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Colony Care
Relocation
Your gift means food, shelter and veterinary care for cats in need.
Moving cats
Relocating cats is a major undertaking which requires careful planning. First a suitable new home with a responsible caretaker must be located. Then, after the cats are trapped, vetted and transported, they must be confined in their new territory for up to three weeks so they learn their food source has changed. Otherwise, if they are released right away, they are likely to run off in search of their old familiar grounds. Because of the difficulties and risks, relocation is only recommended as a last resort.
Should you do it?
It's not unusual to encounter hostility towards community cats when the colony is unmanaged and there's unchecked reproduction and frequent nuisance behavior like fighting, yowling and spraying. Frustrated residents may even express threats to poison or harm the cats. Often a well-meaning person's first reaction to learning of a situation like this is to want to get the cats to safety and relocate them. Not considered is that TNR'ing the cats instead could resolve the issues quickly and make a move with all its risks unnecessary.
Community cats are very tied to their territory and keeping them in place whenever possible should be the priority. At Neighborhood Cats, we advise limiting relocations to only extreme circumstances which offer no opportunity to fix whatever threats the cats are facing. For example, if the cats live in an abandoned building slated for demolition, first try to gradually move their feeding area and shelter down the block to a safer spot. If there is no spot or the whole block will be demolished, then relocate. Or if the primary feeder is moving away, research whether other feeders already exist in the neighborhood (they often do) and assess the likelihood of the cats finding new food sources on their own.
Relocation - the steps
Step one: find a suitable new site
A new location will need:
- A reliable caretaker willing to take on the responsiblity of managing the cats on a long-term basis.
- A structure of some kind where the cats can be confined such as a garage, barn or shed. Upon release, the cats should be able to move under their own power out of the confinement area and into the new territory.
- Distance from heavy traffic, construction or other hazardous conditions. Try to personally inspect the site prior to moving the cats.
Step two: set up the confinement area
Before trapping and transporting the cats, set up the confinement area and have everything ready to go. Choose a quiet spot and create nearby hiding places where the cats can go after being released, like bales of hay or cardboard boxes. If the cats can't be kept in a larger, open space, use cages and the Feral Cat Setup. If the weather is frigid, provide winter shelter in the confinement space or inside the cages (upside-down Styrofoam coolers stuffed with straw will shelter one cat.)
Step three: trap, vet and transport
Whenever possible, trap and relocate the entire colony at the same time. If the colony must be broken up among multiple new locations, keep them at least in pairs with known buddies matched together. Have any necessary veterinary work done, like spay/neuter, vaccinations or flea treatment, before transporting to their new location. Once they've arrived, be sure the new caretaker knows how to feed the confined cats and clean the litter boxes, being aware some may try to escape at first.
Step four: confinement
Three weeks is optimal for the confinement period. Longer than that may stress the cats to the point they run away once released. Encourage the new caretaker to talk to the cats and spend time with them during the confinement, so they bond with their new person. Feed tasty wet food and stick to a regular feeding schedule so the cats learn to enjoy their new routine.
Step five: release
Open the cage or enclosure doors and let the cats exit at their own pace. Leave everything as is for a couple of weeks afterwards so the cats have a familiar place to go if they want. The cats may return to the enclosure area to eat or a new, nearby spot can be selected. Be sure to stay in touch with the new caretaker and be available for any questions.
To prevent new cats from moving into the now vacant old territory, remove any shelters and, to the extent possible, all food sources. Try to scrub the territory clean so it's inhospitable for felines. You don't want to have to deal with another relocation!
