Feral Cats

Is it cruel to feed stray cats

[LisaB]

I operate a small hotel and I found out that my housekeepers have been feeding a stray cat, with her kittems for a few months. They are completly wild. I have told them that they must stop feeding the cats, I feel like it is dangerous, what if a small child staying with us, sees the cat's food and water bowl, thinks they are pets, tries to catch one, gets bit, then the parents find out and I get sued.

But, since they have been feeding these kittens since they were born, the cats may starve to death, and I am a hugh animal lover, so it is hard for me to live with that.

What I feel like doing is catching them, taking them and getting them fixed, release them and charging my housekeepers what it cost me in vet fees, deducting it from their paycheck (probably illegal).

I feel that it is very cruel to feed these cats without providing them with the medical shots, nuetering them, and prviding them with a warm dry place. THey hide under a storage shed.

I feel bad feeding them or not feeding them. What should a General Manager do? HELP

[TypicalSurfer]

cats are better than RATS. If you are running a hotel, this is probably a blessing in disguise.

Docking your workers for defending the defenseless? Nah, thats just...

Neutering and releasing is the humane and kind thing to do in this situation, on your dime of course. You'll feel good about it believe me and people spend way more than the cost of a snip to get there (feeling good).

[edited by: TypicalSurfer at 9:55 pm (utc) on June 13, 2007]

[King_Fisher]

Didn't we just do this one? (neutered my neighbor's cat) KF

[phranque]

Didn't we just do this one? (neutered my neighbor's cat)

ya think lisa is really into webmaster stuff or did she stumble upon our fooish discussion?
interesting seo anecdote...

joined:June 13, 2007
posts:1

[rocknbil]

Well just in case she's sincere . . . The Infamous Cat Neutering Thread [webmasterworld.com]. And yes, IMO you'd be doing your neighbor a service (but I don't know how Will Ferrell will feel about it . . . )

[TypicalSurfer]

The Infamous Cat Neutering Thread.

Holy Fur Ball!

That thread is 5 pages deep, cats are OK but enough is enough.

[jecasc]

I would not worry about the cats starving to death. If they are kept outside they will still learn how to catch mice, birds or cockroaches. Even a well fed house cat knows how to do this and will bring a dead mouse as a present to its owner once in a while.

[limbo]

Hi lisab, and welcome to webmasterworld.

Cats are hardy opportunists, they'll be fine.

Keep feeding them and you may have to adopt :o

[johnblack]

Hi LisaB,

I'd just like to point out that it's not only stray/feral cats that bite, a well looked after pet cat could also bite a guest. So I guess your call is whether you, as a hotel manager, would have your own pets on the premises. If you would not be comfortable having a pet of your own on the premisies then I'm sure there's a local pet rescue/sanctuary that will take these cats off your hands for you - they'll fix them up and pass them on to loving homes.

Also please don't take this out on your housekeepers - that seems a too strong reaction in the circumstances.

You talk about 'feral cats' and 'stray cats' in the title and description. These cats don't sound feral - as I understand it a feral cat would have nothing to do with humans. Sounds like the mum is a stray who has adopted your hotel as home. The kittens should get use to being around humans over time.

There is also nothing wrong in having the cats outside - I'm referring to your comment on not providing a warm dry place - many farms have 'outside' cats that never go in the farm house and are employed as 'pest control', they survive quite happily outside.

Hope that helps JB

[weeks]

WW is a highly regarded source of well-thought out information on cat management. The thread on Christmas trees and cats [webmasterworld.com] ranks high on most popular search engines.

[vincevincevince]

Tell the housekeepers they have to take the cat to live in their own home to avoid cruelty. And dock their pay not for the vet's fees but for all the food which has probably come out of your kitchen.

[pageoneresults]

Stray ferel cats attract other stray ferel cats. Wait until mating season and you start hearing those meow howls at 0230 in the morning that can go on for hours. Its almost like fingernails on a chalkboard.

Holy Fur Ball

lol Robin!

[Jane_Doe]

IMHO, it would be mean to docktheir pay when I'm sure they thought they were just being kind.

But I would explain to them that feeding any kind of wild animal just gets them dependent on an unnatural food source and allows the population to expand beyond what the local habitat could naturally support. We have a problem where I live like that at the local park. People mean well and feed the ducks and geese, but then the populations expand to where there are too many, there is bird poop everywhere, the birds are overcrowded and start picking on and pecking at each other, the birds are unhealthy from living on an unnatural diet of white bread and popcorn, and they get aggressive with humans since they see them as a food source.

Can you trap the cats and turn the cats into the local animal shelter?

[grandpa]

My $0.02 for the day, keep the cats, and the employees.

I agree these cats probably aren't feral, just homeless, until they found a handout. Rats, mice, roaches, lizards and other small critters will be reduced with the presence of these cats. Get them fixed, to prevent your own future cat farm. Don't allow them to become too dependent on you for food, unless you want to adopt them. While mom is nursing keep her fed, but wean them all as soon as you can, their instincts will kick in once they realize the handout is not coming.

Chances are real good that none of your guests will be bitten by these cats. Cats like these are reclusive. If one gets cornered it may bite, but only as a defensive gesture. Don't anticipate these cats to go wilding on a Friday night, roaming the premises and biting every human in sight.

One more thing LisaB,
Welcome to WebmasterWorld

[lawman]

I thought we already had a LisaB. :O

[grandpa]

me too, but there she is, looking all brand new and shiny.

[Marcia]

[google.com...]

[rogerd]

I think we've got almost enough cat threads to create a Feline Forum. ;)

[grandpa]

Feline Forum

That would be cool, cat.

[Demaestro]

Charging your staff for something you want to do is insane!

I can see why you wouldn't want the cats around but why do you have to do something about it?

Don't you have the SPCA or humane society or something?

Search out local animal groups and they will come and do the right thing. Why you are making such a simple thing the problem of your staff is beyond me. My 5 year old knows what to do when strays keep coming around. I am surprised that you run a hotel and don't.

[LifeinAsia]

Feline Forum

That would be cool, cat.

That would be the cat's meow.

[King_Fisher]

>>>> That would be the cat's meow <<<<

or, That would be the the cat's pajamas. KF

[Marcia]

>>Charging your staff for something you want to do is insane!

Besides, it's a violation of labor law and that can get messy (and expensive).

[lgn1]

Is it cruel to feed stray cats

Only if you feed them to polar bears :)

[callivert]

LisaB... LisaB... come back... we're quite normal actually, once you get to know us...

[gamiziuk]

I feel that it is very cruel to feed these cats without providing them with the medical shots, nuetering them, and prviding them with a warm dry place. THey hide under a storage shed. I feel bad feeding them or not feeding them. What should a General Manager do? HELP

Get hold of Nancy Leider and ask her to adopt the cats.