Farm Cats
As mentioned before, I have been struggling with rats in the garden. Last autumn I noticed a cat hanging around my house alot so I tried to lure it to stick around and named her “killkillkill.” Then I found out she was not a feral cat but a smart indoor/outdoor cat who lived directly across the street and had several neighbors showering her fat butt with food and probably champagne. She has since moved.
On a random day when I could not deal with the rat problem, I packed a cat carrier in my car and headed straight to the SPCA to adopt an outdoor cat. I learned that the SPCA will not release an animal for adoption for outdoor living. However, there did tell me about some feral cat resources. One is the Island Cat Resources & Adoption (ICRA). They have an entire section on Garden Cats. ICRA animals for adoption have had the following:
- Spayed or neutered
- FeLV and FIV tested
- FVRCP vaccinated
- De-wormed
- Treated for fleas with Frontline
The Feral Cat Foundation (FCF) also looks like a great resource but I did not find information on their health and reproductive status. The FCF has a section of adoptable kitties dubbed, Barn Buddies. I especially like how all the barn buddy cat photos have them looking they are perpetually hunting. I fell fast in love with Pepper Annie at FCF. Her photo (at top) makes her look like she could do some damage.
In my search for a feline that would fit the farm lifestyle, I learned a few interesting things about feral cat adoption:
1) Black; black and white; and white cats are discriminated against for adoption. Now that I know this, the fact that my neighborhood is full of black and black/white cats says something about my neighbors. Did I mention I love my neighborhood?
2) Don’t expect to form a loving bond with your feral cat. Consider yourself fortunate that they stick around (I’m pretty sure I can do this. I am married after all).
3) When you encounter a feral cat, do not try to pet the cat or get your fingers near it (Wow).
4) Feral cats don’t purr or meow but they will hiss and growl and spit (Oh, thats fine. My Abuela Lupe is a little like that).
I kind of like the feeling that I may have to bust out a chair and whip to feed my feral cat. I’ll take adventure where I can get it.
Great post! I think every neighborhood has one of those trickster cats who “shares the love” and gets many shares of food!
Are you going to bring Pepper Annie home?
You know, one thing I noticed the Barn Cat people don’t talk about is litter. Are they going to use our raised beds as litter boxes?
(I’m not the gardener in our household: I’m the sanitation engineer [and fiber technologist], so i worry about things like that)
Health & Reproduction status at FCF:
With the exception of some of our Special Sweeties , all cats and kittens available on this website have tested negative for feline AIDs (FIV) and leukemia (FelV). All (including our Special Sweeties) have been spayed or neutered and had the FVRCP and Rabies vaccinations appropriate for their age.
May 30th, 2009 at 5:36 pmThanks for the FCF info “ktrion”! I would love to bring Pepper Annie home. I love her photo and feel like we might be a good fit. I have placed a call but I am not able to consider the long term farm cat solution for a month or so. I have major construction going on.
I also appreciate the tip on the litter box issue. I have no idea what they would use. I’ll ask to contact some of the homes that have garden cats.
May 30th, 2009 at 5:52 pmHmmmm. I still think a Kevin is your best short-term solution (and he’s litter-box free). I’d love to talk to you more about this. So interesting.
May 31st, 2009 at 1:25 am