7 am and Catching Feral Cats

It was 7 a.m. when I heard the first meow. Followed by another, and then another. Groggily, I sat up in bed, trying to identify the source of the noise. And then I realized: it was coming from the roof. This wasn’t the first time I’d been woken up by a cat on the roof, but it was definitely the most persistent.

For the next hour, as I tried to get back to sleep, the cats yowled and scuffled overhead. Eventually, I gave up and got out of bed. It was time to catch some feral cats.

Donning my heavy gloves and a pair of tall boots, I grabbed my humane cat trap and headed outside. Sure enough, there were three cats perched on the edge of the roof.  As soon as they saw me appear at the top of the steps, they darted off into the shadows. 

But I won’t give up – I’ll catch them all sooner or later. It’s my job to catch the feral cats that are running around the neighbourhood. I’ve been at it for years now, and I still haven’t managed to catch them all.  Other cats arrive from outside the area, either wandering ferals or homeless and hungry.

Many cats have been abandoned, and they need to be caught and brought to the animal shelter so they can be adopted by a loving family.  Others are clearly feral, and it is impossible to get near them.  Feral cats need to be neutered to control the numbers on the colonies, and examined by a vet for illness.

Anyone who has ever lived with a cat knows that they have a tendency to go where they please, regardless of whether or not it’s convenient for humans. This can often lead to cats ending up in places they’re not supposed to be, like on the roof.

While some people might be tempted to shoo them away, this can actually be counterproductive. Feral cats help to control the population of rodents and other pests, making them valuable members of the ecosystem.

Ultimately, you may just have to accept that your home is also a home for feral cats.

One day, I was sitting on my porch with a bag of cat food when I had an idea.  I realized that if I put the food on the roof of my porch, the cats would have to come to me instead of me chasing them around. And it worked! Within minutes, there were four furry little faces eagerly eating the food off the roof.

Now, every day, I put out some food on the roof and watch as the cats enjoy their meal. It’s been a lot easier catching them since they’re coming to me for a change! The cats have now been neutered and treated for parasites. 

Anytime a new cat appears, attracted by the food, I have the trap handy to catch it.  Who knows, maybe this is the best way to catch a wild cat.

Now, every time I hear a cat on the roof, I just smile and go back to sleep knowing that they’re just doing their job keeping the local rodent population in check.