living close to a college

goonie · Aug 8, 2013

i don't know if this is the right section for this. i live half a mile from UC Riverside. i always dread summer, hoping no cats get left behind when the students move. so i made up this short newsletter and i was thinking of putting one on each doorstep in the neighborhood that has students. the 1st letter was a whole legal page long but knowing that they don't have a long attention span i shortend it. even if it only saves 1 cat. let me know what you think.

Dear Student,

please do not adopt a cat while here.the ones that you leave behind when moving, especially the ones not fixed, don't survive long.

the males fight, females have litter after litter. they're flea/parasite infested, infected wounds. a coyote gets them sooner than later.

they won't get adopted because people have a few too many already. Shelters are full.

a cat is not a toy but a living, feeling creature. you're smart enough to go to college, please be smart enough not to adopt a cat.

thank you!

peaches08 · Aug 8, 2013

I understand that you're frustrated, but I would look for a more heart grabbing letter to put up. One that will make them want to volunteer at shelters, or drop off food...something that makes them act positively.

catsallaround · Aug 8, 2013

Maybe find out who does fostering at home, who needs NR help, where to go to donate time/... and put that instead so they can have the company of cats but not the long term care/parents say no/i am moving/...

I was 14 or so when we got cats and by time I was 20 or so I had raised some bottle babies and done TNR, not everyone who is young is stupid with cat care. For what it is worth I did not graduate college and still know the basics and then some

Also stick in some low cost spay/neuter clinics.

stephanietx · Aug 8, 2013

There's a local rescue group close to me that does nothing but rescue cats left by the students at the college. It's frustrating, but I'm so glad they do this.

franksmom · Aug 9, 2013

I am really sad to hear that so many students abandon their cats. I just wanted to say that not all college and university students dump their cats when they leave, so the letter may come off as offensive. I actually got Frank when I went to another city for University and I would never have left him! Almost all of my friends had cats too and would never think to abandon their cats. Not all students are irresponsible and as a postgrad student I still take very good care of my cats.

I am sure there is an animal rights group on campus and I think it would be a good idea to contact them and see if they can help bring awareness to the student body of the abandoned cats in the area. I think it would be a great idea to maybe involve students in a fostering or TNR group.

catnamedpanda · Aug 9, 2013

I agree it is frustrating that there are students who abandon their cats. But I also know many who don't. While I was in college I adopted cats and actually started rescuing. Many of my friends adopted cats, and still have them today. Honestly I think there are just as many irresponsible adults as there are students, I just think you are seeing it more concentrated. I would take the advice of the others and would be urging students to volunteer and donate instead.

jcat · Aug 9, 2013

peaches08 said:
I understand that you're frustrated, but I would look for a more heart grabbing letter to put up. One that will make them want to volunteer at shelters, or drop off food...something that makes them act positively.

catsallaround said:
Maybe find out who does fostering at home, who needs NR help, where to go to donate time/... and put that instead so they can have the company of cats but not the long term care/parents say no/i am moving/...
Also stick in some low cost spay/neuter clinics.

The constructive approach would probably have more of an impact than an accusatory one. The first part could be couched in more general terms about what happens to cats when they're abandoned by their owners, intact, etc., followed up by some suggestions about how to help by volunteering or donating.

StefanZ · Aug 9, 2013

goonie said:
Dear Student,

please do not adopt a cat while here.the ones that you leave behind when moving, especially the ones not fixed, don't survive long.

the males fight, females have litter after litter. they're flea/parasite infested, infected wounds. a coyote gets them sooner than later.

they won't get adopted because people have a few too many already. Shelters are full.

a cat is not a toy but a living, feeling creature. you're smart enough to go to college, please be smart enough not to adopt a cat.

thank you!

If you write such an appell, I think something along these lines is even better:

"Dear student.

Do you want to adopt a cat? Be responsible, or dont do it at all!

We dont need more abandoned, slowly dying cats. We dont need more litters from neglected females. We dont need neglected toms pissing everywhere and fighting.
We dont need evil deeds like dumping and abandoning our cats.
And yet rescuers and shelters are overfull of homeless cats. They dont need even more cats to try and save from mindlessly cruel people.

IF you adopt, make sure you take responsibility for the duration of the cats life. Make sure you spay/neuter it. Make sure you can give it vet care when necessary.
A tip: adopt an adult cat, from a shelter or an abandoned one... They will love you for it.   IF you must leave it: make your outmost to find it a new home.
Student. Please show you are a nice, intelligent, responsible, decent person.

                          Thank you.

                              name



Adress to two shelters nearby:

Adress to a couple of cheap vets nearby."

Otherwise you had also got several good and constructive answers.

Good luck!

goonie · Aug 9, 2013

StefanZ said:
If you write such an appell, I think something along these lines is even better:

"Dear student.

Do you want to adopt a cat? Be responsible, or dont do it at all!

We dont need more abandoned, slowly dying cats. We dont need more litters from neglected females. We dont need neglected toms pissing everywhere and fighting.
We dont need evil deeds like dumping and abandoning our cats.
And yet rescuers and shelters are overfull of homeless cats. They dont need even more cats to try and save from mindlessly cruel people.

IF you adopt, make sure you take responsibility for the duration of the cats life. Make sure you spay/neuter it. Make sure you can give it vet care when necessary.
A tip: adopt an adult cat, from a shelter or an abandoned one... They will love you for it.   IF you must leave it: make your outmost to find it a new home.
Student. Please show you are a nice, intelligent, responsible, decent person.

                          Thank you.

                              name



Adress to two shelters nearby:

Adress to a couple of cheap vets nearby."

Otherwise you had also got several good and constructive answers.

Good luck!

i like your note a lot and i will change mine. in the 13 years that i lived here there was 3 students that showed any concern at all.

about a month ago this black & white cat showed up at my house. i fed it and after 2 days tracked it down to the house 3 doors down. at that time there was also a coyote that walked up and down the sidewalk a few times a night. so i ranbg the doorbell of the house and this is how it went:

i asked if they had a black & white cat

student: we did. it was my room mates and he moved last week and he was going to take it somewhere. why, did you find it?

me: it found me 3 days ago and i'm pretty sure a coyote found it last night.

student: oh

me: do you know if it was male/female or fixed?

student, after 20 sec pause: oh, you're talking about the cat. it was a girl 'cause it had 6 kittens and my room mate gave 4 away and took cat and 2 kittens somewhere.

i just wanted to cry. i don't know if it is just here but most of them, not all, are pretty rude and it's party, party party.

franksmom · Aug 9, 2013

I am sure there are a lot of students who care, as many said there are a lot of university and college students on these boards- I am one myself! I was able to find an animal peace group on facebook for UC riverside (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Animal-Peace-Movement-at-UCR/135499463240489) and (https://www.facebook.com/groups/441556449252621/). They invited Temple Grandin to speak this year. I would maybe get in contact with some of the members through facebook and they may be able to tell you about other animal related clubs on campus and help you get the message about the cats out on campus. They might also be able to organize an event where you and other cat rescue groups can come and speak on campus and have a discussion about the problem.

ETA: I also wanted to mention that you should ask them about getting something written for the student newspaper, or maybe contact the newspaper yourself.

living close to a college

goonie

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peaches08

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catsallaround

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stephanietx

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franksmom

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catnamedpanda

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jcat

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StefanZ

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goonie

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franksmom

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