The MLP Arena
Pony Talk => Off Topic => Topic started by: prettypony55 on March 03, 2012, 11:23:32 PM
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Hi guys, I know this post is weird being here on the arena, but I thought I might reach some different people this way. A few days ago I was skimming my local craigslist and found a post that made me stop and think. Basicly long story short, a man lived on the same road as a church. He noticed that this church had a lot of cats surrounding it and started to talk to the pastor. Apparently a older man had died recently up the street for this man and the church and his family put his cats ouside. The church has decided that these cats must go now!
At first they wanted to shoot the cats to get rid of them, but the man talked them into letting him try to find homes for them first. He has been given 1 week to have them removed from the property or they will be shot if they cannot be caught. I have been in contact with the man feeding them and I have decided to try to help him out.
There are around 14 or so cats. 5 of them are very friendly and all black with gold colored eyes. 2 are long haired and the other 3 are short haired, and adults. The rest are feral to some degree. He is not able to touch or get close to the remaining ones. Now, this man and his wife are willing to pay for each cat to be given all the vet care they need! They are getting each cat spayed or neutered, all shots, nails clipped, flea medication applied and feline aids and leukemia tested. They wnat all these cats to find a home some wheres. I have a woman willing to take a few on her horse farm, and someone wnats one of the long haired black cats.
The cats are currently located in Port Jervis NY. Between them and myslef we are willing to drive the cats to there new homes! I wont go outside the north east, but I will go to PA, NY,VT,CT, MA and a few more states!
I am posting this here becasue I know so many people here are animal lovers! Please spread the word about these guys. I have them on a few craigslist pages, and on my facebook page. If you or know someoone or youself that would likea cat, or could foster 1, please email me at [email protected] If you pm me I will send you my cell phone number too.Thank you everyone for taking the time to read this long post in last ditch effort to save a few unwanted cats!
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Good luck! I hope you can find them all homes!
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I really wish I could take them to my parents' farm ... but they live in southeast TN. I hope you get homes for them.
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Best of luck tryig to get them homes <3
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Thanks guys!!! I have a lot of people interested from craigslist and kijji. I havent been able to make contact with the man feeding them today. I have spent many hours of my day trying to get things all straightened out and organized. I really hope this guy is serious about doing this and not jerking me around. I talked to him for about 2 hours yesterday and he was very pleasent and nice to talk to. I am just hoping he is busy himself and hasnt had a few extra minuetes to chat.
BTW - hads anyone trapped cats before? Is there any helpful tricks you guys use or know of? Thanks so miuch for all your warm wish's!!!
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If they are somewhat tame, food and some gentle pets after they get used to your presence is the least traumatic way. I would try to start spending time with them now so relocation is easier. Other than that, live traps. I am going to share an abridged version of your post on my FB as I have several friends in the NE. I am not posting your email addy so I will let you know what responses I get.
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Thank you for your advice it is greatly appreciated! I am willing to try to go where the cats are. They are about 2.5 hours away from me. The man feeding them still has not responded to me. He said he and his wife would pay for the vet expenses, so even if I knew exactly where they were I just cant go bring a dozen cats home with me. I cannot afford all their vet bills. I am willing to foster a few of the friendly ones. There are 5 freindly ones I have been told you can actually touch. The rest apparently are semi feral and cannot be touched so we will have to live trap them. I have 2 traps thats people will let me borrow.
BTW - I also have another question that maybe some one can answear for me. These cats have been outside for some time now, if their aids and leukemia tests come out positive is there any point of doing the rest of the vetting, to be returned outside? If they are released to a barn / farm area with aids or leukemia, wont I be making a situation worse? I dont want to infect other cats, or cause them long term pain and suffering. I have never trapped and released before so I am kind of flying by the seat of my pants on this and will welcome any help or advice!
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If they test positive for AIDS or Leukemia they need to be homed in an indoor only situation and need to be in an only cat home or one with only other positive kitties. They can still live a very happy life but precautions need to be taken. Do you have any local rescue groups that can help out with the rescue?
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Haha, my local rescues wont touch these guys because they are feral, and mostly black in color. Plus they are over flowing with cats. No, unfortunatly we are on our own. I was thinking that if the feral ones tests come back positive in might be kinder to humanly put them to sleep. I know this is not a wonerful idea, but I couldnt in good concious send sick cats outside to live with other healthy cats. Thank you Jessica for all your help!!!
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If the feral ones test positive, I would agree with you. If any of the non feral test positive, I would still try to look for homes, not farm settings but indoor homes. But I wouldn't worry about it too much unless the area is already high in positive numbers. All three of my kitties were rescues, one was born feral. None have tested positive for anything more serious than intestinal worms, which was taken care of with a standard wormer. You're very welcome.
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Feral cats are cats that grew up in the wild and have never had experience living with people while strays are cats that used to be around people but now they are on the street. Since you said they used to belong to someone I have a feeling they are stray and not feral. If this is the case, then with a little cleaning and defleaing, they might make great housecats. Did you let the rescue know that these cats used to belong to someone or are they just assuming they are feral because they live outside.
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Hi there - I told the rescues (that would listen) to me the whole story. From the best I can understand the man that died has some as pets. When he died his family put them outside. I have been told they are all adults, with no kittens. The man that is feeding them now says a few look like teenagers. Like a cat in between a kitten and adult cat. I havent seen them in person, and only saw one ok'ish picture of the black ones. I honestly have no idea the extent of the situation. I am hoping to get down there and see what is going on. They are about 2.5 hours away from me, but me and my boxer(dog) will make the trip!
Good news though! The man feeding them did email tongiht and said he will call me tomorrow!!! So I am very happy to get the show on the road. I have an appointment with my vets for 1 of my dogs tomorrow and will talk to her about it.
When I first got involved with this I thought for sure most if not all the ferals would be put to sleep. But... I have gotten so many emails from wonderful people about letting them live in barns. Since this whole thing started I have also gotten involved with a few people on facebook that are working with a high kill shelter in NC who are trying to find homes for the cats in the shelter. So, I have decided to try to help them with there ferals too. I still have a lot to work to do with this obviously. I sincerly hope the man feeding them is for real and is willing to put his money into these cats. I know its going to be very expensive to do all the proper vet work. I have mentioned this to him several times and so far is standing by what he said.
I will have to talk to the vet about the aids/leukemia situation. I have no idea how long they have been living outside. It could be a week or 2 years. This is also somthing else I need to ask and find out. I also thought about getting them de-wormed as well. I want the ones that are going into someone home, and the ones I am fostering to be de-wormed. But should I have the feral ones de-wormed as well? Or is it just a waste of time and money? I have always had indoor cats so this whole outdoor thing is un-charted territoty for me.
Thank again guys! All comments and tips/advice is greatly welcomed! You wont hurt my feelings by saying anything to me. I will update this thread ones I find out some new information.
Sarah
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Thank you for helping the cats. Every time I read about someone like you I feel a little more hope that things will get better in the future re cats and other pets that have been let out and abandoned. Cats always seem to pull the shortest straw, like people don't think of them as 'real' pets or something.
I would try to capture as many of them as possible asap. It's very possible they are not feral but just strays.
I have captured many cats around here over the last years. All of them where shy and impossible to get near until captured. Some of them panicked when they were trapped but quickly calmed down. Once we got them inside most were calm and easy to handle, comfortable lying on my lap and so on. Those the cat shelter here took in no problem.
Only one, a big strong male, remained shy and a bit aggressive for a few weeks after captured. We kept him here and I worked with him daily. After about three weeks something happened, his behaviour changed, he started acting like a kitten! Very friendly and even cuddly towards me. Like he 'remembered' being a pet long ago, and went back into it so to speak. The cat shelter took him in and he was adopted soon after this.
You need a trap of course and unfortunately I have no advice on how to get one over there. The one I used I borrowed from the cat shelter here. The shelters you have been in contact with, did you talk to them about a trap? if they had one?
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I'm afraid I've no advice, but I wanted to offer some encouragement! You are a fantastic person for taking on a situation like this, it makes me so happy that there are still those who care for and want to help stray, black cats. It really is wonderful, and I wish you the best of luck - please keep us updated!
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I don't live in your area, but I wanted to also say a big thank you for doing so much to help them! If you have the means and the funds to deworm the feral cats, it certainly would benefit them. I work in the veterinary field and lots of times kittens are born with worms so if they are never dewormed from the start they never get rid of them. But I understand if you can't right now because I know that could be costly and working with feral cats is a chore in itself. But I think everything you have done so far is already a big help to them :) I hope all goes well, and keep us posted as you are able!
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What a wonderful thing for you to do for the kitties! I've taken in 4 strays myself and they truly seem to appreciate their new home. Plus, cats are nice because they can work for their keep! I'm sure that's why you have so many prospective homes; a stray cat makes a wonderful mouse catcher :P
Anyway, thank you again and good luck! If you need any help from Ohio, please let me know :)