Topic: Feral Cats Multiplying At My Apartment Community

We have a burned building that has not been rebuilt and there's an entire community of ferrel cats residing there. Our animal control will not provide us with traps nor will they come and catch the poor cats themselves. Every couple of months I notice a new litter of kittens so the population just keeps growing and growing. There's a resident who is a major animal lover and he feeds them everyday like clockwork. We have tried everything to make him stop. Other than evicting (legally speaking I have no idea for what) does anyone have any suggestions?

I think almost every apartment community deals with feral cats at some point. As an animal lover I understand the desire to feed the cats, but as a ccommuity manager I understand how this is undesirable. Here's what we did; we contacted a local feline rescue group. They provided us with traps to catch the cats, and then helped us locate a vet who would fix them for free. I then allowed the residents who were feeding them to build a feeding box in the edge of the woods, out of site. The box is not for the cats to live in, but is a place they can put food and water without having my community littered with pie tins, and water bowls. This has worked out wonderfully, my cat lovers feel I care, and the non-cat lovers don't have anything to complain about either as the cats tend to stay in the woods now. This was honestly our only option. I work at an animal rescue but we can't take in feral cats, or owner surrender as we pull pets from kill shelters. Our local animal shelter couldn't pick them up because they were at capasity. So google feral rescue's for your area, most every location has one.

I had the same issue at a Florida 70-acre site. Contact your local human society are see if they will loan you the animal traps (they do not injure the cats). Purchase small cans fish flavor cat food or cheese cubes at your bait. Have someone check them twice a day. We rounded up 5 in one week and the Human Society accepted delivery of of them.

Just my initial thought - clean up the burned out building left on site. If the cats have no where to lay claim, eventually you can place them in homes or call for help and advice from a rescue group. What is the hold up with the clean-up? Insurance woes?

One of my communities had a stray cat that we lovingly called "George". There was a group of "mother hens" who made sure he was fed and they set up a box with blankets in it for him to sleep in during the cold months. George was completely independent and he totally eliminated the chipmunk population. Sadly, he passed away after residing there for five years.

We hired a company to remove the animals. They trapped and disosed of them. Cost a thousand but well worth it

Hi,

I came to your post because I am currently putting together a presentation on how implementing a Trap-Neuter-Return program at my apartment complex would be beneficial. I also wanted to build feeding towers. As part of my presentation I am searching for documentation of a Community like mine that has done exactly as you have done with yours. I would be really interested in speaking with you about this. Perhaps I could reference your community and show my management team that we can humanely control the feral cats, keep the community clean, and that TNR is a solution.

Kind Regards,
Sarah S.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

I believe it is an Outright Shame that property owners, and/or managers of these apartment complexes, are not taking responsibility for the animals that are drawn to THEIR property because of THEIR dumpsters located on the property! THEY DO NOTHING ABOUT IT!! All of a sudden, when concerned tenants feel sorry for these animals because they are eating out of dumpsters, it becomes a health and hazard issue to the complex. EXCUSE ME, but the health and hazard issue to the complex, and the public, is when these animals are tracking through dumpsters and then about the complex. I feel it should be against the law for these PROPERTY OWNERS to NOT DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! I should also add, it is illegal to mistreat a cat, so they best be doing the appropriate thing to CONTROL THEIR PROBLEM and help these animals!!! Simply FURIOUS! COME ON PEOPLE, LETS MAKE THESE PROPERTY OWNERS AND BIG BUSINESSES ACCEPT ACCOUNTABILITY! They would rather wait and pick on the little guy who tries to do the right thing and help!

I agree with several others in this thread: TNR (Trap, Neuter, Release) is the best option. In my city we have a great group dedicated to feral cats, low cost spay/neuter and eartip, etc. Reach out to your local Humane Society if you don't find a feral cat group with a simple Google search. I had 3 cats trapped, neutered, and relocated to a colony with a dedicated caretaker, shelters, etc.- near one of our properties, for free. All I had to do was call and setup a time for them to come to the property and trap the kitties. This is the most humane, and effective way, to control the feral cat population. I also agree that even though management isn't causing this problem, it is up to them to be the solution.

Is it really that big of a deal though? They're just cats...?

Yes, it's a big deal. I've been dealing with well meaning neighbors feeding stray cats in our apartment building. It started off with the food being left outside on the grass. Then this winter they began feeding them in the hallways. Now we have several cats living in our hallway. It smells like cat pee. My biggest issue is that I have a dog. I paid a large deposit to have this dog. Being a dog not raised with cats she wants to chase the cats. She's a big dog that can easily pull me down a flight of stairs. Who's going to take responsibility if I get hurt?

I recommend clearing away the building remains as soon as possible. Contact your local pound and they should be willing to come and collect the cats, or at least loan you the traps to do so. If that doesn't work you should call an animal control company. It is important for the success of your property that your maintain a good reputation, which means getting those wild cats out of there.
No matter how much the residents may like them, the property's reputation comes first.

This is a huge deal there's a lady who feeds the stray cats daily gives them warm milk as a pregnant woman I'm consent getting bitten and I'm allergic to their bites and our apartment laundry is outside so the fleas jump in to the clean clothes and now we have them in our house I wake up with biting and consent itchy it's not just the cats it's what the cats bring fleas !!!

For the pregnant lady at the apartment complex - Sorry the fleas are biting you - dogs carry those too - so you might want your apartment complex to spray something on the yard - I'm sure the cats didn't just bring those up to your laundry. Secondly, I have been handling a TNR colony for almost a year now in Dallas apartment complex and I can tell you first hand I have been harassed by the management and the tenants for my efforts. I have quite a few supporters but they harrassed as well. I have had motor oil poured on my front door, trash thrown in my garage and maintenance men scream and embarass me publicly. Yesterday I had a total stranger stalk me and take my picture. I can only imagine what awaits me when I get home today. I have spent countless hours trapping these cats and caring for them and paying for their care and spent extra money to ensure they had more vaccinations to ensue everyone's safety and their health. I take pride in what I have done for them and how I watch over them. It takes alot of time, effort and money. Sadly I don't get a thank you at the end of the day. I get a lot of hate and resentment from people. But that is not who I do it for. I did it so everyone of them could have a chance. To me- anything was better than being put to death. I believe whole heartedly in the vacuum affect and I love watching over my ferals. They bring me more joy than some of the ignorant humans that surround me. Some people would learn alot more if they kept their mouth shut and their eyes and hearts open.