Having a hard time dealing with moving because of the hundreds of stray cats i am leaving behind

Cats

Cats

Deceased
True & Honest Fan
kiwifarms.net
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Apr 17, 2020
I am having a really hard time dealing with the fact that I am finally moving.

A lot of you know what I used to do for work, and that up until this year I was still living in the housing on the property next to my unit even though I had retired. I have spoken many times before about the hundreds of wonderful cats that reside here, at the back gate, near the BOQ and in the farmland surrounding this place. Told all the stories about how the cats were brought in in the 1960s to handle the rat problem, how the population exploded. Talked about the cat factions, cat territories. Lots of you have seen the many photos I have taken of these critters and their exploits.

Even though it is a Wild Land where some cats are seen only once and new litters are never guaranteed to make it...it was peaceful and, best of all, natural. Although I worked extremely hard to keep them from depending entirely on me for food, I always made sure that none of them went hungry.

My concern is that every time I have ever left this place to visit family or make the long drive into civilization for a week or so, I would at the very least leave canned food at the BOQ with express instructions for those mfs to feed all my cats. At least just put a can of food out for the very small ones every day or so. Without fail, the food remained untouched upon my return every single time. I know that when I am gone nobody up here is going to take care of these cats. That thought is really upsetting me.

I know they will be fine, they are basically just human-friendly feral and hunt constantly. There are plenty of field mice and other natural prey for them here. The thought of finding a shelter that will take large volumes of animals briefly materialized but I don't want to take these cats away from their home and I do not trust any shelter not to euthanize some or even all of them. Any "solution" to the "problem" has been vetoed by rational thought. The only correct move is to just leave them in their natural environment. This is their home. One man can't keep a hundred cats in his house and have it be safe for the animals no matter how big it is; and even if I did buy land for them or something it'd just be the exact same thing they have now but far worse, since there wouldn't be any people nearby who might feed one or allow one into their home one day and find a new friend for life.

So, I have to leave my cats.

I am going to miss them. I have pet hundreds of miles into the backs of these animals over the years, turned many mean and horrible cats into friendly and loving ones. Countless litters have been born in the cactus patch, safely sheltered from the many local predators. And some have even been rescued from sickness and certain death; given to family members where they will live long and happy lives.
 
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Why not just adopt the ones you like the best and then see if someone else is willing to take the others?
 
Do you have any friends in your area who loves cats, you could try and convince them to drop by from time to time and feed em, hopefully no psychos in the neighborhood disturbs the cats
 
Fatniggo1488 said:
Why not just adopt the ones you like the best and then see if someone else is willing to take the others?
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There is actually a really good reason why I never personally adopted any for myself and why even when I lived there, none of the cats would come inside or live in the house with me.

Many years ago a bad event happened, some my family members passed away. I was spending a lot of off days at my mom's house bc I didn't want to be alone for a while after it occurred, my place seemed empty and creepy now and i didnt like being there. She had this giant black cat at her house and the more time I spent there the more this cat would not leave me the heck alone. the cat just constantly sat next to me, on the couch or on my lap begging for pets and just giving me attention non-stop. Meowing at me, etc. Every night that I decided to sleep there, this cat would crawl up and snuggle and sleep right next to my head. Every single night.

I had known about and met this cat many times before, mind you. She was like I think 4 years old at this point. But she never even gave me a glance before. I guess she could tell I was in a bad spot and feeling sad.

Anyway it got to the point where the cat began acting up when I would leave. She would often yowl and meow loudly in the spare bedroom I sometimes slept in, peed on the carpet in there when I was gone and became very anti-social with the other cats. She would not let them into that bedroom and fought with them. It got to the point where my mom and I both just understood that she was my cat now lol. I was given the cat and brought her to live at my place, which made her very happy.

I love my cat. She still sleeps next to me every night, right beside my head. Even right this second as I type these words my cat is laying on the floor directly beside me. Unless she is sleeping she even follows me from room to room. She also kinda looks like a gorilla and has simian facial features. Very intelligent too, reminds me of a mischievous little monkey like Ella the evil capuchin from the movie Monkey Shines.
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So. Obviously my cat is territorial. But it's worse than just that. if I bring any other animals in the home she will straight up Attack them. not to mention being very large and strong for a cat, like if a micro-panther was a real thing. She bit my girlfriend several times. she does not like anyone but me, so I can't have any pets or critters in the home.

But I actually have adopted out (to other people) many of the strays that lived on the property. The orange/white one at the end of OP went to my mom; he had a legit broken back and could not or would not walk for several weeks. We got him healthy and he is doing great now. Took dozens of sick kittens to the vet over the years and most of these were adopted out to college students I knew in town, gave two to an ex girlfriend, one patient became a permanent resident of the town vet clinic because the secretary liked that kitten so much. It did happen, I just couldn't have any of them live with me.
 
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you were in a place and time to help those cats. Now life sends you somewhere else. Perhaps for a reason?
The cats will be ok. Maybe you needed them more than they need you in a way?
 
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the cats will be fine. they might even just leave and go somewhere else since you are not around to give them food anymore. wild animals in general tend to just stick to where the food is. if you were their main food source and you leave they will just find a new main food source. if possible though maybe see if you can take some of the more friendly ones and drop them off at a no kill shelter. they might have a pretty good shot at getting a good loving home.
 
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Cats you're a good man and I'm sorry to hear about your conundrum. We humans create problems and then solutions that become problems. You've experienced both aspects of this cycle now. It is the cycle of our life but through it, those of us who aren't bastards at least, hope to improve the world around us a little bit at a time at least for each cycle.

Many cats would have died without your help. Some cats will perhaps die now after you're gone. I'm sure your actions have endeared the cats a little bit to the local population as they interacted with them. Maybe a few of them will help and as you said are helping here and there with one cat or two.

If I knew more about feral cats and their abilities to survive I might suggest dispersing them where that is more likely but I dont. But maybe you do?
Anyway if not, it is what it is. It is life.
 
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As a cat lover, I get this.
I had to move from my old house, leaving behind 2 strays outside. I miss them, but I know they had a good life while I fed them.
Just know that they had full stomachs and mental comfort while you were there.
And like other kiwis have said, you will always have room in your hearts for new ones.
Stay strong based cat-loving fwend.
 
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I think I am going to go visit them some time soon. That's another thing I didn't really mention is that I am actually not like, super duper far away, just a little over an hour. Not quite close enough to pop on over every other day, but I'll see 'em sometimes.
 
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Cats said:
I think I am going to go visit them some time soon. That's another thing I didn't really mention is that I am actually not like, super duper far away, just a little over an hour. Not quite close enough to pop on over every other day, but I'll see 'em sometimes.
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Have you ever seen Red Dwarf? While Lister (human) is in stasis for a gazillion years his ships cat has kittens and they evolve into feline like humans with a complex society with a version of him as a deity.
 
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