Advice needed in dealing with neighbor with out of control cat problem [View all]

[avebury]

I love both cats and dogs and own 1 cat and 3 dogs. I also have put food out for one feral male that I feel sorry for and have another cat that comes to visit.

Lately I have become inundated with cats that I learned yesterday belong to the people who live across the street. They have at least six adult cats (none of whom are fixed). The lady was telling me that two of the cats recently had litters and another one was probably due anytime now. Another cat had gone into heat but she didn't think that cat was pregnant yet. I asked her how many kittens she thought they had at this point - 14. All cats are outdoor cats due to allergies within the human family. I was told that one of the cats had her kittens UNDER the house next door (it has been vacant for at least 11 years as the owner is in a nursing home and the family has yet to sell it). I cannot even imagine what the house smells like with cats having full run under the house.

I suggested that they should look to getting all the cats fixed. She told me that her mother had made a couple of calls and told her that it would cost her $400 per cat to get them fixed. I promptly corrected her on that point. I also let her know that there is an ABC Clinic (Animal Birth Control Clinic) here in Oklahoma City and that residents can take their pets there to be spayed/neutered for FREE! I also told her that I would find out a telephone number for a TNR Program (Trap Neuter Release Program) so that they can see if they can get a trap to catch the cats. I also have that has a safe trap that I can borrow for their use.

I am going over to their house tonight with all of the information and encourage them to take action since cost is not longer a factor.

What I need is advice on how to handle my conversation with them when I take the information over to them. How is the best way to phrase the conversation so that they will listen to me and take action of their own accord. I would even volunteer to help catch them to get them into a kennel if they needed the help. If they don't seem to do anything about the problem I have two options:

1. Put a safe trap up on my property (If I have to do that I am not feeling too inclined to return them to the area but just take them to the shelter as much as I hate to do that).
2. Call Animal Control because they are way over the city code limit on cats and let the city deal with them.

My ultimate goal is to get them to start getting the cats fixed and hopefully re-home the kittens when they are old enough. If something is not done about the situation it will only grow worse with time.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions anyone has to offer.