"Cat Eyes" and Three Down! (Two to go, I think)

I have been reading the blog of "Strayer," a woman in Oregon, I believe, who traps and sterilizes cats by the hundreds. Her site: http://catwomanflix.blogspot.com/. (Blog is called "Cat Eyes") It's truly amazing, the work she completes. I don't know how she has the emotional strength to continue as she does. Just reading her posts are often heartbreaking.

In one of her posts, she mentioned that she had told a woman a certain way of doing things, including lining the trap with newspaper. I wasn't sure if it helped with trapping the cats or was for their comfort while in the trap, but I decided to try it tonight. It seemed to me that the paper might help the cats to *not* distinguish between the floor and the trip plate. (They had kept stepping over the plate to get to the food and were not getting caught.)

I went over tonight and set the trap around 4 PM. At 6, no one was trapped, but the food was gone, of course. So I got out the paper, lined the trap, and when I came back, trapped cat! I noticed it was a tabby, so I made sure it was not the one we caught previously. It was the tabby and white cat, though, so I covered her up, and brought her over to the animal hospital. (Mrs. L had just finished telling me that the tabby and white cat has been missing, may have been the dead cat in the road. Could be a different one, of course, but here he/she is!)

After dropping the cat off at the hospital, I went back to Wendy's to meet Mrs. L. She had gone over to trap the black cat. She's the smart one, that little black kitty. Fortunately, Mrs. L can pet her a little, so she picked her up quickly and stuck her in a carrier. And then I took her over. So, three down, two to go! And a black kitten, I guess. I want no more kittens! Where did this little black kitten come from?

KBs two kitties

These are KB's two kittens. I have taken them to the vet for upper respiratory meds (that shit is expensive), deworming, and testing for FIV and FeLV. I may get their shots, not sure yet if my budget can afford it. I also treated them with Frontline Plus. (Good thing for samples!) I'm really hoping to find them homes soon, because KB's had them for a while, and Mrs. L is not exactly helping.

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Though there's nothing I can do now ('cept find them good homes), it still pisses me off that I was brought into this thinking that Mrs. L had homes already lined up. (She told me this) That KB would be "socializing" them, not "fostering" them. (She said they just need a couple of weeks in a home before being adopted out.) There's a difference. I was also under the impression that she would have them for three weeks, tops. She's had them for over two months now. I did not expect to have to take them to the vet, to have to pay for food, litter, etc for more than a couple of weeks. It doesn't help that Mrs. L is not calling me back, is not helping with trapping, is not giving out the right information, is not helping to pay for any of their vet bills.

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Well, I know now. And I know that I really don't want to be involved right now in rescuing - I want to get animals sterilized - but other people can go ahead and do their rescuing to their hearts' content. I just can't afford it, honestly. I make almost minimum wage - which does not include paying for feral kittens' vet bills. Irritated that I got pulled into this with completely different intentions and expectations, but at least I know better now. Won't be doing this again.

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Oh, but on a good note, I finally have my license! Yay! Fifth time's the charm! = ) Haha.

Leah/Leia

This is the little one that the boy from the cat-loving family picked out. I guess he was the only one in the family to not have his *own* cat. And he picked this girl - good choice, too. She's the sweetest, snuggliest of the bunch. I heard she's doing great in her new home, she sleeps with the boy in his room and is slowly being integrated into the household. Yay for happy endings! Let's hope we can find such good endings for the rest of them! = )

P.S. The boy named her Leah or Leia or something similar. *Cute*

The Kittens

So, the LV's had eight kittens total. P is in construction and can whip handy things up in seconds, so you should see the cages he's fixed and rigged up to become great housing units for the kittens. I should get some more recent pictures, because these cages have carpeted shelves, hammocks, and are now on wheels. It's wonderful. = )

For the first five, socialization was pretty easy. Petting them and picking them up was able to be done in a few days. All of the kittens went to the vet, were dewormed, tested negative for FIV/FeLV, had Frontline applied, and got their first shots. All behaved pretty well.

The next two, however, were a bit slower to come around. The torti is now doing great, but the little calico does not let herself be picked up. And the last one, that little grey ball of fluff - he's been nicknamed Cujo. Not sure about him. Can't even pet him. Can only touch him with the feather stick. If he doesn't come around in a month, I would definitely vote to have him sterilized and released somewhere safe. (These last three had all the vet goodies as well, but they were not as well-behaved as the first five.) Heard that they screamed bloody murder.

I've put up ads on Craigslist, Mrs. L has put ads in the paper, we've all put up flyers. So far, no takers on KB's two, unfortunately. But one little calico has a wonderful home now, the torti has a home lined up, and the little black and white one may have a home as well. The LV's daughter wants to take the little grey ball if he becomes socialized - if not, she'll either have him as an outdoor cat or we'll release him back behind Wendy's. So we've got four more calicos and the long-haired grey and white boy to find homes for.

And I thought I had found someone who really wanted the grey and white boy today, but it turns out they're the ones who love the little black and white one. Well, at least one of them's got a home, right?

Pictures of Wendy's Kittens

Little torti. (all pictures can be clicked to view larger)

Group picture with one of the mamas and my foot. = )

Thirsty cats.

Look at the face on that little calico. (She's one of my favorites.)

More drinkage.

Mid-itch.

Black mama kitty.

Trying to get them to eat off her hand.

Kim and my foot again.

Eating off a paper bag.

Since we met the LV's, there has been a shelter put up for food and water. No more just laying it on the ground. I'll have to get some photos of it. Paul also anchored two plastic summer shelters for sleeping, which I put straw inside of. We're going to attempt to find a used dog house on craigslist that we can modify for the cats to use during the winter, though. It's unbearably cold here in the winter.

All the cats in these pictures are at the LV's house, being socialized. (Except for mama.) All need homes, except the more defined calico, who is already spoken for. I'll post more pictures and information on how they're doing in a bit. = ) I am just really hoping that we can find good homes for these guys! And get the rest of the moms/dads spayed and neutered before winter arrives!

The cats may be too smart...

I had really been hoping to trap two of the adult cats the next night, but though I stayed out there for hours, I only trapped one. Better than nothing, though. A young grey tabby female. Dr. R said she had been pregnant before, but not recently. She was spayed, ear-tipped, treated with a flea medication (can't remember which one), and given rabies and distemper vaccinations. She looked pretty healthy, was at a good weight, no cuts or abcesses, no noticeable fleas or flea dirt, and no earmites.

There was a stupid truck out there the whole night, and I believe that is why the cats were staying away. The man would turn his truck on and off throughout the evening, which scared everybody away. That and the fact I caught a skunk. Who fortunately didn't spray me, but ambled out nonchalantly when I opened the trap door. Cute little guy, he was. = )

The cats are entering the traps and eating the food, but somehow, they are not stepping on the trip plate and are therefore not being trapped. It's very frustrating, because I want this all done as soon as possible. There at least four more adults, who knows how many more kittens out there. They NEED to be sterilized and this is slow-going. Not to mention that my dad is currently irritated with how much I am "focusing" on cats and not on driving, getting a better-paying job, moving out, etc. So I'm not able to go out there every night as I would like to.

I went back a few nights later to trap again, and this time, I caught a little grey kitten. About the same age as the others, but so much more scared. The LV's agreed to take him in, as he's still little. But though I was out there for many hours that night as well, I caught no adults. It's especially frustrating when a car pulls in and you see that they were all there, in the shelter, even in the traps, but no one is being trapped. Makes me want to chase after them with nets. (I read in an article recently that they have a little machine that shoots a net out - I should look into this.)

The hours spent at Wendy's break picnic table have been interesting. T camped out with me on one night (we should bring s'mores next time), I called a college friend that I haven't talked to in over a year, and wrote a ridiculous, lengthy letter to a friend on a paper plate while listening for the trap door. I don't mind spending two or three hours out there, but more is a pain. Especially since the cats are smarter than the traps. Too many times have I seen them scurry out of the trap. I need a remote control that snaps the door shut or something. Anyone have any suggestions?

I haven't trapped since then because of the pressures at home. I've been letting Mrs. L know she can go ahead and trap anytime she wants, just call me and we'll take the cat(s) over, but her cat is missing, and she doesn't have the time to trap while she's searching for her cat. So. It's getting colder, I need to pass my driving test on Monday, and I need to get these cats sterilized. This not being able to drive myself around sucks and NEEDS TO CHANGE.

Cats vs. Birds

I recently read an article in the latest issue of Animal Sheltering about the issue of cats vs. birds. (You can read their back issues of the magazine here: http://www.animalsheltering.org/publications/magazine/back_issues/) This is a subject that always confuses me: how can someone choose one species over another? How can one say that one animal is more important, more worthy of survival? I know that some feel native species are more important than those that are non-native - but why? Just because they were here first? How can any person be that simplistic?


Yes, cats kill birds. And yes, cats are a non-native species. But no, killing off populations of feral and stray cats is not the answer. Targeting cats is simply making them a scapegoat for the population decline of birds. We need to look at other, much more influential reasons that birds are dying. Killing may be an easy answer, but it is not humane and does not even "fix" anything.

So why are certain bird populations declining? Habitat loss and pollution have got to be the two of the main reasons. I'm not surprised that their populations are dwindling so much - there's hardly any room left for them any more! And pollution is so bad that I'm sure they have been and will continue to be affected majorly.

I can't say that I am some kind of expert, but we need to use our common sense here. We don't (read: we shouldn't) kill off one race/religion/color to benefit the other - why would it be okay to kill off one species to benefit another? There's always a better solution. To me, killing should never be an option.

This is actually something that connects to so many other issues out there, and because I don't have the time or education, I won't get into it now. In my opinion, yes, cats kill birds. And yes, the cat population is something that needs to be curtailed through sterilization and responsible pet ownership. BUT, it is not acceptable to kill cats to "save" birds, even if the cats WERE the main problem. Which they are not.


The National Audobon Society (let's hope this is a reputable source to use, haha) says that bird populations are "diving" because of the suburban sprawl, industrial development, and the intensification of farming in the last 50 years. Cats, anyone? No. Because although cats DO have an impact in areas, especially islands (so I've read), the results of farming, deforestation, pollution, industrial development, etc ARE SO MUCH GREATER. It's okay to "like" one species over another, but it is not okay to blame one animal species for the problems caused by humans. We need to look at the main causes of falling bird populations and attempt to improve *them.* And you know what? If we did that, there would be so many wonderful side effects. Less pollution for us, climate stability, less wasting of resources, etc. What does killing cats do? Well, it kills cats. Cruelly and unjustifiably.

Do you love birds? Yes? Well, personally, I think they're great, too. = ) Although I do not have indoor/outdoor cats, first, I would recommend having your cats wear collars with bells if you can. If they won't tolerate the collars or you have feral cats, I would then suggest making the popular bird places pretty inaccessible to the cats. (As much as possible, anyway) They make cat bibs that look kind of odd, but if your cat is killing a lot of birds and you want to curtail this a bit, check them out: http://www.catgoods.com/index.html. Keeping your cat indoors, especially during dawn and dusk is supposed to help. Building an enclosed structure for your cat to spend time outside with safety is a good idea.

I have to say again, I hate the argument that "cats are not native to North America." We aren't either! And look at all the animals, all the people we've killed!!! Just because they weren't here before we brought them over does not mean we can kill them at will. We do not have the right to kill off whatever/whoever we want! We have the OBLIGATION to find a peaceful solution. A solution that makes everything a little better in the end, including the animals, the people, and the environment.

Trapping Wendy's Cats

Mrs. L decided to try to trap the kittens with a cage. Lure them in with the food, when there's a bunch in, close the door. It worked to catch five of the kittens. But the last two (known) kittens were being a bit shy, so we knew we'd have to get out the big guns: Havahart traps. Mrs. L took our two traps over Monday night. She tied them open, and set food in the front, middle, and back. The cats ate all the food, so on Tuesday night, I went over and put food in the middle and back. All gone the next day as well, so to trap the kittens/cats, I untied the traps and rigged them up. This time, only food in the back so the trip plate is activated and *voila* trapped cat.

I was a bit worried that the trip plate wasn't going to be sensitive enough - these cats are on the small side. The kittens are about four pounds, I believe. The moms probably aren't more than eight. But I set them up in the food shelter (which works *great* as a disguise for the traps, by the way - they were already used to going in the shelter for food, so now they just walk in the traps) and hoped for the best. Went into Wendy's to wait at least a half hour - maybe I'll go over to that picnic table next time. It was a bit awkward pretending to be a patron.

After a half hour, I went to check. And of course, all the food was gone, no trapped cats. "Damn it," I thought. Knew the traps weren't going to be sensitive enough. I went back inside to get my stuff so that I could set the traps again because I had no other choice. Certainly am not going to be chasing the cats with nets.

Grabbed my backpack, hoping people would leave my book and tray alone. Got out the cat food, but lo and behold, the little calico was thrashing around in one of the traps! Yea! I covered her with the sheet and she immediately calmed down. I placed her on top of the shelter and set the other trap. I walked a few feet away, not sure if I wanted to wait outside or in the Wendy's. But as I stood there, I heard the second trap's door slam shut. It was the little torti! I placed her next to the calico and covered them both with the sheet. Then called T for a ride over to the LV's. She was babysitting, though, and her sister was late, so the LV's came to get me and the kittens. We deposited them at their house and they dropped me back off at Wendy's to try to get some of the adults. But T was tired, so I couldn't really stay long. (A bit irritating to me, but what can you do when you have to rely on everyone else?)

So I tied up the traps again and put all the food in the back for them. Fortunately, I am going back tonight to trap again. Dr. R will be working tomorrow and has time for surgery. Hopefully T doesn't bail on me again. She kept telling me I should trap during the day but doesn't understand that if the cats don't come out during the day, you're not going to be able to trap them during the day. She said, "you should start feeding them during the day." But, truthfully, it doesn't matter when we feed/trap. I can easily* drop them off at the animal hospital at night, so there's no need to change their schedule.

I really hope to get two of the adults tonight. Wish me luck! = )

*Well, not easily, but day is no more easy than night for me, anyway.

Wendy's Kittens Pt. 2

I have realized that I am not good at story-telling. In fact, I suck at it. I really only do well with "reporting" life. Non-fiction is where my comfort zone lies. So where we at before? Oh, at "no answer."

I had been feeling dismayed, because I always seem to have very few, very limited resources. I knew we'd have to figure something else out if I never got an answer, but in the meantime, the cats needed water and bowls. (They had been drinking out of some flimsy plastic container.) I took some metal bowls from the lost and found at work (They had been there for over a year and a half, so don't be judging me). Unfortunately, the bowls and water bottles did not fit in the bag that I usually carry on my back when I ride my bike. (I had only one bag that could be carried on my back.) So I took a shoulder bag, thinking I would be able to balance it on my shoulder while biking over there. I was wrong. So I put the bag on the handlebar, thinking I would be able to ride with it swinging gently. I was wrong. The bag caught in the wheel, stopped the wheel abruptly, and flipped me over the handlebars.

It was the most adventurous thing I've done recently. However, I think I should take a moment to say "Kids, wear your helmets." Because I was not, and I am very thankful that I did not hurt myself. And that no one ran me over. I now wear my helmet even if I'm going next door. (Well, maybe not... but you know what I mean.)

I made it the rest of the way without event, though I was horribly dismayed to see that I had smushed the bowls up in my crash to the pavement. The water bottles were still intact, thankfully. And I was able to form the bowls back into shape. = )

As I topped the hill, I noticed a large vehicle parked in the area where the cats congregate. "Oh no," I thought, because I have issues with talking to unknown people. But meeting this couple is the best thing to have happened for me, Mrs. L, and the cats. I told them about my desire to spay and neuter everyone and Mrs. L's desire to socialize and find homes for the kittens. And they expressed that they wanted to help, that they're big cat lovers, and want to see the situation resolved as well.

I told them that I needed permission from the land-owners to trap and return the cats. They were all, "Oh she won't care, you'd be doing her a favor." But they understood that Dr. R needed it for legal reasons, so they actually paid her a visit and got her written permission. Can you believe that? Here I am, writing and emailing with no answer - and they know her. Life can provide you with the right resources, I guess. = )

So now that we had permission, Mrs. L asked if we could have some sort of meeting. It was a bit awkward, but KB went with me, so it wasn't as uncomfortable as it could have been. We made a tentative plan to catch the kittens, socialize them, find them homes, etc. I didn't feel we talked about the adults enough, but that's another topic. Mrs. L and I were very happy to have people as wonderful as the LV's on board.

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I forgot to mention that KB offered to take in two of the kittens to socialize them. I asked her to do this under the impression that Mrs. L already had homes for them. Because that is what she told KB and me. Except KB has had the kittens for three weeks now - and no sign of homes. Not only do I feel bad that I got KB into this, but I am the one paying for everything. Food, litter, toys, and now vet bills. I just hope that I can come up with enough money. We're just doing basic worming, meds for upper respiratory infections, and testing the male for FIV/FeLV. But still, at just above minimum wage, these things are expensive. But I'll figure it out.

What is a feral cat?

Many people give me weird looks when I try to explain the difference between stray and feral cats. We'll talk about the difference in the next post, but first, let me explain what a "feral" cat is. Exactly.

First, we all know that "feral" means something along the lines of "wild, unsocialized." So a feral cat is basically a cat who is not socialized. I prefer not to use the term "undomesticated" because these cats are our typical "domestic" cats - they just aren't accustomed to living with/near humans.

A feral cat is one who has reverted in some degree to a 'wild" state. S/he may have been a former socialized cat who was then abandoned or lost - and learned to survive with little or no human contact. Or, the cat could be the unsocialized offspring of unsterilized cats (whether they be socialized or feral). Whatever the circumstances, a feral cat desires no contact with humans. We are frightening to them - and it takes them some time to get used to us as caretakers. Most feral cats are not capable of being socialized to a degree in which they are good candidates to become regular pets.

To what degree a cat is feral depends on several factors:
- age: kittens are far more capable of being socialized, especially before twelve weeks old.
- the generation of "feral": kittens born to a formerly/currently socialized mother are more likely to be socialized than those born to a mom who is a couple generations feral.
- the extent of daily human contact: think of a commonly traversed park area where cats get constant human interaction vs. a rural setting where cats are able to live without any human contact.

There is also what is known as a "wild card" factor: the cat's particular personality. This may allow for socialization despite other elements, but these cases are not the norm. There are people who have socialized adult feral cats, but it is not generally recommended as it is not commonly feasible. If should not be necessary that a feral cat become socialized, but we'll talk later about what to do if you ever come across a situation in which certain circumstances require you to relocate/adopt feral cats.

Stray or feral?

So what's the difference betwen a stray cat and a feral cat? Some people use the word interchangeably, not knowing the difference. It's very important to discern whether the cat is stray or feral, though. This helps you decide if the cat needs a home, wants a home, or is better off in it's natural environment. It also helps in explaining to others why you aren't trying to find the cats homes (if the cats are feral).

Typical stray cat:
- separated from owner, whether lost or abandoned
- socialized, will likely approach humans/can be approached without cat running away
- often vocal, may seem distressed, hungry, confused
- may appear disheveled, as if not accustomed to outdoor living
- likely to eat in our presence
- are seen throughout the day

Typical feral cat:
- unsocialized, not likely to draw near to people/will scatter quickly if approached
- most often silent
- appear adapted to conditions, look healthy and well-groomed
- will wait to eat food until humans have moved away significantly
- usually seen around dusk to dawn

I say "typical" because there are differences in every colony. Just as every human is unique, each cat has his/her own set of circumstances and personality. For example, the colony of cats I am caretaker for are definitely all "feral," but one, Snuggle/Tricky constantly meows at me when I bring the food out. (Still don't know whether to call him Snuggle or Tricky...) He has never approached close enough to touch, but will follow you for the food. The others just watch from a distance. I don't know if he and his brothers were abandoned as kittens, which is why he meows at me, or if he simply feels comfortable enough to yell at us for his food. His brothers are certainly more distant, though.

The difference between "stray" and "feral" is important. Stray cats may desire homes. Feral cats do not. Some feral cats can be socialized, but if not, they will at least (hopefully) have food, water, and shelter along with their families and freedom.

Wendy's Kittens: Part One

Going through the drive-thru at Wendy's one night, my step-mom noticed what appeared to be a "large rat." On closer inspection, it turned out to be a small cat! In fact, there were several kittens and mom-cats hanging out near a large rock.

There used to be a barn on the property the cats are congregating upon, so it's not a leap to wonder if these aren't remnants of those who used to live there. Who had kittens, of course.

I found out that there was someone feeding them in that area, so I went back to the Wendy's a few days later to acquire any information possible. I told the workers that if anyone had any relevant information for me about the caretaker, give me a call, because these cats need to be sterilized to prevent a population boom.

I walked around a little, wondering how I would contact the woman feeding the cats. I ended up calling T, who suggested leaving a note for the woman to find. So I did. (see picture) I got a call a couple of days later, but was too afraid to answer. (I have social issues, I know) The second time she called, I didn't hear it, but fortunately, she left a message. I remember thinking, "That's funny, she sounds like Mrs. L" but didn't ponder any further on it. I called her back the next day, and guess what? It was Mrs. L! I was actually very relieved, because talking to someone you don't know can be a little nerve-racking, especially dealing with crazy cat ladies. We all know that when someone is passionate about a particular topic, s/he tends to think of him/herself as an expert. And when that individual disagrees with your opinions, it can turn into a situation where nothing gets resolved.

But...

Mrs. L told me that there are five female adults and ten kittens. She mentioned that she had been trying to socialize the kittens, but what they really need is to be fostered for a couple of weeks before they go into "forever homes." T had said previously that she would use her garage to socialize the kittens, so I told Mrs. L that I would see if she was still interested, but unfortunately, she was not. I talked to Dr. R about having them boarded for a week, but he said it wasn't really our area in which we could help. I went through all my contacts, even posted on the Cat Lovers LJ community for suggestions. Luckily, KB just got back from vacation and said she would take two in at a time to help socialize them before they go into homes. I also met someone through LJ that said she would put the word out for volunteers.

All the while, I was trying to find out the contact information for the owner of the property so we could trap the cats and kittens to be sterilized. Dr. R is quite adamant that the property owners are in agreement with us going on their land for such a purpose. Something that makes complete sense to me. So I went to the town hall, pointed out the particular piece of land (after much difficulty, I must say. I can't read a map for the life of me), and was printed out a piece of paper with the address of the owner and a picture of the store that resides on the land.

The store is actually now empty, which explains why I didn't recognize it from the photo. I was able to find a phone number online, which led me to another branch, in Buffalo, I believe. Which gave me another number to contact the receptionist of the owner. Who was out of town, so I left a message. I went to visit the kittens again that night and noticed a sign in the front window with a phone number. I called, but hung up when it started making a funny noise. And called again, but was caught off guard by the answering machine - and I didn't know exactly what i wanted to say. I mulled it over, then called again. And was surprised when I man answered a bit groggily. Explained my business to him, who then informed me that he's in Italy, that it's two in the morning. Which made me feel quite awkward for calling him three times. Apologized profusely, but he was kind in not making me feel like a total ass. He gave me the email address of his sister to get permission from. But, though I emailed twice and wrote once, I got no answer.

To be continued... (With more info on socialization, permission from land owners, and possibly pictures. If I can figure it out...)

Why TNR?

For those of you that aren't familiar with the term "TNR," it's an acronym that stands for "trap, neuter, return." Some use "TTNVR" or other forms, but I prefer the simpler version. (TTNVR represents "trap, test, neuter, vaccinate, return") Obviously, "neuter" signifies both male and female sterilization. I believe the "R" stood for "release" at first, but there was some concern that the cats would simply be released anywhere - it has since been changed to "return." The cats need to be returned to their home environment to be set free. Individual vets make the decision to test, vaccinate, and treat other minor problems such as fleas, earmites, and abcesses.

So why is TNR important? First, mass extermination, which has been in effect for decades, is clearly not having much of a positive impact on the overpopulation of stray and feral felines. We've been killing these cats for years upon years and there are as much of a "problem" as when we started! Not only is it wrong ethically to kill off these animals, but it's just not working! Why are we slaughtering all these animals when it's not having any sort of impact? Because we are rooted in tradition. It's what we've always done. Trap the cats and kill them. But you know what? This leads to what is called "the vacuum effect." Though the cats are removed, the food source remains. More cats will be able to survive by taking advantage of the bounty and will move right back in. So extermination does not solve the solution.

TNR, however, addresses the issue of overpopulation by stopping the reproductive cycle. The cats are returned to their home environment to live out their lives. Not only does this prevent more cats from being born, but it succeeds in keeping other cats out. How? Because though cats are social creatures in having their own colonies and best buddies, they generally discourage newcomers from arriving and using up their precious resources. Eventually, the colony will dwindle.

Another important aspect of TNR is that most programs vaccinate against distemper and rabies and will treat minor issues such as fleas and earmites. How is this helpful? Well, simply put, TNR allows the cats to become healthier. They are able to keep weight on easier; disease is controlled by the reduction of fighting, wandering, and mating; vaccinations prevent certain maladies; and they are relieved from the irritations of fleas and other buggers for a while. Also, the practice of TNR strongly promotes the idea of caregivers for the returned cats. The caregiver ideally keeps track of all the cats (including keeping an eye out for those who may become sick), and provides food, water, and shelter. All of these will obviously promote the health and well-being of the cats. Trapping and killing does NOTHING to benefit the remaining cats. *edit* I should also mention that the healthier cats refute the idea that all strays and ferals are sickly and should therefore be put out of their misery. Strays not accustomed to outdoor living tend to be disheveled and hungry, but those who know how to survive are actually quite healthy, especially when they are provided with the resources that TNR and managing colonies offers. Those not used to free living are also then being taken care of and will thrive accordingly.

Lastly, TNR helps to reduce common complaints that are encountered when dealing with stray and feral cats. Too many babies? Check. Mating calls and behaviour? Check. Fighting? Wandering? Check. Scrounging for food and shelter in undesirable places? Check. By practicing TNR and managing colonies, we eliminate and drastically reduce these "nuisance" behaviours. We become better neighbors to our feline community - and don't even have to kill them off.

TNR has been shown to be the only humane method of feral and stray cat population control. Trapping and killing simply does not work and is not in the best interests of either human or feline society. Which would you rather have?

Stray and Feral Sterilization Program

My workplace is implementing a stray and feral sterilization program quite soon. The paperwork is being finished at the moment and I am excited! The CSR supervisor mentioned that she will be talking to Dr. R about making me liaison for the program and I hope it turns out so.

I have been working on my "stray/feral cat handbook" scrapbook. It will be forever until I feel like I am finished with it, though. Scrapbooks are hard, people. Especially when you are a self-proclaimed perfectionist. Why do you think it took me years to write papers in college? Every paragraph had to be rewritten about twelve times. (Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating. Just eight. ) Anyway, along with needing every minute detail to be perfect, I struggle with being too broad and too specific. I want to cover as many topics as possible that come up with the issue of TNR, but as it's simply a scrapbook/handbook, I feel I don't need to delve into every little topic. Just the basics. (Basics are difficult for me, though. I feel the need to say things ten times in ten different ways.) I do plan on including a "further resources" page, which may help me to not make a page on "how to arrange the pieces of straw so that they insulate best."*

Anyway, there I go in explaining things too much again.

The only issue (well not only, but lets not talk too much about my personal life here) I'm having is that I feel like my influence is going to be minimal as I CANNOT PASS MY DRIVING TEST. Yes, that is right, I am 22, I have failed my test four times now, and I seriously want to give up. I have a car, though. A cute little red Honda that my dad helped me purchase. I have been riding my bike more, but for someone like me, it gets a bit tiring. Especially when all I do is run around with dogs all day - I just really don't feel like biking home. (I have to proclaim that I am *not* a sucky driver. I drive like a perfectly normal human being. I just make stupid mistakes on the tests: speeding, turning the wheel the wrong direction when attempting to parallel park, and not yielding the right of way. Little things, people.)

But not being able to drive means that I quite limited in my ability to help people out. No trapping, transporting, or helping set up appropriate areas for feeding and sheltering. Hopefully I will be able to help out in other ways - such as information. And encouragement. = ) I am quite excited about the program, though. There are so many stray and feral cats around - it's good to have a resource to truly be able to help them on a larger scale.

Oh, and speaking of the scrapbook, I really should start talking about main topics that have to deal with stray and feral cats, huh? I promise to start that soon. As soon as I remember again. *shifty eyes*

*just kidding

So excited!

I have just ordered one FeralVilla from http://www.feralvilla.com/! I took the "Feral Fund" vase home yesterday, rolled up the change in papers, and was excited to count that we had $90. It may not sound like much, but to finally order one of these shelters is divine for me.

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Last winter was bad. I spent very little time outside but still had constantly chapped lips due to the cold. Imagine what the poor cats were going through! I can see that they made it through, but who knows what they endured and where they found any bit of warmth. The igloos were a start, but we now need real shelters for these cats.

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I talked to my dad a bit about the different types of shelters I have looked into, and we came to the conclusion that these shelters from http://www.feralvilla.com/ are our best bet. They will be sturdier, better insulated, and easier to assemble/make than our other options. Though they may be a little more expensive, I just want what is best for the cats.

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If you go to http://www.feralvilla.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=3, you can see a picture of the inside of the FeralVilla. I like how the bottom area is simply entry for the second level, the insulated living space. The wind cannot get to them - and the insulated area is big enough for two medium-sized cats, but small enough to keep the heat in well for just one cat. Another aspect of the FeralVilla that I take comfort in is that the insulation they use not only keeps the heat in, but uses the body heat of the cat(s) and reflects it back.

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Also, the roof is hinged for cleaning purposes - and to be able to put straw or other heating devices in, if necessary. I wonder, however, if this compromises the integrity of the insulation? But I'm sure they thought of that, right?

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I expect it will be at least three weeks until it arrives, which is fine - we've still got some time before the winter. I do, however, want to raise more money for these shelters - and that may take some time. I know that not all of the cats will be inclined to share sleeping quarters, so I would love to have at the least three for the winter. Which means that we need to raise $155 - but we've already got $10, so just $145! = ) Yea!

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I am so excited, guys! And so thankful to all my coworkers who helped by putting their spare change into our "Feral Fund" vase. I'm off to make some thank you cards for them. = )