A belated update: on May 5th we had our second TNR operation at the Cat Corner in Al Salamah neighborhood.
Keeping a detailed calendar of cats' activities and their "statuses", it was clear which 2 females were up next. Having their litters old enough to wait in their lairs, eating by themselves as well, it was time to bring Victoria and Fiona to the vet.
Now this was expected to be a huge challenge. Both momma cats are not very friendly, Victoria remains quite feral, whereas half blind Fiona only recently warmed up to the one who has been feeding her for a whole year.
We began with some cat carrier training a week beforehand and it proved to be a success. Every day I would bring a crate without it's doors with me to my usual feeding patrol. I would put some food inside it and continue the routine of cat food piles in it's vicinity. The cats were intrigued, the ones who already had their ears clipped (Tommy mostly) were quite the fans of an exclusive crate snack.
The day came, when we had our appointment, and we went out early in the morning to snatch up the candidates. Victoria was first. It took some patience, but we got her in the end. Fiona followed near her lair in another location. Then we said: "We can bring one more."
We didn't plan the third candidate in particular, because our minds were set on the first two senior females so much -- it was crucial that we get them on that day, before they would go into heat again.
There he was, with the rest of the gang. Completely unbothered by others and just happy to have our attention. He quickly responded to the invitation inside the crate -- some tuna for dessert. Young Ferdi was our third cat that day, we couldn't believe, how easy it was.
Everything went smoothly. We picked them up from the veterinary in the afternoon and had them resting in our hallway, that I cat-proofed again. The feral ones didn't have the chance to go out sadly, because there was no way I would get them back inside the carriers again. Only Ferdi was presumed a good boy and was let out to drink some water and then he went back to rest.
In the evening we delivered each one of them to their locations, where they were caught and where they usually also reside. They all got their own dinner and fresh water there. All was well.
I was able to make sure of it again in the morning, when I delivered them breakfast.
With Victoria, Fiona and Ferdi we now have 7 ear clipped cats at our Cat Corner.