Gotta Catch em' All! (part 2)

[klicrai]

I've been trapping ferals again.  The idea was to catch cats... but this time I managed to trap a raccoon as well.  By the time I found him he'd pulled the cover I'd put over the cage inside... one mangled hand sized chunk at a time.  He was ferocious!  Snarling, growling, and (quite effectively) launching attacks through the metal mesh every time

Comments

[eleri]

I've been involved with getting my mom's ferals fixed, it was an adventure. There's a couple boys wandering our back year lately that could use a snip, too.

[klicrai]

If you're willing to take the time to round the cats up and transport them to and from the 'snipping' appointment the feral cat project is at www.feralcatproject.org There is tons of information there on how to trap, clinic operations, even a way to make online reservations. The only thing that was at all a hassle for me was finding someone from whom to borrow the traps, but I put the call out and quickly found a friend (of a friend) who had traps to lend. Personally, I've found this to be a rewarding experience. There are few sights sadder than that of a homeless kitten, after all, and knowing I'm helping prevent that gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside. Plus, it's fun to watch their heads weave around when they're all doped up.

[eleri]

Ah! that's what I thought. The clinic is just around the corner from us, maybe 2 miles away.

[m_cobweb]

What did the males look like? There were some real cuties today. It's amazing how sweet kitties can seem when they're sedated. ;-)

The Persian was every bit as sweet as you describe. We don't think she'll have any problem finding a new (indoor) home.

[klicrai]

That's right! You prep the kitties for surgery. I tell you, since I dipped my toe into this 'hobby' I've been amazed at how many people I know who are already involved. It's almost like an underground railroad of cat rescuers. The tabby male was *huge* with many scars, most notably the one across his nose. He also had the stinkiest pee it's ever been my misfortune to encounter. The other tom was black with white around the head and chest and several scars, one of which was curved around the back of his ear.

I'm so happy knowing that the persian is going to find a home. She was such a sweetheart. When I came to pick the males up they showed me the matted mess that had been her coat. Ugh! Poor thing was terribly unsuited to a life outdoors, and she was pregnant to boot. I find that all the guilt I would normally feel for destroying the litter is being overwhelmed by the knowledge that she'll live a much longer, happier life in close proximity to a human with a wire brush.

[m_cobweb]

I have news! The Persian has been adopted from Animal Talk. :-)

I wasn't going to mention the pelt, as we were calling her shaved-off coat, but since you saw it for yourself...here's hoping the worst days of her life are well behind her now.

There really does seem to be a rescuer network. I'm happy to be part of it now.

Hooray!

[klicrai]

I'm so glad she found a home. Such a sweet kitty had no business being stray outdoors. Thank you for letting me know she was adopted, that makes me all warm inside.