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Feral Cat Rescue (TNR)

Cali Cat

Cali Cat

Femme Ferale
While I'm not necessarily obsessed with cats per se, I am obsessed with rescuing feral cats and having them spayed (female) or neutered (male). I'm involved in a Trap, Neuter, Release (or "Return") program in my friend's neighborhood where there is a large feral cat population. A couple of the neighbors are also involved. We feed the ferals and get them used to us. We then trap them in humane cat traps. We take them to a veterinarian who handles feral spay/neuter operations and have them "fixed" and vaccinated. Then, we bring the cats back to the neighborhood, let them recouperate in a safe place for a few days (males) to a week (females), and then release them back into the neighborhood. We continue feeding them and providing outdoor shelters for them. They, in return, keep the rodent population under control in this semi-rural area.

Feral cat rescue can be heartbreaking when you see how these animals suffer, especially the kittens. However, it is very rewarding when you can step in and make a difference. It is time consuming and expensive, but I think of it as my "hobby," and hobbies are usually expensive. I save a lot by working with established cat rescue organizations in my area who subsidize the spay/neuter operations and the vaccinations. I also sell items on eBay to help fund my "obsession." :)

This thread is for anyone else who is doing this kind of work, or for those interested in the subject.
 
Yesterday, we trapped a feral female cat. I had intended to keep her in the carrier until we got her to the vet for spaying, but she made a "poop." So, we took the cat in the carrier over to a neighbor who is letting us hold her in his second bathroom until we can get her into the vet.

Well, she got out of the carrier when I tried to reach in and clean up the poop. Now, she's loose in my friend's bathroom. I have to go over there now and try to get her in a carrier to take her to the vet. This is gonna be "fun." I'll probably be scratched head to toe, but she's going in that carrier one way or another. Wish me luck, folks. I'll let you know how it turns out.
 
mad_cat_is_mad-296143.jpg
 
Aww. Ouch. I think it's awesome what you are doing. I hope to do that someday too. Keep us updated! I am (unlike you) obsessed with cats. I would love to help them in any way I can.
 
It actually went fairly well this morning. I got the feral female (who I call Ellenor) in the carrier with a minimal amount of bloodshed on my part. I've got a couple of nasty scratches on the pinky of my left hand, two scratches on my right wrist and a small bite at the base of my left thumb. All in all, not a bad experience. It could've been much worse. :imp:

Ellenor is now at the vet and will be spayed today. She's the one who had five kittens in her last litter, so this will spare quite a few lives over the long haul, and spare my nerves as well. Certainly worth the collateral damage incurred. :cat::cat::cat::cat::cat:
 
At my friend K's house, there are a couple of cats; we are unsure whether they are simply "neighborhood cats," or belong to someone yet are prone to wandering about. One in particular, we call her Emily, has taken a liking to the both of us. Actually, we are unsure of the gender, but I don't think Emily cares about his/her name either way. We have entertained the thought of taking her in to get spayed (or neutered), if she hasn't already, but we are unsure of what the legal implications might be, or how much it might cost. I would like to contact the local humane society to see if it is feasible, legally and financially.
 
wyverary said:
At my friend K's house, there are a couple of cats ... One in particular, we call her Emily ... We have entertained the thought of taking her in to get spayed (or neutered) ... but we are unsure of what the legal implications might be, or how much it might cost. I would like to contact the local humane society to see if it is feasible, legally and financially.
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I don't think there are many legal constraints on the spaying/neutering of cats if the owner cannot be found. If the cat is in your yard (or your friend's yard), and you decide to have it S/N, I don't think you'd be liable for anything. It is best to check with your local authorities though. Financially, the cost can vary considerably. I've seen it as high as $110 to 150 for a female cat, but I get my cats fixed by a vet who is subsidized with donations collected by a local no-kill cat shelter, and it only costs me $35 per cat for S/N, vaccinations and a rabies shot. That's why I'm able to do so many. If you Google (or otherwise search the Internet for) "low cost spay neuter cats" in your area, you may find other alternatives that can be even less expensive than the humane society. Good luck. I hope it works out that you can get Emily spayed or neutered ... whichever fits. :)
 
I saw an interesting episode of the Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, where he went to a city in Mexico to visit a group of people who were spaying and neutering dogs and cats for free. Apparently in Mexico, dogs are not usually "fixed" and as a result, there are huge numbers of stray dogs. This group of people were attending to a huge crowd of dogs and cats. After the operation, they were all put in the same fenced in (indoor) area. The cats were in the same area, but separated from the dogs by a fence within a fence. Cesar Millan said that this arrangement actually was really good psychologically for the animals, for their psychological recovery, since they would wake up in the company of a makeshift pack, in the company of other animals.

 
They should come up with a chemical sterilization agent for critters, that way they could blanket an area and get them all at once on the cheap.
 
Randomperson said:
They should come up with a chemical sterilization agent for critters, that way they could blanket an area and get them all at once on the cheap.
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That would be great if they could genetically modify the chemical to affect only dogs and cats. Of course, they'd have to cover the area twice due to the genetic differences between the two species. I'd settle for a chemical sterilization that was safe and could be administered in their food. That would save a whole lot of trapping efforts.

Such are the things I dream of ... :rolleyes:
 
Well, as this is (unfortunately) still int he realm of sci-fi, we can design this chemical to do exactly what we want. :)
 
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Ste11aeres said:
... Cesar Millan said that this arrangement actually was really good psychologically for the animals, for their psychological recovery, since they would wake up in the company of a makeshift pack, in the company of other animals.
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Uh, well ... yeah. That's great for the dogs, and he is a dog whisperer, not a cat whisperer. Cats are a little different though. They aren't pack animals, and they aren't so fond of the company of other unfamiliar cats. Especially when they are already stressed. Nevertheless, whatever gets them fixed and not breeding more kittens that will suffer, I'm all for it. I figure they'll get over it. I'm just glad to see they're taking an interest in remedying the problem. Thanks for mentioning it.
 
Cali Cat said:
Uh, well ... yeah. That's great for the dogs, and he is a dog whisperer, not a cat whisperer. Cats are a little different though. They aren't pack animals, and they aren't so fond of the company of other unfamiliar cats. Especially when they are already stressed. Nevertheless, whatever gets them fixed and not breeding more kittens that will suffer, I'm all for it. I figure they'll get over it. I'm just glad to see they're taking an interest in remedying the problem. Thanks for mentioning it.
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Yeah, the reason for this arrangement was simply that the whole thing was not well funded, and things were very makeshift. But, good for the dogs, at least.
 
Hey Cali Cat, what great work you are doing. My cat is from a feral mother. She was found abandoned and brought to us. She was a horrible sight - starving, with a big fat belly from worms, huge eyes, bedraggled and pathetic. For some reason she took to me (I don't know why, I'm a confirmed dog person). :p

It took a few weeks to get her looking like a normal kitten. Even now, four years later, she is terrified of strangers. A lot of people don't realise the importance of spaying and vaccination. My cat has Cerebral Hypoplasia (Wobbly Kitty Syndrome), almost certainly due to her mother having cat flu during pregnancy. My kitty is not the worst affected, she walks ok, but she regularly falls off the back of the couch, or misjudges a jump onto the windowsill and faceplants instead.

Here is info if anyone is interested in the disease:
What is Feline Cerebellar Hypoplasia? | Life with Cerebellar Hypoplasia Cats

And here's a picture of my kitty. :)

image.webp
 
Moomingirl said:
Hey Cali Cat, what great work you are doing. My cat is from a feral mother. She was found abandoned and brought to us. She was a horrible sight - starving, with a big fat belly from worms, huge eyes, bedraggled and pathetic. For some reason she took to me (I don't know why, I'm a confirmed dog person). :p

It took a few weeks to get her looking like a normal kitten. Even now, four years later, she is terrified of strangers. A lot of people don't realise the importance of spaying and vaccination. My cat has Cerebral Hypoplasia (Wobbly Kitty Syndrome), almost certainly due to her mother having cat flu during pregnancy. My kitty is not the worst affected, she walks ok, but she regularly falls off the back of the couch, or misjudges a jump onto the windowsill and faceplants instead.

Here is info if anyone is interested in the disease:
What is Feline Cerebellar Hypoplasia? | Life with Cerebellar Hypoplasia Cats

And here's a picture of my kitty. :)

View attachment 13553
Click to expand...
Aww. She's SO pretty! I used to have a muted tortie cat also. Such great personalities. You are now a cat person too!!! You sound like a good, caring momma. Great work. :catface::cherryblossom::catface:
 
Melissa Kay said:
Aww. She's SO pretty! I used to have a muted tortie cat also. Such great personalities. You are now a cat person too!!! You sound like a good, caring momma. Great work. :catface::cherryblossom::catface:
Click to expand...

Thanks Melissa. She's a bit of a "special" character, but she fits right in with the rest of the family ;)

I'm still a confirmed dog person (my first ever special interest), but I do love my kitty.
 
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