Feral Cats

Feral cats are cats that don’t have a home, and live on the streets, communities, and wilderness.  Many of these cats have been abandoned pets and their offspring.  In other words, people just don’t want them anymore, and leave them to take care of themselves. 

Although there are people willing to feed them, taking them in is not always a good idea.  Some can adapt to life as an indoor cat, Cassie the Cat is a perfect example of that.  But many can not cope with an indoor life, and should not be brought inside.  So what do you do with these cats? 

In the past, it was considered acceptable to simply put them to sleep, but in recent years a new trend has taken place that has become very successful.  It’s called TNR, Trap, Neuter and Return.  Yes, I said return. 

The process is as follows:  When a colony of cats are discovered, they are trapped.  Those that are suitable for adoption are neutered and sent to shelters where they can find new and loving homes.  Those that are not adoptable are neutered, immunized, and then return them back where they came from.  This is a much more humane way of handling the problem, and studies have shown a great reduction in feral cats over the years, as the feral cat population simple dies out naturally.

The other great part about this program is that neutered cats tend to be less annoying to the general population.  What I mean by that is less spraying and a reduction of fights and yowling over mates.  Neutered cats will continue to defend their territory, but that’s a good thing.  It prevents other animals to move into the same area.

Although the program isn’t perfect it is the most humane and effective way to deal with the problem.  To learn more about the topic, go to www.alleycat.org.

One more thing,  please do not get a pet and release it into the wild if you no longer want that pet.  It could turn out to be a death sentence for your animal.  There are plenty of shelters you can take him/her to.  And please, don’t get a pet unless you are 100% sure that you will keep the pet and take care of it.

Husky House

As many of you know by now, I am a great animal lover, and do my best to help out organizations that rescue those poor animals that are abused, abandoned or living on the streets.  Last week, I befriended a person on facebook, who shares the desire to save animals.  The organization she helps out is called Husky House.

Husky House is an organization that rescues, shelters, cares for and adopts out animals in the tri-state area.    They also educate the public on proper pet care, and the importance of spaying and neutering all dogs and cats.  But in order to achieve this, they need help.  My new friend told me that Husky House just received $48,000 in vet bills for a mother husky and her 7 puppies.  The good news is that all 7 puppies have been adopted!  But you can see what a financial strain such an under taking can be.

If you are interested in volunteering, or making a donation of items or cash to  Husky House, please contact them at info@huskyhouse.org.  If you are interested in fostering a dog, please contact them at foster@huskyhouse.org.  Also, please checkout their website: www.huskyhouse.org.  You can find a ton of information, including a list of pets up for adoption, adoption forms, events, various fundraisers, and so much more.

If you would like to send them a check donation, you can send it to:

Husky House, Inc.,  P.O. Box 6533,  Bridgewater, NJ  08807.

I’m also including the link to Husky House on my side bar for quick and easy access.  Remember, if you are thinking about getting a new dog or cat, there are so many who are homeless and in shelters.  All they need and want is a loving home.  Please adopt and give these beautiful pets a chance at a happy life.  They deserve it.

PAWS Event

The other day I was contacted by a volunteer at PAWS, this particular chapter is in Connecticut.  For those who have never heard of PAWS, it’s a well known animal shelter here in the USA.  I was contacted because they are having an even in May, and asked me if I would donate one of the items I sell in my cat toy business, Crazy About Catnip.  Of course anything that will help animals I’m all for, and I’ve donated a “Dinner and Dessert” cat toy and treat.

Dinner and Dessert

They will be doing a silent auction at this event, as well as raffles, and so on.  The website about the auction is: http://www.pawsct.org/shownews.php?article=13, or for additional information on the event you can go to: http://www.pawsevents.shutterfly.com/. 

For those of you who can’t make it to the event, but would like to learn more about the organization, or just send a donation, the website is:  www.pawsct.org.

Organizations like these are very near and dear to my heart.  I hope you’ll take the time to help.  There are so many homeless animals out there, and they need out help.

Thanks!

Dixie the Cat

Every once in a while you hear sad stories about how cruel people can be towards animals.  Where it’s hard to believe that these things can really happen, the truth of the matter is they can and do.  Last week, my mother’s friend Linda, told us about a black kitten she found and the horror of what happened to the little girl.  The good news is, in this case, the story has a happy ending.

Last week Linda had gone to Winne Dixie to pick up a few things.  When she came out of the store, she heard a faint meow from the dumpster.  She went over and discovered a single black kitten, a few months old.  She managed to get the kitten out of the dumpster, just as one of the employees was coming over with some food.  The employee told Linda that the kitten had been there for a few days.  Although she’d been taken out of the dumpster several times, the kitten would retreat back into it.  The employee had been sneaking food to her, but didn’t know what else to do.

Linda picked the kitten up, and put her into her car.  It appeared that the little girl was hurt, but she wasn’t sure.  The next stop was the vet.  To her horror, the vet had confirmed that the kitten had been shot with a bee bee gun, and the bee bee was stuck in her head.  The kitten was too young to remove the bee bee, and the vet suggested that when she gets older, maybe in another year or two, the bee bee could be removed.

Linda took the kitten home, and named her Dixie, after where she discovered her.  She now has a new home where she can get healthy, and be safe.  In another year or so, Linda will have the bee bee removed if it’s safe to do so.  Right now, though, Dixie is on antibiotics to prevent infection.  Linda, has gone back to the dumpster to see if there are other cats or kittens there, but hasn’t been able to find any.  It’s sad to think of what could have happened to Dixie’s family.  With luck, they’re all okay.

If you discover cruelty towards animals, please report.  These people who don’t care about the value of life, should be punished. 

As for Dixie, she’s doing just fine now.

Just How Easy Are Cats To Take Care Of

One of the reasons I decided to adopt a cat instead of a dog was because of how easy they are to take care of.  Unlike dogs, cats don’t need to be taken out for a walk several times a day.  But that’s about it when it comes to the ease of taking care of a cat.

There are several things that all cats need and want when you bring them into your home.  Although most people think that they don’t need the attention that dogs do, those people are wrong.  Cats also need attention and affection.  They also need about the same amount of routine care that dogs do.  Let’s face, unlike dogs, cat get hairballs from the constant grooming they do.  They also need their litterbox cleaned out every day.  Let’s not forget about veterinary care.  They too need just as many shots as dogs, as well two annual  check ups.  Have fun getting your cat into the travel case.  Dogs just need to be put on a leash with the promise of bye-bye in the car (at least until you get to the vet, then all hell breaks loose.)

Like dogs, cats do need love, attention, play time, and snuggles.  Those who don’t think so have never owned a cat, or didn’t give their cat some of the basic needs.  But still, cats are easier to take care of than dogs.  They are especially great for elder people who can’t get out that often.  People who work late hours and aren’t home as often as most.  People who live in small apartments.

But like most pets, the most important thing that you can provide your cat with is love, safety, and companionship.  If you can give your cat that, then you will have the most wonderful experience of your life.

Stray Cats Are Great Pets

I’ve mentioned several times how my mother took in Cassie the Cat, which was a neighborhood stray cat.  No one knows how long she was wondering the neighborhood, and my mother wasn’t the first to find her.  It was Anne, the lady next door who found her first.  Anne also named her.  The reason my mother got her is because Anne wouldn’t allow Cassie in the house, so she lived in the garage, but only if Anne kept the door open.  Of course this could lead to problems such as Anne not realizing the cat is in the garage, an accidently runs her over while pulling out.  Anne had no other pets, but was reluctant to allow Cassie into her home.  That’s why she became a semi outdoor pet.  Her reluctance for letting her inside had to do with her not understanding that a stray can become a great pet.

There are several things to think about when it comes to bringing a stray into the home.  First of all, adult strays can make great pets.  But you need to understand, there is a difference between a stray and a feral cat.  Strays once belonged to someone, feral’s only lived in the wild, and don’t know what it’s like to “belong”  to someone.  Feral kittens have no problem adjusting to being a pet.  The adults, well that’s a different story.   But adult stray cats that perhaps belong to someone, can adopt very well, to belonging to someone else. 

You will have a much bigger chance at success if the cat belong to someone at some time during it’s life.  They would love nothing better then to have food available everyday, not to mention toys, and a warm place to live.  If you don’t have any pets then bring the cat in with at any time, just make sure you take her to the vet as soon as possible to check her out.  If you have other pets in the house, then before the stray interacts with your other pets, bring her to the vet to be checked out before you allow her to interact with your other pets.  It’s not a big deal, you just want to make sure she doesn’t have anything that can harm your already existing pets.  You also want to make sure she gets the shots that are important to her.

Once you get the okay from the vet, you are set to go.  Cassie lived outside for a long time, and was feed by the neighbors.  Originally she didn’t want to be inside, mostly because it frightened her, and she didn’t know what it was all about.  After several months, she decided she likes it just fine at my parents house.  She now plays with toys, which was something she never did before.  The litter box was never a problem, which further proves what the vet told my mother about her belonging to someone before, and she is a very happy cat.  Please check my other postings about Cassie to learn more about her and her life at my mother’s house.

What it all comes down to is you can’t always bring a stray into your home, but you can certainly try.  The most important thing is to take her to the vet.  Even if you don’t keep the cat, it would be wonderful if you can help them out with paying for their shots, and of course getting them fixed before letting them out again.  We need to stick together with taking care of the homeless cat population.  And putting a stray down is not the answer.  Having a cat fixed is.

As for those of you who get cats and decide it’s not for you so you let them go out into the wilderness to fend for themselves.  Well, I have no respect for you.  These are lives we’re dealing with, and these lives need to be cherished.  Bring them to a no kill shelter if you have to, but don’t just leave them to fend for themselves.  And make sure you get them fixed.  There are already millions of cats out there with no homes.  Don’t add to the problem.

Pet Finder

Pet finder is a great source of information about pet safety tips.  It is also a great place to find your local animal shelters, and a list of featured pets up for adoption.  Please check my page,”Pet Adoption” for more information.  And remember, please adopt next time your looking for a new pet to share your life with.

Pet Adoption

I’ve recently added a new page to the website called “Adopt A Pet” .  I feel very strongly about this topic, and hope you take the time to visit the page.  You will find information and links that will help you help those poor animals in need of a home. 

I’ve also added a link on the side bar that goes to the Pet Finder website, a great source of information about pet adoption. 

I’m sure you will find these resources helpful when you or a friend decide to add a new member to your family.