Gatchamania.net - Print: Cat Woes

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Posted by Tengu on 01-10-2013 at 20:56:

Cat Woes

A feral cat has adopted dad...and has had kittens in one of his scrap cars.

She insists on catching live sparrows and brining them in for her family. (Who kept escaping from the Rover and now are in a dog cage in dads living room.)

Dad wants to send Tufty to the Cats protection when they pick up the kittens.

I think this is unfair, shes a feral cat, though she is very good natured, she doesn't bite or scratch, and she uses the litter tray (when shes not outside which even now is most of the time)

I told him that a neutered cat would keep other ferals away, and the cats protection have too many adult cats...after all, she has a good home with him.

But hes adamant to be rid of her.

I cant say much, its not my house. (I would have her and one of the kittens...but Im going to uni. I offered to pay for her Op too.)

How do we teach her not to catch birds?

The sad thing is Dad loves cats; he doesn't want her catching his birds, and he said it would break his heart when she does get old and he would have to take her to be put down (I told him that as a feral cat, like as not she would go away quietly and die.)

What can I do? I don't want to see Tufty betrayed, its not like shes a pet, she `chose` my father to live with.

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Posted by ElectricWhite on 01-10-2013 at 21:53:

I have an uncle who's never gone through life without 2 or 3 cats around because they are constantly adopting him. One thing he learned is this: the only way a feral cat will stop hunting birds is to have no birds around.They rely very heavily on the hunting instinct, even when there's lots of other food sources easily available. I'm sorry I can't give you the info you wanted to hear.

But another thought did occur to me -- do you think one of the people from Cats Protection could talk to your dad? Maybe he'll think twice about sending Tufty away if he hears what the situation is like for adult cats from the people who deal with this every day.

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Posted by Redbird on 01-10-2013 at 23:42:

I'm afraid EW is right. Cats instinctively hunt--there is no real way to prevent a feral cat from doing so. Frown

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