Meow: The Conclusion
Tue., September 21, 12:39 PM
When I first began writing about our feral cats, the stories collected under The Meow Index, I mentioned that we had requested the assistance of the Animal Control Department in our city. They told us that they might help us trap cats that wee nuisances, but that they would destroy them. After all, feral cats are not suitable for pets.
We were not willing to condemn our kitties, and so we continued to call them our “outdoor pets.” Although I was unhappy about the way they multiplied, I felt I couldn’t do anything about them. I can’t catch them. (The year of the fox left us with fewer kittens, but those are prolific cats!)
Fortunately for the cats, Mrs. Neighbor Out Back not only fed them but offered them shelter, as her son built a shed just for the cats. After a while, the only one I continued to feed was Dos-a, because she was the only one that allowed me to pet her. To be sure, she occasionally brought guests, but I never put out food for any of the others if they were alone.
Dos-a came into my garage from time to time, if the weather was bad or if there were males annoying her, but no others were allowed to stay there. Generally she behaved herself inside.
I saw fewer and fewer cats on my side as they discovered there was more food at Mrs. Neighbor’s. Besides, I didn’t walk out into the drive as often once my automatic garage door opener was in place. In fact, I think it scared them off. From time to time either Dos-a or Floppy was in the yard, usually carrying yet another litter.
But Mrs. Neighbor wasn’t done yet. She found a private organization that was willing to help. The New Haven Cat Project catches stray cats, neuters them, and lets them go. Mrs. Neighbor told us not to be surprised when strangers were trapping cats along the edge of the marsh, as the professionals would come by periodically until all the cats were neutered. The vets notch the ear of each neutered cat, so that anyone can identify them at a glance. In addition, Mrs. Neighbor cages some of the young kittens before they become truly feral, so that they can become pets.
Soon the colony will stop growing. At last count, there were only two females that hadn’t been spayed: Dos-a and Floppy. Somehow that dumb little Floppy has become wary enough to avoid the traps.
Once the last two are caught, it is unlikely that any new ones will come along. Females don’t wander as much, and males won’t come by if there aren’t any new females. Occasionally one or two strangely docile cats come up on my deck to doze. No one is spraying my property. Mrs. Neighbor is still cooking for a dozen or so of the most faithful.
When I took out the garbage last Monday, there was Dos-a waiting to be patted. With a notched ear. She may be the last one. I consider this a happy conclusion. Hooray for Mrs. Neighbor!
