Tootle Puffers, Part Three! (The Sequel of the Redux)

Bea-FL

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We have TNR over 50 cats since buying this house in '99. We actually had to buy our own trap, as it was easier than repeatedly trekking over to the local nonprofit and hoping they hadn't loaned them all out.

Our toughest case was the elusive Mama Grey. She had half a dozen litters before we could get her. She was not much more than a runt herself, but surely had spirit. I saw her climbing and leaping from a chain link fence one day with a full grown squirrel in her mouth. It equaled her in size.

We finally trapped her in the garage one day and literally had to starve her into the trap. She held out almost 4 days before going in for the food. We had her fixed and she then disappeared within a month. Kind of sad. :(

Below is a pic from 11/26/09, at the height of the madness. We had no Thanksgiving plans that year, so we bought ten cans of mackerel and gave the pride a Thanksgiving feast. About 80% of this group was feral, but conditioned to feeding. That year, I believe, we got the last breeder fixed and have slowly dwindled in population from attrition.

We went through about 60 pounds of dry food every two weeks at that time. Needless to say, no bug/lizard/bird is safe in my back yard.

Currently, there are about a dozen in or around the house, all fixed, fat freeloaders. The worst problem we now have is the random possum/racoon through the cat door in the wee hours. Who'd of thought that the crazy cat lady in my block would end up being me, the fat, hairy biker guy...

Jay :headbang:

The fat, orange cat was Kitana. She was the ONE cat we actually owned, who moved there with us. The rest just kinda showed up.
View attachment 654925

Thank you for taking care of the Ferals. My colony was never that large, but I started trapping as soon as I noticed that we were starting to have more strays than usual. Having your own trap does make things a lot easier so that all you need to worry about is getting a time at the TNR clinic. I'm sorry your Mama Grey went missing after you let her back out.

I've still got my two mama kitties living out in the fort. One is seriously considering moving inside and lets me pet her. The older mama isn't quite there yet, but since the tom moved in, she is trying to figure out how to be with him again. I had held off moving him inside, but this winter one of the other toms started trying to kill my guy, so after he went to the vet to get sewn back together, and a month of cage rest, I just kept him inside.

@RainSong This site has great information about ferals and trapping. I was on a tablet last night and didn't have all my links available. Neighborhood Cats | How to TNR | Feral Cat Winter Shelter If you can get those kittens trapped, they might be young enough to find homes.

If you can work with the TNR people to learn how to trap, setting up a feeding station and times will make things easier. I ended up having to go with a string and bottle trigger to catch my mama and kittens out the back door. My ferals knew and trusted me, so when I was ready to trap, they didn't hide like they would if a strange person was there.

Ladies thank you for all the work you do on behalf of these kitties.
 

sorrynomore

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We have TNR over 50 cats since buying this house in '99. We actually had to buy our own trap, as it was easier than repeatedly trekking over to the local nonprofit and hoping they hadn't loaned them all out.

Our toughest case was the elusive Mama Grey. She had half a dozen litters before we could get her. She was not much more than a runt herself, but surely had spirit. I saw her climbing and leaping from a chain link fence one day with a full grown squirrel in her mouth. It equaled her in size.

We finally trapped her in the garage one day and literally had to starve her into the trap. She held out almost 4 days before going in for the food. We had her fixed and she then disappeared within a month. Kind of sad. :(

Below is a pic from 11/26/09, at the height of the madness. We had no Thanksgiving plans that year, so we bought ten cans of mackerel and gave the pride a Thanksgiving feast. About 80% of this group was feral, but conditioned to feeding. That year, I believe, we got the last breeder fixed and have slowly dwindled in population from attrition.

We went through about 60 pounds of dry food every two weeks at that time. Needless to say, no bug/lizard/bird is safe in my back yard.

Currently, there are about a dozen in or around the house, all fixed, fat freeloaders. The worst problem we now have is the random possum/racoon through the cat door in the wee hours. Who'd of thought that the crazy cat lady in my block would end up being me, the fat, hairy biker guy...

Jay :headbang:

The fat, orange cat was Kitana. She was the ONE cat we actually owned, who moved there with us. The rest just kinda showed up.
View attachment 654925

WOW !!!!
We have a cat,his name's Earl (a Russian Blue).Only a couple of strays in my neighbourhood.
 

cats5365

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WOW !!!!
We have a cat,his name's Earl (a Russian Blue).Only a couple of strays in my neighbourhood.
Ssssssshhhhhh...don't say it out loud. Next thing you know some kitty is going to tag your fence with a note that says, "Nice people live here, will trade food for :shock:."
 

Shawn Hoefer

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Really. Scary? Why's that? It's just a nic level strength, no? It might be THE perfect one for someone to get or stay off cigs.

I recognize that... it's an irrational fear... I dont have a problem with spiders, snakes, mice, etc., but I don't like high nic levels...

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk
 

Shawn Hoefer

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Sir Kadly

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  • Sep 18, 2015
    4,361
    50,684
    Michiana
    I was just googling for donut-shaped DTs and I came across cloudculturestore(dot)com. You have to go see their drip tips. Expensive, mostly $15-17, and I'm not sure how practical they are but unique!
    No idea how it vapes, but who wouldn't want this drip tip?
    Wide_Bore_Star_of_Doom_Glass_Drip_Tip.jpg
     

    Skold

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    Jan 24, 2016
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    mdmccormick

    Senior Member
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    May 26, 2014
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    Fort White, FL
    We have TNR over 50 cats since buying this house in '99. We actually had to buy our own trap, as it was easier than repeatedly trekking over to the local nonprofit and hoping they hadn't loaned them all out.

    Our toughest case was the elusive Mama Grey. She had half a dozen litters before we could get her. She was not much more than a runt herself, but surely had spirit. I saw her climbing and leaping from a chain link fence one day with a full grown squirrel in her mouth. It equaled her in size.

    We finally trapped her in the garage one day and literally had to starve her into the trap. She held out almost 4 days before going in for the food. We had her fixed and she then disappeared within a month. Kind of sad. :(

    Below is a pic from 11/26/09, at the height of the madness. We had no Thanksgiving plans that year, so we bought ten cans of mackerel and gave the pride a Thanksgiving feast. About 80% of this group was feral, but conditioned to feeding. That year, I believe, we got the last breeder fixed and have slowly dwindled in population from attrition.

    We went through about 60 pounds of dry food every two weeks at that time. Needless to say, no bug/lizard/bird is safe in my back yard.

    Currently, there are about a dozen in or around the house, all fixed, fat freeloaders. The worst problem we now have is the random possum/racoon through the cat door in the wee hours. Who'd of thought that the crazy cat lady in my block would end up being me, the fat, hairy biker guy...

    Jay :headbang:

    The fat, orange cat was Kitana. She was the ONE cat we actually owned, who moved there with us. The rest just kinda showed up.
    View attachment 654925

    :O that's a lot of cats!! lol
     

    Sir Kadly

    Tootle Wompin' Squonkaholic
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    Verified Member
  • Sep 18, 2015
    4,361
    50,684
    Michiana
    I was just googling for donut-shaped DTs and I came across cloudculturestore(dot)com. You have to go see their drip tips. Expensive, mostly $15-17, and I'm not sure how practical they are but unique!
    Ummm, I got to page 3 and, errr, they do have a rather, well, unusual drip tip...not posting pictures of that one, but using it in public would get some stares for sure.:blink:
     

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