digitaldiscipline ◾ ◾ Cat Colony Contact

I learned this evening that my backyard neighbor is involved in the feral cat TNR program when I came home this evening to discover Magellan plaintively meowing and not coming when I called him.

So, as a gesture of goodwill and caretaking of the fuzzbutts that hang out around my place, I wrote my neighbor the following letter and tucked it in his mailbox:

[block of all my contact info]

B_________-

I apologize for the intrusion into your fantastic backyard garden this evening, but I heard a familiar cat's cry when I was out by my garage today, and peered over my fence to see that “my” cat (the year-old white-and-spotted male I have been gradually introducing to my household) was in the Trap-and-Release enclosure beside your shed; I knocked on your door and, when I received no answer, let him out and brought him back over to my yard.

I have been, more or less, the steward for the feral cat colony that lives around our homes for nine years; if it's all right with you, I would be more than happy to take over management and monitoring of the Trap-and-Release equipment. I've noticed that you've had a lot of success this year; it looks like three or four of the adult females have had their ears notched, and, after a relative population crash for the group last year and over the winter, it's beginning to make a comeback, so I definitely want to see the animals and their colony remain healthy and vibrant.

If you'd be so kind as to put me in touch with the organization you're assisting, either by phone, mail, or email, that would be fantastic.

Again, I apologize for the intrusion, but I have no small measure of affection for that animal in particular (his name is Magellan, though he answers to both that and “Lump Cat,” and will most likely go limp and purr vigorously if you pick him up, if that's your thing), and didn't want him left trapped in the rain when he's welcome in my home.

Please feel free to reach out to me however seems most suitable; I apologize that I don't have a more direct means of contacting you about this, but I would be glad to assume stewardship of the capture enclosure, since I have a lot more interaction with the animals than you probably do.

Kind regards,

R_____