http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...s_N.htm?csp=34
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This is heartwarming. Thank you for sharing this. So many of us on PT have rescued ferals, some were able to adapt to indoor life, some not, but all were worthy of saving. God breathed into them the breath of life just as he did every living creature and they deserve a chance. My Yodie is a feral success story. She isn't a lap cat but she's adapted well to indoor life and makes no attempt to escape. She knows how good she has it here w/the rest of the Fur Posse. TNR is the way to go for the colonies. It's the humane thing to do.
My husband called me and told me about this story in USA. He knows how hard I have struggled and still am struggling to complete the TNR process on my colonies. But and the most important thing always comes after but, is my feral babies are just as much my own as the my indoor guys. I can pet about a third of my ferals and they all have names. It is so wonderful when they give it up and let you stroke them. I don't know who is happier, me or them. One of my ferals, that I can pet, Alex has actually found his way to the woods across my street. I hope he will be there tomorrow afternoon when I get off, so he can be the next one to be neutered. I believe my boy was following a female and has lost his way. He will go back to the colony if I am successful tomorrow.
I worry about them all the time. The woods are full of creatures that prey on them and it hard when you know that someone has fallen prey to one of them. I know losing some is part of caretaking, but it doesn't get any easier.
I will say though, TNR works. One colony stayed stable for 3 years. No new additions, but the numbers have dwiddled suddenly and I haven't figured out why yet. Our local pound has not gotten any of them, I checked plus they have my name and number. Their policy is that they will not take any cats with clipped ears and all my guys had clipped years. My prayer is nothing happens to the remaining three.
My Persie, who unfortunately is terminally ill, was a feral around my house. It was a long process from the bushes, to the yard, to the porch, to allowing me to pet her, to coming in the house. She has adapted very well and cuddles with me or my husband but doesn't like strangers and hides when any are around. She is one of my joys.
Thanks for posting, as I wasn't aware of the article.
It's good to get more public awareness, as working with ferals seems such a daunting task at times. The sheer NUMBERS . . . .
My last 4 acquisitions are from my feral colonies: Bobby, Chaplin, Tommy and Tuppence. My first cat EVER was a feral, as well; I just didn't know any better back then, and I brought him in! He hee. Took him 3 weeks to come out from under the bed when I was home, and after that, he decided 3 meals per day was alright with him. That was my dear boy Amber.