They don't want people feeding feral cats because the more nourished they are, the more kittens they can have. Each new kitten can result in dozens of additional feral cats in a few short years. It can turn a small problem into a massive problem.

I don't think I could watch them freeze or starve either so I would do the same that you're doing. Catching them and getting them fixed is really the best solution but that can cost money. There are some low cost spay and neuter resources out there. Have you tried reaching out to other organizations? Look for trap and release.

I would take pictures and post on their Facebook page and maybe that will prompt some action. It's nice of you to want to care for them.

I think it is very kind of you to feed the cats and give them shelter. I would keep calling the humane society and spca if you have one. Someone should come and see about them. I couldn't watch them starve, I don't care what anyone says.

I live in an area that if you feed animals they are considered yours but not all areas have that law. I have been ticketed but that was at my old house. From your post it sounds like you live in a rural or semi rural area. Do you have a local animal control unit? If you do ask them. Also ask them or your/a vet if there are any catch and release groups that are in your area. Some vets will provide neutering but not spaying at little or no charge if asked. Spaying females takes more time and resources which is why is may cost more.

Last cat I had spayed in 2010 was over $400. Except for the one that I am trying to get used to people touching all the ones that have wandered in and stayed have all been fixed. With luck I will get him neutered next month.

I think what you're doing is great. I would take everyone's previous advice to ask about feeding & ownership in your area but right now, cheapo food & shelter is the most important action. Facebook and maybe a Go Fund Me page could help with food & spay/neuter. If you don't do something now you'll notice a larger population come spring. You need to be dedicated but sounds like you already have a plan in motion!

It seems most of the trap and release programs are about $30-$40 per cat, which is a good deal but unrealistic if there are hundreds. But unless something is done, it's going to just get worse and worse. Not only for the cats but also songbirds in the area.

I bet if you were willing to do the trap and neuter, you could raise money. I often donate to animal gofundme campaigns.

Also, the store may give you a discount if you tell them the purpose for purchasing such a large bag of food.

Feral means wild, often to describe formerly domesticated animals. So yes, these are feral cats.

To my knowledge, feral household cats are not normally part of any area's ecosystem. Their presence means a disproportionate stress on other animals in the area because the cats will hunt to eat. The likely victims of an out-of-control cat population are birds and small animals. Feeding them makes the problem worse, as chi said, because the population will grow and become more of a problem. Feral cats can carry and spread diseases that can be dangerous for household pets.

Feral cats that are caught are often euthanized, they're not suitable for adoption. That's also why rescue groups will have no interest. Animal control agencies likely have their hands full with other problems but that's where you should call. Allowing the cats to fend for themselves will have the same effect as euthanasia by limiting the population size. They shouldn't under any circumstances be fed. Leaving food out will also attract other undesirable animals to the area - rats, mice, skunks, raccoons, etc. Those given regularly available food can lose their hunting drive, such that feeding them actually does them more harm than good.

Pet cats should be kept inside.

Google for TNR (trap, neuter, return) groups in your area. They can offer resources for the capture and neutering of feral cats, then volunteers foster them until they have healed from the surgery. I would feel terrible in my warm home seeing stray animals freezing and hungry too.

See about grants in your area for free spay neuter clinics. Call large pet stores, watch their ads for feline giveaway Saturdays. Often these events are planned/hosted by volunteer groups that will help you. There should be options somehow for you. Many times our animal shelter will direct you to resources and if animal is taken to them, they will spay/neuter, check for disease, vaccinate BUT release them back in to the same area. So keep asking and researching. Some volunteer groups will tirelessly work to trap them. Blessings to you for your care!

We also have tons of ferals in our area which is NOT rural. When fed, a few turn into a whole bunch. When not fed, there are just about a half dozen of them. I would not feed them. Give them a shelter to get into but don't feed them unless you want them to turn into twenty cats or more. They are finding mice and snakes to eat if you don't give them food.

I have also found that none of the rescues around here care to bother with feral cats. My neighbor has called everyone he can think of and no one is willing to do anything. They just do not want to be bothered with ferals.

Try finding the facebook page of these animal rescue organizations that you are contacting constantly and post on their pages! This will allow a lot of people to see what you are doing and hopefully they will finally step up and pick them up. If you did find a low cost spay/neuter vet, you will have to trap them and take them yourself.

I had a similar problem. I noticed a mother cat and 4 kittens were wandering in a creek behind my house. As Fall came I realized they were feral. In my area an organization called Forgotten Cats had a low cost spay neuter return policy. For 50 dollars a cat they came and trapped them and did the spaying plus rabies and deworming. Then they returned them. I also didn't want to become responsible but I just couldn't see them starve or perhaps this coming Spring there would have been 20 of them if they were all females. So now I feed them and have made them a shelter. I think you have a good heart.

mamapinky0, I've been in your position too, and though I knew better than to feed the ferals, one terrible winter I couldn't help myself. It's hard to see animals suffer... having said that, they will continue to breed in a fed, healthier state, and that makes for more hungry, cold, ferals. I won't ever do it again, but I understand your heart was guiding you : - )

Elmer is right, they are (sadly) not suitable for adoption and most true feral cats cannot be domesticated. That too, I learned when I attempted to feed a sweet looking calico kitten, maybe 6 weeks of age. Thinking it not part of the feral population, it came to the food bowl gingerly, then leapt and gave me a good bite and scratches on my arm. Lesson learned.

I've had two cats who started their life as feral kittens. One quickly became domesticated; the gorgeous calico was never completely except with family members. But even she made a lovely pet - so beautiful, just a bit of a scaredy cat with strangers and new situations. I did get them when they were probably about 6 weeks old.

My mom had a feral cat colony at her old house. She started by feeding a few strays and within the year she had 18 cats living on or around her porch. She did trap, neuter and release on her own but it was pricey. Whenever a mom cat brought her kittens to the food bowl for the first time at around 4/5 weeks of age, my mom would take them and get them adopted out (i had a few, my sister took 6 once). If she had waited even a few more weeks, they would have remained feral but these all turned into nice pets as she took them so young. By the time she moved, she was down to only 4 regulars which she trapped and took with her. Two eventually moved inside and two remained outside and were killed by cars, foxes etc.

Keep asking about the trap neuter release programs because they do make a difference over time to the population. And there are lots of people who may support you starting such a program in your area. Maybe it could be a community service project for a church or high school? I live near Atlantic City and the Alley Cat Allies are quite well known for their program. I am linking it if you want to read about it.

Alley Cat Allies

To save a little time TNR's mark cats that have been fixed by removing the tip of an ear. So if anyone does trap with the intention to have them fixed this will allow those already fixed to be released rather finding out that after the trip to the vet.

Well I don't agree that a feral kitten will always be wild. My neighbor rescued one of the babies at a very young age, it was left alone and she heard it crying and got it and has raised it. It was bottle fed and is now a really fun half grown kitten. He loves her whole family and even sleeps in the bed with them. She has three other cats that she said were also feral kittens she rescued that were abandoned. They are all nice cats, not mean and wild at all. I agree that if left to be too old though, they have been well trained by their mothers to be very afraid.

Well, pertaining to the cats my husband trapped and brought home from work, the mama cat, who was old enough to have had 2 litters, is settled in just as much as any other cat would. The only wildness that shows up in her is the way she tries to get out the door sometimes. She's such a sweet girl.

From the man that owns a neighborhood thrift store who collects and donates to a local TNR kittens that are second or third feral generation are hard to impossible to tame. Up to that point it depends on how the cats were treated in their youth and their own personality. Some crave attention others will slash you to pieces if you get close. But even some cats that have been in homes for years will do that. When OC, Outside Cat, showed up last spring I could not touch him. Gradually with feeding and light touches he now allows me to pick him up for maximum about 5 seconds. He only wiggles to be put down. No growls, hisses, or claws. During my lifetime of cats I would have expected full fury the first time I tried to pick him up. He knows where I keep the carrier and disappears when I bring it out. It is now sitting out where he can become used to it. It is the feeding, talking in soft voices, sitting in the area, and no sudden moves that will generally bring a semi-feral cat to you. Allowing it to come to you vs. moving toward it to pet seems to work for most cats that I have known.

Yes, at a very young age, feral kittens can be domesticated. Having adopted primarily stray cats (and a few kittens) in my life, there is a difference between a feral cat and a stray cat.

Thank You all. I'll keep trying to get help for the cats. I can't catch them or trap them. Besides I don't want bitten and have to do rabie shots I've done that when a bat bit me...never again.

I'll give them food when I can but I won't always be able to. Actually I'll only feed them when the temps are to bitter for them to hunt. I did catch and drop off at the humane society a very sick cat about a year ago. It was holding its neck at a weird angle and its eyes were almost completely matted shut. it wasn't my cat but I had to pay 20 $ or they wouldn't take it. I remember the lady said well you understand this cat will be put down.....I told her to please do it quickly as this poor thing was in agony.

Thank you all for your advice.

Mamapinky, the city/county animal shelter here has traps that can be borrowed to trap animals that need help. They are live traps, the kind that don't hurt the animal at all. You leave a $35.00 deposit, and it is refunded to you when you return the trap. When an animal is caught, you call them, and they come and pick it up, you don't have to handle the trap at all, except to set it. You might check to see if there is something like that in your area. As others have said, those cats are just going to keep multiplying, creating more and more of a problem. I personally could not stand to see them starve or freeze to death, either. Nor can I handle the thought of more and more cats being born into that kind of life. It's tough to think of them being euthanized, but that is certainly much more humane than death from starvation and/or freezing. Bless you for doing your best to help!

Rusty

This is what happened a few years ago where we live. There were always feral cats here since I moved here in 2009. The neighbor took on an assistant/nurse lady as she got too weak to take care of herself. Once the nurse saw that there were kittens, she could not stand it and began to feed the cats daily. There were just a few cats and this litter of kittens. After that those few cats turned into about 20 cats. Then the neighbor had to go into a nursing home so her family sold the house. Then the next neighbor did not feed the cats so they have dwindled back down to probably about 6 or 8. The cats still have kittens but only one or two make it to adulthood. I just feel like if someone is going to commit to feeding feral cats, they should also commit to having them spayed/neutered so they don't turn into a huge colony.

Mama you are a pure heart and I would do just the same. I could not watch them starve and freeze either.

If you don't mind messaging me, I need advice on something and I trust your judgement on so many things that it would really help to get your perspective on this.

Feral cats are that way through no fault of their own. Many were abandoned by humans or were strays that lost human contact. I would (and have) fed feral and stray cats. They have a right to life like any other creature. Mamap, my means are meager, by most standards, but if I can help with you feeding those animals, I will gladly contribute.

If YOU/mamapinky , were given a live trap and a vet who would spay/neuter for free...would you trap the cats, take them, then release them back into the woods and feed them?

Note: I provided a trap for a local feral cat colony. Karl found a vet and because of him.. It's been a huge success.

Hopefully there is a TNR program in your area. this is the best way to stop the colony from growing.

they will eat more than mice and snakes! birds, chipmunks, rabbits etc. they disrupt the eco system and the colony needs to stop reproducing.

our cat, approximately 6 m/o was found on the rocks in Cape May. there was always a feral colony there for years, unfortunately. they would not except him b/c he wasn't 't born there. we figured he was abandoned/dumped there. 13 yrs later, Jetty is still with us as an indoor cat!!

the county finally got the problem under control with TNR. now, all cats are neutered and the colony finally is dying off.

please find a TNR in your area. call your congressman or committee/district person. they might be able to help or at least steer you in the right direction.

Kittymoonbeam I just sent you a message. I'm sorry it took s o long but I just popped in and saw your post. Hope all is well with you.

Nicole, sigh...if I could round up help around here. This is not excuses but facts...I only have two adult sons and a sick hubs. Also a cousin down south. I'm a hermit no friends..my fault for centering my life around my family and not going out and making friends. I have RA and lupus and Ive been in a flair for too long. But yes if I could round up help to trap I would. Feeding daily though...might be difficult I can't commit to daily feeding,

Irma, you have a kind heart. I'll let you know whatever is going to happen. Thank you Irma

I always wish that someone would invent a birth control that you could put on their food...you know, how women take "the pill". Wouldn't that be nice if they could invent something like that. That way we could feed them and also keep them from reproducing....but sigh...no such drug yet anyway.

I took a moment to search for some resources for you Mamapinky. I am not sure where you live, but these are central PA resources for you.

http://www.centralpahumane.org/services/trapneuterrelease/

http://www.nobodyscats.org/

This one looks promising, eastern PA though.

http://www.epaaonline.com/feral.html

I see that some do charge a nominal fee, but the last one mentioned financial assistance for qualifying applicants. It costs nothing to call and ask :-)

Mama, i messaged you about the other situation. Wasn't sure if you can now get your messages.

Please contact Alley Cat Allies. They’ve been helping people help feral cats for almost 30 years and they know what’s up. They have a huge country-wide directory of resources and can connect you to someone in your area who can help. https://www.alleycat.org/get-help/

If these cats aren’t fixed the problem will never go away. Hopefully there will be a volunteer near you who can take charge of the TNR aspect so you don’t have to.