Need some help with cats...

Hello,

I'm new here. Hopefully this is the right section to post this in, which lets you know all about me and my family of about 35 cats. Rather than put the entire story up here and take up a lot of bandwidth (I can if you need me to), here is the website address of the original complete thread (about 25 posts) that I posted to Google beginning January 14 in alt.cats and subsequent replies and responses.

http://groups.google.com/groups?dq=&...news.com#link1

Well, I realize there's lots of needy cats and animals just about everywhere, but we could sure use some help to get back on our feet right about now so me and the cats can at least have a fighting chance. The thread at the above link should answer any of your questions, including how to contact me by just about every way imaginable, lol, and includes my telephone number if someone for any reason requires more information than I can provide by email.

My family is mainly comprised of outdoor cats with some indoor cats, ranging from kittens to some that are about 15 years old, to deaf ones, to ones with no eyes. And I'm all alone now taking care of them since mother and father have gone to heaven. Well, the whole story is at that above link. If you need more information or want to contact me, please feel free to do so and I will answer all your questions to the best of my ability. Thanks for having us at The Cat Site. It's nice to be here.

Regards,

PatTheCatMan



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Hi there and welcome
Could you put the web address on different? as I cant seem to get in. I know it must be at google groups but after that I'm a bit lost.
and I really am interested in your story. Wow 35 cats
thanks

Hi,

I'm so new here, I'm trying to reply to your reply, lol, well, hopefully this will work. I just re-edited the original post here to "parse urls", which squeezed it all together, lol, and made it so you can just click on it to take you there. Hopefully that works now. Well, I'm going to hit the "submit" button below and see if this works, lol.

Regards,

PatTheCatMan



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Well it worked and I read it - well most of it. At the beginning I could not believe that people are so mean! Your house would be worth load more than 45K in the UK - my little 2 up 2 down terrace more or less straight off the street is valued at over 80K£. It looks lovely but the town sure seems ikk - in Texas you say. You are your multitude are in my thoughts and see the food stamps as what you have paid in rather than what you are taking out. Behave yourself - 55's not old! Very sorry about your recent loss but could you move back to California (I think I read that)- I know the response may be 'How' but maybe. Is there no work at all there?
Well keep us informed about the indoor/outdoor lot, there maybe some ideas from TCS members who are a lot more caring than the lot you seem to have come across so far!Is there no cat welfare organisations etc near you that could help you out with maybe rehoming them etc
Good luck

This is just my opinion, but I think 35 cats is way too many for one person to care for and try to give enough time and attention to. Are there any no-kill shelters in your area that you could contact about taking these cats in and rehoming them?

Also, if these cats aren't spayed or neutered, their numbers will increase very rapidly and your problems will get alot worse.

Originally posted by Lorie D.


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This is just my opinion, but I think 35 cats is way too many for one person to care for and try to give enough time and attention to.
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It certainly is a lot.


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Are there any no-kill shelters in your area that you could contact about taking these cats in and rehoming them?
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I'm beginning to realize that this, perhaps, is a particular life experience which appears to be almost impossible to fully relate unless I had the powers to put others directly into it for a period of years to experience it first hand as their own.

Perhaps it's a good idea for me to just take excerpts from the Google thread and put them in one post here in the near future, as most people probably don't wish wade thru 25 posts over there where all this is explained rather thoroughly.

There is a nokill shelter nearby, in the google thread I explained that I visited it. It has more cats than I have and less space than my cats have. There they live in a trailer for the most part. My cats have half a block of land to live in. I walked through that trailer. I wouldn't put my cats there if I had to (no offense to the shelter, they're doing what they can I'm sure), which my reasons and feelings about that are also explained in that google thread, where I also relate that if people didn't wish to help me and my cats perhaps they would consider donating to that no kill shelter which obviously could use some more cash. There is also a teeny tiny no kill place here in my little town. The lady couldn't get donations from these people if hell froze over. :/


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Also, if these cats aren't spayed or neutered, their numbers will increase very rapidly and your problems will get alot worse.

Click to expand...

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That's quite true. Not a lot I can do about that at this current moment. Most of them are descendants of the cats that were here 100 years or so ago. They've peacefully coexisted with my family for quite some time now. Now that mother and father are gone its just me and the cats left, and 3 dogs. Considering that this little city of about 7,000 people kills about 100 pets =per month= in their "kill em all american style" program, my only comforting thought at this moment is that I have at least given them life itself and protected them the best I am capable of in a yard with trees rather than throwing them into a trailer to live miserably for the rest of their lives.

I'll start to compile a post of a few excerpts from that google thread which might hopefully more fully explain a bit more.

My 15 year old cat, Snowball, by the way, is just about the spitting image of your Snowball.


Regards,

PatTheCatMan



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Pat

I wish I could help you. I know I've had times in my life when I was close to having everything turned off. But I didn't have 35 others depending on me too.

You mentioned being able to sell the estate as an owner financed, but you didn't want to have payments made...that you needed all the money. May I ask why?? If I had an opportunity to have money coming in monthly, I would jump at it! It would net you more money in the end and you would have a steady income. With a steady income, you'll find more companies willing to extend credit.

Have you thought about renting the property? Again, not all the money you need in 1 lump sum but a steady income.

Sorry to read your story - didn't get thru the entire story, but my heart goes out to you.

You're not that far away from San Antonio. Have you checked out any rescue groups there? Suggest you call some San Antone vets and ask them for referrals to rescue groups up there. Since you inherited these cats from your folks, they might be sympathetic about helping you get these babies into good homes. A lot of rescue groups are just too full to take in "owner relinquish" cats, but you do have an extenuating situation there.

Another way to locate rescue groups is thru Petfinder.com. You can search for groups by state, and these are listed in alphabetical order by town. You can then click on the shelter name and bring up their web site. There are usually e-mail addresses or phone numbers on their web sites.

I wish you luck getting thru this! It's not going to be easy, but I encourage you to keep trying.

Originally posted by tulip2454

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Well it worked and I read it - well most of it.
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I'll have to compile a synopsis of that google thread and put it here when I get a chance.

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At the beginning I could not believe that people are so mean!
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Stuff happens, not always nice.

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Your house would be worth load more than 45K in the UK - my little 2 up 2 down terrace more or less straight off the street is valued at over 80K£. It looks lovely but the town sure seems ikk - in Texas you say. You and your multitude are in my thoughts and see the food stamps as what you have paid in rather than what you are taking out. Behave yourself - 55's not old! Very sorry about your recent loss but could you move back to California (I think I read that)- I know the response may be 'How' but maybe. Is there no work at all there?
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There is no work for me where I am, which is why I need to move back to California where I *know* can get work.

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Well keep us informed about the indoor/outdoor lot, there maybe some ideas from TCS members who are a lot more caring than the lot you seem to have come across so far!Is there no cat welfare organisations etc near you that could help you out with maybe rehoming them etc
Good luck

Click to expand...

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This, again, is why I'll need to get a synopsis of that google thread over to here. The original "plan" stands as this: I don't want to adopt out the cats right now. They're the only Family I have left, to speak of, and I'm trying to avoid adopting out as only the very last resort. If I can get to California, we will be fine, I can find work there and then we can live out the rest of our natural lives in some modicum of peace and freedom. If not, then I will begin to try to adopt most of them out. Again, *that* is the very last thing I want to do, as again, this is My Family. And I am their Family. To top it off, adopting them out is simply not going to help pay the around $2,000+ back bills which I have been completely unable to pay, nor help the rest of the cats I would decide to keep if I decided there were no more options except adoption. If there is no water, electricity, gas, lights, and etc, it doesn't really matter that much whether I have 5 cats or 35 cats, in both the long and short run.

Regards,

PatTheCatMan



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Originally posted by Sweets

Pat

I wish I could help you. I know I've had times in my life when I was close to having everything turned off. But I didn't have 35 others depending on me too.

You mentioned being able to sell the estate as an owner financed, but you didn't want to have payments made...that you needed all the money. May I ask why?? If I had an opportunity to have money coming in monthly, I would jump at it! It would net you more money in the end and you would have a steady income. With a steady income, you'll find more companies willing to extend credit.
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What it says in the google thread is that I cannot owner finance it. The reason is that whomever would wish to purchase it at say 45k is only willing to put only about 20k as a down payment. 20k will not move me and the animals to California. Especially after paying off about 5k+ in bills here, then buying 5 tombstones for my grandmother, grandfather, mother, father, and best friend, which nobody else appears to be willing or able to purchase. I refuse to leave Texas without getting them tombstones before I go. Whatever $ is left over after all that, plus transporting the animals etc, is simply not enough to buy a tiny plot of dirt with running water and electricity anywhere near L.A., which is where I need to be so I can get meaningful employment. True, having monthly $ coming in from payments would be nice, however, again, 20k doesn't cut the mustard for an actual move, which is, again, why I need the entire 45k up front to even just *try* to cut the mustard and save us from the hell we currently reside in.


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Have you thought about renting the property? Again, not all the money you need in 1 lump sum but a steady income.

Click to expand...

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The property is not rentable. Regardless, I have spent 40 years in this little whatever place, my people are all gone to heaven, I *no longer have time nor desire to rent*, again, it's unrentable to begin with so that point is moot, we *must* exit, and *immediately*, there is *no employment whatsoever* for me here, this is HELL (I seriously advise tourists to not come here to spend splendid vacation moments), or I will go crazy as well as completely bankrupt as I already have, and any plans of keeping us together as A Family will have been just another pipe dream, rather than the actual reality of being able to cohesively achieve it by very simply being able to sell that estate.

If anyone has any $, feel free to pass it our way, which would at least, hopefully, allow me to bring the bills up to current being-paid status, and would at least give me some remote semblance of a chance to be able to somehow come up with the additional $1200 in Taxes on the estate I am trying to sell to save us which were due in October of last year, so they don't just auction it off on the courthouse steps for failure to pay the taxes which I already know they will do. Other than $, and well wishes which are always welcome, things such as flea spray are always welcome here, especially since they closed down our vet's charge account when mother died. All of that is in the google thread, my email address, snailmail address, telephone #, etc, which, again, when I get time, I will try to compose a synopsis of the Google thread and post it here, in case anyone require further information, about the cats, the estate, our situation, or my many thoughts on the matter.


Regards,

PatTheCatMan



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Originally posted by Momofmany

Sorry to read your story - didn't get thru the entire story, but my heart goes out to you.
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The entire google thread give a *lot* of information and thoughts from my direction. Thanks for the good thoughts.


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You're not that far away from San Antonio. Have you checked out any rescue groups there? Suggest you call some San Antone vets and ask them for referrals to rescue groups up there. Since you inherited these cats from your folks, they might be sympathetic about helping you get these babies into good homes. A lot of rescue groups are just too full to take in "owner relinquish" cats, but you do have an extenuating situation there.

Another way to locate rescue groups is thru Petfinder.com. You can search for groups by state, and these are listed in alphabetical order by town. You can then click on the shelter name and bring up their web site. There are usually e-mail addresses or phone numbers on their web sites.
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Thanks for the information. Reiterating my statement in another post, however, adopting the cats out I will only consider as a last ditch god's comin to get me the divil's on my doorstep pass the ammunition option. I'm not dead yet. Close, but not yet.


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I wish you luck getting thru this! It's not going to be easy, but I encourage you to keep trying.

Click to expand...

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Thanks. Yes, it's not easy at all, hasn't been since mother died last May. Yes, I never stop trying, my mother and father taught me that, among other things.


Regards,

PatTheCatMan



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Pat,

Welcome to the boards and I agree with everyone else...35 cats is really a lot to be taking care of. I would suggest you contact the Best Friends Network and see if they can connect you to some individuals who would be willing to assist you.

phone the Best Friends Network at (435) 644-2001 ext 123, or e-mail them at [email protected]

Katie

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Originally posted by TNR1

Pat,

Welcome to the boards.

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Hi,

We have not yet reached the far off point where the big "A" letter might rudely attempt to take precedence over the continuing option of staying together, which remains a very construct reality. Nor hopefully shall we ever.

My ability to produce "miracles" has not yet ceased, nor have my hands yet lost their strength.

A very unknown international fact remains that I will be working again someday soon, which, if one applies oneself dilligently, produces green american cash. With green american cash one can perform "miracles" in America, so they say.

"I've done it before, I can do it again" (PatTheCatMan, Europe, 1727)

Thanks for the contacts, I have several now, from all over the world. If it ever came to that lurid non-option, I know all I have to do is make a few calls and emails to make things happen in that other direction which I can't discuss anymore here as my cats are now looking over my shoulder watching m..e... t..y..p..e t..h..i..s... .

Lol..............

Thanks again for the warm welcome.



Regards,

PatTheCatMan

"If I were a cat and could read, I'd lie about it too..." (PatTheCatMan, from The Jay Leno Show, April 16, 2005)

.

Click to expand...

I am 68 this March, I am on a very small pension, I continue to work as I can on the internet. I average a population of cats of about 22 up to 36,
depending on the number of half ferals who only drop in for food -- my steady population is, at the moment 23, all of whom sleep indoors during cold or
rainy weather, with the number being more like 15 or 16 in good weather, and 5 or 6 in hot weather -- at that point they are all up a cool tree or in the
storage shed.

I also rescue dogs, and have a stable population of 6, with occasional periods when I have rescued abandoned puppies and not yet found home for
them.

I find it impossible to give away cats. Here one simply opens a door to the kitchen, and feral or half-feral cats appear like magic. Our small village
sometimes has as many as 300 cats moving through to look for food.

With the generous help and discounts of a group of very kind veterinarians, I have every female (cat or dog) spayed and every male castrated. I
manage. But I have the help from veterinarians because I DO NOT allow my cats to have young. Every kitten that is here has been rescued. It means life
is tough, there is little money, and none at all for frivolity or vacations. It means that I live in a very spartan way. But I know every cat by name, know its
personality, the story of its rescue, and its age.

35 cats too many? What is too many for one is not too many for another.

I know what you mean about wanting to move your family somewhere else. But my read of the news from California is that real estate and rentals,
even in the boondocks, are extremely expensive -- much more expensive than in Texas. Also their animal control laws are much, much more rigid. Very
likely the animal control people would divest you of all but a few cats as soon as someone told them how many cats you have without the means to
properly (by whatever standards they use) house and care for them. They also have a tendency, according to friends of mine, in some places to
demand proof of yearly vaccinations for diseases and rabies.

Good luck in keeping your family together.

__________________

Catherine...you are amazing!! Honestly, to be able to have every cat and dog spayed/neutered is commendable!!

Katie

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Well... I obviously need a tutor to use this vBcode thing, lol, as I can't work it. :| Anyway, so I will use the equal signs === to separate my replies from the quotes here.


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Originally posted by catspride

I am 68 this March,
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Happy Birthday ahead of time.


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I am on a very small pension, I continue to work as I can on the internet. I average a population of cats of about 22 up to 36, depending on the number of half ferals who only drop in for food -- my steady population is, at the moment 23, all of whom sleep indoors during cold or rainy weather, with the number being more like 15 or 16 in good weather, and 5 or 6 in hot weather -- at that point they are all up a cool tree or in the storage shed.
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God bless you. I still live in a place where many people actually still believe that ALL animals are un-intelligent, non-sentient, soulless, remotely amusing, 8th class disposable species, incapable of emotions, thoughts, or feelings, only put on earth by God Himself to eat, wear, torture with experiments and throw beer cans at. (It's not my fault that they're delusionally indoctrinated as wonderful marketting pincushions in a world of economic slavery, although it appears to be my problem, as well as the animals). So it warms my heart, a pittance of emotion from me, when I see people actually caring for them, as they will never be considered for actual Citizenship on this planet as the humans will continue to consider such things as digital watches as having much more grand and holy importance.


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I also rescue dogs, and have a stable population of 6, with occasional periods when I have rescued abandoned puppies and not yet found home for them.
===============


I only have 3 dogs now. Puppy Dog, the 4th, died a few days before mother went to heaven. That was mother's dog. Mother and I loved her so very much. Although she was the smallest of all the dogs, any strangers to the yard feared her the most, she was our prime guardian dog, and guarded us with her life. She guarded all the cats also. I needed $8 to try to save her, for some antibiotics, but (I won't mention any names) cancelled the veterinarian charge account, as well as all the other accounts here, as mother was going, which left me on our own with no resources having gone bankrupt taking care of mother for the last 3 months of her life. I have rescued several dogs over the years down here, including all the ones that are here now, but (I won't mention any names), whom I took them to to save them, botchedly butchered some of them then charged me tons of $ to get their bodies back for proper burial. One emergency animal hospital even claimed to have *lost the body*, right after operation, until I, oddly enough, suddenly found myself screaming in their lobby, whereupon they produced the body, charged me $300, then I came home and buried the little red cat.


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I find it impossible to give away cats. Here one simply opens a door to the kitchen, and feral or half-feral cats appear like magic. Our small village sometimes has as many as 300 cats moving through to look for food.
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Mabuim seems so far from Texas and California right about now. I have to again thank you on behalf of all the Cat Gods for finding so much care in your heart. Your actions have not gone unnoticed.


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With the generous help and discounts of a group of very kind veterinarians, I have every female (cat or dog) spayed and every male castrated.
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Geez, as a human male, let's use the word "neutered" from now on instead of "castrated", LOL..... hehe... Ouchies.... :/ You're fortunate you can get such help and discounts. Not all vets where I am tend to like to shave their profits for charitable actions. I think it costs something like $50 to $75 to alter my cats here where I am, per each individual cat.

NOTE TO REST OF THE WORLD (not writing this paragraph just to you, catspride, LOL): Sure, send me about $2,000 (that includes all the animal traps, as the traps would have to all be set at once, since when one cat sees another trapped, they are intelligent enough to not go into a cage then, no matter what kind of "delicacy meat" is in it [been there, done that, know it all too well unfortunately]), and I will =instantly= go out, catch, and alter all my children. Until then, or until I sell this estate, or find $ elsewhere, there still remain no Veterinarians in the State of Texas that will alter cats for Free, to the best of my knowledge. Further note, some are still kittens so they can't even be altered yet.


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I manage. But I have the help from veterinarians because I DO NOT allow my cats to have young. ===============


Well, you've nipped that particular problem in the bud. That's good. Unfortunately I've not been able to do that yet. One day I will reach that point. That, of course, takes $, which I do not possess such an exorbitant amount for such a necessary feat at this current time, unfortunate for both me and the cats. Again, some day I will reach that plateau, today is obviously not the day.


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Every kitten that is here has been rescued. It means life is tough, there is little money, and none at all for frivolity or vacations. It means that I live in a very spartan way.
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I think I need a drink. LOL..... I hear that, catspride. I can't ever remember having a "vacation" since I was born. Oh well. LOL... You've basicly just described *my* "way of life" as well. Well, it's good to know that I'm not *completely* alone, even though I am, that is to say that others have similar problems and find ways to deal with them amicably and effectively. We live like bedouin here. We are the new spartans. LOL... But someday I will be working again soon so I will no longer have to hear people down here where I am who their continuing advice (remember, I'm in Texas, lol) is to "just kill them all and be done with it". I've gotten in the habit of when they say that to me, they've been saying it for a while now, that I just look at them and ask "Would you kill your children if I =told you to=..?", and they just stare at me with a strange look on their face. They apparently have no idea what a loving bond can develop between animal and human, nor that these animals are probably the closest I will ever come to having children. Nor do they seem to care that both my friend, mother, and father who have all gone to heaven now swore me to God to "Take care of the animals, Pat" before they left. I continue to do my best and look for help and direction. However, for the most part, so far it appears all I have received is "direction", unfortunately. All that "green american cash" must have been invested in Digital Watches or something... Lol.....


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But I know every cat by name, know its personality, the story of its rescue, and its age.
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Yes. I hear that. My ears can hear that very clearly.


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35 cats too many? What is too many for one is not too many for another.
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This is often quite true. Not always, but, yes, often.


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I know what you mean about wanting to move your family somewhere else. But my read of the news from California is that real estate and rentals,
even in the boondocks, are extremely expensive -- much more expensive than in Texas.
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I just can NOT live in Texas anymore. I just can't. It's a nice place etc, but I've lived here for about 40 years of my life and there are just too many *bad memories* here, some surrounding my mother and father's passing. It's just too hard. On the other hand, if I absolutely must, I *could* stay here, and move to some place with a bit more "cultural etc opportunities", find a little place nearby in the country, and move my whole family there without a glitch, which, true, would be much more cheaper than moving BACK to "Somewhere Near L.A.". Yes, I know things are expensive in California, but there's surely some little place of dirt where we can move where I can put up a nice animal-proof fence and we can START OVER.

I don't really want to move to the desert, as I want to be able to commute to LA (where I can make $600 a day sometimes, if I'm very very lucky) but I was looking on the Internet and there's tons of places a little further out, like say near some place called Palmdale (near the desert), where they're selling *80 acres* of agriculturally zoned land for about $30,000. I don't need 80 acres, just a little plot of land, so there must be something for me and the animals out there, nothing expensive, nothing large, just where we can live out our natural lives in peace and happiness. Until I sell this Estate, it is almost no good to actually look any further, as I don't have the $ to put on it to begin with at this moment. Once I sell this estate (may the cat gods help us, soon) I will begin to find a place out there, immediately. I am quite quick at getting "a place to live" when I actually have the $ to do so in my possession.



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Also their animal control laws are much, much more rigid. Very likely the animal control people would divest you of all but a few cats as soon as someone told them how many cats you have without the means to
properly (by whatever standards they use) house and care for them. They also have a tendency, according to friends of mine, in some places to
demand proof of yearly vaccinations for diseases and rabies.
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Well, any further information on ALL that in the above paragraph you just wrote would be welcome here so I can comply with all their LAWS, ===ahead of time===. If anyone has any links to information on what the "standards for properly housing and caring for multiple cats" is in California, that would be helpful. If any of their "standards" includes turning outdoor cats into indoor cats, that sounds a little improbable though, as if I tried to do that to some of these outdoor cats here, they would be crashing through glass windows of the house just to try to regain their Freedom of the Outdoors.


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Good luck in keeping your family together.
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Thank you. I need it. Although "kill them all" or "adopt them all out immediately" as I have been thusly advised for an extended period of time now, years, remain 2 interesting options, in the face of =seemingly= insurmountable odds, staying together remains the desired outcome. Green American Cash couldn't hurt us either. LOL.....

Thank you again so very much for your kind letter and insight.

May the cat gods bless your doorway.




Regards,

PatTheCatMan



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Pat the Cat Man:

Welcome to TCS. I'm glad you've received a warm welcome. I hope you understand why the reaction of many is that 35 cats is too many to care for - especially by one individual with, as you portray it, no resources. There are many people who care for many cats, but they generally portray themselves as cat caretakers and they care for a colony or colonies of ferals and strays and think of them lovingly, even as family, but they do not think of themselves as owners. This is an important distinction for me, because the motivation behind the work they do is to provide the best care for the cats, whatever that takes, not do everything in their power to keep the cats. I understand you have been through a lot recently, and I am so sorry for your losses. I have yet to face the death of a parent, and I cannot imagine your current suffering. I am sure the family of cats and dogs provides you with much needed comfort. That being said, I address you as their guardian. I believe that if you truly love these animals you will consider doing what is best for them, not what is best for you.

While I admire your love for the animals and cannot fault you that, I believe that if you spent as much time researching solutions to their immediate needs as you seem to be spending trying to locate money, I think you will find that there are people and organizations out there willing to help with services as opposed to donations.

Perhaps you are not aware of the many services that are out there to find. Being dedicated to keeping the animals as opposed to rehoming them, I suggest the following.

1) They must be sterilized. Especially if provided with nutrition, their ability to survive and procreate is enormous. To gain a better understanding of the vast problem in the U.S., please visit www.straypetadvocacy.org.

In my signature line you will find links to many places to search for assistance. Just a quick search on my part turned up the following:

Try contacting The Animal Defense League of San Antonio. I don't know if they can help, but as people who care for animals, they may be aware of other resources for you. They do provide free spay/neuter services to qualified people. If they only serve San Antonio residents, perhaps they'll be able to help you find volunteers to assist you in trapping/ crating/ transporting the cats and getting them to the free mobile spay/neuter clinic that serves the San Antonio area (which also provides free spay/neuter to qualified people. If you call their number, they provide the information about who qualifies and what proof/paperwork is needed).

Obviously you can't get all 35 sterilized at one time, but a call to the spay/neuter clinic reveals that they handle 22 cats a day at various locations and the clinic is open frequently. I don't know how far in advance they schedule their clinics, but perhaps a well-worded appeal on your part could result in them coming to you.

Animal Defense League: 210-655-1481. This is the no-kill shelter mentioned above that provides free sterilization.

The Mobile spay/neuter clinic is:

San Antonio Mobile Clinic
Phone: (210) 673-7722

When you call, they provide all the info you need. You can leave a message for someone to contact you.

Also, Texas has a low-cost spay/neuter program:

TEXAS STATE ANIMAL FRIENDLY ACCOUNT
Contact the Texas Department of Health at (512) 458-7111 for information about how to apply for low cost spay/neuter available through the state's animal friendly car license platefund.


If you discover that you would be able to use the services of the mobile spay/neuter clinic, but are unable to find help trapping and transporting the animals, please use your yellow pages to contact every vet near you. Simply ask them if they know of any "crazy cat people" that might be willing to help with your situation - that by circumstance you have come to care for 35 rescued and stray cats, some of which can easily be crated and some which will need to be trapped and you have to use the resources of free spay/neuter services but need assistance crating/ trapping/ transporting the animals. Most doctors and staff at small animal veterinary practices are animal lovers and will try to help if they can. Such a call to vets around here would result in their taking your number and contacting us. We have found that across the country there are many like us - but you have to place the calls to find us. (Sorry - we'd love to help, but we live in New Jersey. )

For other potential resources, please review the list provided here:

http://operationnoblefoster.org/speuter/sntexas.htm

or here:

http://www.saveourstrays.com/no-kill.htm

These are lists of no-kill shelters. Many of these shelters provide low-cost or free spay/neuter services. They may also be able to help you rehome some of the cats if you decide to go that route. I'd recommend you consider rehoming any of the cats that need special attention due to a medical condition as you are financially strapped.


Also, please be aware that kittens can indeed be safely sterilized as early as 6 weeks old. Many vets involved with those caring for feral colonies now practice early age spay/neuter.

For information on early age spay/neuter, please refer to these links:
http://operationnoblefoster.org/speu...rlyspeuter.htm
http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/repo...ly-neuter.html


Also, for low-cost food for your pets, you can visit the sites of cat food manufacturers. Many of them provide coupons to rescuers. You can also enquire about subsidized food for your animals when you call the shelters in your area. Many shelters have food programs for those who practice trap-neuter-return and properly manage feral/stray colonies.

God bless you for your love of these animals. I hope you take the time to search out options, and that you decide to do what's best for them, or at the very least that you find a way to meet their needs with the help of services and people in your area.

Best of luck - we look forward to hearing any progress towards these ends.

I have read your story and yes you need help. Please check out the following sites:
http://www.snaptx.org/sanantonio/default.htm
http://www.animaldefenseleague.org/
http://www.wagstowhiskers.org/
Contact these places, your cats and dogs need to be fixed.
Have you checked into to zoning the house as commercial property? There are many resturants and businesses there in Pearsall Tx, maybe a realestate agent my help you move the property. Nows a good time of the year to cut the grass and trim trees, paint the house before the hot temps of Tx return.. I have family in Tx near you and some day I will be in the same situation as you when they pass on.
Good Luck,
Clara

This thread contains appeals for money by someone other than a rescue organization, and www.TheCatSite.com rules state:

www.TheCatSite.com rule #5:

Solicitations - the needs of rescue workers are great and we recognize this fact. The care of multiple cats, which includes finding suitable homes, good vet care, food, etc is costly. If you wish to bring our attention to the needs of a specific organization you may do so only once, and in the SOS forum only. Other than that, you may use your signature to add a link and a short message regarding the cause you are promoting. From time to time you will see some posts that request donations for a specific cause. It is YOUR responsibility to check these solicitors to the best of your ability. Ask for references and phone numbers, and call around the area to find out if this is a legitimate cause or a scam. The Catsite.com does not stand behind any solicitation of funds that appears in the forums. Be very careful before you send any money; no matter how effective the plea is, check it out before opening your wallet.

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