Since moving here, we have been fighting the good fight to trap, neuter/spay, and release (TNR) the feral cats that live here. The first couple of years we were very successful (including getting four kittens out of the feral system), but the last two years we’ve managed only one success. Instead of catching undocked feral cats skulking about, we’ve caught already-TNR’d ferals, neighbors’ cats or skunks.
The good news is that I have a perfect success rate when it comes to getting a skunk out of a trap without it spraying me, which I’ve had to do nearly a dozen times. It just takes patience and a kindly nature. It also helps to not giggle when they sniff your feet and end up tickling you.
The downside of this lack of success is that I gave Agent Smith the go-ahead to take out undocked ferals if he has a clear shot, and I will probably start doing the same. Before you animal lovers get all angry, please note: “In the U.S. alone, outdoor cats kill 2.4 billion birds every year which may seem unbelievable but it represents the combined impact of tens of millions of outdoor cats.” – American Bird Conservancy
We have natural predators such as hawks, owls, coyotes and snakes to take care of most pests up here, and cats–specifically, feral ones–are simply unwelcome murderers who eat too many of our birds. It’s also actually something we’re legally permitted to do since we live in a rural/semi-rural area. I’m sure some readers will think we are heartless murderers, but a clear single shot to take out a human-caused problem is a more palatable solution to curtailing the piles of feathers we find too frequently under shrubs and trees. I will continue to TNR, but we’ve come to the conclusion that alone doesn’t work.
This write up from the wild-bird supply store I frequent is a good read for what you can do to help minimize the murder: Cats and Birds: Creating A Safe Backyard Bird Habitat