Read the Introduction, to get the general picture of my interaction with the alley cats, and the Summary, to put the stories on a timeline.
I'll start with the bad news, so I get it out of my chest. I work with Org T to get the friendly stray adopted, and I've got into a good rhythm. My husband pays attention to which outdoor cats are friendly and which need urgent care (like hurt and sick ones, pregnant, kitties). Then we bring them (not all, we prioritize somehow) in our house for few weeks to really relax, get them the urgent medical attention if they need it, and them take them to Org T. It is heartbreaking to choose which one we'll help. In the past we saw how healthy cats disappeared, were attacked, poisoned. Every single one that is outdoor is not safe. But I cannot take into my house more then one or two at a time because I have to keep them separated from my cats. The outdoor ones have flees, warms, upper respiratory infection, viruses. And last year we learned that lesson again, the hard way...
At my last appointment at Org T, I found out that their veterinarian is leaving and until they'll hire a new one, they won't be able to take in cats that need medical attention. The procedure that came up was dental. Many, maybe half the cats I took to them had gingivitis. And I have no way of knowing which one from outdoors need medical attention. I can take two cats in the house, but if I cannot take them to Org T, we'll be stuck. I have to stop doing this adoption thing for a while.
At least the cold weather is gone, so the alley cats have it easier at least from that point of view. And my husband keeps up with the regular feeding.
Now, all the good news! I took last week for adoption at Org T the kitten Oscar and the big boy Hagrid. They both got in and Oscar got adopted already. And Hagrid is on the adoption floor. I haven't gone yet to check him out, I am just too busy. But I saw online that they changed his name to Tuber, it is the first time it's happening. I take it as a good sign that somebody payed attention to him and thought this name better represents him... and hopefully that person will keep helping him.
Saturday, February 29, 2020
Thursday, February 20, 2020
Dear Diary - first time trapping
Read the Introduction, to get the general picture of my interaction with the alley cats, and the Summary, to put the stories on a timeline.
I wrote on the last Diary post what I've done two weeks ago, until Saturday morning. But the week was not done... I had to go south just for half hour but it would have been an hour drive each way. As it was passing close to the colonies, my husband offered to drive me as he wanted to go that way himself. And both of us being there, we planned to try to trap the young kitten that we kept seeing.
It wasn't easy. This is a very shy kitten that comes last from a garage to eat, and runs back into the garage at the smallest noise. We spread food around so the other cats were busy eating and not trying to go in the trap themselves and we put food in the trap and the trap very close to the cats entry/exit into the garage. The trap open door wouldn't allow the trap to touch the garage, so the little one got out and avoided the trap and went to eat with the others. We brought in the big guns... the fish, yes we came prepared, with different kinds of fish cans and I even brought the can opener! We put the fish can in the trap but now all the cats wanted to go there. We kept scarring them away, but the little one was getting spooked too. It took a while of dancing, but somehow he got in. The trap door closed with a bang and he got so scared and started to jump around in the trap. It was very sad, really. We put the trap in the trunk of the car and cover it, that supposedly will help the cats calm down. While waiting I tried to pick up a friendly grown kitten but it started to get agitated just as I was getting to the carrier. My everyday coat got like 5 holes in it. As we were driving the little one kept fighting to get out of the trap, and managed to spread some fish into my car trunk. Yeap, the car still smells. The inconveniences of cat trapping...
We fed everybody, but quickly so we can get home asap. The little one was calm now. Home, we put him in the closet, with dry and wet food, water, litter box, clean towel... and a box, so he can hide and feel safe. And he did hide in the box at first, but ate soon enough and he kept eating and eating and... eating. He was back into hiding as soon as we open the closet door. It took him few days to trust us, and few more days to get friendly, but now, he's favorite place is on my lap. He is around 4 months old, he seemed smaller because he was skinny. We called him Oscar as we found him around when the Academy Awards were happening and he is very stylishly dressed up in black and white. I've let him roam free few times but he hid. So he's back in the closet. I want be able to find him quickly, because he has an appointment for admission for adoption at Org T for tomorrow, Friday!
I'll also take Hagrid to the appointment, again, if you remember he was refused at the first appointment, but he was literally just few hours in the house, and he was scared... For now, I've treated his head wound and finished the antibiotics, and also was able to put the mites medication in his ears. I told you I've put on his skin the flee medication after we came from the veterinarian. He stays by himself in a room because he tested FIV positive I cannot mix him with my other cats. And because I kept giving him medication, I'm not his favorite person, but he loooves my husband. I feel he's kind of lonely...but not unhappy, don't worry. And he eats all day long, and he's looking so much better. I play with him few times a day, and my husband also. Anyhow, I think Org T can do better for him from now on then we can. Hopefully they'll accept him. They do accept FIV positive cats, other shelters don't.
Now, the bestest news! At Org T, Genie got adopted as soon as she came from her foster home (they kept her a little in foster because she was crying and they, as us, weren't sure if it's fear or she was hurting from being attacked outdoors). And, drum rolls!!! Hope and Oki got adopted... together! I'm so happy! I was very worried for Oki, he wasn't relaxing in the shelter. They were let out from the cage into the room, but he was still hiding. At least people could see him. My husband visited them twice last week, myself just on Saturday morning, and they've got adopted Saturday afternoon. I'm sure he'll have now few more weeks/ months of stress, but he has his sister and he'll come around eventually.
My husband continued with the feeding, a little more then usually, because we had 3 cold days and nights, so we feel the cats should have enough food, and hopefully then, they won't roam around too much and can stay sheltered.
As I suspected, it is bitter sweet to write this blog, because while I'm happy I'm helping so many of the alley cats, the more of them I see, the more pain I see. And I do get attached to every single one I bring in the house, but I have to give them up so I can help others. It is painful to let them go, even if I know they'll be fine.
I wrote on the last Diary post what I've done two weeks ago, until Saturday morning. But the week was not done... I had to go south just for half hour but it would have been an hour drive each way. As it was passing close to the colonies, my husband offered to drive me as he wanted to go that way himself. And both of us being there, we planned to try to trap the young kitten that we kept seeing.
It wasn't easy. This is a very shy kitten that comes last from a garage to eat, and runs back into the garage at the smallest noise. We spread food around so the other cats were busy eating and not trying to go in the trap themselves and we put food in the trap and the trap very close to the cats entry/exit into the garage. The trap open door wouldn't allow the trap to touch the garage, so the little one got out and avoided the trap and went to eat with the others. We brought in the big guns... the fish, yes we came prepared, with different kinds of fish cans and I even brought the can opener! We put the fish can in the trap but now all the cats wanted to go there. We kept scarring them away, but the little one was getting spooked too. It took a while of dancing, but somehow he got in. The trap door closed with a bang and he got so scared and started to jump around in the trap. It was very sad, really. We put the trap in the trunk of the car and cover it, that supposedly will help the cats calm down. While waiting I tried to pick up a friendly grown kitten but it started to get agitated just as I was getting to the carrier. My everyday coat got like 5 holes in it. As we were driving the little one kept fighting to get out of the trap, and managed to spread some fish into my car trunk. Yeap, the car still smells. The inconveniences of cat trapping...
We fed everybody, but quickly so we can get home asap. The little one was calm now. Home, we put him in the closet, with dry and wet food, water, litter box, clean towel... and a box, so he can hide and feel safe. And he did hide in the box at first, but ate soon enough and he kept eating and eating and... eating. He was back into hiding as soon as we open the closet door. It took him few days to trust us, and few more days to get friendly, but now, he's favorite place is on my lap. He is around 4 months old, he seemed smaller because he was skinny. We called him Oscar as we found him around when the Academy Awards were happening and he is very stylishly dressed up in black and white. I've let him roam free few times but he hid. So he's back in the closet. I want be able to find him quickly, because he has an appointment for admission for adoption at Org T for tomorrow, Friday!
I'll also take Hagrid to the appointment, again, if you remember he was refused at the first appointment, but he was literally just few hours in the house, and he was scared... For now, I've treated his head wound and finished the antibiotics, and also was able to put the mites medication in his ears. I told you I've put on his skin the flee medication after we came from the veterinarian. He stays by himself in a room because he tested FIV positive I cannot mix him with my other cats. And because I kept giving him medication, I'm not his favorite person, but he loooves my husband. I feel he's kind of lonely...but not unhappy, don't worry. And he eats all day long, and he's looking so much better. I play with him few times a day, and my husband also. Anyhow, I think Org T can do better for him from now on then we can. Hopefully they'll accept him. They do accept FIV positive cats, other shelters don't.
Now, the bestest news! At Org T, Genie got adopted as soon as she came from her foster home (they kept her a little in foster because she was crying and they, as us, weren't sure if it's fear or she was hurting from being attacked outdoors). And, drum rolls!!! Hope and Oki got adopted... together! I'm so happy! I was very worried for Oki, he wasn't relaxing in the shelter. They were let out from the cage into the room, but he was still hiding. At least people could see him. My husband visited them twice last week, myself just on Saturday morning, and they've got adopted Saturday afternoon. I'm sure he'll have now few more weeks/ months of stress, but he has his sister and he'll come around eventually.
My husband continued with the feeding, a little more then usually, because we had 3 cold days and nights, so we feel the cats should have enough food, and hopefully then, they won't roam around too much and can stay sheltered.
As I suspected, it is bitter sweet to write this blog, because while I'm happy I'm helping so many of the alley cats, the more of them I see, the more pain I see. And I do get attached to every single one I bring in the house, but I have to give them up so I can help others. It is painful to let them go, even if I know they'll be fine.
Saturday, February 8, 2020
Dear Diary - visiting our cats in the shelter
Read the Introduction, to get the general picture of my interaction with the alley cats, and the Summary, to put the stories on a timeline.
I told you the last time I have visited Oki and Hope at Org T was last Saturday. Hope started to come out but Oki was still very stressed. My husband visited them on Tuesday and he was really upset of the luck of progress. I was telling you that they are set on the floor, in a big cage in a room with few other cats that roam free. That would be just until they acclimate to the room. But it's already 2 weeks and we haven't seen much progress. That is, I think, because they are set on the floor, you would have to sit on your knees to get to them when they are hiding. And Oki is hiding. I suspect nobody really gets to work with him.
Oki has just one eye, we found him as a kitten with one eye popped out. He is very friendly but he was shy even when in our house, cautious or maybe even afraid of the other cats. I do want them to be happy, they are not happy now, locked in the cage. I have to help them relax and show themselves to people so they will get adopted. All the other cats I took there got adopted in a week, Lily and Coco in 10 days. Coco was very shy too, but I visited them 3 times a week and I know the shelter staff helped them too. Oki will get there, but he needs more help then he got.
So Wednesday, as I was 20 minutes away of Org T, I decided to go to cheer them up. That would have bean 20 minutes to get there, 20 minutes there and 20 minutes back to where I was, total an hour. But my husband told me that he has business that way anyway, so he went, and I decided to go wash my car in this time I suddenly had. To bad it snowed few hours later and the outside of the car is dirty again. It's really a struggle these days to prioritize the time I spend between my needs and the cats needs. I know I have to take care of me first, so I can be strong and able to help the cats. But many times the cat situation seams to be a life or death situation, so how can I not choose their lives first... That would be the life of the kittens that are still out. Kittens are all friendly, or get friendly in days to weeks. Org T. takes all the kittens that reached 2 ponds. We just have to catch them, but I saw while feeding them, that there is no real chance to catch them, unless they stumble by sheer luck in your hands.... So I want to try to trap them... We haven't tried trapping yet, but we'll have to start doing it for the TNR of the ferals anyway. That was the other reason I wanted to go to Org T, to borrow a trap. They lend them for colonies caretakers free, for 2 weeks. My husband picked one up, but he says he would like me to go with him, for moral support, or hardware support... Now, when going to feed them, we'll have to find the extra time to wait around, to actually use it. And I've already committed my time all day Sunday to help by volunteering for something else, so we cannot even count on that time.
I went Thursday to visit Oki and Hope, as I didn't go the previous day. I think Oki is slightly better, Hope is really warming up, purring and coming out on her own. I also visited the kittens that I raised from 4 weeks old and I had a strong bond with them, Misty and Sharky and they were just put on the floor. They were doing very well, definitely happy to see me but also quite busy playing and running around. They'll forget me soon enough... I, on the other hand, will never forget them and I'll miss them. I'm sad but happy too, I just want them to be happy. I didn't get to see Rocky, the kitten that we found starving and with a broken leg, because he had just left with his new family. He was on the floor just that day, yes, he was that cute! His leg was not broken after all, just dislocated, so he was good as new.
I've told you that we've tried and we are still trying to find other people and organization that would help us help the cats. And one of the contacts that we've made in the summer , the founder of Org C, came trough with help for two cats. It all happened Friday. Firstly she sent us with Hagrid (former Phoenix to their veterinarian). Secondly, she found a foster mom for a cat that we were monitoring and feeding, and knew that was friendly and also very pregnant calico, let's call her Happy, and we just didn't have a place to take her in, besides the closet. We ultimately would have taken her in the closet, but now, she got a better place. My husband literally just grabbed the cat, put her in the carrier, and took her to the foster lady where she relaxed and got very comfortable immediately, showing all her tricks, including her belly... up... Org C. will take care of her and her babies when they'll be born, and find homes for them. I'll update you about her when I'll have updates.
Now Hagrid... ooops. The vet sent me home with a bag full of medication. I was suspecting he'll need medication but I was hoping the vet will actually give him most of it. Firstly, the bloody ear and forehead, was a bite, not a scratched ear infection. It is slightly infected so I have to give him liquid medication (antibiotics) with a syringe in his mouth twice a day and also clean the wound with a solution. It's not easy, he is a strong guy that doesn't understand what I'm doing, but he is not aggressive at all, so, I'm doing it, but takes me a little time... Then, he has ear mites, I have to put something in his ears... I haven't tried yet, I thought to give him few days for ear the wound to heal, so I can hold him while pouring the solution in the ears... Then, I've got dewormer both a pill and liquid. I'll wait with that, probably until I finish with the antibiotics for the ear. Then, they gave me a solution to put on the fur, called Revolution that kills flees. I've used it before, and I know that it actually kills ear mites and round worms too. Probably it's not treating those 100%, that's why the vet gave me more medicine, but at last for the next days surely they'll make him feel better. They also did the test for FIV and Feline Leukemia (the vet took blood while he was awake and a good boy), and unfortunately he came back positive for FIV. Still it is great he doesn't have the Leukemia... Between the two bads, FIV is better. Org T. does take FIV positive cats, but there is a waiting list, and I suspect they'll want him more relaxed than he is right now. So, I'm gonna foster him for a while.
Saturday, I went to the Org T as every Saturday, I do something close by each week. The shelter staff said that both Hope and Oki came out on their own, they said that we definitely helped a lot by visiting every day... I was so exited, and I saw myself the Hope is doing really well, but Oki is still stressed, better, but not good yet. I just hope that Hope will not be adopted and Oki left behind on his own. I so hope they'll get adopted together, as all the other cats that we took there, were. That includes the kittens Misty and Sharky, that I just saw on Thursday. They've got adopted on Friday, they've stayed on the adoption floor one day only...
And the week is not even done, but I'm running out of space here... I'll tell you more next time....
I told you the last time I have visited Oki and Hope at Org T was last Saturday. Hope started to come out but Oki was still very stressed. My husband visited them on Tuesday and he was really upset of the luck of progress. I was telling you that they are set on the floor, in a big cage in a room with few other cats that roam free. That would be just until they acclimate to the room. But it's already 2 weeks and we haven't seen much progress. That is, I think, because they are set on the floor, you would have to sit on your knees to get to them when they are hiding. And Oki is hiding. I suspect nobody really gets to work with him.
Oki has just one eye, we found him as a kitten with one eye popped out. He is very friendly but he was shy even when in our house, cautious or maybe even afraid of the other cats. I do want them to be happy, they are not happy now, locked in the cage. I have to help them relax and show themselves to people so they will get adopted. All the other cats I took there got adopted in a week, Lily and Coco in 10 days. Coco was very shy too, but I visited them 3 times a week and I know the shelter staff helped them too. Oki will get there, but he needs more help then he got.
So Wednesday, as I was 20 minutes away of Org T, I decided to go to cheer them up. That would have bean 20 minutes to get there, 20 minutes there and 20 minutes back to where I was, total an hour. But my husband told me that he has business that way anyway, so he went, and I decided to go wash my car in this time I suddenly had. To bad it snowed few hours later and the outside of the car is dirty again. It's really a struggle these days to prioritize the time I spend between my needs and the cats needs. I know I have to take care of me first, so I can be strong and able to help the cats. But many times the cat situation seams to be a life or death situation, so how can I not choose their lives first... That would be the life of the kittens that are still out. Kittens are all friendly, or get friendly in days to weeks. Org T. takes all the kittens that reached 2 ponds. We just have to catch them, but I saw while feeding them, that there is no real chance to catch them, unless they stumble by sheer luck in your hands.... So I want to try to trap them... We haven't tried trapping yet, but we'll have to start doing it for the TNR of the ferals anyway. That was the other reason I wanted to go to Org T, to borrow a trap. They lend them for colonies caretakers free, for 2 weeks. My husband picked one up, but he says he would like me to go with him, for moral support, or hardware support... Now, when going to feed them, we'll have to find the extra time to wait around, to actually use it. And I've already committed my time all day Sunday to help by volunteering for something else, so we cannot even count on that time.
I went Thursday to visit Oki and Hope, as I didn't go the previous day. I think Oki is slightly better, Hope is really warming up, purring and coming out on her own. I also visited the kittens that I raised from 4 weeks old and I had a strong bond with them, Misty and Sharky and they were just put on the floor. They were doing very well, definitely happy to see me but also quite busy playing and running around. They'll forget me soon enough... I, on the other hand, will never forget them and I'll miss them. I'm sad but happy too, I just want them to be happy. I didn't get to see Rocky, the kitten that we found starving and with a broken leg, because he had just left with his new family. He was on the floor just that day, yes, he was that cute! His leg was not broken after all, just dislocated, so he was good as new.
I've told you that we've tried and we are still trying to find other people and organization that would help us help the cats. And one of the contacts that we've made in the summer , the founder of Org C, came trough with help for two cats. It all happened Friday. Firstly she sent us with Hagrid (former Phoenix to their veterinarian). Secondly, she found a foster mom for a cat that we were monitoring and feeding, and knew that was friendly and also very pregnant calico, let's call her Happy, and we just didn't have a place to take her in, besides the closet. We ultimately would have taken her in the closet, but now, she got a better place. My husband literally just grabbed the cat, put her in the carrier, and took her to the foster lady where she relaxed and got very comfortable immediately, showing all her tricks, including her belly... up... Org C. will take care of her and her babies when they'll be born, and find homes for them. I'll update you about her when I'll have updates.
Now Hagrid... ooops. The vet sent me home with a bag full of medication. I was suspecting he'll need medication but I was hoping the vet will actually give him most of it. Firstly, the bloody ear and forehead, was a bite, not a scratched ear infection. It is slightly infected so I have to give him liquid medication (antibiotics) with a syringe in his mouth twice a day and also clean the wound with a solution. It's not easy, he is a strong guy that doesn't understand what I'm doing, but he is not aggressive at all, so, I'm doing it, but takes me a little time... Then, he has ear mites, I have to put something in his ears... I haven't tried yet, I thought to give him few days for ear the wound to heal, so I can hold him while pouring the solution in the ears... Then, I've got dewormer both a pill and liquid. I'll wait with that, probably until I finish with the antibiotics for the ear. Then, they gave me a solution to put on the fur, called Revolution that kills flees. I've used it before, and I know that it actually kills ear mites and round worms too. Probably it's not treating those 100%, that's why the vet gave me more medicine, but at last for the next days surely they'll make him feel better. They also did the test for FIV and Feline Leukemia (the vet took blood while he was awake and a good boy), and unfortunately he came back positive for FIV. Still it is great he doesn't have the Leukemia... Between the two bads, FIV is better. Org T. does take FIV positive cats, but there is a waiting list, and I suspect they'll want him more relaxed than he is right now. So, I'm gonna foster him for a while.
Saturday, I went to the Org T as every Saturday, I do something close by each week. The shelter staff said that both Hope and Oki came out on their own, they said that we definitely helped a lot by visiting every day... I was so exited, and I saw myself the Hope is doing really well, but Oki is still stressed, better, but not good yet. I just hope that Hope will not be adopted and Oki left behind on his own. I so hope they'll get adopted together, as all the other cats that we took there, were. That includes the kittens Misty and Sharky, that I just saw on Thursday. They've got adopted on Friday, they've stayed on the adoption floor one day only...
And the week is not even done, but I'm running out of space here... I'll tell you more next time....
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
Dear Diary - feeding the colonies
Read the Introduction, to get the general picture of my interaction with the alley cats, and the Summary, to put the stories on a timeline.
I was telling you that last week I had a bad cold/ flu, and I fell behind with everything. This week I had no choice but put most of my effort into running errands, cooking and cleaning. There wasn't much time for the cats. But, wait... I had to make time. My husband caught the flu too, and he was feeling as badly as I was feeling last week. So badly, that he considered not going to feed the alley cats the third day in a row...
So, last Sunday I offered to go with him. We left home at 4 pm and we went firstly north side at one of the newest found colony, where we know there is a kitten in a garage, plus few adults (these are mostly black cats, very unusual). These, he was feeding usually every day, as he goes that way anyway.
Then we went south. This is still a bad neighborhood. At the first stop came four cats, then another two. My husband seemed happy with the head count, the regulars were there. He gave each of them a can of wet food and left dry food behind too. We didn't put water this time, there were puddles all around. A man stopped by, he knows my husband feeds the cats, they've talked before, and now he was curious about me... He said he feeds them sometimes, gives them his fries, and puts them water. Water definitely helps, fries not that much. But he cannot afford more.
On the next stop, my husband said that there used to come 10 cats, and now comes nobody. He saw once a new cat that was aggressive towards the regulars. He might have displaced them... We waited, we shook the dry food, we call that the bell call to dinner. Nobody came. We left two cans of wet food and dry food, just in case.
It started to get dark. We made three more stops and again my husband was happy with whom he saw. On the last spot there were many coming. As my husband was busy feeding to the left I saw small shadows to the right, grown kittens, and I went and put them food myself. My husband said that they are part of another colony, at the other end of the ally (just 100 yards), but they must have been very hungry to come to this colony. We went and put food for the colony at the end of the alley too. We came back to the first end of the alley so I could see the kitten, it is small, around 3 months old. He/ she wouldn't stay to be touched, it was in and out a garage. Luckily now the weather is mild, if the kitten has enough food, it has a good chance to make it. My husband will try to go there every day
We got home just before 8 and we fed our home colony, they are spoiled, we feed them twice a day... And because they don't have to go search for food, or search for partners to mate with because they are all spayed/neutered, they are a stable and happy colony for few years, no disappearances. After we got home, my husband said that he was feeling much better!
So we went to all the colonies except two, one that my husband fed in the morning and one we know somebody feeds quite enough, especially in the weekend. All in all we saw around 40 cats so more then half of what we know are around. It took 4 hours and around $30, well plus the food that he left in the morning, plus the feeding of our indoor cats, and the litter... And he feeds the outdoor ones at least every second day, more if he knows there are kittens around. The first time I realized to how much time and money we spend per month with the alley cats I was shocked. And the following month we had to use a veterinarian too, so it was really painful for our wallet. And spaying/ neutering that we do to all the cats we bring in the house costs too. TNR will cost too. I realized that we've cut a lot from the entertaining and vacations, so that works out in balancing the money, but... not our lives. On the other hand, if the cats have a heaven, I'm absolutely sure both me and my husband will have a good spot in it, and that's priceless, right?
I was telling you that last week I had a bad cold/ flu, and I fell behind with everything. This week I had no choice but put most of my effort into running errands, cooking and cleaning. There wasn't much time for the cats. But, wait... I had to make time. My husband caught the flu too, and he was feeling as badly as I was feeling last week. So badly, that he considered not going to feed the alley cats the third day in a row...
So, last Sunday I offered to go with him. We left home at 4 pm and we went firstly north side at one of the newest found colony, where we know there is a kitten in a garage, plus few adults (these are mostly black cats, very unusual). These, he was feeding usually every day, as he goes that way anyway.
Then we went south. This is still a bad neighborhood. At the first stop came four cats, then another two. My husband seemed happy with the head count, the regulars were there. He gave each of them a can of wet food and left dry food behind too. We didn't put water this time, there were puddles all around. A man stopped by, he knows my husband feeds the cats, they've talked before, and now he was curious about me... He said he feeds them sometimes, gives them his fries, and puts them water. Water definitely helps, fries not that much. But he cannot afford more.
On the next stop, my husband said that there used to come 10 cats, and now comes nobody. He saw once a new cat that was aggressive towards the regulars. He might have displaced them... We waited, we shook the dry food, we call that the bell call to dinner. Nobody came. We left two cans of wet food and dry food, just in case.
It started to get dark. We made three more stops and again my husband was happy with whom he saw. On the last spot there were many coming. As my husband was busy feeding to the left I saw small shadows to the right, grown kittens, and I went and put them food myself. My husband said that they are part of another colony, at the other end of the ally (just 100 yards), but they must have been very hungry to come to this colony. We went and put food for the colony at the end of the alley too. We came back to the first end of the alley so I could see the kitten, it is small, around 3 months old. He/ she wouldn't stay to be touched, it was in and out a garage. Luckily now the weather is mild, if the kitten has enough food, it has a good chance to make it. My husband will try to go there every day
We got home just before 8 and we fed our home colony, they are spoiled, we feed them twice a day... And because they don't have to go search for food, or search for partners to mate with because they are all spayed/neutered, they are a stable and happy colony for few years, no disappearances. After we got home, my husband said that he was feeling much better!
So we went to all the colonies except two, one that my husband fed in the morning and one we know somebody feeds quite enough, especially in the weekend. All in all we saw around 40 cats so more then half of what we know are around. It took 4 hours and around $30, well plus the food that he left in the morning, plus the feeding of our indoor cats, and the litter... And he feeds the outdoor ones at least every second day, more if he knows there are kittens around. The first time I realized to how much time and money we spend per month with the alley cats I was shocked. And the following month we had to use a veterinarian too, so it was really painful for our wallet. And spaying/ neutering that we do to all the cats we bring in the house costs too. TNR will cost too. I realized that we've cut a lot from the entertaining and vacations, so that works out in balancing the money, but... not our lives. On the other hand, if the cats have a heaven, I'm absolutely sure both me and my husband will have a good spot in it, and that's priceless, right?
Saturday, February 1, 2020
Dear Diary - struggling with a sick stray
Read the Introduction, to get the general picture of my interaction with the alley cats, and the Summary, to put the stories on a timeline.
I was sick all week long with a cold/ flu. It made me feel exhausted. I also couldn't eat much. I've fell behind with everything, cleaning, cooking, laundry, groceries...
Hagrid (formerly known as Phoenix but we decided that he has the personality of the Harry Potter professor) was supposed to have his neuter surgery on Wednesday at the Org T. They've called on Monday and left a message to call back to confirm the reschedule for Thursday. But they never pick up the phone! I've left a message and my husband drove there on Wednesday to be sure we are on the list.
I was sick all week long with a cold/ flu. It made me feel exhausted. I also couldn't eat much. I've fell behind with everything, cleaning, cooking, laundry, groceries...
Hagrid (formerly known as Phoenix but we decided that he has the personality of the Harry Potter professor) was supposed to have his neuter surgery on Wednesday at the Org T. They've called on Monday and left a message to call back to confirm the reschedule for Thursday. But they never pick up the phone! I've left a message and my husband drove there on Wednesday to be sure we are on the list.
I'll open a parenthesis here... Org T. has two services, intake for adoption and TNR, and they just work with strays, not home cats, or they take cats from other shelters. I'm quite happy with their process of admission for adoption of stray cats, they say they'll accept all friendly cats. They took in most of the cats I brought them with the exception of one and Phoenix, that was very stressed when I took him for the appointment. But I'm confused with Org T TNR (Trap, Neuter, Release) program. Theoretically, I know that all animal help organizations are trying to help as much as they can the ferals brought in for spay/ neuter, while they are under anesthesia. When ferals are awake they are hard or impossible to handle. Org T says they have to stick with their TNR package and not provide any extra help because of luck of time. But what is their TNR package? They have no written info on their web site or at their location. I honestly have the feeling that they make it up... different people give different information.
Now, back to Hagrid, when I've scheduled him for TNR, the person that made the appointment said they'll reassess for friendliness, and if friendly, they'll accept him in the shelter. More then that, their web site says that each cat brought in for TNR is assessed for friendliness and if friendly, it is admitted in the shelter for adoption. When I got there on Thursday they said they'll do just TNR, that would mean no treatment of the ear.. And they would clip his ear. And they won't asses for friendliness. So I took him back home without the surgery.
Open parenthesis again... The lady kept saying that that is their policy... It is the third time I had this conversation with them... I had to put a big effort to not them ALL I think about their policies. Firstly, where are they written? Secondly, aren't they supposed to help the cats? But as all I want is to help the cats, I cannot afford to fight with them a fight that cannot be won. It's just that my time is limited, and I wasn't feeling good, and I went there for nothing...
Back to poor Hagrid... he is still not solved. I moved him from the closet in a room but he's at the door all the time, scratching. He smells the other cats, he wants out. But firstly he has to be tested to be sure he has no contagious viruses, and whenever out he has to be supervised. Of course he has to be neuter and the ear cleaned and treated.
I have tree options:
1. try again to have him admitted for adoption by Org T. He is friendly, but he is not social, I'm not sure if they would accept him so soon after they refused him, especially as I refused the TNR. And he would have to be kept in hospital for few weeks for neutering and treatment of the ear, when he wouldn't progress in socialization.
2. try another organization for neutering and treatment. We used to work with Org P, but not TNR, we just took in the cats as household pets. They did treat as much as they could, including giving them long therm antibiotics, giving us antibiotics to give them if we thought we could, cleaning the ears, fleece medication, testing for viruses. But for household pets they schedule the surgeries and the waiting time is two months. We never tried TNR, I asked and they said they usually take them as walk ins, unless they are really really swamped. And I would really like his ear not to be cut... I never had that question for them. If I call, the person that answered doesn't know this stuff. So, I'll have to take the time to go there and see if they'll be flexible. There is also the Org A. They helped us majorly with four cats not long ago, but we were sent there by a big animal activist that sent us to the management. We lost that contact, she sent us another contact, but again we'll have to actually go there and see. I took the time and I did go, again, on all organizations web sites. They all mention TNR but it is hidden deeply somewhere in their web site and gives NO real information and no schedule.... The biggest buttons are donate, volunteer and adopt... Of course,TNR is not pretty...
3. the third option would be to just go to the doctor. But I really think it's stressful for him to put him under anesthesia for ear cleaning and then again for neutering. To pay for anesthesia and ear cleaning it would be around $300 I think and for both ear cleaning and neutering together over, $500. It's too much for us.
Helping the alley cats unfortunately is not easy or fair. For now, Hagrid (Phoenix) is safe, his ear infection doesn't seam to be life threatening. The worse case scenario would be to wait few more weeks and take him for admission to Org T. It's making myself sad to think he is in pain, but he is already better then he was outdoors, in cold with no food, and the ear does look better, he's not scratching anymore. To spend the $500 bucks at this point is not a choice, at this point we go to the regular vet just for life threatening situations. I do plan to start working towards TNR anyway, so it is in my plan to go to Org P and Org A anyway, I'm only limited by the lack of time.
Now, the good news! While I was at Org T, I found out that Lily and Coco got adopted, together!
I visited Oki and Hope on the adoption floor and cheered them up a bit. Hope is starting to relax, Oki not yet. They are in a big cage, down on the floor and you would have to stay on your knees to get to them, I'm not sure how many of the staff or volunteers do that. I visited them again on Saturday, same story.
Rocky and Genie and Misty and Sharky are all still in hospital, but all doing well. Rocky has the leg stable, I couldn't find out if it was broken or what else. Genie was under observation as they thought she may be in pain (I know she was bitten few months ago). She used to cry when she was with me in the house, but just when she saw cats, when she was just with me, she wasn't crying even if I touched her and press a little. Misty and Sharky has to be spayed, oh how I miss them, they were my bottle babies.
My husband feeds the colonies, as usually. He is worried that he haven't seen many of them. He is still looking for kittens to take in the house for few weeks, then to Org T, but was still not able to catch any of them.
That' s it for this last week.
I have tree options:
1. try again to have him admitted for adoption by Org T. He is friendly, but he is not social, I'm not sure if they would accept him so soon after they refused him, especially as I refused the TNR. And he would have to be kept in hospital for few weeks for neutering and treatment of the ear, when he wouldn't progress in socialization.
2. try another organization for neutering and treatment. We used to work with Org P, but not TNR, we just took in the cats as household pets. They did treat as much as they could, including giving them long therm antibiotics, giving us antibiotics to give them if we thought we could, cleaning the ears, fleece medication, testing for viruses. But for household pets they schedule the surgeries and the waiting time is two months. We never tried TNR, I asked and they said they usually take them as walk ins, unless they are really really swamped. And I would really like his ear not to be cut... I never had that question for them. If I call, the person that answered doesn't know this stuff. So, I'll have to take the time to go there and see if they'll be flexible. There is also the Org A. They helped us majorly with four cats not long ago, but we were sent there by a big animal activist that sent us to the management. We lost that contact, she sent us another contact, but again we'll have to actually go there and see. I took the time and I did go, again, on all organizations web sites. They all mention TNR but it is hidden deeply somewhere in their web site and gives NO real information and no schedule.... The biggest buttons are donate, volunteer and adopt... Of course,TNR is not pretty...
3. the third option would be to just go to the doctor. But I really think it's stressful for him to put him under anesthesia for ear cleaning and then again for neutering. To pay for anesthesia and ear cleaning it would be around $300 I think and for both ear cleaning and neutering together over, $500. It's too much for us.
Helping the alley cats unfortunately is not easy or fair. For now, Hagrid (Phoenix) is safe, his ear infection doesn't seam to be life threatening. The worse case scenario would be to wait few more weeks and take him for admission to Org T. It's making myself sad to think he is in pain, but he is already better then he was outdoors, in cold with no food, and the ear does look better, he's not scratching anymore. To spend the $500 bucks at this point is not a choice, at this point we go to the regular vet just for life threatening situations. I do plan to start working towards TNR anyway, so it is in my plan to go to Org P and Org A anyway, I'm only limited by the lack of time.
Now, the good news! While I was at Org T, I found out that Lily and Coco got adopted, together!
I visited Oki and Hope on the adoption floor and cheered them up a bit. Hope is starting to relax, Oki not yet. They are in a big cage, down on the floor and you would have to stay on your knees to get to them, I'm not sure how many of the staff or volunteers do that. I visited them again on Saturday, same story.
Rocky and Genie and Misty and Sharky are all still in hospital, but all doing well. Rocky has the leg stable, I couldn't find out if it was broken or what else. Genie was under observation as they thought she may be in pain (I know she was bitten few months ago). She used to cry when she was with me in the house, but just when she saw cats, when she was just with me, she wasn't crying even if I touched her and press a little. Misty and Sharky has to be spayed, oh how I miss them, they were my bottle babies.
My husband feeds the colonies, as usually. He is worried that he haven't seen many of them. He is still looking for kittens to take in the house for few weeks, then to Org T, but was still not able to catch any of them.
That' s it for this last week.
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