8 Unwanted Cats

dublon

Hi,

A friend of mine living in Dublin 7 has 8 unwanted cats.

It all started when a cat came along one day and started living in her back yard. She ended up giving it a little food now and then, and, before she knew it, there were 4 cats living in her back yard. They seemed to be a family of one mother cat and 3 kittens.

My friend didn't know what to do and didn't want 4 cats, but the cats had decided her yard was their home, and she couldn't bring herself to not give them any food at all so she continued giving them a little food. Eventually a cat charity she contacted for advice suggested she get them all neutered and this would stop the family growing at least. She did this. However she now has 8 cats living in her tiny back yard full-time because another 4 have joined the colony. It is a situation that cannot go on. The mess, noise and hassle they are causing her (and her neighbours!) on a daily basis is too much.

My friend is ripping her hair out at this stage. She knows this situation is partly her fault for feeding the cat in the first place etc, but this doesn't change the fact she has found her life taken over by stray cats at this point.

I need to find a sane, practical, cheap and humane solution to get rid of these cats. I can't seem to find any cat charity in Ireland that takes unwanted cats like this. What can I do?

Thank you

MsFifers

I see sometimes on irishanimals.ie that cats are sometimes advertised as outdoor cats/barn cats etc. You could try putting up an ad. there. If all the cats are neutered it might be a bit easier to find someone to take them.

Its v. hard to get rid of outdoor, adult cats. Everyone wants a cute kitten.

I know I might get berated for saying this, but one option is to have them humanely put down. I wouldn't be able to do it myself, but I know some cat charities actually do this, especially if its clear the cat is living a miserable life, slowly starving to death.

dublon

Thanks MsFifers.

I will have a look at the website you suggested.

Any suggestions for how best to get them put down would also be appreciated. I know this isn't something everyone would agree with, but I think it might be the only option. I was already thinking it to be honest, but I didn't want to post here asking for information on getting cats put down before I'd asked if there were any other options.

I'm sure in some countries like the UK there are cat shelters that take cats like this gang in, but I really can't seem to find any in Ireland.

dublon

Forgot to say I think there are a couple of kittens if anyone is looking for kittens. Also my friend already had the older ones neutered so there are neutered ones too if anyone is looking for a neutered cats.

Also, the cats are not currently in a bad way, in terms of starving to death etc, because my friend is giving them food. It is just that she has got herself into a situation that can't go on, as she can't have 8 cats living in her yard, not to mention if she doesn't act now presumably the colony will continue to grow!

I think some of the cats are quite tame and would like to be domesticated cats if possible, whereas others are quite wild and would probably prefer an outdoors life.

sickle

I'd also try cats aid,

http://www.catsaid.org/

dublon

Hi,

Unfortunately we've tried Cat's Aid, but we can get any reply from them (We send an email 3 weeks ago after not being able to get them on the phone). We also spoke to the Cat’s Protection Society but they are not able to help us re-home these cats.

My friend has given me some fuller information about the cats in case anyone reading wants a cat.

The first cat that came was a wild female cat. This was 2 years ago. It then transpired this cat had a young son and two younger kittens hidden away, which, in time, also came. The mother quickly became pregnant again making it a family of six cats.

At this point my friend realised she had a problem on her hands and started contacting cat charities with a view to hopefully getting the cats re-homed. However nobody she contacted could offer any help.

My friend them paid to have all the cats neutered/spayed (4 males, 2 females) fearing that if she didn't the situation would just get worse and worse.

With the exception of the mother perhaps who is still quite wild, all the cats are 95% domesticated, though still sometimes nervous with strangers. They want to be fed and kept, they love stroking, and are clean, very intelligent cats, nice natured and very loving towards one another. All are in excellent health. Because these cats are so close to each other, I expect they would love to stay together in some way, perhas pairs, if this were possible.

One of the young ones disappeared when he was about tenth months old – he was a very handsome fellow - and we think someone locally may have taken him for their pet.

This left 5 cats. My friend would love to see these cats go to good homes. She does not desire to keep any of these cats. However she does feel some responsibility for them.

However what has brought things to a head is that three more cats have joined them in the last few months.

First there is a local stray male, who is an abandoned, fully-domesticated, neutered cat of about 5 years, who clearly just wants a home of his own.

Then one of the cats found and adopted a kitten of about six months of age, and this week that kitten has brought a twin. We don’t know how many more there might be and what sex the two kittens are, but the next thing is that they could become pregnant.

Unfortunately my friend is living in a tiny house with a tiny yard and working a low paid job. She simply cannot maintain 8+ cats. The 5 she already had was the absolute maximun she could possibly maintain, so the new hangers on will simply have to go.

I am looking for re-homing for these new kittens, the 5 year old neutered male, plus my friend would glady see any of her original 5 go if a good home was available to them. Failing me being able to find any homes for these cats, I need to get them put down, so I would appreciate suggestions as to how to get this done humanely, and cheaply because my friend can't afford much.

I can get photos of the cats and fuller descriptions if anyone is interested in taking any of these cats. I think the two new twin kittens are white in colour.

Thanks

MsFifers

You would definitely be in with a chance of someone taking the kittens - but move fast before they get too big! Photos are essential and then put them up on irishanimals.ie, here, in local vets, shops, and anywhere else you can think of. (Your friend should ask a lot of questions of whoever is taking them though! Just in case.)

lily4

It sounds like most of these cats are quite domesticated and could be rehomed.

Please don't put them all down unless it's a last resort.

Could you post on irishanimals.ie and http://petsireland.invisionzone.com/ to see if anyone on those sites could help you.

dublon

Thanks, I'm off to try to get photos now, and then I will post on the other sites suggested also.

lily4

Definitely put a plea out.

My last post should have said , please do not put these cats down at all

Best of luck

The Sweeper

Please don't put the cats down. There is no reason to put down a healthy animal before you really try every last resort to find them a home.

Trust me, I appreciate how much work a lot of cats can be. I own four cats and foster and socialise wild and semi-wild kittens and abuse cases for my local no-kill shelter, so there are usually nine cats of varying ages in my house at any one time. Cats will breed like rabbits given the chance, and unfortunately by providing food and security your friend has provided that chance (though even if she hadn't they'd have found somewhere else.)

Take pics, list on websites, put fliers up in the local supermarkets and newspapers.

Specify that the animals are neutered and friendly. Also point out that you have considered having them put to sleep and really need people to adopt them and give them a proper, loving home.

Plenty of people will take on an adult cat because they prefer a calmer animal - I would go as far as to say it is easier to rehome an adult cat than an adult dog. It's just a matter of finding those people.

Enlist the assistance of local vetinary clinics - people who visit the vet are already animal lovers, and may be persuaded to take on one of these cats when they realise the situation they're in. See if you can post fliers at the vet's practice and ask them to help with advice and guidance.

Go through every animal welfare agency you can find.

See if you can locate someone who runs a not-for-profit cat shelter that isn't a registered charity - there are a few "crazy cat ladies" out there who might be able to help you.

Throw yourselves on the mercy of the local vet regarding the unneutered cats, or yes, your problem will literally grow.