Photos: Backyard Cats - Rescue Plans

[Die Fledermaus]

We have had too many backyard cats for too long, and too many litters.

I have mentioned this to some cat people - there are rescue groups - and this time we may take real action. This would be mostly trap, spay/neuter, release. The kittens would be socialized and adopted.

This can be an involved tricky process, and we shall see how it goes. I will do what I can, within my limitations.

I saw these adorable kittens yesterday afternoon from the laundry room, and we need to do something.



The kittens live in the pipe a lot of the time. It connects to the dryers and was very warm - great in the Winter for them.

There were likely four or more kittens. Mom is always nearby.

[Dezzi]

So cute! I wanna take one home.

[Die Fledermaus]

I want more than that.

More photos later. Updates to follow.

[Die Fledermaus]

This is what I saw today.

A problem with trapping them is they hide in that pipe when anyone gets near.

[Die Fledermaus]

Starting late yesterday afternoon, I saw neither the mom nor the kittens. I did not see them today. Perhaps the mom moved them some place safer. We shall see.

[Die Fledermaus]

I have checked several times in less than 24 hours, and the mom and kittens are still gone.

Of course there are adult cats around, and some cat people will check on this soon, and maybe some trapping.neutering or spaying/releasing (TNR) can be done soon.

I will keep you posted. The number of cats in the area is sad, and almost all are white with some black--likely all related.

[Die Fledermaus]

Located!! see photo. I spotted them a few hours ago. SIX kittens.

But I have no idea how the cat people will get the cats. We have to climb over a fence to get into that back yard and by then the kittens will surely have fled back into that area in the middle background where two are standing in front of. Once they go in there, and if traps are left out most will leave.

We shall see what the cat people say.

[Hamsters82]

Buy one of those traps and put a can of cat food in there. If the cat is hungry enough, he/she will walk on in, trip the mechanism for shutting the cat in and boom you've nailed yourself a cat/kitten. That's what I see the people do in the tv shows of ASPCA/SPCA.

[Die Fledermaus]

The cat people are bringing two traps, baited. But they are manually operated and someone has to stand there. Or something. They say it will take several efforts. We shall see. I hope I don't rip my pants climbing over the fence. I see them in an hour.

[Die Fledermaus]

The cat people saw the entire situation this evening.

Basically, owing to the near inaccessibility of the kittens, and their number, tomorrow they are going to try to contact people whose houses border on where the kittens are. We tried tonight with no one answering the doors.

That is where we stand right now. To be continued. . .

[Dezzi]

Poor things. That would be great if the people in the houses helped.

[Die Fledermaus]

Many already do by leaving out food, but unless we have some spaying and neutering there will be more breeding.

Now, GET THIS! Yesterday someone I know said there were TWO litters involved as TWO cats were pregnant. *shrugs* (see below)

Today, I am just back from a long long day at Grant's Tomb: the general and president's birthday celebrations with many ceremonies and honored important guests: more in Members Only much later. Then I walked three miles south along lovely Riverside Park seeing monuments and flowering trees in bloom, the Hudson River to my right.

BUT. . . when I got home I checked on the cats. They (the kittens) are back in the pipe (due to the rain?), but even odder was the sight of TWO adult cats around that pipe--both with almost identical markings! So, I guess there were two mothers, perhaps related.

We will surely be working on this area for a long time: capture, spay/neuter. release. If the kittens are caught soon they can be socialized and adopted out. It seems once an adult cat is feral it is too late. But socialized adult cats who become strays can be picked up and are adoptable.

I have a lot to do. Back to RR later. . . it's been a long day.

[Hamsters82]

If there were two cats how do you know it might not be the mother and father? If they're getting pregnant a male has to be around there somewhere.

[Die Fledermaus]

There are many males around! There are way too many cats. In just a casual walk back there I spotted in the immediate area six cats besides the mom and the kittens. that is why we must do something.

>> it might not be the mother and father <<

I figured two moms as I expected them to stay with the kittens, but the father, like guys everywhere, prefers to do his thing and leave! ;D

Today was a very cool rainy day. Nothing to do. All cats are hunkered down, probably in the dryer exhaust pipe, which seems to have been unused today.

[Hamsters82]

There are some animal species out there, don't ask me what they are as I don't remember, that where the mother will leave and the father will look after the babies.

So with the cats, you never know if one of them could've been the father is all I'm saying.