I was back at the business building last night to try to catch whomever I could, if I saw anyone. At one point, I saw a young woman start over towards the trap from the sidewalk, then go back, cross the divided four lane street and get in a car.
I was tired out and not moving fast, but got out of my car and ran to the sidewalk on my side, and waved at her. I didn't think she'd see me but she did. It was dark after all.
She came back across the street to talk to me. Yes, she is the secret feeder and I'm so glad to have caught her when she was there and talked to her. She's very nice. She has the mom cat already and two of her kittens at her place. She's had them a week. Mom cat is tame and she hand grabbed the kittens. The other two kittens had vanished by then and she thinks they may have been poisoned because at man at the senior complex across the street, where the mom and kittens also frequent, bragged about poisoning two kittens and throwing them in the dumpster. But she got the info second hand and doesn't know if its true or not. So she keeps coming back to the building, hoping to see them. For now though, the situation is contained as much as it can be at the business building.
I left then, came home, crashed into bed.
Got up early, went back over to the colony on Clover ridge. I'd already texted them I'd have spots open for Monday, for more from there. By the time I got there, one neighbor had caught one female. I then drop trapped four more quickly. All five may be girls.
 |
| Torbi female who looks so much like the female fixed last Friday, but has no ear tip |
 |
| Another adult female tabby |
 |
| Muted torti |
 |
| Adult tabby female (I'm told) |
 |
| Torbi kitten |
 |
| Orange tabby guy was fixed last Friday, but the black kitten, his buddy, still needs fixed. |
 |
| He's just darling. |
 |
| Six cats, but four of them are fixed, three of them fixed years ago. The orange tabby was fixed Friday and the torbi beside him will be fixed tomorrow. That leaves the little black one in the back right, still needs caught and fixed of these six. |
Well that's about it. I came home, fell asleep again and only woke a few minutes ago.
Our heat, that was to be in the 90's never got that high due to an incredible "cloud" cover of wildfire smoke, which acted like a dense cloud cover. Better than being hit by tropical storm deluges, I suppose, like southern California is getting. I heard FEMA is about out of money, from all the climate disasters.
Not surprised you are exhausted. Glad that you found and talked to the secret feeder and that the mama and two of the kittens are safe.
ReplyDeleteYou stay safe too please. That amount of smoke is not good for a person. Or beast.
No, the smoke has been very bad lately, doesn't make for any desire to do anything outside.
DeleteIn your opinion, is it better to fix a male or a female? Or does it matter?
ReplyDeleteThis time of year, a female. In the winter, I like to catch the males, as it takes about 2 months for the hormones to recede enough so they're not fighting and breeding and running in front of cars intent on finding love (sex) or fighting some other male. So by spring, when females are in heat, their hormones are diminished and you've probably saved their lives.
DeleteI'm glad that you were able to make contact with the secret feeder. I don't envy your wildfire smoke. When we have had it here this summer, I got terrible coughs from it.
ReplyDeleteIt's miserable. Add in heat, and its just pure misery.
DeleteGreat that you met the secret feeder. Now you can both get on the same page. So, success, for now.
ReplyDeleteWell, she has three of them, other two apparently gone. So its over and done with.
DeleteAnyone that brags about killing animals (not those suffering, that is) should be euthanized (after torture, of course). Grrr... On a brighter note, Kathy's question is interesting and I thank you for sharing your experienced take on the issue.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! Yeah, ups and downs. I do like to trap fighting yowling males fast, as it begins the process of stopping that behavior, that attracts negative attention to any cats in the area.
Delete