Several big problems...

alysbrangwin · Feb 24, 2007

She won't even listen if we try talking to her, so we can't even DISCUSS the option of TNR. The VERY most we have is another week, but given what little I know of her, I don't know if she'd call before the one more week we begged for.

What options do I have left that wouldn't end in their deaths? (I lack a garage. I lack cages. I have a small shed which is used for the lawn and garden stuff, and a leaky storage room under the back porch. Both places lack an electrical outlet. The storage room has a light bulb, the shed does not. But, I don't know if keeping them in cages there would help anything, if they'd cry loudly, or any of a number of factors that could cause issues that I haven't even thought about.)

tnr1 · Feb 25, 2007

What options do I have left that wouldn't end in their deaths? (I lack a garage. I lack cages. I have a small shed which is used for the lawn and garden stuff, and a leaky storage room under the back porch. Both places lack an electrical outlet. The storage room has a light bulb, the shed does not. But, I don't know if keeping them in cages there would help anything, if they'd cry loudly, or any of a number of factors that could cause issues that I haven't even thought about.)

Post on craigslist and see if anyone would step forward and be willing to take these cats. But given your timeframe, I'm not very hopeful.

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/pet/

TNR is the BEST answer for outdoor cats...without that option...I'm afraid these cats will simply be the victim of ignorance.

Katie

mnjulz · Feb 25, 2007

Have you gone to the Petfinder website and done a serach for organizations in your area? Maybe someone there can help you. Why are they so attracted to your neighbors yard?

alysbrangwin · Feb 27, 2007

If we can get catch any of the Sept. bunch by 5PM Eastern US time (45 mins left), there is a No Kill Shelter that will take 2 of them. (It closes at 6, but it takes an hour to drive there.)

Not having much luck getting the ones we went in the cage despite the warmed up canned Salmon in it.

Any helpful hints or vibes would be helpful!

tnr1 · Feb 27, 2007

Any helpful hints or vibes would be helpful!

Warm, deboned, deskinned KFC is usually recommended by other feral cat caretakers.

Katie

alysbrangwin · Feb 28, 2007

Rascal and Glutty are now at Humane Society of Westmoreland County, which is a No Kill shelter near Greensburg, PA. They even have roaming areas for the kitties, but they'd need to get spay/neutered and get their shots first, etc. before they'd be allowed to use those areas. They didn't have any more room for ferals (they have a feral farm as well), but since those two are fairly well socialized and can be picked up, they weren't considered ferals, and were taken in.

I just picked the both of them up (one at a time), and gently placed them in the cage (with lots of treats and catnip) since I figured that would be less traumatic. It was still heartbreaking hearing them cry the entire over an hour car ride, and seeing them huddled together and shaking in fear.

I'm numb. I'm torn between being happy that they have a chance to find a good home, and I seeing as they say they are No Kill, there shouldn't really be any reason for them to die either. At the same time, I'm terribly upset that two of the nicest cats in my herd are gone. The last few evenings I've been sitting outside with my cats, and I'd have Glutty sitting on my lap licking my hands and face.

And that still leaves 9 others who are still in danger, and VERY little time left, and very little places left on the list of shelters that haven't been called yet.

jen · Feb 28, 2007

You live 25 minutes away from one of the 6 biggest cat sanctuaries in the US, no kill, no cage and they don't turn anyone away. I am not going to give out information about the place on here but I PM'ed you. They will help you out!

I am so sorry I didn't see your post sooner!

lsulover · Mar 1, 2007

Originally Posted by Jen

You live 25 minutes away from one of the 6 biggest cat sanctuaries in the US, no kill, no cage and they don't turn anyone away. I am not going to give out information about the place on here but I PM'ed you. They will help you out!

I am so sorry I didn't see your post sooner!

That is good news Jen, thank you for helping her out.

alysbrangwin · Mar 1, 2007

Originally Posted by Jen

You live 25 minutes away from one of the 6 biggest cat sanctuaries in the US, no kill, no cage and they don't turn anyone away. I am not going to give out information about the place on here but I PM'ed you. They will help you out!

I am so sorry I didn't see your post sooner!

They turned them down...

They said the situation wasn't despirate enough, and they only take fullgrown cats, and I only have 1 fullgrown who isn't with newborn.

alysbrangwin · Mar 2, 2007

It seems the only option left is to beg her to let us to do TNR and shots, and to try to find an unoffensive product to keep them away from the yard eventhough she's turned it down once before. If anyone has anything else to offer, please do so, there's meer hours left...

furryferals · Mar 2, 2007

Hi alys

I'm really sorry for you and your cats,It's very sad

Is there anyway you can get the mums and newborns into your storage room?
If you can get them in there they would be safer and although you don't have any
heat in there it will be warmer for them because it's the windchill that kills them,and
it will be less cats for her to moan about.

That chainlink fence you have,I would collect some plastic pop bottles like this one

cut a hole in the bottom,thread some wire or string through,put something in them
that will rattle, some foil and metal bottle tops and fix them to the top of your
fence lengthways,It will deter the cats from jumping over and if your neighbour
sees' you trying to do something to stop the cats escaping then she may not call animal control.
Also she might just think they look ugly and unsightly enough to ask you to take
them down and let the cats be

If you can find a piece of board or wood you could offer to board her broken window
for her to stop the cats getting in her basement.keep her onside for a while

You could try here
http://freecycle.org/groups/usnortheast/#Pennsylvania

for some crates for mums and kittens,You will have to register but
you might find one for free

I'm sorry I can't help you anymore than this,but it may just buy you more time till
you can get more help

P.s if you say they are your pets and not strays will they still be able to take them?

jen · Mar 2, 2007

I would call them back. Make sure you are speaking with the person I told you. Tell her that you planned to TNR but the neighnors are threatening to harm them or cause them to be harmed. Even if it is a slight exaggeration... Say you are willing to pay the fee if you are ($5 for adults, $1 for kittens). Say "if not can you please tell me what to do? I don't want these cats harmed and I am out of options"

alysbrangwin · Mar 10, 2007

<<Update>>

Thursday evening - Greyie abandoned the newborn (who I've since named Lucky.), and vanished. So, My mom and I had no choice but to bottlefeed him with Whiskas Cat & Kitten Milk as it was after 9PM, and all pet stores were closed, and he was whining alot, looking pretty weak, and shivering. We ended up having to move him inside several hours later due to the cold (which dad DID NOT like.

) He drank okay, but we were having no luck pooing/peeing him (only 19, then 20 days old at the time.).

Friday - In the morning Mom (She had to take off work to care for me since I had a severe allergy attack. If I had insurance, and didn't already owe the hospital several thousand, I really should have gone to the ER considering how severe it was.) tried calling alot of area shelters to see if they had lactating females, but none called her back. About 5PM, I started calling local vets to see if they knew of anyone one with a lactating female that might take Lucky in. One place I called gave me the cell phone number of a woman named Maryanne who runs something called Cat Welfare <something> After I called every vet in the local phonebook, I decided to call her. She said that she knew of 3 people with lactating females and she would get ahold of them and see if anyone would take him. I went on to explain the situation and the topic of my other ferals came up, so I told her about my neighbor threatening to kill them. She asked how many I had and I told her if you include the newborn and his missing mother, I still have 9 left after having gotten 2 into a No Kill Shelter. She told me that she would be able to take 2 or 3 of them Saturday a 9:30 am if we brought them to the vet's office who gave me her cell phone number!

(Apparently Cat Welfare is a feral foster home group which finishes socializing them, fixes them, and then finds them suitable owners.) So, that night we caught Sooty (after several escaped the traps due to malfunctions.), and transferred him to the fairly large dog cage we we borrowed from my cousin which was set up in the shed. Late last night we were finally about to get Lucky to go, and DANG did he go!

Saturday - Stripey was getting very upset that "his" only remaining sibling was locked up in a cage wailing (his mom Scruffy was no where to be seen either), and would go into the shed and visit "him". While I was resting (I was up all night still having a bad allergic reaction) and Greyie came back for food and water. Eventhough she's not particularly close to my Mom, she was able to pick her up with no problems at all, and transferred her over to the small cat carrier on the back porch. When I got up I went into the shed to see how Sooty was doing, as "he" was crying loudly, and Stripey wandered in after me. I picked him up and he was fine with it. When I tried to open the door to the dog cage, he started flipping out. I tried my best to hold him and open the cage door, but I failed since I couldn't figure out how to work the lock.

So, he eventually squirmed out of my arms then hid way back in a corner that I couldn't reach due to lawn and home repair equipment being in my way. We called Maryanne's cell before it was time to go, and she said that she would have room for up to 4 more of my cats next weekend.

(Mom wishes to keep Girl Kitty and Lil Grey Kitty around, so minus those two, that would be all that remains of my ferals.). We took Lucky, Greyie, and Sooty to the vet's office where she was waiting (one of her current charges was getting fixed.). She was able to pick up Greyie and Sooty with no problem at all, and transferred them over to her carriers. She tried placing Lucky in with Greyie, but she kept growing and hissing at him. After she started attacking him, he was taken away from her. We talked about our ferals some more and tentatively set the day to bring the rest of the ferals to her (again at the vet's office) on Thursday unless something comes up.

As dumb as it feels saying this, I guess I'm glad Greyie abandoned Lucky, because if she hadn't, we never would have known about Maryanne and the Cat Welfare place.

tnr1 · Mar 10, 2007

I'm glad things are starting to work out and that all the ferals will be taken care of.

(Mom wishes to keep Girl Kitty and Lil Grey Kitty around, so minus those two, that would be all that remains of my ferals.).

Just make sure that they get spayed and neutered so you don't end up with any more kittens.

Katie

happy cat · Mar 10, 2007

get them neutered before 6 months, and even if the male still sprays after being neutered, the smell won't be there. that should make it nice for the neighbor too

lsulover · Mar 11, 2007

Originally Posted by AlysBrangwin

<<Update>>

Thursday evening - Greyie abandoned the newborn (who I've since named Lucky.), and vanished. So, My mom and I had no choice but to bottlefeed him with Whiskas Cat & Kitten Milk as it was after 9PM, and all pet stores were closed, and he was whining alot, looking pretty weak, and shivering. We ended up having to move him inside several hours later due to the cold (which dad DID NOT like.

) He drank okay, but we were having no luck pooing/peeing him (only 19, then 20 days old at the time.).

Friday - In the morning Mom (She had to take off work to care for me since I had a severe allergy attack. If I had insurance, and didn't already owe the hospital several thousand, I really should have gone to the ER considering how severe it was.) tried calling alot of area shelters to see if they had lactating females, but none called her back. About 5PM, I started calling local vets to see if they knew of anyone one with a lactating female that might take Lucky in. One place I called gave me the cell phone number of a woman named Maryanne who runs something called Cat Welfare <something> After I called every vet in the local phonebook, I decided to call her. She said that she knew of 3 people with lactating females and she would get ahold of them and see if anyone would take him. I went on to explain the situation and the topic of my other ferals came up, so I told her about my neighbor threatening to kill them. She asked how many I had and I told her if you include the newborn and his missing mother, I still have 9 left after having gotten 2 into a No Kill Shelter. She told me that she would be able to take 2 or 3 of them Saturday a 9:30 am if we brought them to the vet's office who gave me her cell phone number!

(Apparently Cat Welfare is a feral foster home group which finishes socializing them, fixes them, and then finds them suitable owners.) So, that night we caught Sooty (after several escaped the traps due to malfunctions.), and transferred him to the fairly large dog cage we we borrowed from my cousin which was set up in the shed. Late last night we were finally about to get Lucky to go, and DANG did he go!

Saturday - Stripey was getting very upset that "his" only remaining sibling was locked up in a cage wailing (his mom Scruffy was no where to be seen either), and would go into the shed and visit "him". While I was resting (I was up all night still having a bad allergic reaction) and Greyie came back for food and water. Eventhough she's not particularly close to my Mom, she was able to pick her up with no problems at all, and transferred her over to the small cat carrier on the back porch. When I got up I went into the shed to see how Sooty was doing, as "he" was crying loudly, and Stripey wandered in after me. I picked him up and he was fine with it. When I tried to open the door to the dog cage, he started flipping out. I tried my best to hold him and open the cage door, but I failed since I couldn't figure out how to work the lock.

So, he eventually squirmed out of my arms then hid way back in a corner that I couldn't reach due to lawn and home repair equipment being in my way. We called Maryanne's cell before it was time to go, and she said that she would have room for up to 4 more of my cats next weekend.

(Mom wishes to keep Girl Kitty and Lil Grey Kitty around, so minus those two, that would be all that remains of my ferals.). We took Lucky, Greyie, and Sooty to the vet's office where she was waiting (one of her current charges was getting fixed.). She was able to pick up Greyie and Sooty with no problem at all, and transferred them over to her carriers. She tried placing Lucky in with Greyie, but she kept growing and hissing at him. After she started attacking him, he was taken away from her. We talked about our ferals some more and tentatively set the day to bring the rest of the ferals to her (again at the vet's office) on Thursday unless something comes up.

As dumb as it feels saying this, I guess I'm glad Greyie abandoned Lucky, because if she hadn't, we never would have known about Maryanne and the Cat Welfare place.

I am glad that things are appearing to work out for you and your cats, you care so much about them.

Please let us know how everything works out.

alysbrangwin · Mar 17, 2007

Stripey, Girl Kitty, and Boy Kitty went to Maryanne's on Thursday. (I sobbed the whole way there.) Mom decided it would be better to let Girl Kitty be placed with Maryanne instead of keeping her outside here since it would bring over the rawdy, sometimes violent unneutered males that some of our other neighbors own, from causing problems, thus further PO-ing the one neighbor. So, now mom's considering keeping Runt, Lil Grey Kitty's tiny little brother in her place.

We weren't able to catch Scruffy in time, so she's still out and about (she's very trap weary.

Lil Gery Kitty though is overly enthusiastic about going into the traps though!

) If we can catch her, she's suppposed to go in several days because Maryanne is busy getting ready for a catshow.

So basically Scruffy is still at large (but has a "reservation" at Maryanne's house), Lil Grey Kitty and Runt in all likelyhood will be neutered, vaccinated, collared, and leashed to keep them in the yard (don't worry we have shelters out there for the cats already).

furryferals · Mar 17, 2007

I'm so glad that the kitties are getting some help

I don't really know what you mean by "collared, and leashed to keep them in the yard"
But if you mean like collaring a dog on a leash and tieing it to something then
Personally I would not advise anybody to leash a cat or even multiple cats outside

Just because by nature and the physical dexterity of a cat is completely different to
that of a dog,A cat can quite easily unwittingly strangle itself when tied to a leash.
If there are multiple cats then that is IMO waiting for the inevitable to happen

and I can assure you it will.

If that is what you mean then I strongly advise you not to leash them.

wookie130 · Mar 18, 2007

Yeah, keeping a cat tethered is quite dangerous for the cat...

I am so glad that this situation is finally starting to be resolved...what a relief. Well done, you have a tremendous

!!!

alysbrangwin · Mar 18, 2007

Really? I wasn't aware of that. When we did that when my 18 1/2 year old cat was little, mom used to put him in a cat harness with a long leash and tie him to a bush, and the only real problem we had with that is him sometimes slipping out of the harness or chewing it off. (At the time we lived in a rental house with no fence and it was located near 2 streets and an alley, so it was done so he could go outside safely. He'd only go outside on the leash for an hour or so a day on weekends while supervised.)

Several big problems...

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