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I haven't created any colonies. I do what I can. I've adopted two and taken a 3rd in for vet care when he was ill. There is a middle ground between doing nothing and everything.
I didn't say that you did. I said that it's different for everyone.
But I'll bet you'd have a pretty hard time finding that "middle ground" if you lived in my part of Alaska where hearing the wolves at night is commonplace, which is what I was typing about.
I didn't say that you did. I said that it's different for everyone.
But I'll bet you'd have a pretty hard time finding that "middle ground" if you lived in my part of Alaska where hearing the wolves at night is commonplace, which is what I was typing about.
No matter where you live,they still need and deserve all the help they can get.
No matter where you live,they still need and deserve all the help they can get.
So what's your point?
My point is that just putting out food isn't always the best approach. And at my home in Alaska, it's illegal to leave pet food out for good reason. Again, there's no blanket one-size-fits-all answer to this -- but when I take in a feral, I take responsibility for spaying/neutering/vet care/shelter from the elements/high spots and other escape hatches. It wouldn't be doing the cats any favors by simply putting out food and letting them freeze, reproduce, and get torn up by wolves.
My point is that just putting out food isn't always the best approach. And at my home in Alaska, it's illegal to leave pet food out for good reason. Again, there's no blanket one-size-fits-all answer to this -- but when I take in a feral, I take responsibility for spaying/neutering/vet care/shelter from the elements/high spots and other escape hatches. It wouldn't be doing the cats any favors by simply putting out food and letting them freeze, reproduce, and get torn up by wolves.
Caring about them and helping them with food so they won’t have to struggle so much hunting for it and letting them use your facilities for shelter when needed is one thing. Taking them in for life is another and impossible for most people for many reasons.
Sorry but I'm confused. Are these feral cats you're feeding or neighborhood cats that come around your house from other homes?
I've been around feral cats for many years. Never, not once in my life have I seen a feral cat turn down food because they could afford to be picky. You must be way overfeeding to the point that they've lost interest in food like a spoiled house cat that has more food available than they could possibly eat. These cats now are basically your pets and not feral. I'm not saying that as a bad thing but as a reality check.
He is prolly a bit spoiled as eats often (3-5 times per day).
I am able to be here almost daily so it helps him as he looks up to me at my 2nd floor apt balcony from below, & asks for food by 'his licking his tongue, w a big-eyed look'. lol
Hope this clarifies.
Oh, our indoor was caught here at this apts in '09 & had ab scar so vet said most likely spayed, thus not a feral but a stray back then, & ever since she is an indoor only.
Caring about them and helping them with food so they won’t have to struggle so much hunting for it and letting them use your facilities for shelter when needed is one thing. Taking them in for life is another and impossible for most people for many reasons.
Sounds like you just want to argue.
Ever lived around wolves? Didn't think so. "Helping them with food" may turn them into wolf bait (or coyote bait in other parts of the country). People should take that into consideration. And there ARE organizations that will help if you don't have the money for spaying/neutering/vet care. I don't use them. I pay for it myself because it's called taking responsibility and because I can. You do it your way, though, but don't put your standards on an environment that you don't understand.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Metlakatla
Sounds like you just want to argue.
Ever lived around wolves? Didn't think so. "Helping them with food" may turn them into wolf bait (or coyote bait in other parts of the country). People should take that into consideration. And there ARE organizations that will help if you don't have the money for spaying/neutering/vet care. I don't use them. I pay for it myself because it's called taking responsibility and because I can. You do it your way, though, but don't put your standards on an environment that you don't understand.
What would they be, if no one fed them? Not wolf bait?
I live in Coyote Country, and if a housecat gets out it doesn't last the night. But ferals tend to do a lot better. Don't know why they can survive - either they're better at hiding, running, or fighting coyotes.
Ever lived around wolves? Didn't think so. "Helping them with food" may turn them into wolf bait (or coyote bait in other parts of the country). People should take that into consideration. And there ARE organizations that will help if you don't have the money for spaying/neutering/vet care. I don't use them. I pay for it myself because it's called taking responsibility and because I can. You do it your way, though, but don't put your standards on an environment that you don't understand.
What would they be, if no one fed them? Not wolf bait?
I live in Coyote Country, and if a housecat gets out it doesn't last the night. But ferals tend to do a lot better. Don't know why they can survive - either they're better at hiding, running, or fighting coyotes.
As I've previously stated, leaving pet food out in Alaska is against the law for good reason (the one currently on my property gets fed twice a day and in the rare case there's something left over it gets put away). And even if it weren't illegal to leave pet food out, smart people don't want to attract wolves and bears onto their property. After all, it's where their children play. There's a bigger picture to consider in some places. And your coyotes are nothing compared to Alaska's wolves.
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