There is a nest of cardinals, and they were twittering in alarm, which is why I looked. I got some food, but the kitties ran away when I opened the door. I asked my neighbor, and she says they run up the hill past her place. Somebody up that way was feeding ferals last winter, but not doing TNR. I'm going to try to live trap these, if I can, and get them neutered. My yard is the last place the birds can find safe nesting.

In the stupid ass little small town he lives in. They have next to no social services there.

Now me—I rarely see a stray cat. It’s been over a decade since I have seen one. We have an on top of it animal rescue department in our town. We even provide health services for low income people. All for the low low price of 17 grand a year in property taxes for a single family middle class home.

Thanks to you and siwsan for stepping up to such an (adorable) task. 😍

in my neighborhood. We have terrific committed pros and private groups who help the animals. One lady has become the dog whisperer, and gets on the run dogs found, caught, and back to their owners. I donate to a group called Freiends of Forgotten Felines. Idiots dump their cats at the fairground and there is a sizeable colony there. FoFF feeds them, does TNR and finds homes if the volunteers get the kitties tamed down. Lots of foster homes, volunteers, fund raisers, help with spay/neuter, SPOT clinics, and opportunities to show off the shelter animals to the public. They'll take mainly dogs and cats to outdoor public events, take them for a pup cup, supply We Luv Pets with adoptable kitties. Kroger has a program where customers can pick a local org. and every quarter, Kroger will donate a percentage of what you spent to the org. you picked. That all helps the animals picked up, but locally, the humane officer wants you to have the animal caught, and there's the trick for me My daughter has a live trap, and I will ask to borrow it.

I am so happy to hear about it.
I am copying and pasting your post and sending it to my brother so he can tell a few others in that town. They want to get other programs going and this would be a good source of ideas!

I've recently seen a regional or national program where the local shelter will place a shelter pet with a senior citizen, like a permanant foster. The program covers all costs, so the senior has a companion and the pet has a home. Pretty cool.

Kittens melt my heart. Thank you for doing TNR. When I moved to western Loudoun County (VA) there was a large colony in an abandoned house (down the road). It took me at least a decade of TNR to get the population under control. Now it's down to two adult ferals. I think they occasionally hunt my birds but I've seen more raptors in my yard looking for a feathered meal than the felines.
Hats off to my fellow rescue folks and trappers. Trappers are a special "breed".