Zazou is gone/escaped & in trouble

Bad news. Zazou was vomiting, so I called the vet and went
in the room to clean up.

Long story short, terrified cat got
out. I saw only out the corner of my eyes - she looked like
she went in direction of stairs to the upper level (where pet door is)
But she could have gone towards crawl space (even though the doors
were closed and only slightly ajar -)

So she is either (god forbid because how will I ever get to her??)
in my crawl space/inside walls of house (very dangerous!!) OR
made it outside. I have checked everwhere in the house - I
don't think she is in the house though.

Either way she was probably going into labor at that point -
or was distressed and needed a vets help.

I am crushed, sad, and wanting to quit. I feel so responsible
for this tragedy. First I had one run over on the highway
and now this.

Had I left her alone maybe she'd be with
her kits in "safe" home territory. We live across from
a horse barn - I am hoping she had time to get there and birth
somewhere there. If of course she is not in my house.

I put out food/water in the crawl space ceiling area. I called and
tapped a can and then left it. I hope to god she is able to
move and not trapped if she is up in the house.
And oh the poor kittens!!

Oh, and the little foster kitten is a girl not a boy! She
got spayed yesterday. She's a good little girl! Soon
ready for her forever home...

Say prayers for Finding Za and kits, or maybe even
just the kits - I keep hoping my little Lexi will bring
them home if she finds the nest outside. ....

All the hood cats know I have food... so, maybe maybe
she'll show one day...

How heartbreaking and scary! Poor Zazou, she just didn't understand that you were trying to help!

At least we know she is a very smart kitty. I pray she finds a safe place to have those babies, and lets you get them before they go wild. We can only do the best we can...unfortunately we don't have full control over these little ones. And cats are so smart...if she knew about the pet door, my guess is she has found a place where she feels safer to have those kittens!

I must agree with Beckiboo here - cats are extremely smart creatures, and usually to give birth they find the place they find most comfortable and most safe for their kittens. They may not realize that it would probably be better to have them inside. It's just their instincts... So long as she isn't stuck somewhere (God forbid) I'm sure she'll have the kitties fine. I hope that Lexi might even find them or something like that.


ALL the *HUGS* in the world to you and Za, where ever she is.


I will be praying for Za & her kittens each night.
I really hope they're OK.

Oh NO!!! We hope and pray that you find Zazou and her kittens.Cats are very stubborn when it comes to them having their kittens,they never want to have them were you want them to have them.Please keep us updated...

Big VIBES to you, Zazou, and the babies, hope she is found soon. And a Gaurdian Angel to watch over her until you can

Opilet....I think in future..you should simply trap and have these cats spayed. Unfortunately there are so many homeless cats and the chances of retrapping a feral are often low (which is why at the Alley Cat Allies clinic we fix EVERY feral cat..pregnant or not). I think it would be best at this point to try to involve a feral cat group that can assist with trapping and ensuring that these cats are fixed.

Please contact Metro Ferals:

http://www.petfinder.org/shelters/VA78.html

And Alley Cat Allies:

http://www.alleycat.org/

Had I left her alone maybe she'd be with
her kits in "safe" home territory.

Click to expand...

Or maybe she would have been run over or killed by a predator or died of another cause...."outside" is not "safe". Also...there is the real possibility of her becoming pregnant again, and again, and again and without any intervention...her kittens would have the same future.

Katie

Thanks Katie. I've been working with the Humane Society - they are OVERWHELMED out here. I'm it as far as taking care of this colony goes.

I'm not experienced, I've messed up so please dont make me feel worse than I already do!!

I kept the Momma
because she was "2 wks" from birth, per vet and they didn't want to do a kitty abort. Plus, they were going to take the kittens from me to adopt out, so I already had HOMES for them. Good ones from the vets.

Of course, If I'd have known it would go so wrong, and be so hard
on Za, I'd have simply done the spay. I didn't do it, because I
wanted to do the right thing. Which the vet said was to let
her have the kittens.

As to getting a group to help, if you think you've got one that is
willing to come out and take over, please send me the info.

I would be delighted to give up responsiblity of feeding and trying to trap
the Momma and Daddies and babies that are out there. (Which I almost
never see anyway, they are so feral.) I do it because I can't find
anyone else to help with the trapping and feeding. And if I don't try,
who will?

I can barely find the resources to take care of Spice, let alone
a feral colony. But I'm trying.

Originally Posted by opilot

Thanks Katie. I've been working with the Humane Society - they are OVERWHELMED out here. I'm it as far as taking care of this colony goes.

I'm not experienced, I've messed up so please dont make me feel worse than I already do!!

I kept the Momma
because she was "2 wks" from birth, per vet and they didn't want to do a kitty abort. Plus, they were going to take the kittens from me to adopt out, so I already had HOMES for them. Good ones from the vets.

Of course, If I'd have known it would go so wrong, and be so hard
on Za, I'd have simply done the spay. I didn't do it, because I
wanted to do the right thing. Which the vet said was to let
her have the kittens.

As to getting a group to help, if you think you've got one that is
willing to come out and take over, please send me the info.

I would be delighted to give up responsiblity of feeding and trying to trap
the Momma and Daddies and babies that are out there. (Which I almost
never see anyway, they are so feral.) I do it because I can't find
anyone else to help with the trapping and feeding. And if I don't try,
who will?

I can barely find the resources to take care of Spice, let alone
a feral colony. But I'm trying.

Click to expand...

I'm not trying to make you feel worse about the situation...I know you are really trying to help these cats.

I think what would be really good is if you could come to the Alley Cat Allies spay/neuter clinic on April 9th (PM me for the information). That way you could talk to other "trappers" and see how the clinic works.

Also...you aren't the only one who has had a pregnant feral wise her way out of your home.....so many of the trappers I know have stories of the "one that got away" through screened in windows, vents and even plastic carriers.

Katie

Opilot, life is a learning curve. As you are learning from your experiences, so are the rest of us, by reading your posts. You did the best you could with the info and experience you had.

Go to the clinic with Katie, and learn some more. I'm sure there will be a lot of people there who know much less than you.

Unfortunately, in rescue and fostering, you can't look at each single animal to know if you are suceeding. You have to look at the overall benefit. While the Zazou's may break your heart, the little orange kittens on their way to be adopted make it worth all the heartache.

I know you will continue to worry over Zazou and her babies. I have a past foster who was semiferal when I got her. She tamed pretty well, and was adopted, then escaped within a few days. I still worry about Jill, and wish she had been microchipped. Then maybe if she was found, at least I would hear that she was ok. The not knowing hurts.

I hope Lexi continues to be the bridge to Zazou, and lets you know where she is.

Opilot..the more I think about this...the more I think the clinic would be an awesome place for you....first, you could see the Alley Cat Allies clinic in action, second, you can meet a bunch of other people who can share stories and hopefully can provide you with the assistance you need. Everyone is really great and they even serve lunch! (it's provided by Alley Cat Allies).

You could volunteer in Recovery (watching the cats wake up) or Grooming (cleaning the cats ears and brushing them) or you could volunteer with me in Transport.

If anything can make you feel better about TNR..this clinic will!!

Hope to see you on April 9th for some serious snipping!!

Katie

Thanks all. I will probably take TNR up on her offer - when are
the clinics held?

I feel okay about TNR - for a kitty like Zazou, being outside
was and is obviously the only way she is going to be happy.

I just wanted to grab those babies so bad! The good news today
however, is that Zazou's box was USED last night. I don't think
it was by my babies, as I kept the basement door closed last night.

I opened up all the doors in the basement area however -
including the one to the utility room (which has an open ceiling,
where the cat could go up and down).

I put food and water out by the box today - I am leaving and will
check it tomorrow am. Also keeping the basment door CLOSED.
That way, none of my kitties can go down.

Also, little orange girl - Princess Miew Miew (I think that's her new name!)
is doing VERY well after her spay. She curled up on my lap, and let me pet her. She's purred for me, and we cuddled on the bed a bit before I put her to sleep. I made the vet give me something other than Metacam
for pain relief - since some cats have been reported to have random allergic reactions to
it, and died of kidney failure.

When I go to work, like today, I leave her in the small bedroom, with
a box, some toys and food. She can be quiet and on her own, and
the big cats get some rest - plus Lexi can go in and out thru the pet door
without me fearing that Princess Miew Miew will escape!

Originally Posted by opilot

Thanks all. I will probably take TNR up on her offer - when are
the clinics held?

I feel okay about TNR - for a kitty like Zazou, being outside
was and is obviously the only way she is going to be happy.

I just wanted to grab those babies so bad! The good news today
however, is that Zazou's box was USED last night. I don't think
it was by my babies, as I kept the basement door closed last night.

I opened up all the doors in the basement area however -
including the one to the utility room (which has an open ceiling,
where the cat could go up and down).

I put food and water out by the box today - I am leaving and will
check it tomorrow am. Also keeping the basment door CLOSED.
That way, none of my kitties can go down.

Also, little orange girl - Princess Miew Miew (I think that's her new name!)
is doing VERY well after her spay. She curled up on my lap, and let me pet her. She's purred for me, and we cuddled on the bed a bit before I put her to sleep. I made the vet give me something other than Metacam
for pain relief - since some cats have been reported to have random allergic reactions to
it, and died of kidney failure.

When I go to work, like today, I leave her in the small bedroom, with
a box, some toys and food. She can be quiet and on her own, and
the big cats get some rest - plus Lexi can go in and out thru the pet door
without me fearing that Princess Miew Miew will escape!

Click to expand...

The clinic is April 9th at the Centreville Animal Clinic, 13822A Braddock Road, Centreville, VA 20121....plan to be there by 9:30 AM to check in and help with getting everything set up (there are usually bagels and juice). Since you are a guest...just ask for "Katie". Everyone knows me.

Also...I'll keep my fingers crossed that it was Zazou who used the box last night.

By the way...are you still planning to bring Princess Miew Miew to our adoption event next Sunday?

Katie

I agree- from all I have read on my short time on the board, Katie knows her stuff. It is a great idea to learn from her and others there. You are doing good but it is never easy - we have made many mistakes here too and have learned. It's tough but we care for the cats and like the old civil rights slogan, keep your eyes on the prize.

Oh, goodness...it's like reading a thriller! I'm up, I'm down...where's Zazou?!? This is stressing me out, and I've never even met the kitty!!!

I sure hope she is inside. Maybe you can offer some kitty beds downstairs, and she will decide one is good for her babies. If she is still in the house, you will still have a good chance to tame those little ones when they arrive!