I'm trapping again Wednesday night, wish me luck. I have been trying to get this female for a long time and she is so smart! I feel so sorry for her. She is pregnant. I have tried and tried to get her before she became pregnant and managed to get a few other ones done when I couldnt get her specifically. I am having a hard time with the dilemma of getting her spayed now, (if I can get her) or letting her have the kittens and then the whole thing starting again. I thought I was down to one female left in my colony, and then up comes another one, I will have to get her done too. The mom kitty is coming up closer to me now, she is soo very hungry and maybe I can get her this time. The last female I trapped was pregnant and positive for Leukemia and Aids and she was put down. She lived in a different area from the female I am trying to get now so hopefully this wont be the case for this one. I really dont want this to be the case for this one but I just feel like if I dont do it, it just adds to the problem and if I do I'm killing kittens. Its something I have thought about for a week now, trying to decide what to do. I dont want to ignore this and look the other way but I still feel so bad. I felt so shocked and awful about the last female I caught, having had her put down, but the vet said it would be the best thing since she was positive for both. I guess its just getting to me somewhat and I dont want to make a decision like this but I have to. Its just hard. Anyway, just please wish us some good luck and hopefully we will get through it fine.
-
Too many ads? Join our community of cat lovers now to reduce ads by 90%! Click here to join for free!
Trapping again, wish me luck!
- Thread starter malynn
- Start Date
Here's hoping for an easy catch and a healthy kitty! Maybe you can hold on to her until the kittens are born (mom can be spayed then) and socialize them and home them or continue trying to socialize the mom and keep them all!
I know you have a tough choise and it may be in the best interest of the kittens to not allow them to be born if they are to be released into the wild after they are born.
I wish there was a way to innoculate cats through their food so ferels could be kept safe without having to catch them.
I know you have a tough choise and it may be in the best interest of the kittens to not allow them to be born if they are to be released into the wild after they are born.
I wish there was a way to innoculate cats through their food so ferels could be kept safe without having to catch them.
I would have her spayed if possible and then foster a litter of kittens from the shelter. Good luck trapping.
Katie
Good luck! I'll be thinking of you (and pregnant momma) Wednesday.
I do understand the dilemna - but I agree with Teresa and Katie. I'd get momma spayed. Don't think of it as killing kittens. Think of it as not condemning unwanted homeless kittens to an uncertain, potentially fear-filled disease-ridden or painful life. I'm sure the shelters everywhere are full now (they always are around here), and the homes those kittens would go to are then homes that won't adopt from a shelter kittens that have already been born. Honor them as they should be, and maybe hold a little memorial service (even if just with yourself) for them.
And then maybe take Katie's suggestion, and foster a litter that's already been born!
I do understand the dilemna - but I agree with Teresa and Katie. I'd get momma spayed. Don't think of it as killing kittens. Think of it as not condemning unwanted homeless kittens to an uncertain, potentially fear-filled disease-ridden or painful life. I'm sure the shelters everywhere are full now (they always are around here), and the homes those kittens would go to are then homes that won't adopt from a shelter kittens that have already been born. Honor them as they should be, and maybe hold a little memorial service (even if just with yourself) for them.
And then maybe take Katie's suggestion, and foster a litter that's already been born!
Sending positive trapping vibes your way!
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #6
Thanks for everyones well wishes. I will try and trap tomorrow night, I just have a feeling that I wont get her, but hopefully I will get her. She is so smart when it comes to the trap. I know its the best thing for her to get her spayed, she looks so worn out. She is a long haired orange female with pale green eyes, such a pretty girl. She always hissed at me before when I brought up food but now she stands just a few feet away and waits for me to put the food out. I guess she is just so hungry. Anyway thanks for the good wishes for her. Hopefully she will be ok.
Malynn, I admire your dedication and concern for these cats. You've already been faced with making tough decisions and I'm glad it hasn't discouraged you from continuing to help the cats.
Best of luck with the pretty orange girl tomorrow - fingers are crossed for you!!!
Best of luck with the pretty orange girl tomorrow - fingers are crossed for you!!!
When all else fails, get someone to make you a drop trap. I made one for the Humane Society by me and it is the ONLY trap that catches the allusive females. They caught one last week that they hadn't been able to get for a year.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #9
Well I just got back and I didnt get the one I wanted so badly to get, she would have nothing to do with the trap. I did get another little female though! She is a little tuxedo kitty, a female, very young, less than a year I'd say and she looks pregnant but not that far along. She will go into the vet in the morning and get tested and spayed. I sure hope she isnt positive, she was in the area that had the Feline Leukemia positive and FIV positive female that I trapped a month or so ago. She started coming around as soon as she was gone from the area. I'm not sure where she came from but she is very afraid of people. Anyway I pray that she will be ok. Wish her luck.
I hope it all goes well tomorrow....and YAY for one less breeding female.
Katie
Hi Malynn - Good job getting the little tux! Don't worry, you'll get the other female too.
Sending lots of good wishes this little cat's way - hope she turns out to be fine.
Sending lots of good wishes this little cat's way - hope she turns out to be fine.
Way to go Malynn!
I'm so glad you didn't turn up empty-handed, anyway.
Keep trying - you'll catch the other one.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #13
I picked her up at 5 this evening, she is doing well. Her tests were negative
She is scared, but ok. She was spayed and ear tipped. I transferred her into a large dog crate instead of leaving her in the trap overnight and put in a litter box and food and water, she will be more comfortable there. So far she hasn't eaten anything, I think she is just afraid. She doesn't seem to be in any pain. We covered her crate with a sheet so maybe it will make her feel more secure. I havent heard a peep out of her, no meow or anything. Her eyes are just huge, I feel sorry for her, she doesnt know what's going on. It's gonna be hard to let her go, I get so attached so quickly, but I'm not sure I could socialize her. She is about a year old the vet said. Thanks for everyones well wishes for her.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #14
I released her a while ago, it was so hard to do but she was so scared. I pray that she will be ok and come back to her feeding spot. She took off like lightning, she was always very skittish and wouldnt come close to me. I just hope she will come back and eat. Her other buddy wasnt out there, so hopefully she knew where she was. Gosh its so hard to let them loose but at least I know she wont have litter after litter now. I left food in several spots before I released her so maybe after she calms down some she will come out and eat, she didnt want to eat when I had her in the dog crate, I know she is hungry. She didnt go to the bathroom either, even though I put in a small litter box, but I'm sure she didnt know what it was for. Please send her some good vibes please! Thanks!
Very glad the little tux was negative on her test results!
Just a bit of advice - the next time you get a female cat spayed, try to keep her at least a couple of days, if possible. Spaying is major surgery, and cats need to be monitored to make sure there is no sign of infection or any other problems. Also, make sure the vet administers pain meds. Believe it or not, up until recently, vets often did not give pain meds to cats who were spayed (especially ferals). The new protocol for confining the cat is 5-7 days, ideally. This can be tough to do, I know. (BTW, it's common for ferals not to eat or use the litter for a day when confined). But caregivers were finding that females were sometimes having problems if released too soon after spaying.
Don't worry if this kitty doesn't show for a day or two. Often after being trapped this is what cats will do. Keep to the feeding schedule she was used to, and you should see her again before too long.
Good luck with the orange girl!
Just a bit of advice - the next time you get a female cat spayed, try to keep her at least a couple of days, if possible. Spaying is major surgery, and cats need to be monitored to make sure there is no sign of infection or any other problems. Also, make sure the vet administers pain meds. Believe it or not, up until recently, vets often did not give pain meds to cats who were spayed (especially ferals). The new protocol for confining the cat is 5-7 days, ideally. This can be tough to do, I know. (BTW, it's common for ferals not to eat or use the litter for a day when confined). But caregivers were finding that females were sometimes having problems if released too soon after spaying.
Don't worry if this kitty doesn't show for a day or two. Often after being trapped this is what cats will do. Keep to the feeding schedule she was used to, and you should see her again before too long.
Good luck with the orange girl!
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #16
Oh YAY for YOU!!! I am glad you caught her, and that she seems to be OK now. I help catch ferals and we get them neutered or spayed. Some we find homes for, (if they are not too wild, and can be worked with), and others we have to release again. But we do keep them awhile, to make sure they are OK. I am glad your little one seems to be recovering well. Bless you for caring so much!!!
