Kitten factory

I'm not sure if this is the place to post this, so if a mod wants to move it, I'll find it!

Anyway, my next door neighbors have this pretty cat who always sits on our stoop. Apparently they found her in the Burger King parking lot. Well this pretty girl went into heat, and since the darn neighbors won't keep her in, she got pregnant. The kittens are now "Free To Good Home" since they are old enough.

The past few days a lone kitten has been crying and crying, so I go out and keep whichever kit it is company for a bit (then vigorously wash my hands and arms and change clothes for fear of bringing something home to my kitty). Today it was a gorgeous tuxedo female. While I was out, the lady came out to get her mail and started talking with me. She said there are 2 kittens left, she's keeping the Tux, and momma and other kitten have to find homes by Friday or they are going to the pound!

Now don't get me wrong--I am not taking in momma and brother. I mean that would be supporting not getting a cat spayed. But I've been mulling over typing up a letter, pictures included, with information on what can happen to "Free to Good Home" kittens and also info on pet overpopulation. Since they will be my parents' neighbors for the next 30 or so years, I was going to send it anonymously. Would something like this be seen as harassment? I've also been mulling over the idea of taking Miss Tuxedo cat to get spayed when she is old enough. Is this illegal? I mean if I gave the neighbors the $55 it takes to get spayed, they'd probably blow the money. If I got a gift certificate from the vet, they'd probably throw it away.

Just blowing off steam, and also curious to hear your views.

I dont know about the harrassment issue. If they are like you say, then they wont really care what the letter sais. It is not illegal to take a cat from someone. The United States really has no laws on the issues. People like this I am sure would not be willing to spend money for a lawyer to get cats that they never wanted in the first place. If they are outdoors, I would take them and have them spayed or neutered. I would take them straight to the vet. If you planned on keeping one then I would have them tested for any possible virus before they are released from the vet.

Originally posted by Sandie
If you planned on keeping one then I would have them tested for any possible virus before they are released from the vet.

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Oh no, we are not taking any cats from them. I am going to give her the phone number of this group called "The Cat People" which is a no-kill shelter that is in our area. I doubt that The Cat People have room for any more, being "kitten season" and all.

I told my mom what I wanted to do and she said it would be illegal for me to just take their cat and get her spayed without asking. I pretty much figured that if the cat is outside without identification, I could just say it was a feral I wanted to have spayed.

The people who used to live across the street from us had a male who was tomming around the neighborhood. The one and only vet in our town lives 2 houses down (essentially 3 houses down from us). He went over and told these people that if they brought their tom in, he'd neuter him for free. I wonder if I could talk the vet into giving the same offer to the people next door. I mean she is keeping the female kitten and geting rid of the mother, probably because she doesn't want any more litters, but DUH, the kitten is going to grow up and have litters too. Grrr.

I just did something similar I took a cat that was supposed to be the neighbors' outside cat and had him neutered. To be honest I don't think they even noticed... I feed him myself and I give him lots of attention so I think he spends more time here than at their place anyway.

I gues they're used to him being away so they weren't too surprised when he was away for one day (at the clinic). I thought they would suspect something because the vet had his ear cut off to mark him (that was part of the deal of this free neutering project), but I guess they think some other cat bit off his ear in a catfight .

If they do approach me about this I intend to tell them that the cat was hanging over at our place and was spraying so we had to have him neutered. He has no collar or anything so there was really no way to tell whose cat he was.

By the way, he's sitting right next to my keyboard as I'm typing this and he's also a tux!

What is the typical cost of spaying?

Usually anywhere from $30.00 to 150.00. The best thing is to call a local rescue or humane society and see about the low cost programs in the area.

Originally posted by Sandie
Usually anywhere from $30.00 to 150.00. The best thing is to call a local rescue or humane society and see about the low cost programs in the area.

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I think the local vet here charges $45 male / $55 female. The vet who neutered Satey is now retired but he charged $35 male. The only SPCA is 45 miles from here, and they don't have any cheap spay/neuter programs. The vets in that city charge more than the vet in our town charges.

You might want to check out this link. There is a wealth of info on spay and neuter.

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...3?threadid=198