. Don't get me wrong...I love all animals but it does not make sense to kill any animal just because of their predatory nature. There is a good reason for it.

Besides the number one killer of wildlife that impacts the eco-system is HUMANS not ferals or other wildlife.

[Bryan304]

omG!!! how much kittens do u have??

[robbiethree]

Quite a few! But they are each very unique and special to me. I can't imagine life without them now. It's hard to believe but I was very afraid of cats before these appeared. LOL

[robbiethree]

Again, these cats have had been spayed/neutered, have had all their shots, and are very healthy. I have shelters WITHIN my yard for them where they sleep and nap. They are loved for who they are, not what I WANT them to be. Man, Bean... I don't know what else you expect me to do. If you think they would be better off being put to sleep, you are very selfish.

[STICKSnSTRINGS]

Suggestion: put collars on them unless you want them to be mistaken for ferals.

[robbiethree]

Thank you for that suggestion, Sticks, but their ears have been tipped, so they are immediately identifiable to animal control. I had put collars on all but two, but they kept getting them off, I finally gave up. The ear tipping is good enough. But, I thank you.

[kathyk214]

They are ferals and it would be useless and even dangerous to put collars on them. Robbie keep up the good work!

[robbiethree]

Thank you again, Kathy! You are right, I went out one day and Miss Maddie-Catty had HER beautiful, pink, stretchy, nylon, adjustable, BREAKAWAY collar wrapped around her neck, around a leg, and she was completely panic-stricken, she tried to scratch and bite until she realized what I was doing. THAT was the day I took them all off, or at least the ones who still had them... but by then, everybody around me knew whose cats they were, and animal control was not an issue with the ear tipping.

[robbiethree]

Quote from Alley Cat Allies: "STRAYS have been pets. They're tame, friendly, and can be adopted into homes. FERAL cats are more like WILDLIFE... they can't be socialized, can't be pets, and are not adoptable".

[dezbean]

You should really trap as many as you can as quickly as possible and take them to animal control or SPCA. some of them might be put down, but it's better than having them breed over and over and over and get hit by cars or get sick. If you can find some of them homes, great, but there are already so many people going to pet shops and breeders, that good people sometimes have to put animals to sleep-- a choice between a good peaceful death and a slow painful one isn't a choice at all.

[robbiethree]

I live in the country. No risk of being hit by a car here. And they have all been fixed and have had their shots. They have a home - here. They are happy and doing well. :-) And NOBODY got put down. I spoil them relentlessly but these are not strays, they are FERALS. Ferals live outside, they are not pets, they are wild. I have just been able to become closer to these than what is normally possible.

[robbiethree]

I have thought about your response and I find it deeply disturbing.

Have you looked into "TNR"? It works. My cats are living, breathing, PROOF that it does. None of them are breeding, I took care of that as SOON as their ages and weights allowed, I am shocked that you are implying that ANY of them should be put down. The mothers were NOT my cats, they wandered up and brought their kittens, when I began to feed them, they stayed. They have a RIGHT to LIVE!

[sweetvegan74]

They are NOT Breeding over and over. They are fixed. As you can see in the picture Robbie has done very well for those cats! These cats are NOT strays but feral cats. Wild cats that prefer to live outside rather then inside. Do you think it would be more humane to have the cats put down or adopted so they would live under the bed for the next 10-15 years? They may look tame but Robbie is the ONLY person that they trust. As soon as a stranger comes the cats will hide.

[kathyk214]

These ferals are not sick and will be healthier than domestic cats that are not sterilized. Killing an animal just because they MIGHT get sick or killed is WRONG.

[robbiethree]

Thank you, Kathy, I appreciate it. I am beginning to feel overwhelmed with all the negative responses. :-(

[LyonZPath]

How wonderful that you love them and they know it Robbie. How else could wild cats be friends but by love. Wonderful. Thank you for making the world a better place..

Smiles,

Donna