Hi, it's Ian from Melbourne, Australia, writing the first of what will no doubt be many messages here. I'm so glad to have found this site! For ten years I've been dealing with the legacy of an irresponsible neighbour who moved away leaving several fertile female cats behind. I was always a dog person but have come to deeply appreciate and love cats in this time. I'll write elsewhere about what this has all involved, but for now I need some help. I've taken probably 30 or 40 cats to the vet over the years for desexing, but usually individually. On a few occasions I've taken several kittens at once who, because they were hand tame and docile, gave me no trouble when it came to getting them into cat carriers. I recently had 4 6-month male kittens attended to with no problems. But there remain one male and three females, two of them tortoiseshells who I've been told are notoriously difficult to pick up and transport from place to place, no matter how tame and loving they may be otherwise. This is certainly proving true in this case. The other female is a grey tabby who may not have been a problem if she hadn't been spooked/alarmed by my abortive efforts with the other two. This is part of the problem, that I lose the surprise factor. I've been scratched and bitten a couple of times now, and have had to postpone 3 vet appointments so far. But now it's getting desperate, 'cause they're 7 months old and the females will soon be in season with an eager Blackie boy responding to their needs...
So, firstly, can anyone suggest an effective way of picking them up which won't allow them to struggle and bite their ways out of my hands? And do you think I'm fighting a losing battle trying to take them all at once, and may have to make individual appointments? 3 of these particular kittens are from a separate litter/mother to the other 5 who were born to one of our females who had escaped from the vehicle taking her to the vets, disappeared for two weeks and came back pregnant...
The "difficult" kids were born in the grounds of an empty house next door, and became trapped/wedged in a gap between a wall and a shed. I heard the crying and tried to free them, couldn't so rang the fire brigade! They were great... but I ended up with an extra family to raise myself in the process.
Sorry to go on at such length, but I'm so relieved to have discovered a site where I can share my concerns and difficulties as well as joys, and maybe get some experienced practical advice.
So, firstly, can anyone suggest an effective way of picking them up which won't allow them to struggle and bite their ways out of my hands? And do you think I'm fighting a losing battle trying to take them all at once, and may have to make individual appointments? 3 of these particular kittens are from a separate litter/mother to the other 5 who were born to one of our females who had escaped from the vehicle taking her to the vets, disappeared for two weeks and came back pregnant...
Sorry to go on at such length, but I'm so relieved to have discovered a site where I can share my concerns and difficulties as well as joys, and maybe get some experienced practical advice.