Please Read! Urgent!

feralguardian

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Okay, let's get down to some serious business here ... ABOUT THOSE CATS AND KITTENS. Here is a few contacts IN HOUSTON that can help. Please also read MY comments under each one.

FUND FOR ANIMALS spay/neuter clinic
1603 Shepherd Drive
Houston, TX 281-863-0010
Free spay/neuter for low income people/family's of cats

CALL THEM AND TELL THEM YOU ARE HELPING OUT YOUR AUNT WHO IS UNEMPLOYED AND "WANTS" TO GET THEM FIXED.

SNAP - Spay and Neuter Assistance Program
Mobil Clinic to Low income neighborhoods
providing free spay/neuter and VACCINES to low income people

CALL 713-522-2337 HOUSTON TX LOCATION

TELL THEM YOU AND YOUR AUNT ARE TRYING TO PUT A HAULT TO UNWANTED BIRTHS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD BY SPAY AND NEUTERING.

HOUSTON SPCA
900 Portway Drive
Houston, TX
713-869-7722 ext 136
FREE SPAY/NEUTER FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS


BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU TELL THEM ON "HOW MANY" YOU HAVE ... MAY DO TWO AND HAVE SOMEONE CALL AND DO TWO, ETC.

HOMELESS PET PLACEMENT LEAGE
HOUSTON, TX
713-862-7387
FREE SPAY/NEUTER FOR PETS OF LOW INCOME FAMILIES

MAYBE THEY CAN ALSO HELP FIND HOMES FOR SOME OF THEM AS WELL.


These MY suggestions and some contacts. Let me know how these work out and if you need more let me know. This is going to take some effort on your part and HOPEFULLY your aunts and some friends. The end result? PEACE of mind and help for those felines. I'm sure this will also help pull your aunt out of depression. Having this much responsibility on her shoulders MUST be making matters worse on her.

Good Luck and keep in touch. Best wishes to you both. I truly hope this helps.

FeralGuardian
 

catspride

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Dear MeowMix, I think somehow all this passion is based on misunderstanding all around. Jewelcat is upset about collectors -- and as defined, they should perhaps be given some counselling, such as obsessive gamblers need. As I said, we all need to learn to say "no" to cats that stretch us to the point that we can't care for the cats we already have in our care. That "no" is sometimes terribly hard to say, and it is hard to handle having to make choices about when you shut the door.

But Jewelcat also has another thread of her own on this category about the disappearing cats of Antioch. And as I saw, she managed in a very supportive way to find solutions for the family whose cat returned, but with terrible injuries that necessitated expensive operations.

We wouldn't be here sharing experiences if we didn't feel passionate about cats and the problems they have living in our world. We love our cats, and most of us also love all the cats we don't even know. And we need to do some self-examining of why this particular situation sparked so much flaming. I guess I don't think it is bad that this chord got struck. It is important that we think often about why we do what we do -- after all, there are thousands of desperate, frightened, abandoned children in the world who need help. The Earth is bleeding for the abuse it receives from far too many humans, who simply insist on burning out the bottom of our lifeboat when we are at sea. We need to look at our motives -- why not the plight of children at risk in favor of cats?

Because for everyone on this thread feels their hearts drawn to cats. Because this has become our niche. Because all road lead to Rome -- all paths and efforts lead to making a better, more humane world for our descendants.

Along the way, we need to respect the pain and frustration and anger that most rescure-type people have to deal with, even when it is expressed with heat. So let's all hold hands and smile at each other, OK?

Excellent , helpful suggestions to WashuSama. Sympathy is not nearly as useful as a proper list of concrete steps to take. If I wore a hat, I would take it off to you.

There are some really good people in the official and registered parts of animal shelters and among the veterinarians of the world. Most of the ones I know really do care about animals. And if some do not, then look at the percentages, and how things have changed since the good old days of the more typical brutal, animal-hating "dog catchers." Of course that was back some 50-60 years. And having lived this long, I have to keep saying it -- in spite of wars, crime rates, terrorism, and all the other ills of present times, things really have changed -- and continue to change -- for the better. What we have decided to do for a time is to try to help make it not only better, but more humane.

Peace,
 

jewelcat

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Thank you Catherine! Well Said!

Each of us has our own burdens to carry when it comes to saving the lives of our kindred feline friends.

If any of us have learned anything from this experience, it is the fact that there is so much more that has to be done in order to make this world a safer and happier place for any and all of our chosen species of domestic pets.

But, we, the human race, are the only ones who can make this so and many times we must pursue our goals with such a fevered high pitch and our emotions are often times equally as high that we tend to lose ourselves in the tragedy of it all.

Next month, in Antioch, I am helping to put on an event that will take place on the grounds right between our city's animal shelter and our city police station. On August 19th, starting at twilight, we will be having a Candle Light Vigil for the animals. We will be celebrating the lives of all the animals that were adopted by very fine and wonderful families. We will also be honoring and paying tribute to all the animals whose lives were taken from us and we will pray that their souls will have finally found peace. We will also be asking everyone to send their love, good thoughts, and every ounce of positive energy that they are able to muster to all of the animals that are missing and whose lives may still be in jeopardy. We will pray that our love will find their spirits and we will pray that this energy will help guide them back home to us.

Any of you that would like to participate, you don't have to be here physically, just remember to light a candle on August 19th at twilight, and say a prayer for all the animals everywhere.

Jewelcat
 
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meowmix

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Well, it looks as if I am out of my element here...I mean, I actually take offense at assumptions of "depression" and "mental instability" and "collector", people who have a "psychological need" to "collect" cats, because youre descriptions of these so-called "collectors" fits me. If a cat cannot be placed because some fussy human says the cat is "imperfect" in some way. I take offense at being labeled and at all the ASSUMPTIONS about depression ("everybody's had it"). No. Not everyone has seen a therapist. Not everyone has been diagnosed as "depressed". My only "problem" is that I can *not* say "no" when I see a hungry, cold, wet, frightened, homeless cat. I cannot take one in and see another and tell it, "I'm sorry, but you'll have to freeze and starve because I have reached my limit".

I am *definately* out of my element, here and I *thought* I could find people here to talk to about cat "stuff", not be labeled and judged and criticized and called "psycho", "depressed", "mental", "hoarder" or "collector". I posted here because I recieved a girls email asking for help and I thought a place like this would be the best place to go.

Apparently NOT.

But I cannot say I am suprised. Most people who call themselves "cat lovers" are still egocentric humans who must *always* put themselves first, regardless.


Needless to say, I will not be bothering you all again.



MM
 

feralguardian

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This is for MeowMix ... I share your compassion and I also am not able to just turn my back and walk away from a feline (or any animal) in need. Lord knows I have my share and then some. My mission is very much the same as all of yours. The only difference there may be is that I seem to have been blessed with a special gift of healing what seems can not be healed. Many of the babies I have were EXTREMELY ill and the vets wanted to put them down to be merciful. I had to give them one last try. To the amazement of those vets, these animals are VERY healthy and very much alive. This includes the paralyzed kitten I found. I found him laying on his back on top of bricks. Whether he fell or was thrown is a mystery, but the fact remained that he WAS paralyzed and couldn't walk. He was five weeks old. When I took him in and the X-Rays were done, they showed no broken vertebrae or spinal damage that the eye could detect. It was at that point that I was told that to be MERCIFUL I should just "put him down". However knowing me as long as they did and the fact that many HOPELESS cases are now my bright-eyed babies, they told me to go ahead and give it a try. To make a long story short, "Scooter" is a little over one year old today. He walks, runs, plays and is a very happy, healthy little boy. Yes he does have a small handicap. He walks slightly crooked because one of his hind legs is a little longer. He didn't grow very much but to HIM he is the biggest cat in the house. I was at, what I thought, my max when I found him. Could I let him go and put him down? ABSOLUTELY NOT! I don't consider myself a "hoarder", "collector" or any other name. Every cat or kitten that has come under my care has been altered and given their vaccines. Do not worry about names or labels MeowMix, YOU know who you are. I really don't think Jewelcat aimed this at you ... I do think because of what she is going through that she is extremely frustrated at not having the support of her local authorities and the loss of her babies cuts her like a knife. I'm sure it would you as I know it would me. I would be out of my mind with grief. There is a MAJOR difference between those of us who are caretakers and those who are HOARDERS and COLLECTORS. Before you get yourself upset and hurt feelings ...please try to look at all sides. I truly believe we all need each other because what we do can be frustrating at times. But the fact still remains, we do this with our hearts. I truly hope that we can work together on helping to solve Jewelcats (and all the others who have lost their babies)mystery. Be it support emotionally or by bombarding the news media in our own town until they can't ignore this any more ... We need to stay focused on what is important here ... The lives of these and all the cats we care for now and in the future. I know personally, I am in this for life.

Respectfully,

FeralGuardian


While all around us are loosing their heads ... It is best to keep ours for the safety of our felines.
 

catspride

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And now can we put it to rest? I go along with every single word of FeralGuardian's summation. I think we should go back to this youngster's problems with her aunt's situation. I hope she will continue to update us on her progress, since she has taken on a pretty big load.

This is a lesson in group communication. It is easy to assume that someone means the worst if you don't know them or their history. The internet facilitates immediate interchanges that come from the top of the head instead of through the social censors that lie inside it.

I live in a country where wilfull or unconscious misconstruction of words means that people get killed -- so I always try to assume the best construction of other person's words, and I put down personal, hurtful, or unfair things said in anger to the burdon of the other person's pain or frustration. As a meditator of some 30 years, I am trained to ask myself -- does the shoe fit me or doesn't it? If it does, perhaps it it something I personally have to find solutions for. If it doesn't, I assume that the other person needs to vent anguish, frustration, or other strong emotions and that I am not the target. If I am not the target, then I am free to be concerned about the other person's feelings and to examine them in terms of how I can help.

The peace process in the Middle East (and many other places in the world) fail because few people are willing to assume the best about tje motivations and sincerety of the "others." Real people are dying because we get hung up on always assuming the worst.

Well, real cats and dogs and countless other animals die every day through accident or malice. What can we do about it? No one would be subscribing to a site devoted to the welfare and and understanding of all things related to cats if they didn't want to help protect this remarkable and God-given creature.

No one would be involved in trying to come up with a viable peace plan if they didn't want to preserve the lives and welfare of their home populations. To assume that they came with the worst of intentions is counterproductive to finding solutions.

If we can't get along here without believing the worst intentions of people we know only through the written word, how do we expect to contribute to finding solutions to the plight of the cats we care so much about?

So let's focus on the cats. We are all here for the same purpose.
 

washusama

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I think I would get some pretty funny looks trying to set up a lemonade stand! LOL!!
I have to ask, how old do you think I am? Just curious..
Anyway, I have contacted ALL of those Houston contacts.
Everyone of them told me to call someone else, or yes we will take them, but they will be euthanized, or, we can't help you.
I'm going to have to do this myself, all those supposed animal friendly places, seemed to not really care at all.
I'm setting up a savings account, and I will take a little money out of each paycheck, and put in there.
I will have a garage sale, somewhere, (I don't have a garage) and put that money aside, I will also ask about the broken bag thing, also go to Sam's club, they are fairly cheap.
I already work 2 jobs, one full time, one part-time..and I'm trying to get back in school, after 6 years of being out, which is going to be HARD!!
Most of my friends are willing to help me with the cats.
Also I just got my tax rebate thing, so most of that is going to the kitties.
 

jewelcat

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Okay, I am going to contact an organization that is nationally known. They are a "NO KILL" organization and when I say they are a "no kill" organization, I mean that they do not kill any of their animals, ever.
Normally, they only accept animals that come from shelters. They take in animals whose time has run out for being adopted and are about to be euthanized. In other words, the cats have been available for adoption for sometime but no one has adopted them yet and the shelters are so full right now as it is "kitten season" and they have to make room for incoming cats and kittens so they receive a fair chance to be adopted.
This organization is in the spot light nationally because they are about to build a huge, state of the art, 37K sq. ft. facility, that will be devoted primarily to the feline species. This will be the first shelter of its kind anywhere in the world. They will perform rescue, treatment, adoption, and education services again primarily centered around the feline species. They are going to have one whole area of the new building devoted to those animals which are not adoptable, for one reason or another, and this huge area will be unlike anything anyone has ever seen. There will be big jungle trees with cat condos nestled high up in the branches, a boulder and water fall exhibit, plenty of tunnels, bridges, and numerous other unique items for play and pleasure. These unadoptable cats will spend the remainder of their life in this loving and caring environment which will have everything in the world a cat could want to be happy.
I know this, because my company has been awarded the interior design contract for the entire cat care part of this new facility, which includes this huge "cat habitat" area which has been named "The Jungle Room".
I know that if I ask them for help regarding your situation, this organization will do its very best to help, if they can help at all. Logistics is going to be the major problem here, which is why I felt that I wouldn't be of much help to you except to offer advice for the future.
If you want me to contact them, let me know. I know that your feelings towards me aren't exactly positive right now, so you may not want any help from me at all. I am not guaranteeing anything, you understand, but it is really the only thing that I can do being this far away from the physical location of the cats.

So, you decide. It may take a couple of days for me to schedule an appointment with the administrators of this organization, but they usually make themselves available to me as soon as they can, I sort of hold the trump card if you know what I mean.

Let me know.

Jewelcat
 

feralguardian

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Regarding Houston Contacts

I am not too surprised that they wouldn't take any of the cats ... But I am VERY surprised that they would not assist in helping with the spay/neuter and vaccines!!! I recently reached out to the Cat rescue organizations here in California and was told the same thing about not being able to help me. Actually A LOT of the numbers I was given either don't exist or aren't taking any more in. My situation was one of an URGENT matter and I couldn't get any help either. Thankfully, I had the vet clinic that I deal with and we have the Maddie Fund to help with the spay/neuter situation. I think we need to address this on a HUGE level. I would like some of my tax money to go for a place like Jewelcat was talking about. Looks like I'll be going public AGAIN real soon. The HUMAN SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES needs to work on shelters like the one Jewelcat mentioned ... Putting one in EVERY state and to STRICTLY ENFORCE the spay/neuter policy in EVERY state. We have been making progress only by the pockets of those people like us ... We now need help on a larger level.
Good luck with everything ... Wish I could be more help, I will keep digging for you though and if I do come up with ANYTHING I will post it here. I'm not one to give up easily.

FeralGuardian


Ps ... Just out of curiosity ... what did those organizations give you as a reason they wouldn't help spay/neuter for you??
 

washusama

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The Humane Society said they would euthanize the cats.
Noah's Ark said they can't help me, I found cheap spay/nueter programs, BUT the cats have to be in full health, with all current vaccinations, plus $20 bucks per cat, at 50+ cats, is expensive!!
Jewlcat, if you think it would help, then by all means PLEASE contact them!!

All the shelters around here only take HEALTHY cats, and they must be "adoptable". They are VERY picky.
 

washusama

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Dear Michelle,

My name is Deborah Turner. I am a cruelty investigator for the Houston Humane Society.
Depending on what county she is located in, she could be in violation of a city or county ordinance regarding the number of animals allowed per residence. All of the animals over the age of 4 months are required to have a rabies vaccination.
You say that the cats are sickly and thin. That falls under the state cruelty laws. Under Texas Penal code 42.09, the owner or guardian has to provide adequate food, water, and medical care. She can turn the animals into a shelter, or take them to animal control, or provide as needed for them. Ok. That's the law part of it.
Unless she is a repeat offender, more than likely, no one will press charges on her.
However, having that many animals can be a health risk for her as well as the cats. You state that you do not want to turn them into a "kill" shelter. Just for a minute, I would like you to look at the facts. A shelter that is a "no Kill" only takes adoptable animals. If they are sick, they get euthanized, even at a "no KiIl". There are thousands of healthy, social, animals that get euthanized daily all over the world because there are not enough homes for them all. And finally, as a cruelty investigator, I can assure you of two things. One, that euthanasia at a legitimate shelter or veterinary office is quiet, calm and easy. Two, that there is a whole lot worse out there. Such as abandoned animals, animals living in filth and starving, getting hit by cars, eaten by predators, beaten, lying in a ditch injured for days, etc.
If this was one of my relatives, I would talk with her and point out the violations of the law. Ask her to voluntarily turn in all but the legal amount of animals and get her to spay/neuter the ones she keeps.
If you are in my territory, I will help to pick up the animals, and the ones she keeps we will get spayed or neutered for her.( 2-3)
I know this is a difficult situation, and I run into it quite a bit. However, it is very nice that someone in her family cares enough to try to help. This is not just an animal problem, it is a people problem also. People that collect animals have some mental problems, are most often alone without someone to help, or intervene. Taking all the animals can be cruelty to the person, but allowing them to have too many that they cannot handle them is bad for the animals and for the people. Your Aunt might be upset at first, but keep in mind how much better off she would be. The conditions that she is living in would be healthier for her, she could care for the pets she keeps, and probably feed herself better also.
Let me know if I can help.

Sincerely,

Deborah L. Turner
Humane Officer
Houston Humane Society
713-433-6421 x 2040
 

washusama

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Hello,

You can ask your aunt if she would consider finding some the cats home, but
she will have to give you her permission. The SPCA does adopt out cats if
they are tamed. There are other organizations that take in Feral (wild)
cats. Kittyco is an orgnization that does a trap and relaeas, that's when
they come out trap the cats get them spyed or neuter, release them back out
and help that individual feed them. Their # is 2148266903. Feral Friends #
is 972-934-0590. Help for Helpless Animals 972-424-4860. Try these numbers
to see if you can get some assistance.

Best Regards,
Yolunda Turner
SPCA R&I Coordinator

I e-mailed this lady telling her they were tame, and she just kept telling me to call other people. Finally she said, "I can't help you."


Alley Cat Allies at 202-667-3630 and
ask for Zoe.

Alley Cat Allies has a feral friends network that covers the country. We
can start by trying to find someone to help who lives nearby. There are many
people who care. esther p.s. remind me of the story when you write back as I
get about 50 of these a day. You can call me direct at 203-377-1116

All information on referrals is chanelled through our toll-free line at
1(800)248-SPAY. Even if you do not have a phone, you can call from a public
phone. Our operators work from 9 to 5 Monday through Friday, east coast
time. Please call them at your earliest convenience. If you delay, a litter
might be on the way.

I returned her e-mail, she just e-mailed me back, telling me to call someone else!


Thank you for caring so much a/b these wonderful
creatures.
I am sorry, but I do not believe we can take on 40
cats who may be ill, and may be feral. We can offer
advice however.
Fund for animals is the cheapest place in town and
they will help almost anyone. Also, your Aunt may
qualify to have them taken care of at a SNAP mobile
vet clinic. (Spay Neuter Assistance Program). You
can find the phone numbers for both organizations in
the white pages.
The first step is to reduce the numbers as much as
possible. Get them to the vet, any that are to far
gone, the only humane thing to do is have them
euthanized and only a vet can determine where to draw
the line. The others, with time, effort and energy
are savable. All will need Feline Leukemia and FIV
tests, their eyes, and ears examined and probably
dewormed as well as treated for fleas.
What is the mental and physical status of your
Aunt? Is she able to help in anyway with the
situation? Will she get violent or disoriented if
someone tries to help the cats and she thinks they are
being harmed. Are you able to help in any way
financialy, and with time?
If you want someone to come and take a look and
maybe give adivce after they have seen the situaiton,
I am afraid I don't know any of us who can help you;
however you can make an annomous phone call to the
SPCA and they will come and check things out. They
are a kill shelter, but if the situation is truely out
of hand, then the most humane thing to do may be to
let them seize the animals. They usuall only do so in
very extreme cases.
If you would like to give me more information, I
may be able to help more, but with this limited info,
this is the only advice I can offer right now.
If you have further questions, please feel free to
call me @ 281-495-0627.
Kim Sham Adopt A Cat board member.
 

washusama

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Noah's Ark does not take in animals from the public, but rescues animals
from the euthanasia rooms of Houstons local shelters. There are several
shelters in the Houston are that can help you. Please go to our "links"
page for a listing. Try posting a picture of the cats on your office or
church bulletin board, PetsMart, Petco and even your area Vets office. I
hope this helps you! We wish you the best of luck in finding your aunts
cats a good home.
Noah's Ark

No, I'm sorry, we can't. We are beyond full to the brim right now. SNAP
will spay/neuter for $20.00. They also offer a 2 for 1. This will help
halt your Aunts population. I wish we could help you, but we can't. If
you would like, I will call you and try to help guide you with your
situation. It sounds like you are really in a tough spot.
Heather (Noah's Ark)
 

jewelcat

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I have an idea to help raise the funds for your project.
I wrote out all the details in a long message to post here on the forum but for some reason when I tried to post the message it caused an error and I lost the entire message. I don't have the time to retype all of the info in a new message, so if you want to hear my idea, then send me a private email through the forum and give me your phone number. I will then call you to explain my idea.
I think it will work and will help you on the financial end of your efforts.
If want to try it, then you can post a message telling everyone what we are going to do, okay?

Jewelcat
 

catspride

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Dear WashuSama -- How old? a lot younger than I am with a son probably older than you are! I thought someone spoke initially of you as a young person, so I envisioned a teenager. Sorry. I think you are really great to try to stand some of the expense for the cat's care yourself. But that becomes a trap if you can't persuade your aunt to neuter or spay the animals.

Why don't you pick out the healthiest cats, try to find a vet or society that will give them the necessary checkovers either for free or for a very reduced fee, and then get those particular cats placed. If there are always kittens, then there should be a bunch you could give to shelters right away -- kittens are most adoptable. That would leave you with the majority with their various health problems. The biggest problems are rabies shots, yearly vaccination for a range of contageous diseases, worms, and fleas and ticks. It is just possible that for all but the rabies shots you can find a friendly vet who will sell you vaccinations -- I have managed to find someone who will sell me the serum at near wholesale. Someone might sell you the worm pills and some good flea & tick shampoos or sprays under the same kind of deal.

I was shocked, but not surprised, to read your experiences with various cat-help organizations. I imagine it isn't that they don't care, but that they are just terribly overloaded, both emotionally and physically. Which doesn't help you, however.

In all of Houston/Dallas/Fort Worth, there should be some friendly rich person who would like to try to fund and endow a shelter for unadoptable cats. Such a place could offer lectures and booklets on cat care, encourage people to join the spay/neuter/release projects, sell postcards stationary, notebooks, etc. adorned with the pictures of cats who are living in the shelter... If one could only find the funding to begin, I suspect there would be a lot of interest. You could go on talk shows, kids shows, etc. on TV. If I were 30 or 40 years younger, I would try to do something like that here...

Anyway, good luck to you. You are definitely on the side of the angels.

Love and peace...
 

feralguardian

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WashuSama
As you can see, you have your work cut out for you. The advice that Catspride has given you is solid sound advice. I have also spoken with Jewelcat and my advice to you now is to contact her immediately. She has a very good way for you to get some extra money to help you with any out of pocket expenses, which of may cover a lot of those cats and kittens. Your aunt has a big heart and so do you. I wish you the best and may God give you the strength to finish this task. You will be able to finish this. Once you do you will have such a wonderful feeling in your heart that you saved the lives of possibly many more unborn kittens from some of the worst fates. Hang in their lady...You CAN do this!

Best wishes to you and your aunt.

FeralGuardian
 

washusama

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You guys are so helpfull!!
I never thought so many people would care about this problem.

Jewlcat,
I don't have a phone, it was either take my bunny to the vet, or pay the phone bill..

The only way I ever even get online, is at work!


I'm going to try to do a car wash, but I don't know if any of my so called friends will help, they are kinda on the selfish side "what will I get out of it"


 

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I will try to get an appointment with a.s.a.p. with the rescue organization I spoke about earlier. Now, there are several things that you must do in the meantime.
I am fairly certain that your chances of this organization helping you will be much better if you can accomplish a couple of things on your own and I will try to help you.
First, they will consider your situation much more attractive if the cats are well socialized. In other words, all of the cats have to get along well with humans and other cats. Now, they may be used to seeing you and your aunt and you can't judge their social abilities based on their reaction to your presence in the room. This is where your friends can help out.
Your friends could help by coming over to your aunts house and spending as much time as possible interacting with the cats. Getting the cats used to music from a stereo, and other different noises that hear usually hear in the average household. But mostly, just spending time with them, petting them, talking to them, and give them each a name and start to call them by that name. If their are any long haired cats you need to try to get them used to being brushed. If any of the cats coats are matted, sometimes just relieving the cat of the pain it has being going through as a result of the matted fur can make a world of difference.
Now, the second thing you will need to do is to continue with your plan to get these cats as healthy as you can and by this I mean vaccinated and Leukemia tested. Spaying and neutering will follow.
I have an idea to help you get some financial help and I think my plan will work. You need to see if there are any cat clubs in your area and if there are find out if any of them are having show coming up any time soon. If any of them are having a show you can approach them with the following idea.
Tell them you are trying to raise money to help pay for the cost of rescuing about 50 cats in your neighborhood. Tell them that a company by the name of "Me-Ow-Trageous"TM, Inc. (this is my company)has agreed to help sponsor your efforts. Explain to them that this company has offered to donate one of their very unique cat furniture designs to help you raise the necessary funds for this undertaking. You can tell them that we have a web site, http://www.catfurniture.com, and to please visit our web site to see our very exciting new product line.
I think that once they check out the product line they will be very interested in helping you out. But they will need to have a way to get a hold of you so be sure to give them your email address. Tell them that you understand that many cat shows will have raffles and the money goes usually goes to the cat club sponsoring the show. You and your sponsor("Me-Ow-Trageous"TM, Inc.) thought perhaps, that just this once they could make an exception, & conduct their cat show raffle in response to a local humanitarian need. If they are interested but want to talk to someone from my company, just tell them to send an email message via the web site, and I will respond a.s.a.p. to answer any questions that they might have.
You need go ahead a select a veterinarian who will set up donation account for you because you will need to give this information the the cat club.
Anyway, this is my idea. You could possibly net somewhere around $300.00 to $500.00 for your donation "cat rescue" account. That should help cover about 1/3 of the costs. Lets see what kind of response we get before we talk any further.

Let me know what you think about this idea.

Jewelcat
 

washusama

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Jul 23, 2001
Messages
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Location
Houston
They are all outside cats, un-litter trained.
The older ones are extreamly lovable, the younger ones (teenage)are kind wild, but will tolerate being pet. The kittens are very playful, and curious. I'm going over there this weekend to find out exactly what she wants to do. I'm bringing food and stuff, and someones little home remedy.
If I can afford it, I'm going to get them all flea collers, and spray the yard. Also mow and weed eat. (looks like a jungle out there)
I will also try to take some pictures.
I will update everyone hopefully monday.
 

catspride

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Jun 16, 2001
Messages
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Location
Mabuim (northern Negev)
Brilliant, Jewelcat, in all directions.

About the cats being outdoor cats. Collect as many feeing vessels as you can so that you can give all the cats an individual plate (picnic desert-sized plates if you can't manage anything else, but they slip around and bend easily -- I used to line up filled dishes on a large board that used to be a cupboard door and carry lots of plates out at a time -- feeding should be simultaneous for all the cats). Organize friends or members of a cat club to help socialize the cats. Feed the cats a tablespoon or so of special stuff (chicken you've boiled, canned cat food -- even the cheapest will be a treat). Call the cats and set out dishes separated from each other by several feet (if you have the room). If possible, do this in shifts inside the house by giving the cats some idea of what they might get if they come in when they are called. You have to supervise. I did this with 20 cats alone, but you will need 3 or 4 people (preferably more) for 50 cats, Establish a whistle and a call that never varies from day to day and that all the volunteers will use. Then establish this system of a special treat as something that is done as consistently and often and at the same time of day as possible. The cats will quickly learn the whistle and the call and come for the treat.

The important thing is to step between invasions of each other's feeding dishes and discourage any kind of theft of food or fighting. I was able to just pick up the offending cats and put them in a carrier cage until all the other cats were finished with their food. The most hardheaded took three or four such separations, but the smartest learned immediately and only "tried it on" if they thought I wasn't looking. While the cats are approaching the food, talk to them (it doesn't matter what about, but try to always use the new name of the cat over and over), and when they actually come to the dish, put your hand lightly near their shoulder blades and then withdraw it. Don't forget not to jump if one of them takes a swipe at you. Cats panic easily at sudden movements. If some of the cats accept petting, you can linger with a nice petting stroke for a minute.

If your aunt can tolerate cats in the house for a little while each day, you can gradually offer the food first in the hourse, then, with someone watching the ones who aren't afraid to come in to have their treat, you can close the doors (don't forget windows) and offer the more nervous cats their treat outside. This means that more quality attention can be given to the ones feeding inside to make them even more socialized, while concentrating on the ourside cats with speaking and touching until they have begun to feel comfortable enough to enter the house.

This is not a fast process, but believe me, it is tried and tested on over 30 mostly ferel and some stray cats in my own house and yard. There are cats who will never feel comfortable with a human too near. You can set their treats far away from the braver majority. You may never be able to touch the nervous cats, but ultimately they will be in a small minority. If you can engage your aunt's interest in this process, it will move more quickly.

By the end of a month, you will have a group of cats that are familiar with the house, familiar with several different people touching them, know their names, and are comfortable with human voices. At this point, you can begin to take cats to the vet for their blood test. You will need to borrow cat carriers -- NEVER take a cat in your arms to a vets -- even the most well-behaved may become panicked by dogs, strange people, or other cats in the waiting room. You want to talk to the cats all the time. Nevermind if everyone else thinks you are crazy. Also, remember that you never want a loose cat in a car.

If the cats like their regular food, then you can do this process with all feedings. Always the same whistle and call to alert them that there is something good to eat. If you do this with patience and determination, you will find the cats coming at the same time every day even before you call them.

If your aunt agrees, set up a number of plastic clothes baskets or dish-washing bowls (rectangular is best, because they don't tilt when the cat rests on the sides; rest one side against a wall to increase their stability), and put some litter in them (remember the sprinkling of baking soda to reduce oder over the bottom before you put the litter in). Shut the cats up in a room in the house, or in the entire house, whichever your aunt can tolerate, for several hours after eating. Do this first ONLY with the cats that are most socialized. It doesn't hurt for yourself or several volunteers to spend some time there with the cats to pet them and to talk to them. This is a good time to practice calling them over and over by name and reinforcing it with lots of petting and eye contact.

You should quickly build up a cadre of tamed and friendly cats. Even older cats like to chase things, so set up some playtings -- dangling things on a stick so you can tease them with it. Rolling balls with bells in them, the cardboard centers of toilet and baggie rolls, etc. Make the feeding time and the house visit an interactive play time.

Trade around between yourself and friends, because the cats will tend to bond with a single person, and the idea is to get them to be friendly with different people.

I don't know if this is something you can manage, but if there are more direct ways to deal with socialization of so many cats I would love to learn of it.

I do wish you luck. The more you reveal of your plans and ideas, the more confident I feel that you are not going to quit on this project without seeing it succeed. Just remember the word patience. Cats require a great deal of patience and they respond very well to friendly overtures if you don't push on them when they are not in the mood. The trick is to constantly use behavioral psychology on them, try not to yell at them or hit out at them (except under desperte conditions), and avoid sudden movements or loud noises. Cats, especially unsocialized cats, panic very easily. That's how they stay alive.

With all my heart, I wish you scccess. Don't forget us. Keep us updated. This will be a very interesting project and one that will teach us all about how to manage such an enterprise as you work through your successes and mistakes.
 
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