Lots of strays - is there anything more we can do?

[POPholditdown]

A bit long but wanting to give enough context.. My nan lives in an area pretty much overrun with cats that are either stray, or if they have owners they are neglected by them.

Over the past year or so we have taken some in, and rehomed couple with relatives. We’ve always searched for owners, paper collars, posted on rescue pages. (I still sometimes check the local CP page incase someone posts).

The ones we’ve taken in have never been neutered, they’ve been underweight, scraggly(all happy and healthy now thankfully). To give an idea on the state of them, one of them had fur so matted his skin was tearing.

CP have told me in the past that they have a massive problem with unneutered cats specifically in this area.

Rescues have never been able to take any in as they’re full.

It saddens me so much to see the same few turning up to my nans, having lost a bit of weight every time, their fur getting dirtier, rougher. My nan puts food out, and has put some shelter in the garden but they’re still vulnerable.

Another thing that concerns me, is I’ve never seen any kittens. I’ve seen many unneutered males, you can hear the mating shrieks when its the season. A while ago there were reports that someone was trying to sell kittens who looked only 3 or 4 weeks old, out of their car at night (trying to sell them as bengals iirc). I dread to think where they ended up.

This area is terrible for animals in general, last year there were a couple of incidents of dogs being abandoned, tied to lamposts too.

Is there anything I can do? I don’t suppose there is, but I thought it would be worth asking. I honestly don’t have space to take anymore in, even temporarily. (we’ve ran out of family to pester too!).

Are there any programmes or networks of available fosterers I could get in touch with? Or should we just continue to feed as much as we can, and hope they will be ok?

[FannyFifer]

When strays are malnourished etc often any kittens don't survive.
Can u trap & bring them to be neutered, my sister lives in Ireland & loads of strays around her area, there is a charity that provides the trap etc.

[BarbaraofSevillle]

Google rescues in your area and see if any will do trap, neuter and release if they're ferals. They often have agreements with local vets to do lots of neutering, to reduce problem cat populations and unwanted kittens, which often suffer and die, as fanny says.

Your nan sounds lovely and well done to her for looking out for the cats. The rescue that I foster for has a few people like your nan who feed and keep an eye on the cats, and the rescue will also try and trap any who need veterinary treatment, which the rescue pays for and then assesses the cats to see if they are likely to be suitable for rehoming (or indeed are lost pets who can be reunited if they have microchips) or are more suitable to be released back into their wild living.

[thecatneuterer]

They need a trap, neuter, return charity. But there are very few of them.

Is she anywhere in Greater London/Essex, Liverpool or North Wales?

[thecatneuterer]

//www.catchat.org will give details of other rescues in your area. It's almost impossible to find homes for unwanted cats. But if they can be neutered and fed then that is the most important thing.

[POPholditdown]

Thanks everyone. I’m im the east midlands @cat.

I’m not sure if they’ve been feral, some have been very scared and me and nan have been known to sit outside with the most nervous ones while they eat so the other cats don’t pick on them lol!

Here’s one who now comes into kitchen to eat. He’s very skinny. My nans away so I’ve been here everyday and have gotten very fond of him tbh.

That makes sense about kittens, we had a pregnant stray and only one kitten lived for a day the others didn’t make it through the birth. She’s happy with me now but she’s not keen on being touched

I think TNR will be a good start atleast.

One of the regulars (we call him ‘Old Chap’) hasn’t turned up for a couple of days and I get so worried, I wish I could GPS chip them all

[POPholditdown]

Thanks @catneuterer I will check that site out too and see if I can get some help

[viccat]

I agree with TNR, and contact as many charities as possible.

All my contacts are mostly in London and Merseyside sadly but most rescues should help, it just will take a while. The friendly, young ones tend to be the most adoptable and easiest to rehome of course.