I drove up to a CATpassionate Village subdivision (colony) on a hot May Monday afternoon. There he was, the target, resting lazily on the roof of one of the cat shelters. I had timed it just right.
I quietly staged the feral cat trap with some tuna and and walked it slowly toward the target who was now watching me closely. He darted off into a hole in the hip-high grasses. The trap was set. I went back to my car and drove to another Village subdivision to prep for evening feeding.
Less than 20 minutes later, I drove back to the subdivision where the trap was set. Maverick, the target, was in the trap. As soon as he saw me he frantically went from end to end of the trap seeking an escape route. Once I covered the trap with a light sheet, he calmed down and that was the state he remained in until released two days later--after he was neutered, vaccinated and recovered.
I often wonder what goes through the minds of the cats when captured as they are transferred from trap to kennel for comfort, the next day from kennel to trap for a trip to the vet, and the following day from kennel to trap to be released. Do they realize they're missing a body part after their vet visit? Do they understand their life is going to be better for all of the stress experienced? Do they have conversations with their colony mates about the experience? If they do, what do they say to each other?
Sometimes I imagine that the post-TNVR conversations Maverick and others might have with their colony mates, go like this:
"You were right. I should have never gotten tuna-greedy, but I just couldn't help myself. That was the first time I had ever had that delicacy. The human that captured me was nice to me and tried to keep me comfortable while I was in their care for two-and-a-half days, but I was scared out of my mind. They gave me plenty of food, but I would only eat and drink water late at night when I couldn't hear or sense their movements in the surrounding area. And, what was with making me go potty in a plastic box with some sort of gravel in it? I hated that, but what's a guy suppose to do?"
Reflecting on one positive, Maverick might have said, "I think we need one of those wind machines (a.k.a. fan) out here in the colony for these hot summer days. I was never hot with the constant stream of cool air, although I will say the sound was annoying."
Maverick is back with his colony mates, likely sharing his experience that all of them have had before him.
We wish him a long, healthy, happy life in CATpassionate Village.
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