[lizzy9volt]

I have a few cats living behind my apartment complex. One in particularly that I have seen lately is in very bad shape, it is limping and very thin. It breaks my heart to think that if I trap it and take it to the shelter, that it will probably be euthanized. And unfortunately Trap/Neuter/Release is not a good idea as the parkinglot that it lives in is very dangerous with many cars going through it - I have already seen two cats be run over. Where can I turn other than the animal shelter to find these cats a place where they can be trapped/neutered/relocated? Everywhere I talk to says that they should continue to live in the dangerous parking lot, but that doesn't seem right. Please, only serious answers from caring individuals - no jokes, I really want to help these cats to stop suffering.

[Bee132]

Look in your phone book for an animal shelter or farm that takes in abandoned animals they will try to spay, neuter, vaccinate and socialize as many of the cats as possible and then try to find them a good home.

[ttony84]

call animal control or the SPCA they might be able to help you

[Sillabub]

I recently helped my grandmother and aunt deal with very similar situations. Unfortunately due to the huge cat population, none of the humane societys or animal welfare leagues were able to help. We had to call around to find a very kind lady who takes them, tames them, spays them then finds homes. My advice to you would be to call every animal place around and ask for help (petco, petsmart, aspca, vet clinics, etc).... if they cant, then ask for phone numbers to places that may be able to. If worse comes to worst, they may need to be put to sleep... I wish you the best of luck.

[kacey]

That's sad...I know many areas have no-kill animal shelters. Try to find one of those--perhaps ask a local vet, s/he would know where the good ones are. If that option just isn't available and you don't want to send them to a shelter where they might be euthanized (I don't blame you--it's a tough thought), then you could try asking around, especially if the cats are especially cute and/or nice. This time of year, with school about to let out, kids would especially like a cat to play with, so you might try taking them around a local playground or shopping center or something. If that doesn't work, you could try the trap/neuter/release--but release them into a different, safer area; I know in my community, there's countryside about 20 min outside the city and, having grown up in a rural small town myself, I can say that cats can do quite well in rural areas--there's always food around!I agree, stray cats are very sad. There's one living in my apartment complex right now. Fortunately, it's not a dangerous area and it seems to be doing just fine (not malnourished or anything), so I'm leaving it alone for the moment. But busy parking lots are no place for cats!

[zoologychic]

You have a few options. I must say that the one who is looking ill might need to be euthanized. It might be extremely sick and will die a horrible death if not dealt with. The best thing for that one is euthanasia. For the others there are no-kill shelters. Be careful with that term though. Not all places are absolutely no kill and you need to understand that. Place will still euthanize if the animal is sick. There are groups like "Homeless Cat Network". This is a group based out of San Carlos, CA. They serve the SF Bay Area. They are known for taking in ferals and putting them into homes of their volunteers who know how to rehabilitate ferals. Good luck!