Cat people / TNR people: some advice, please (tonight if you're here!)

[Flaxbee]

OK - I have in my humane cat trap (just caught him a few hours ago) an extremely feral male ("Stuart") whom I'll be taking to the vet tomorrow for neutering, rabies shots, etc. I have seven cats of my own, and can't bring Stuart into my home area - can't be in the house or garage b/c that's where my catbabies are and I think Stuart is healthy but I can't be sure. And I also don't want Stuart to be sniffed over all night while he's in the trap.

So - I have put him in the no-longer-used/soon-to-be-traded-in minivan of ours, put a towel over the trap for warmth, and opened one window a bit for fresh air. The low tonight is supposed to be 40, so I think he should be warm enough - any thoughts? The trap is not airtight, and one end of it is thick plastic with about 20 holes drilled in it - so he can get plenty of air (I borrowed the trap from a woman who does TNR here in town - but it's too late for me to call her now that I've actually caught Stuart).

Stuart is seriously pissed off, but I really want the poor bugger to be neutered. He is so wild, and so terrified of me (but knows I provide food) that I don't think he'll ever be companion animal material. We're moving from the area soon and I don't have the time to tame him (if that would ever even be possible).

I'm just rambling. Poor sweet frightened cat. I just want to prevent litters upon litters of kittens -- at least neutering is a much easier procedure than spaying.

Am I doing this OK? Anyone have any pointers for me, any way I can make him feel better tonight (though I certainly can't let him out - I'd probably never catch him again).

[Critters2]

1. I think you're doing the right thing. TNR is a great solution

to the overpopulation of animals.

And I think you're doing everything right. The only thought I have is that he'll probably have enough air without the window being open, and he'd be warmer. But I'm not altogether sure. also wonder how the vet will be able to handle him. He'll have to be sedated right away at the clinic, I suppose.

But I definitely support what you're doing!

[Flaxbee]

2. thanks... I thought I had all bases covered but wanted to check

I appreciate your input! I feel soooo guilty having him trapped and obviously unhappy, but I know it has to be done -- too many sweet kitties without homes as it is, no need to have more and more and more in the world if I can do something about it.

Thanks, mycritters2!

[Arugula Latte]

3. Thanks for doing that!

Sounds like you've thought this out. I'm sure he'll be fine and his ordeal will be over soon enough.

:hi:

I'd like to get involved with this when I have more time. My life right now is too, too jam-packed and crazy to devote to this, but if I could even TNR one kitty I would feel great.

[Deep13]

4. What's TNR?

[GoneOffShore]

5. Trap, Neuter, Release.

[Flaxbee]

6. OK, Stuart is at the vet's!

seemed to come through the night just fine, so he's now being examined, given rabies and the feline distemper/leukemia shots, getting dewormed and neutered. Poor bugger, he was NOT happy on the half-hour ride to the vet's... I go pick him up tonight around 5pm, will let him awaken in the back of our minivan again with some food and water, and then let him wander out whenever he feels like it.

Next up (if I can catch him): Lyle - a beautiful, solid blue-gray shorthair with gold eyes. He's not as wild as Stuart, and I might, in a week or so, even be able to just pick him up instead of having to use the trap.

[Arugula Latte]

7. Stuart's thought bubble tonight:

Looks at his, um, base-of-tail region ... "What the...? They were just here ..."

Glad he's getting taken care of ... :applause:

[Hell Hath No Fury]

8. I wonder if, for the cats, these events...

are their equivalent of an "alien abduction", where people are taken away and "probed". I can imagine Stuart's story tomorrow when he returns to his friend's... :D

[meegbear]

9. The New Republic are cat people?

Who knew? :shrug: