Should I release feral cats locally or let them settle in my garden?

[FireAdvice]

So there are some feral cats near me, at least three. I rang the local cat rescue (think it’s independent) assuming once they knew about them they would sort everything out. Now I am the proud borrower of some cat traps and have been tasked with catching them, getting them to the vets and getting them neutered.

I asked the cat rescue people about them being rehomed and was told that wasn’t a thing and I’m just to release them back where I’ve found them (which is five miles from my home) once they’ve been spayed/neutered. Like literally the same day the vet releases them with stitches in and no aftercare. Been assured they’ll be ok. I don’t think anyone is feeding them or looking out for them currently.

I can’t have semi wild cats in my house. I have dogs and house cats already. Dh already complains it’s like a zoo. However I am half contemplating letting them live in my back garden and feeding them. If I buy/build insulated shelters for them and provide food are they likely to stay here? I could possibly clear a bit of space in a shed and let them stay in a shed for a week while they recuperate and maybe get used to the area. Or is it better to let them go back to where they are familiar with? One looks like it’s limping badly so I’m not even sure if it will need more than just been spayed.

Definitely get the females done. Females are actually less likely than males to suffer post op complications.

I really hope you never "rescue" any more cats. Ever.

Thank you! I'll definitely do that! I've been trying to socialise them in the hopes of being able to keep them inside (quarantined away from our indoor cats) until they're healed up a bit, and knowing they might only need a day or two inside instead of a week or two makes it a lot easier.

It's incredibly difficult to find suitable homes for ferals. There are hundreds of thousands of ferals that would benefit from being relocated and only a tiny number of farms/stables etc willing to take any.

They only need a week or two if they have had a late abortion and so done midline with a large incision. Abortion is still the best course of action though. The others need one night inside to recover from the anaesthetic. Then, assuming it's a small flank spay they should be able to go straight back. It's not usual procedure to give antibiotics following a spay, however it's worth requesting a long lasting antibiotic injection (Convenía) in this situation. Some vets will and some won't.

Thank you! I really appreciate the advice and tips! I'll make sure to ask about the antibiotic injection, and see if that's possible.

All set

Male strays/ferals in my experience tend to suffer from problems after fighting, I had one in my downstairs for a month recently who nearly died from sepsis from 3 absesses on his pawafter a fight. Luckily because I'd fed him since he was 6 weeks old I could catch him and although it was a stressful month to be sure, now he is healed and neutered and let loose again, and he is a changed cat. He even tried to play with one of his brothers yesterday. His dad who he was fighting with still gets growls but for 2 nights they have just slept 3 feet away from each other with no problems. And he is staying much closer to home as he isn't out looking for female cats. Next step to neuter their dad and that's all our ferals done.

Poor things! Maybe I've just had good luck, then.

I've seen about six toms in the farm colony over the years, while feeding and trying to catch/socialise the ferals and take the pregnant mums/kittens off to the SPCA. One tom was quite elderly, and looked after the kittens a lot, before eventually going off to never be seen again (I think old age/illness got him), two were hit by cars, and the remaining three who have stuck around all seem to get along - an older tom who's quite wary, and two grown boys from different litters (I think) who came up together and are very friendly with each other. The others all tend to go off in search of new territory once they're about 9 months old (if I don't nab them as kittens first).

Your ferals are clearly very lucky to have you! You've gone to such a lot of trouble for them - hearing stories like that renews my faith in humankind.

Good luck!

What a horrible person you are

I call them semi feral now, it's only the mum that is still rough round the edges.

We will be moving to a new house at some point and are going to be making sure that they all come with us. Will have 6-8 weeks inside and are on the hunt for just the right barn or large garage for them. In prep we are trying to make sure they all get some time indoors without freaking out. I bloody love them but they drive me crazy under my feet when I'm trying to do pottery or gardening. Daft buggers.