Which do you think is more humane? (ferral, throws, food)

[gentlearts]

I have a dilema. Do you think it is kinder to continue to feed a semi ferral cat who will face yet another freezing cold winter outside, or capture him and take him to a shelter? Unless someone at the shelter worked with him he would most likely never be adoptable and would no doubt be destroyed.
My first choice is to take him to a no kill shelter, but if this doesn't work out, which option do you think would be best?
I have two cats already and keeping him inside is not an option.

[Cecilia_Rose]

I live in the country. I have feral/woodpile cats that have been outside for years. I put out food every day and in the winter I use a heated water dish. I buy straw to put in my cat house. Dont use blankets they hold dampness. When it gets really cold I put in a troube light for extra heat. So far I havent lost any to the cold.

Other cats just go under the house in the crawl space under the house and seem to do fine there.

Not sure if this is right thing but its what I do. I figure if I was a cat Id rather take my chances than be put to sleep.

[kaykay]

Tough call. If you live somewhere where it is just bitter cold, I think I might vote for capturing and taking it to a shelter.

[emilybh]

Originally Posted by Cecilia_Rose

I live in the country. I have feral/woodpile cats that have been outside for years. I put out food every day and in the winter I use a heated water dish. I buy straw to put in my cat house. Dont use blankets they hold dampness. When it gets really cold I put in a troube light for extra heat. So far I havent lost any to the cold.

Other cats just go under the house in the crawl space under the house and seem to do fine there.

Not sure if this is right thing but its what I do. I figure if I was a cat Id rather take my chances than be put to sleep.

I agree with Cecilia -- especially if the cat seems to be doing ok so far.

[Katie1]

My feeling are do not worry the cat should be ok...please capture it and make it a it! basicly get the cat spayed....

[Laura707]

I say leave them out in the wild.

I know a trapper in the bitter north that uses storage containers with straw for winter shelters for the colonies she looks after. She cuts a entrance hole on one end of the side (so they can get in the back out of the wind) and I would suggest you wrap them in old blankets on the outside(for insluation) and put the whole thing in a big garbage bag to protect against the wet weather. I did that and used duct tap to hold everything in place.

To get old blankets, just tell cat lovers what you are doing and that you need old blankets, I find they are more than willing to help such a cause.

Keep them fed and give them shelter and they should be fine, other than what unexpected things nature throws in their way.

[Schmoo]

Taking a feral cat to a shelter is a death sentence, at least outside he/she has a fighting chance. Even at a no kill shelter, it could likely never be adopted and the cat may spend its life fear stricken and/or go insane.

Alley Cat Allies (broken link) is a fantastic website with information on how to care for feral cats, how to prepare them for winter, capturing them for spay/neuter, etc.

If you do not have a structure for the cat to go inside during winter (garage, barn, shed, etc) there are instructions on the website I posted for making a cat shelter.

Personally, I take care of quite a few feral cats and have never lost one to winter (in northern IL.) But I allow them into a building, have bedding for them, a heated water bowl, and I also keep a heat lamp on for them when it gets very cold.

[STT Resident]

Absolutely have the cat spayed/neutered and given basic shots! Then bring it home and leave it where it's happy and continue doing what you're doing. I've been doing this for years in the Virgin Islands. Cheers!

[brokencrayola]

There is no way a shelter will be able to tame a cat like this and doubt they would even try as it would be dangerous to do so. It is also unlikely they will be able to handle the cat to give it shots or spay it, although it would be good if it were spay/neutered. It has a better chance in the wild. These cats are pretty tough.

[STT Resident]

"It is also unlikly that they will be able to handle the cat to give it shots or spay it." Sorry, but you're wrong. There are feral spay/neuter, catch/release programs all over the world and the veterinarians sedate the animals first before the procedures. Yes, cats are tough, but un-neutered animals only add to the feral population and perpetuate the problem. Cheers!