Oh, kittens

I got such cute pictures of these guys - without my picture card in the camera. And I lost my USB cord, so I had to take more pictures today to be able to transfer them on to the computer. See that face? Looks exactly like his momma. HIS MOMMA THAT I AM DETERMINED TO TRAP.

Well, I don't know the gender of either kitty yet. But both will be fixed today. And then, unfortunately, released. Mrs. L is not answering her phone. (Called her yesterday, told her that I will be trapping, asked if she was still trying to get the kittens into homes. She told me to give her a call if I got any babies.) But since she isn't answering, I have to figure something else out. And I know no one, *no one* that could foster or wants a kitten. It is SO hard trying to find homes for kittens. We all know that.

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These guys might be happier with the rest of their family. I know I'm trying to make myself feel better about this, because I have no other options. I would keep them for a couple of days at the hospital to try to get a hold of Mrs. L, but I don't even know if that's the best idea. All I know is that I don't have anyone else to take them, and I can't reach her. But it's hard, because they are SO cute. And young. The vet thinks around ten weeks old. But I'll know more later when they have been altered.

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*Just got a call - they are both females. The vet doesn't feel comfortable vaccinating them yet, so they will just be spayed and ear-tipped. If I trap them again in a couple of weeks, I will bring them in to be vaccinated. I guess the most important thing is that they have been fixed, so I won't fret about that...

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I went over last night to try to trap these guys, hoping for some adults, but they are too smart, just like last year. Ate all the food, didn't get trapped. Except for the kittens. I will be going back tonight - when it's light out still - to use the drop trap. There are two identical grey and white cats, one black cat, and possibly some others I didn't see, including kitties. *sigh*

Disappointment

As I was driving past the Wendy's last night to get on to the highway, guess what I saw? Cats. A few kittens. A couple teenage kitties. And it made me very frustrated. Disappointed.

When I stopped trapping there (4 females spayed, over 10 kittens removed and rehomed), one grey and white female was left to be spayed. The woman feeding them said that she would call me when she trapped her, as she was more difficult. (This is the cat that she had trapped in a cage and then RELEASED, because she *might* have had babies. Listen, I don't want babies to go without their mom for a night or two and be responsible for anything bad that happens to them, but *might* is not good enough for me. I just want the cats sterilized. I'm sorry if that makes me sound like a cold hard *you-know-what,* but had she been spayed, we could be helping other cats out and not her offspring.) That one female has turned that place back into a breeding ground. Where the males are roaming, I've no clue, but I am so disappointed that the caretaker did not fulfill her promise. Why has she not trapped the teenage cats either?

Another issue that frustrates me is the kittens. I can't help her again - I have no money for kittens. I wouldn't even want to help her with them if I did have the money. I feel that she may focus too much on getting the kittens socialized and into homes when she should be worrying about the cats having babies in the first place. She knows that I would get them the first available appointment, yet she doesn't try to trap them - and she hasn't called me for any help.

It bothers me, because she knows I am right here to help her out. Not a lot of caretakers have such an available and immediate option! I understand when those who care for these cats don't have the resources to get the cats fixed, but she does. Yet she continues to feed the cats every night and let them breed. Disappointed, yes. Frustrated, yes. And angry, a little.

I will call her tomorrow to let her know that I will go over there as soon as I can to try to trap the unneutered cats, but I am angry that she has not taken the responsibility. I will also have to let her know that no, I can't do anything with any kittens. Because that's the first thing she will ask me. Easy to write down, hard to verbalize, because truly, I'm a nice person and don't like to alienate people.

Maybe there's a legitimate reason for not getting these cats trapped, but she has my phone number and could have called me. That's what really gets me - she has somebody who has made it clear that she will help, just call. But no call.

In order to make some headway, we have to KEEP ON TOP of the leftover cats. The ones that still need to be trapped and fixed. And if we can't get them, we have to get their babies ASAP. If we just leave them, and feed them, then we've made NO DIFFERENCE!!! They will continue to breed because the food just doesn't run out! Aahhhhhh!!! Also, these cats are in such a public place! I want their numbers to stay very very small, because someone is bound to call animal control and cite some crap about "public nuisance" and "safety/health hazards." I do NOT want that. I want to be able to say that we are keeping the population in check. That we are making TNR the best option out there!!!

Okay, I will stop my ranting and give her a call tomorrow. Night, everyone!

I was wrong...

This black kitty is a female! = ) Guess I'm not that good at telling yet... The vet tech said the area around the eyes looks like fight wounds? Poor kitties.

I set another trap this morning since RIT wasn't successful, but no luck. So this is the 7th kitty from this area - and the third female to have no more babies! Did you hear that kitties??? No more babies! Stop it!

I'm really grateful that the woman that works in the grey building is helping me out. I would definitely not be able to do this without her. It'd be going a lot slower.

Enough with the black cats already!

Black cat, appears to be male, from the bar/photo studio colony. As I've mentioned, there are a lot of black cats here.

And what's with the area around the eyes on some of these cats? Can't be burns, but then what?

This guy will be neutered tomorrow. He was trapped by the woman in the grey building. She has taken seven or eight kittens over the years from this colony. She is so excited to be helping them get spayed and neutered. Since she has her own trap, she's just going to keep trying to get those kittens and call me when an adult inevitably steps in. She has seen at least two black and white kittens, and I know there is another black kitty and a tabby kitty out there as well. So, 4 more kittens at the least.

I may be setting another trap early tomorrow morning if RIT isn't successful with their trapping. I believe they have been trying to get a couple certain cats for a while now - and it's proving to be difficult.

I'm pretty sure this is the cat the woman from the grey building calls "Stud-Muffin." He's a large boy. Look at that head! I guess he's been around for several years and has likely fathered many babies. This picture is actually from last year, but when she mentioned a "stud-muffin," I knew immediately who she was talking about.

I really don't see any of the males until they are trapped. This is the only one I've had the pleasure of photographing in his natural elements. If he's still around, I hope very much to trap him!

I just went through my pictures, and there are definitely at least 3 more black and white females and 2 black females to be trapped. And who knows about the males... There could be 20 more of them for all I know! (Let's hope not!)

Female from Bar Colony

Have I mentioned that this colony is all black and white? Two grey cats, but the rest are all black or have a similar black and white splotch pattern.

This girl was brought in today by misunderstanding. The woman trying to trap the kittens (who brought in the cat with the big, old wound on his face last Friday) trapped this little girl yesterday, but instead of calling me, took her right over to the hospital. They weren't able to spay her yesterday, and I'm not really sure what they told her... So she brought her back this morning, when fortunately, they had time to spay her.

I talked with the woman today. I believe we have cleared up the misunderstanding. She's going to keep trying to get the kittens, and if she gets an adult cat, she will call me first. The only problem with *not* calling me first is simply because I'm the one trying to keep track of how many, what day, and who's bringing them. They don't know any cats are coming in unless I block some time off in the schedule. Also, I don't want the peoples at work getting frustrated and start complaining about the program... This little girl is our 35th cat - and I want to be able to continue helping these cats out!!!

Clearly giving me the eye... I brought thank you cards to work today for everyone involved in spaying and neutering the cats. I appreciate what they do for these cats so much. Especially when it means that they have to do extra work.

This little girl was a little more difficult to spay due to an elusive uterus. I guess she had a weird packet of fat that at first they thought was milk, but then realized was fat. Not sure what's going on there, but at least she's spayed now. No more babies for her!!!

Have a beautiful night!

Two black males

Pictures aren't very good, but here are the two black males that were neutered today. I went down to visit my sister yesterday, but left early to come back and try to trap at least one cat. If we can only sterilize two cats a week, I want to have those two if possible! I got this guy last night. Mediumish black male.
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I have been putting towels in the traps so that the cats aren't deliberately stepping over the plates, but found out that it makes it difficult for the vet techs to transfer them to the little put-them-to-sleep-box. BUT, I have to put something in there; otherwise, they won't get trapped... I guess anything in the trap makes it hard to transfer them, as the towel or newspaper falls down and gets caught, not allowing the cat to slide through the door into the plastic box... Hard to explain, I guess. Anyway, the towel is still placed in the trap, because I need it. I've just been working it out slowly in the morning. It's a process, because I can't reach in for it, and certainly don't want to open the door more than a crack. Don't need an escapee feral cat!

Same guy. I hope these guys were able to find shelter okay, because I had to release them sooner than I would have liked, due to them being neutered later in the day than usual. These guys got their ears tipped, vaccinations, and a dose of Revolution.

This is the second male, whom I actually did not trap. There is a woman who works in one of the nearby buildings also tring to trap the kittens, to find them homes (which is good, since I can't help out in that area). She was able to get one of the wee babies, probably the one I had in the carrier a week ago! She said it was a little black kitty, about five weeks old? But when she set the trap out to get more babies, she got this big man.

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She called the caretaker to find out who to contact - which turned out to be me. Bless her heart for not just releasing this guy to try to get the kittens! I'm actually really grateful that she didn't, as it's happened before. (Not the same woman, though) Fortunately, she called me during my break at work, when I actually had my phone. Even more fortunately, when I asked the dr. if we had time for another feral cat that day, he said yes. (The vet techs were glad that it was a neuter, though, and not a spay. Me too!)

I was taken aback when I first saw this big guy's face. It looks like it is bleeding, very raw, very painful. While he was neutered, though, they took a look at his face, and I guess it looks more like a burn? The vet tech told me that it is definitely an old wound; it is not infected or bleeding. She said that she's not sure, but that the red skin is smooth, so it looks more like a burn than anything. I guess we won't know ever really know what happened. I'm just glad his eyes are okay...

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Well, five cats spayed and neutered from this colony! One kitten removed so far, and hopefully they will all be caught and taken to good homes! Between the caretaker and the woman from the building, I'm sure they will be able to find homes for four kittens! Hopefully we can keep trapping these guys to prevent more babies!

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I know that the woman who works in the building will be attempting to get these kittens in the next couple of weeks, so I hope it works out again - if she catches an adult cat, we will have time at the hospital to get the cat fixed.

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Also, the caretaker mentioned that the female spayed last week is doing well. Still coming out every day for food, hanging around. She might not know the males' fate as much as the females: the females are a lot friendlier and hang out in a more open area than the males. But, maybe that will change! I hope they do well.

= )

Conversation with the Caretaker

The bar/photo studio colony's caretaker called me back this morning. She's a very nice woman. If I happen to get any more kittens, I will be giving her a call. She said that she knows some people who've been interested in getting another cat. Let's hope that works out...

I tried to explain the importance of clean water to her, but she wasn't seeming to get it. She brings them milk, but not water. I didn't want to press the subject, because it wasn't about the bringing of the water - she just didn't understand the need for it. It makes perfect sense to me - cats need water just as every other animal does, including humans. I go by this place on my way to work, so I can stop by to refill their water - I just wonder why people don't understand the importance. You get thirsty on a hot day, right? So does a cat. And a dog. And a horse.

She expressed concern that the cats who've been sterilized don't fare as well as those who are still intact. Something about being calmer and not fighting for food as much? A few have been fixed over the years due to other organizations getting involved, and she says she hasn't seen any one of them since. Let's hope I can get more of them fixed and the colony will then stabilize.

She mentioned that if I happen to catch a certain black cat, who is very friendly with her, she wants to take her home. There is a grey cat who is also less skittish of people that her friend wants to take home? I did explain our program to her, how limited we are, so I hope she understands that if these cats are going to a home, we won't be able to sterilize them. I wish we could, but if I knowingly did so, when the program's rules state otherwise, I might lose my ability to bring cats in at all. And that would not be go good for anyone.

Also, if it were to happen (taking the cats into a home) I hope that they are truly comfortable being around humans. But though they may come up for some love in their home right now, they probably wouldn't want to be confined in some strange house. Ah, who knows. Not up to me, I suppose. = ) I would just rather the cats be sterilized and comfortable in familiar surroundings than freaked out in a house surrounded by things they've never even dreamed of...

Now I'm really regretting putting the kitten back down. She could have taken him in. Maybe I will be able to get him back next week. And then smuggle him home because he was soooo cute! Haha.

Well, I should go get ready for work! Have a wonderful day!

Return

Female spayed today. She has beautiful eyes. She appeared to have been pregnant just recently, but didn't seem to be producing milk still. Fortunately for this little girl, she will not be having any more babies.

I took these pictures as we headed back over to their home.

Waiting in my car to get back home.

Male cat, neutered today. No more making babies!

After releasing the two cats, I saw this kitty come walking out. She was there last year - I looked back in my pictures, and though there are several black and white cats, I can identify her. I hope to catch her and the rest of her family to be sterilized.

As this cat walked away, black momma cat appeared. I believe there are three or more all black cats. One is a mom, whom I believe to be this one.

Possible momma cat.

Miss Kitty came around the dumpster and...

Flopped on the ground, started rolling around. Made me laugh.

She got herself thoroughly dirty.

But seemed to be enjoying her dust bath. = )

This is another slightly smaller black kitty. I waited a couple more minutes, but no more cats came out to visit.

I left a note for the woman that comes to feed them every day. She called me back, but we were only able to talk for a couple of minutes. I'm hoping she's able to call me before I head off to work tomorrow.

Goodnight!

Glad I Went Back

After a few hours at home, I went back to the bar area to trap another cat. I was hoping that as the day got cooler, the cats would venture more out in the open. And that they would be more interested in the wet food as theirs was all gone.

This time, I set one of the regular traps in the grassy area between two fences - one to the photo studio, the other to an industrial site. The woman who has been feeding them for over six years has put several wooden and plastic shelters in this area. It just needs to be cleaned up a bit - there are food dishes and garbage EVERYWHERE. I wonder if she would mind if I cleaned it up. Owners sometimes don't mind shelters and feeding stations, but they do when it's messy. One woman mentioned that someone from the other side of the fence has removed a few of the shelters set up - probably because they were put up without permission.

Anyway, I saw another black and white cat who meowed at me when I told him to "come on, get in the trap so we can go." She didn't listen to me, but her friend did. Not expecting anyone to enter the trap soon, I went back to my car to wait a few minutes before checking again. As I was talking to my sister on the phone, I saw black momma cat startle then run away. I knew that someone had probably been trapped, so I ran over with a towel and covered the trap. I think it looks like a male, but just like baby ages, it's difficult for me to tell male/female sometimes. = )

I took the mostly white with some black cat over to the hospital, where s/he will spend the night with the older female black and white cat. (The woman I met today said that the older female has to be at least 5 or 6) In the bathroom. It's relatively quiet in there. They will be fixed tomorrow, then released in the evening when I go home.

I'm not sure how many cats are in this area, but last year, there had to have been around 15 that I saw. I know that there are at least 3 black cats, 4 kittens, 1 grey cat, and a bunch (at least 5?)of black and white cats. But, well, 3 down!

I had met the woman that feeds the cats once last year. She was nice, but showed no interest in helping with getting the cats spayed and neutered. I need to be able to talk to her about the feeding, though. And water. I went to the thrift store today (I love thrift stores!) to find a metal bowl for water, because all though there were several food containers and a bunch of smaller dishes, there was no clean water. The woman had left milk (?) in a little plastic container, but the little water they had in one of the small dishes was just nasty. I filled the metal bowl with water when I left the first time. When I came back around 3 hours later, most of it was gone. Not spilled, but gone. Those cats must be incredibly thirsty. Not good.

I filled it again when I left with the second cat, but will go each day on my way to work until I can talk to the woman about providing them with water. She goes every day to give them food, water shouldn't be a big deal.

So, I am glad I went back. But if anyone has any trapping tips - feel free to share! It seems more difficult because I don't know these cats' habits. Where they hang out, what times they're there, etc. I know I may not be able to get them all, but when I think of Strayer (hint hint) and how she gets all those cats trapped - I feel like maybe I'm missing out on some information here? = ) Is it just lots of traps and dedication?

Goodnight everyone!

So Hot Outside Today!

I got a little sunburnt today by the time I remembered to put some sunscreen on. I hope I remember earlier next time. = )

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I went back to the bar for some more cat trapping. Well, the area next to the bar. It seems that the cats congregate behind a photo studio. Unfortunately, the woman that feeds them leaves out a ton of food, so they aren't as hungry as I would like them to be. (For trapping, anyway.)

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I set up my drop trap and almost immediately caught a black and white (supposedly) female. She will be spayed and released tomorrow.

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I waited for hours for another to walk underneath the trap, but no one was willing. I am thinking about going back tonight to try again. I need to be able to contact the woman feeding them, though, because I'm not going to be able to get these cats fixed if they're not hungry enough to enter a trap.

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I met several nice people today, including the owners of the two buildings I was camped out between. We had gotten permisison to trap on the property of the one building, but I had never personally spoken to the owner. He saw me by the dumpsters, so I got up to talk to him, hoping he wasn't going to ask me to leave. (I didn't even know it was the owner) He was nice, though, so I explained what I was trying to do, and he thanked me.

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The studio's owner came out to talk to me as well. He seemed very enthusiastic about the cats being sterilized - they have killed his frogs and turtles that they keep in the backyard for portraits.

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That kitten in the photos is one of at least 4 at the bar/studio. But I have no where to take them! And they are not old enough for spay/neuter yet. I'm guessing this one is four/five weeks? (I'm bad at ages, though) A woman doing yard work at the studio caught the little one and handed him over to me, so I put him in a carrier (those are ice cubes, b/c of the heat). But I have no where to take him, no one I know that will foster, and I don't know if it is best for him to be with his siblings and mom for a little while longer. So I let him go. And that was so hard, but I just don't know what to do with the babies!

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He was a little spitfire at first, but when I took him out to let him go, he was such a sweetie! He let me hold him without any problems. When I first set him down, I snatched him back up, because I just didn't know what to do. I still don't know what to do. I want the babies to have homes, but I can't take them in right now - and none of my friends have the money to do so either. Also, is it better to take them all at once? All the babies, so they'd at least have each other? That was another thing I was worried about...

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And I don't know who the mom is, so I won't know if I trap her and take her away from her babies. They should be old enough to last one night, right? I know so little about kittens!

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If any one has any suggestions, feel free to chime in!

Animal Cruelty of the More Insidious Kind

Most people who have a sense of empathy are able to take care of animals wonderfully. Can empathy be taught???
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Those without empathy, however, should not be allowed to be caretakers.
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When I think of animal cruelty, I think of kids setting fire to cats and men beating dogs with sticks and pigs forced to live in tiny cells for breeding purposes. I tend to forget about the insidious cruelty that animals routinely go through at the hands of unempathetic owners. The kind that doesn't make the news.
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Outdoor dogs that get food and shelter, but no companionship. Dogs shut in a crate all day long because the caretakers are too busy with their own lives. Cats locked in the basement with no companionship or even a clean litter box. Bunnies bought for the kids because they are *oh so cute* but left in their cages because their needs are not properly understood.
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How do we get through to the people who bring animals into their lives, but don't actually understand that they are not stuffed animals? I don't know. Can empathy be taught? Especially when these people are adults - the ones who should be aware of these things? How do we get past a person's defenses and show them that these animals are worthy of our compassion? That even a fish has needs and desires?
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I find myself questioning these things because next week, I am driving an hour and a half away to try to take my mom's cat out of her house. I have explained to my mom over and over again that animals need companionship. Exercise. Clean areas to live in and eat in and go to the bathroom in. But something has been turned off in her brain. Or was never turned on. My sister went over to visit and found the cat shut in the basement, living in filth.
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My sister has offered to take her in, but I have no idea how my visit will go. My mother cannot accept the fact that she is not a suitable caretaker. She refuses to let anyone even suggest that she may not be perfect. But she can't be allowed to have this cat locked in her basement. It's cruel.
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How can people not understand compassion and empathy? They must be missing so much in life.

Finally, a cat from the bar

Today, I finally brought in a cat from the bar. Why have I neglected this situation for so long? Please don't ask. Maybe I felt "too busy" or "too drained" or something. Whatever it was, it wasn't for the right reasons.

A wonderful lady has offered to help out with the trapping at the bar, something I will be taking her up on very shortly.

Lots of things have been changing in my life lately, which is mostly why I haven't been writing. I started a new part time job (still working at the animal hospital, but now only part time). I am preparing to move out of my parents' house in July. My friend and I were not able to find a place together due to pets and bad credit, so I will be moving in with a vet tech that used to work with me at the hospital. I think it will be good. Her place is close to both of my jobs, there will be more room, and her dog is more afraid of cats than desiring to chase them. =)

We'll see...

Gulf Oil Disaster

I'm not one to actually pay attention to the world's events. Well, maybe that was in the past, when I didn't really know how to care on such a large scale. Be gentle on the young - they aren't capable of actually understanding the magnitude of certain events at times.

I was 14 when 9/11 happened. I didn't get it. It all seemed like a crazy fuss for two buildings falling down.

I was 18 when Hurricane Katrina occured. I didn't understand how it was any worse than other hurricanes. Why people were so concerned.

I'm 22 now, and am *devastated* by the Gulf oil spill. Reading the articles on the massive impact this is having/will have on the birds, fish, dolphins, whales, shrimp, crabs - on all life in these waters - it's heartbreaking. One of the articles mentioned that the oil slick prevents the water from staying oxygenated, which compels the fish to rise to the surface of the water, seeking oxygen. When they reach the oil, their gills will become covered and they will die. I don't know about you, but I can see the fish in my mind as they swim to the surface. I can see them dying. And this will be happening to thousands of animals.

One of the articles seemed to focus on how the fishing industry will be affected, how they will lose so much money through this disaster. But enough about money for God's sake! Millions of animals are dying! They are not being erased like penciled in numbers on a sheet of notebook paper, they are dying individual, excruciating deaths.

Food chain interruptions, damage to reproductive systems, majorly affecting the mating/breeding/nesting season - this is really bad. And it is not just a spill. It is an ongoing oil leak (if you can even call it a leak) that may last for months. It is a nasty feeling to actually understand what is going on here - the birds, fish, turtles, whales, shellfish - individual beings - they are dying horrible, terrible deaths. Because of us.

More Kitties

I've been having more calls lately about our program at the hospital. Fortunately, it's not getting too overwhelming - and I'm kind of excited that we're going to be able to do more. Then again, tis the season of baby cats.

We're trying to come up with some sort of protocol concerning the homeless cats that don't reside in our town. When we first started the program, we planned on focusing on this town, but homeless cats are everywhere. I'm for spaying and neutering any and every cat that does not have a typical home, but Dr. R may have to approve each situation.

The donation definitely makes an impact, as well. I suggested that we have a "suggested donation" and reserve our free spots for those who truly need them. We'll see.

I start a new job this May, so I will only be working about 20 hours a week at the animal hospital. It will be a weird change, but not unwelcome.

Kind of gross, but...

I saved one of Julie's nails to take a picture. The bloody middle part is where it had started growing into the paw. Keep in mind that we clipped after the quick - this is not the whole nail, just the over-grown part. (I actually just held the nail up to my own cat's claws to make sure I wasn't exaggerating, but yes, the blood marks where the nail had been embedded into the paw.) I had thought that about a third of the ingrown part would be involved, not half of it! Horrible, painful, very much cringe-worthy.

T ended up clipping the nails to save the owners the cost of an exam and a nail trim. The poor kitty was an angel for the trimming. Didn't make a fuss in the least. Fortunately, the back claws were not like the front ones - they were long, but not even badly curved.

I soaked her feet in a chlorahexadine solution right after the trim. Her paws were bleeding, but thankfully it was controllable. The paws didn't look infected, but T and I are not doctors, so when I called the owners to let them know how things were going, I suggested that they take her to their vet. The wounds are deep in her paws and I'm sure can be easily infected.

After soaking her feet a couple of times, I placed her in a cage in the cat ward. I took her home while on my break and brought some of the chlorahexadine for the owners to use during the next few days. I also grabbed some shredded paper to use as litter, not knowing if they had a paper shredder.

I told them to keep her indoors for at least a week, soak her pads a couple times a day until they look like they are healing, preferably keep her in the bathroom with a clean floor for at least the first couple days, only shredded paper litter (hopefully she uses it), to keep an eye on the wounds for infection, and most importantly, to take her to the vet. I can trim nails and clean wounds, but I don't know how bad is bad. And I don't want to be pretending I do.

They were such a sweet couple. I think I wrote that they are an older couple, but I realized yesterday that they're really not that old - maybe 50's. So they don't get to use old as an excuse. = ) I really liked them because you could tell they had genuinely not noticed, which is horrible, but better than noticing and not caring. As soon as it was pointed out, they were trying to figure out when we could take her and get it taken care of. They were perfectly willing to pay for the trimming/cleaning, but T said not to charge, so no worries there.

And they baked me chocolate-ship cookies, which made me feel all old-fashioned/ neighborly/old-timerly.

Oh, and Julie has the most croaky, pathetic meow. It's kind of funny. They said she's always talked like that. I love cats with silly voices.

Speaking of silly meows, here's my squeaky-man-Noms resting near the ceiling. They quite like being up so high. Great vantage point. The windows are in direct view, which is an added benefit to being up so high. Actually, I think he's looking out the window in the picture.