I think the shelter is getting overwhelmed. - Page 2

AW hun..... this kitten doesn't look particularly healthy to me at all. And it is sitting very oddly . Just doesn't look right to me at all.......

I really wonder if you could just call this woman.... offer some help, offer to volunteer as Willowy suggested. If you can get a first-hand look at how the cats are being housed and cared for then you would have more to go on when you report your finding. I know this will be very hard on you, but think of the cats living in that environment and those conditions. In cases like this one, there are always going to be cats that have to be "sent" to the bridge. IMO that would be more humane for them than suffering a slow death with an illness/disease that is not getting treated.

I know this putting a lot of pressure on you. We are all now feeling VERY concerned for these cats and want to help and support you to do the right thing for the cats. The right thing is "usually" not the easy thing to do.


For these kitties.....

......... Again, doing the "right" thing is never the easy thing. It is a means to an end ........... to end "future" suffering of more cats

Robin, not sure why you got that message. As a PL member, I'm allowed 800 PMs in storage, and my box is at around 500-something. But I'll go check email.

Right, sorry, misspoke! Many communities contract out to local humane society type shelters. Some are no kill, others are not, and whether kill shelters are high kill depends upon the extent of the homeless animal problem in the community.

While people with a lot of cats are stigmatized, I think this situation is technically a shelter. Also, I'm not sure why you think they'd be looking for excuses to take away your cats and kill them. While there are certainly places with kill-happy animal control officers/policies, they definitely do not all fall into that category. For instance, we've seen plenty of people in the ferals forum contact animal control only to find out they were supportive of TNR efforts. I wouldn't let anyone in our home without a warrant, but only because that's the law and that's my right.

Unless her residence is a registered as a shelter.

Also an excellent suggestion.

Even when the AC people are supportive of TNR, this doesn't mean that cats have much chance of getting out of the shelter alive. The reason they're supportive of TNR is because it keeps cats out of the shelter (where they'll be killed).

And why do I think they'd look for excuses to remove my cats? Because they would. Cat ladies are all crazy, right? It only takes watching one episode of Hoarders to see how they're treated.

I have no idea how the inspection process works if you have a non-profit or are registered as a shelter. So maybe they have different policies. . .but that still doesn't mean she'd be cooperative. I would manage to "not be home" whenever they show up. . .I don't think they're allowed to break your door in, even if it is a shelter.

I can not see it being right to call ANYONE just yet unless you visit. Yes it sounds bad with high numbers but it would take a look around to know if its just a bug hitting her house and a few stains or something very serious. I know 2 other ppl with high numbers who are same as me-we dont want many other ppl in our house as a-its different having 20 cats then 2or 3 or even 5. b its a risk for infection, stress on the cats(i have ex ferals tamed to me but still afraid) and after all these tv shows people with over x amount of cats are lumped into the "automatic hoarder group" by the general public.

Someway there must be a way to get into the house-or a trusted friend can go. at least start by either email or phone to gain contact. maybe show interest in adopting another cat and have her drive you to meet them so you can choose the one right for you.

Well for one litter tracks alot worse!
I do have alot. I try to keep blankets washed a few times a week. I got rid of the carpet and went with floor paint in spots and stick on tiles.

Main concerns would be
Cats with fight wounds/skinny who are not new or under vet treatment. It would be expected that some cats may need to be separated as they may have issues with cats in general or a particular cat, especially the new ones not used to living with others.
Piles of poop/puke not cleaned up/looking old.
Not enough boxes/overflowing with waste(depending on size-I use huge totes as boxes but if shes got those vs reg cat pans take it into consideration.
Water bowls that are not fresh/at a reasonable level for the amount of cats. Same for food-if feeding all wet or at set times then how many cans or lbs of food are being put down? They will swarm at first but does it look like only the biggest/toughest get a full portion?

I have had apartment maintence in my apartment and nothing was said-it was for basic work and i put them all in the bedroom(cats room-toys and perches) had 6 visible and the limit was 2 but they were laid back if no complaints. I had a nosy!!! but sweet neighbor and the day I moved out she was in shock as she had been in apartment once. I had 18(had less but took 3 month before we bought house/moved out)

I think if you saw it you will get a feeling one way or other. Expect a bit of chaos. You know the minute you clean a litter box a cat MUST use it or soon as you wipe clean a window there is a fresh nose print.

I personally did ok working ft with 25 cats-I had 2 mini shifts a day that helped alot! My health is worse now so I am not working(may start pt in near future) so that made it easier for me to continue with the cats.

The fact that the woman does not even know HOW MANY cats she has is an alarming thing! You say she vaccinates the pets, but where are the records? How does she keep up with all that?

You reported URIs. Never a good thing, especially if she can't keep up with the cats. You reported inadequate litter boxes---that's just nasty and uncomfortable for the cats.

Does she test for FIV and segregate positive ones? That would be a huge concern, not only for the kitties living there, but for their potential new owners.

If she is working fulltime and doing this "on the side," IMO, there is no way she is doing an adequate job of caring for the animals. Not with 80 plus cats. I used to catsit for my neighbor who had 30-40 cats and it would take 2-3 hours daily to do the minimum of feeding/watering/scooping.

Callista, you know in your heart what you need to do. I am done with this thread at this point. If you choose to continue to rationalize this situation, that is your choice. It would be a lot easier (and the right thing to do) just to call someone who can go and objectively examine the situation.

for the "rescued" kitties....

Sadly, finding someone who could *objectively* look at the cats is likely impossible. Animal Control would definitely not be objective, and it could be disastrous. It would be great if someone objective could be found to go take a look, but it wouldn't be easy.

I did know someone with 40-60 cats at any given time (she wasn't a shelter but dealt with a rescue organization so the number fluctuated) who worked full time, and she did a very good job of taking care of the cats. I have 22 and work sort of full-time (varied schedule) and I don't find it to be a strain. I think I could handle more if I wasn't lazy and didn't spend too much time on the internet .

I agree with catsallaround as to what would be concerning. With a lot of cats, there will be chaos, there will be marking and accidents, "kitty colds" will go around occasionally. You have to know what's really a red flag and what isn't that bad.

That sounds like a good plan. Maybe start contacting rescue people now; even though it might be jumping the gun a bit, it wouldn't hurt to actually have plans before establishing contact. I hope it goes well! Keep us posted.

Hope you're able to find a way to get there.

I know what you are going through, I also had a situation very similar to the one you describe where the cats were not properly cared for and the person was not doing anything to get them adopted. People mean well but they just totally burn out, they run out of money, they get overwhelmed. 

 

I also agree with you that blowing the whistle on this women is more than likely going to get a lot of the cats needlessly euthanized. And once you involve the authorities they will just follow the law. And the law, unfortunately, never does anything good for the cats. And contrary to what everyone thinks, the HSUS and ASPCA also euthanize most of the cats from hoarders. They publicize all their rescues and then they kill the cats and lie. 

 

The best way to manage ithis is to find out who she networks with in the rescue community (and I'm sure she has friends she works with). You will have to get names out of her unless you already know groups that she works with. Then you have to contact the people in those groups and tell them that she needs help. 

 

Then those people need to start calling her and telling her they have empty cages and they have a lot of really good adopters coming in, and that they heard from you that she has X or Y type of cats that a lot of adopters have been looking for. And then those people have to come over to her house or you need to go over to her house and help get those cats ready for transport to the other shelters. 

 

That is normally how it is done compassionately for everyone involved. It has to be done a little bit at first and then more and more. 

 

You have said you cannot get in touch with her. The one thing she needs most is for someone to reach out to her, take her to lunch, get her to trust and talk to you and confide in you. She needs help and support and so do the cats. The only way they will get what they need is from other shelters. And the only way other shelters will help is if her friends in rescue who are affiliated with those shelters know about her situation and if you help to make it possible for them to get the cats. 

 

The only other way it can be done is if you help hire a service to come in and clean the place up, and then help her get a volunteer program going using high school kids who need volunteer service hours for their college applications.

 

I know I keep saying you have to get involved, but if not you, then who? This is to help the cats, not necessarily her, altho I do feel for her. This is the way to keep the cats from getting killed and also to improve their conditions. Maybe you can bring a friend or some support for yourself. I know you say she isn't letting people in, but she will let you in if you knock on her door and come with food or something to share with her and just be a friend.