Feeding Stray Cats...

[pica_nuttalli]

so i've been a softy and started feeding some stray cats that hang around my complex. ) two are definitely half-grown and a third is their mother (who doesn't look much more than a kitten herself). last i saw the mother, she looked like she might be carrying another litter already.

my question is: what would be the best kind of food to feed them? i've got some off-brand kitten chow right now, but i only bought a small bag since i wasn't even sure i could convince them to show up on a regular basis. i'm going to run out pretty soon at this rate and i wanted to see what you guys thought would be the best sort of thing to get next.

i want something that will provide a lot of energy (i only have time to feed once a day) and excellent nutrition. i'd rather not spend a fortune, but i'm also not averse to brand-name. would it be better to continue feeding them a kitten food or should i look at something designed for adults?

 

[Kiarra]

My mom's work feeds the stray cats (that we've all caught and fixed, and adopted those that could be tamed) Purina Complete Formula. It's about $8.50 for an 18 pound bag, can be found all over, and has been keeping them all fit, with shiny coats.

 

[Angel Lady]

Go to walmart and get a bag of cat food called Maximuim Nutrition. It comes in a 8 lb bag I think here it cost & 5.97 a bag. It is the best have you seen pictures of my cats ??I you havent go take a look my kitties weighs 15 and 20 pounds on this stuff. ANd believe me with 24 cats you look for the best cat food and the cheapest They have all the enegry they will ever need on this stuff.. So if you are unsure about this brand I would call the vet if i were you and read the indgredients to him and see what he says..

 

[pica_nuttalli]

sorry, i'm boycotting walmart (i suppose i should have mentioned that earlier.)

 

[SRC]

Do you have a feed store near you? And by feed store I mean a store that specifically sells farm animal supplies and feed.
Most of them also sell dog and cat food as well. It's not "top notch" but it does the job.
The dog food comes in 2 protien levels 21% and 26%. The cat food I'm not sure of but it's a high protein food.

I buy a 50lb sack of cat food for $8 at mine. I feed the racoons, opposums, and the occassional stray cat I'm sure (as we have several in the area..they are ferrell and won't let you get within 50' of them though...so I'm pretty sure they come by after dark and grab a snack too).
Keeps the coons out of my garbage cans lol. That sucks to come out at 6 am and have to pick all that up after they strow it everywhere . Cat food has been working great at keeping them out of it lol.

The way I look at it...it's not the "best" cat food in the world I'm sure...but it's no different then what you can buy at Walmart. It's better then eating out of the dumpster, or even worse..having nothing at all.

You could also try this...
http/www.fcdf.org/nfood.php3

If you aren't too price concerned you coudl also try this....
http/www.fcdf.org/nspay.php3
http/www.fcdf.org/nspay.php3#vets

 

[pica_nuttalli]

great links SRC! one of my kitties (Edward ) ) is a real sweetie and i'm hoping to relocate him to my grandfather's barn (any place is more outdoor cat-friendly than auburn.) i've been wondering how much it would set me back to fix him. right now its my intention to neuter Edward and the slowly start trapping & fixing the rest of the cats. i doubt that any of the others could be tamed down enough to be rehomed, but the least i can do is get them to stop making more stray cats.

 

[JackDemp528]

I would suggest that you find out if your local shelter has a catch and release program. We do, we get ferals in, spay and vaccinate them, then let them go, so there's no more disease and no more kittens.

 

[mr.dark-saint]

I'll guess they're feral cats. I'm fine with feeding them but I'd go one step by having them fixed. Some Vets and SPCAs will give a discount for the fixin' fee and while there booster shots.

One thing you might want to do is feed during the day. If for no other reason than prevention of 'coons' a comming at night for the free meal and damage to your property.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

i live in an apartment complex centered among other apartment complexes centered among a commercial district nestled against a university campus. "coons" aren't really an issue i try feeding at night simply because that's when the kitties show up to start their "day" with a good breakfast--plus i'm finally through running around town at that point.

and if you'll read my latest post in the topic, you will notice that i already intend to get them fixed i'm just waiting until i've got them tamed down enough to get them to the vet without resorting to actual traps.

thanks for the tip about contacting the local shelters, JD. i'll have to look into that (although i have my doubts that they do this; we've got a pretty terrible feral cat problem in this town and it doesn't seem to be abating any.)

 

[tekknocolor]

I know this is a little off topic, but since the cats are strays/feral, you may want to contact a feral cat organization. I noticed you're from Auburn and they have a person there that you may be able to contact for more information as to reducing costs and what you can do to help them or get more information:

Brenda Griffin, DVM, MS
Diplomate ACVIM (Internal Medicine)
Scott-Ritchey Research Center
College of Veterinary Medicine
Auburn University
griffb1@vetmed.auburn.edu

I got that information from this link: Feral Cat and Spay/Neuter Organizations

I must say KUDOS to you for all your efforts... they're lucky

 

[Flashfire]

I wouldn't feed them , my Aunt was living with us for a while and she noticed a stray cat that would pass our house everyday on it's way to our stables. One day she left out food so it ate it. Then the next day it returned to where she had left the food the previous day so my aunt gave her more. This carried on for a couple of weeks and eventualy the cat started hanging out near our house. Eventualy it bred with my mom's cat. My aunt decided to continue feeding the kittens as the mother was now reliant on us for food. Pretty soon the mother moved the kittens into our garage and we had to find homes for them (we're still busy trying because the cats are a little wild). Motto of the story: don't provide stray cats with what they need to breed.

 

[kimbowee]

Found this link directly to the Cat Nap site at Auburn Univ. http/www.auburn.edu/prevet/catnap/meet.html

You may already have some fixed Kitties. Are you able to get close to any of them? It states that if they have been in the program they will have the tip of the left ear removed.

Also, the humane society offers a discounted spay/nueter program. Here is their link http/www.gbhs.org/programsandservices.asp?type=9 That is, if you want to fund it yourself.

Sorry to say, but I disagree with you Flashfire. I think its great that Pica is willing to feed the strays and is considering options available to spay or neuter. So many people these days can be cruel, the animals didn't ask to live in the wild, why shouldn't we help. No wonder why so many of the feral cats are afraid of humans. Not many actually find someone to help them out. As for the stray your Aunt was feeding mating with your Moms cat, shouldn't it have been spayed or neutered before being let outside?

Sorry, rant is over now.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

Found this link directly to the Cat Nap site at Auburn Univ. http/www.auburn.edu/prevet/catnap/meet.html

You may already have some fixed Kitties. Are you able to get close to any of them? It states that if they have been in the program they will have the tip of the left ear removed.

Also, the humane society offers a discounted spay/nueter program. Here is their link http/www.gbhs.org/programsandservices.asp?type=9 That is, if you want to fund it yourself.

OMG you rock, kim! they'll come within 4 or 5 feet (except for Edward, who insists on getting his rub-down before chow time. ) so i can pretty well say for certain that all of them are "complete".

So many people these days can be cruel, the animals didn't ask to live in the wild, why shouldn't we help. No wonder why so many of the feral cats are afraid of humans. Not many actually find someone to help them out. As for the stray your Aunt was feeding mating with your Moms cat, shouldn't it have been spayed or neutered before being let outside?

indeed. next time, let's try removing the plank from our own eye first. people who don't spay or neuter their cats before letting them run loose are the exact reason for the stray cat problem in Auburn. not only did these cats not ask to be in the wild, it's the direct fault of human inaction that they are there!

besides, i intend to deprive them of "what they need to breed"

 

[JackDemp528]

That's wonderful pica! I'm so glad you plan on getting them spayed, I didn't see that you had said it before. I wish all shelters had a catch and release program. But if you tame them that's even better. Good luck with them. And we used to have a terrible feral problem around here but my neighbor who actually works with me also, took most of them in and now they live with her, she's got about 120 cats.

 

[SRC]

I wouldn't feed them , my Aunt was living with us for a while and she noticed a stray cat that would pass our house everyday on it's way to our stables. One day she left out food so it ate it. Then the next day it returned to where she had left the food the previous day so my aunt gave her more. This carried on for a couple of weeks and eventualy the cat started hanging out near our house. Eventualy it bred with my mom's cat. My aunt decided to continue feeding the kittens as the mother was now reliant on us for food. Pretty soon the mother moved the kittens into our garage and we had to find homes for them (we're still busy trying because the cats are a little wild). Motto of the story: don't provide stray cats with what they need to breed.

Your mom shouldn't have had her unfixed male cat outside where it could get a female cat pregnant. It was just that cat becasue it was convienent..next it will leave and go finda female...sometiems males don't ever come back either...they get ran over, killed in fights, or peopel take them off.

That isn't the stray cats fault. Ibet you'd want some food if someone dumped your ass off on the side of the road, and you'd feel pretty bummed if people turned their backs on you...huh?

I love how it's always blamed on teh female cat for "having kittens" when irresponsible MALE cat owners (and dog owners) are just as much to blame..it does take BOTH you know. *pfft*