What happens to 3 stray San Jose cats when the caretaker moves?
DEAR JOAN: Six years ago, a mother cat had her four kittens in the yard behind me. I tried to keep them out of my yard but that didnt work. They all seemed to spend a lot of time in my yard, and I felt sorry for them and gave them food. I was able to get a cage to capture the kittens and the parents and had them fixed. The Humane Society requires that you return them to where they were captured, so they came back to my yard. Several years ago, one of the kittens quit coming over, then the mother cat started only coming every few months. I havent seen her in a couple of years. I now have three cats. One is very feral, one is friendly and will sneak in if the door is open, and one loves to come in and lives mostly on treats. The problem is, Im moving from my house to a place that has no yard and is on a busy street. My daughter thinks I should take the one that comes in and make him an inside-only cat. She thinks he will learn how to use a litter box. I dont think it is fair to any of the cats to take them out of this area. I think someone else already is feeding them too. Kay B., San Jose  DEAR KAY: Im not sure youll like my answer, but I think you have a responsibility to those cats. You should take them with you or find them new homes. You cant abandon them and hope that the neighbors will feed and care for them, and you cant assume the new homeowner will want to do it. When you took the responsibility (thank you, by the way) to have them neutered and to feed them, they ceased to be stray cats and became your cats. It might not be easy to turn them into indoor-only cats, but youve already got a head start with two of them. If you absolutely cant take them with you, then talk with your neighbors and the new homeowners about taking over the responsibility of feed and care, which should include trips to the vet for vaccinations and wellness checks. Those of us who have pets owe it to them to give them the best life we can, and that includes three stray cats that were lucky enough to find a caring person to watch over them. For more wildlife, garden and backyard topics, sign up for our new, free Flora+Fauna newsletter. DEAR JOAN: Purchased hot pepper spray has worked to keep the rats from eating the rinds of our Meyer lemon, but it is expensive. You said it can be made at home. Phil Grover, Concord  DEAR PHIL: Youll need powdered red pepper (the hotter the better), water and some liquid soap. Stir 2 tablespoons of the pepper into a gallon of warm water, then add six drops of liquid soap. Stir well, put the lid on and let it sit overnight. Early the next morning, pour some of the solution into a spray bottle, shake well and spray away. You can apply a second coat at dusk. After the rats get the message, you may only need to spray once a week. The mixture will keep for two to three weeks in the refrigerator. The spray should wash easily off your lemons and other fruits and vegetables. Use this form to submit questions. Photos should be mailed separately to jmorris@bayareanewsgroup.com.