download/print - Neighborhood Cats

has been created and one set of cats has been traded for another set of cats who aren’tspayed and neutered.For these reasons, every possible avenue towards allowing the cats to stay should bethoroughly explored and relocation should be considered only as an absolute last resort.If the colony lives in an abandoned building that is about to be demolished, first try tofind a nearby location where a new feeding station and shelters can be set up and train thecats to eat and sleep there. If a cat dies mysteriously and you’re concerned aboutpoisoning, make sure all the cats are fixed in order to reduce nuisance behavior and post a“Stop Poisoning” poster around the neighborhood (see Appendix A). If a caretakerpasses away, try to locate a new one in the same area before seeking to move the cats.Remember that relocation bears its own risks and only when these are clearly outweighedby the risks of keeping the cats where they are should it be attempted.• Choosing a new siteIf you decide relocation is necessary after exploring all the alternatives, the first stepis to find a new site. You don’t have to duplicate the original territory – cats in awarehouse can be moved to a backyard or from an abandoned building to a barn, etc.What the new territory does need are: (1) a reliable new caretaker who will strictly followthe guidelines for relocation and fully accept responsibility for the cats’ long-term care,(2) a structure of some sort (barn, shed, garage) that will provide shelter and protectionfrom the elements during the confinement period, and (3) a location away from aconstruction site or heavy traffic.Cats can be relocated into a territory where there is already a colony, but it makes theprocess harder for the new cats and should be avoided if possible. Also investigate otherfactors, including potential danger from predatory wildlife like coyotes, wolves or dogs,hostility from nearby neighbors or businesses, proximity to land designated for hunting orwildlife and any other potential environmental hazard or issue. It’s likely you won’t findthe perfect site and will have to make some compromises, but it’s always good to aim forthe ideal.Don’t move the cats until you have personally inspected the new location – things arenot always as you might imagine. Not all barns are idyllic, cozy places filled with soft,warm hay. A nice country home may sound perfect, but if it turns out the caretaker onlygoes up on weekends, that won’t work because newly relocated cats need supervision andfood and water on a daily basis for two to three weeks. So spend the extra time and effortto see the prospective new place and meet the caretaker in person before you bring thecats. Don’t risk receiving an unpleasant surprise and having to make a terribly difficultdecision on the spot after you’ve driven for hours with trapped and frightened cats in tow.Along the same lines, never hand the cats over to anyone without inspecting the newsite yourself. No matter how nice the new place may sound and how desperate you are tomove the cats, you are placing them in great danger if you blindly trust that someone elsewill take care of everything for you. There are unscrupulous people who take advantageof others’ concern for the cats and promise they will have a wonderful new life in theirnew home when nothing of the sort is true. Sometimes they charge a fee per cat, whichthey pocket, and then simply let the cat out the back door of wherever. Others will evenkill the animals out of a pathological belief they are doing a good thing for them, whether128