| We recently acquired a black cat that was living in a | | | | flash, he dashed behind a roll top desk and managed |
| tree in a relative's back yard. Technically, this cat was | | | | to wedge himself into a space about 3 inches wide. |
| not a feral cat, as he had once been domesticated, but | | | | Did I mention that he is a big cat? |
| after being outside for approximately a year had | | | | After he maintained this position in absolute silence for |
| become very leery of humans, even though he would | | | | about an hour, I thought I had better help him get out. |
| eat food people left outside for him. | | | | Stupid me. I grabbed the scruff of his neck and tried |
| Our plan was to let this cat get to know us and then | | | | lifting him up. He flipped over on his back, clawing me |
| tame him to be, if not totally domesticated, at least a | | | | for all he was worth, flipped back over and scooted |
| friendly outdoor pet. | | | | behind a computer desk where he spent the next |
| We had a cat door in a tool shed on our property, so | | | | several hours. (I tried encouraging him to come out by |
| my husband fixed a cat bed and feeder inside, and | | | | pointing the vacuum cleaner hose in his direction but to |
| then set out to get acquainted with the cat so we | | | | no avail. He wasn't budging.) |
| could surprise him with his new home. The problem | | | | One of our grandsons showed up, so we enlisted his |
| was that the cat, whose name was Rusty, wasn't | | | | help. We unloaded the computer desk so we could pull |
| really interested in having a new home. He only | | | | it away from the wall. When poor Rusty realized that |
| wanted food, and the first time I ventured into the shed | | | | there were three people after him now, he went |
| to visit him, he flew past me out the door seemingly at | | | | berserk, dashing under the bed, up the wall, knocking |
| the speed of light and disappeared. | | | | pictures askew as he traveled, back under the bed, up |
| After doing all the regular things you do when you lose | | | | another wall knocking toiletries all over the place, and |
| a pet-posting signs and knocking on doors in the | | | | finally hopping onto the curtain rod over the doors |
| neighborhood, placing a lost cat ad in the local | | | | leading to the balcony. He wrapped his paws around |
| newspaper, and wandering around with an open can | | | | the rod and held on for dear life as my grandson |
| of tuna calling his name for a few days, we finally | | | | found a box to place over the cat and then wrapped |
| gave up. | | | | his hand in a thick towel before he reached up and |
| Then, a few weeks later, Rusty appeared at our | | | | shoved Rusty off the rod into the box. |
| bedroom window in the middle of the night, but when | | | | The box was quickly covered and Rusty was |
| we talked to him, he left. Since we knew he was still in | | | | transported to his new home in the shed. The original |
| the area, we set food out on the balcony by our | | | | plan was back in place. For a few hours at least. |
| bedroom in hopes of attracting him to pay another visit. | | | | The next morning, my husband took a book and a |
| There were several "Rusty sightings" but never any | | | | chair out to the shed, intending to read, and to let Rusty |
| that would allow us to get within capturing distance so | | | | get used to having him around. Rusty had disappeared. |
| we thought we would just provide him with food and | | | | Somehow, that cat had managed to push the doors of |
| forget about his new home in the shed. The trouble is, | | | | the shed out just a little which left a space of a few |
| not only did Rusty come to visit again, but a number of | | | | inches at the top for him to squeeze out. We are now |
| other creatures discovered where they could find a | | | | back to square one, but far less enthused about |
| free meal at any time of the night or day. (We had to | | | | domesticating a cat named Rusty, or any other cat for |
| leave the food out all the time, because Rusty might | | | | that matter, feral or stray. |
| show up at dusk for a few days and then arrive at 3 | | | | Feral cats are a problem in many countries, and the |
| in the morning the next time he came.) | | | | problem is dealt with in different ways. The removal of |
| All in all, 17 cats, 2 raccoons, and a possum at one time | | | | feral cats in some areas have caused a huge |
| or another trekked across our balcony for the free | | | | increase in the number of rats and rabbits. This can |
| food. After a while, it turned into an expensive hobby | | | | cause even more problems than were originally |
| for us. | | | | caused by the cats. |
| Finally, I ordered a "humane" animal trap, thinking that | | | | In Canada, there is a feral cat colony near Parliament |
| we could at least catch the raccoons and the possum | | | | House where a structure has been built for them, and |
| and haul them out into the country to find a new home | | | | a volunteer is given a stipend to feed the cats. Local |
| for themselves. They seemed to be the greatest | | | | veterinarians donate services to care for them. |
| consumers of our bounty. | | | | Rome, Italy is said to have over a quarter of a million |
| The first night, we caught our next-door neighbor's cat. | | | | feral cats that group themselves into colonies. One |
| After dousing him with some water to make sure he | | | | such colony is found at the Colosseum. |
| got the idea, we released him and haven't seen him | | | | In the United States, some states are arguing that wild |
| since. The following night, at about 2 in the morning, we | | | | cats should be shot, but most are now dealing with the |
| caught the larger raccoon. It was kind of late to get up | | | | problem by using what is called Trap-Neuter-Return. |
| and take him for a ride, so we thought we would | | | | When cats are trapped and brought to the local animal |
| leave him in the cage until morning. He didn't agree with | | | | control premises on pre-arranged days, local |
| our plan and made such a racket rattling the cage and | | | | veterinarian volunteers neuter the pets, and if finances |
| moving it all over the balcony with his jumping around | | | | are available, also give them rabies shots.The person |
| that we decided we had better release him, too, and | | | | who trapped the cats in the first place returns them to |
| hope he would be too upset by his experience to | | | | the area where they were found. Eventually, it is |
| come back, again. By the way, don't get too close to a | | | | hoped that this will be a cost-effective method to |
| mad raccoon. They can be vicious. | | | | control feral cat populations. Such programs have also |
| Two hours later, we caught Rusty in the trap. We let | | | | been introduced in Australia and several other |
| him sit for a while and then brought the cage into the | | | | countries. |
| house, hoping that being close would help him get over | | | | If you live in an area where feral cats have become a |
| his fear of us. After shutting the door to our bedroom | | | | problem, I strongly advise against trying to tame one |
| and the adjoining bathroom, we opened the cage and | | | | for a pet. Instead, check out your local animal shelters |
| let him out. My husband had to go out for a while so | | | | to see if a Trap-Neuter-Return program is operating in |
| Rusty and I were all alone. | | | | your town. If so, invest in an inexpensive humane |
| He dashed under the bed, and peeped out at me, but | | | | animal trap and start being a part of the solution. It's a |
| when I went near him, he retreated and went under | | | | bit like going hunting with a camera instead of a gun. |
| the bed. He repeated this scenario several times and I | | | | You're always wondering what you'll bag this time |
| was beginning to think I would probably be scratching | | | | around, and you don't have to harm the animals to do |
| his ears for him in another hour or so. I bent down a | | | | it. In fact, in the long run, you'll end up helping them. |
| little closer and held my hand out toward him. Like a | | | | |