Animal Rescuers, Opinion Please

[J P Sousa]

I live next door to a person who rescues cats.

Now I do like animals and cats are sometimes fun to watch when they interact with other animals. My daughter has two cats at her place.

Now, I see a few people here rescue cats so I'd like to ask a question; do you keep them outdoors and allow them to roam around the neighborhood ? 

When we moved into our new house we were very friendly to all the neighbors and everyone got along fine. The next door neighbors husband died and next thing I know there are between 7 and 10 cats roaming around. She leaves food and water outside so this naturally attracts other animals such as Raccoons, Skunks, Possums, whatever. I even saw a cat and skunk eating out of the same dish.

I'm an easy going person but when these cats started to dig up my landscaping and crapping all over my lawn I decided to talk with the neighbor but she, while normally a friendly person, made some excuse about them "not belonging to her". 

She refused to accept any responsibility about the mess they create in my yard and the rest of the neighborhood. Other neighbors stop by to complain as well, but they get the same response.

Am I being unreasonable to expect this woman to keep these cats in her home. ?
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[Karin]

We keep them inside.  We also get them their shots and fixed as well. IOW, we take on the full responsibility for them.  This lady has taken a 25% responsibility.  She doesn't want to see something go hungry and thirsty, but yet she won't take the plunge and adopt them. 

I don't know what the solution is.  Can several people in the neighborhood agree to take just one?  Spread out the problem? 

[EagleKeeper]

I don't rescue cats, I only got one.

I used to live across the street form a couple who did, what they would do was keep the cats long enough to make sure they were healthy then take some of them over to the local petsmart to try to find them homes.

They kept the the cats indoors and even built an outdoor run on their back porch so they could go outside sometimes.

The problem as I see it is that these cats are going to start breeding and forming feral colonies that will eventually have to be dealt with.

If I were you I would get with some of your neighbors and file a formal complaint with the sheriffs dept just to get the ball rolling.

[marv]

We had a similar situation. We live in a tourist/resort area. One of the larger resorts was just next door.

A lady down the road would put food out for stray cats every morning. The cats would then roam around to area until the next morning, and show up for more food.

I would live trap them, take them into the woods, and shoot them. Now ask me why......

[Wineslob]

She's not a "rescuer". She's most likely a hoarder. If she actually cared about the cats they would be trapped and taken to a Humane Society facility to be sterilized and put up for adoption.

She thinks she's doing good, she isn't.

[J P Sousa]

Thanks for the replys, she claims she takes them to the vet and gets them neutered and spayed.

I do see different cats from time to time, don't know what happens to them but I do know at least two were run over by cars.
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[Chris_]

Domestic cats are destroying the planet

[CG6468]

Report her to the SPCA.

[J P Sousa]

Domestic cats are destroying the planet

from the link;

  Un-owned cats have already been implicated in 33 modern bird, mammal, and reptile extinctions, write the researchers in Nature Communications. 

Hmmmmm
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[IassaFTots]

Domestic cats are destroying the planet

My moonbat cousin posted this on her facebook, pleading with people to keep their cats inside.  She has a Phd in some bird study thing.

[Alpha Mare]

In some places, the law considers the animals to be your responsibility if you're feeding them.

[thundley4]

In some places, the law considers the animals to be your responsibility if you're feeding them.

So welfare people are Obama's responsibility?   

[Chris_]

Progressive Loons: “Policy Intervention” Needed to Protect Mice from Cats

Go look at the picture with the article. 

[thundley4]

Progressive Loons: “Policy Intervention” Needed to Protect Mice from Cats

Go look at the picture with the article. 

[seahorse513]

While I love cats, she is doing them and the neighborhood a disservice. If the food she is putting out is attracting other critters, those said critters could have rabies, and transfer to cats and humans. The ASPCA should get involved. Though many odf these cats may put put to sleep ..At least we know they are going to a better place, where God will take care of them.

[Karin]

I would live trap them, take them into the woods, and shoot them.

Yeah.  Go to Hell.

[marv]

I would live trap them, take them into the woods, and shoot them.

Yeah.  Go to Hell.

Families who stay at our neighbor's resort almost always have little children in tow. Little children and cute little kitties are frequently attracted to each other.

The reason I killed the feral cats is because the woods are full of other wildlife like squirrels, rabbits, opossum, etc. that are sometimes rabid. Those cute little feral kitties and the natural wildlife are also attracted to each other for predatory purposes.

'Nuff said.

[longview]

Yeah.  Go to Hell.

I know marv's response sounded cold hearted, but he has a point. 

I lived in a certain town for a couple years.  They have a large feral cat population.  Many are sickly with chronic diseases, very undernourished.  I've come upon groups of cats eating dying cats.  Yeah, the one is still alive, but too weak to fight or run.  Seeing cats stagger around, wasted away, barely have hair on them because they no longer have a defense against the external parasites (fleas, mites) so they freeze to death, it breaks your heart.  But even with so many that die miserable deaths, there are still enough that are healthy enough to continue having litters.

They have a live trap program there.  I supported it, realizing that it was more humane than letting cats suffer.  They do try to spay or neuter and find homes for many, many cats, but there aren't enough potential homes.  We're talking hundreds and hundreds of cats in that town.  What else would you have them do?