Killer Feral Cat Wiping Out Neighborhood Babies!

[mel_la_fee]

I apologize if this is in the wrong area (moderators feel free to move as necessary). I'm just beside myself wondering what to do about a feral cat that has recently taken up residence in my neighborhood, and in my yard specifically. In one month he killed 2 squirrels (that I know of) and a cardinal. And I just watched him grab a 3 month old wild baby in my front yard. I chased after him but he made it past the neighbor's house before I could catch up to him.

So, mind you, there are other feral cats that I feed. One with a seizure disorder, one that's old and fat, and one with a crooked leg from some injury when it was young. They have all been trapped and fixed and none of them are good hunters. I also used to have an old Tom cat that was well-past his prime as well. None of them are or were mine really but I keep them fed in part because it keeps them from suffering and also because it gives them less incentive to try hunting at all. As far as I'm aware, none of them care to hunt anyway.

That was before this new cat showed up out of nowhere. He fought with the old Tom cat for dominance and won apparently. Because the old cat left and now I have a bonafide predator lurking around my property. I never used to find dead animals in my yard... That time has passed. Add to that, I used to have 7 or 8 previous releases who still stopped by to eat sometimes and now I only ever see two. Two of the ones missing are the babies I just released this summer.
Now, we do live close to the woodline and some of my releases always venture off into the forest, so it's not impossible they're still out there... But having seen this cat in action, I have very little hope.

I essentially cannot release anyone near me now... Which means all the work I've put into my outdoor cages is basically wasted. I know cats are naturally predatory...I have 3 indoor cats myself and I love cats generally, but this new feral cat is breaking my heart and wreaking havoc on the neighborhood. I've tried feeding him more to curb the need for hunting but as today proved, the instinct is just too strong with this one.

What do I do? I know part of my anger right now is because I just witnessed him killing a baby, but I've honestly been trying to think of what to do for awhile. 2 months ago I found one of my previous releases dead under a tree in backyard. I couldn't be sure it was a cat-kill, but the body was not complete and certainly looked like it may have been torn open. Then I found another. Then the cardinal. After today, I no longer have any doubt. There are no sanctuaries near me and this cat is far too wild to be adoptable. Again, what do I do?

I have a little girl right now who should've been released already but I've been holding off until I figure this out. Especially after my two boys disappeared, I couldn't stand the idea of letting her go here. I might just drive her to a rescue facility despite not liking being a part of her final transition, but what of the others I've released in the past? What happens to their babies? Is it incumbent upon me to feed this cat and stop putting out squirrel food in the hopes the squirrels will move further away from the danger? The whole thing just makes me sick to my heart and sad.

Please advise.

[ConfusedMuse]

Contact your local humane society, tell them a feral tom is terrorizing your yard and ask for traps. They will attempt to rehabilitate him if you can trap him. Otherwise, you may have to call animal control. They will have traps you can use, too.

You should ask for more than one, since you may end up accidentally trapping one of your invited guests.

I have a friend who has done this more than once but she usually just takes them to the vet, has them neutered and given shots and then releases them again-- but her strays aren't predators because she feeds them, like you do yours.