Today was one of those days. I walked into the shelter to find a Mom cat that was obviously hopelessly feral with the sweetest little litter of six kittens:
It's hard to see them, but they're fluffy and there's a bunch of little Torties in there, I think. I haven't been able to get close enough. Sadly, this Mom cat will die tomorrow. Her kittens will die with her unless we can find somebody to take all six. I have a lead on someone that sounds very nice, so I'm hopeful we can save her babies tomorrow after Mom is gone.She's such a good Mom and it rips my heart into a million pieces that she has to die because somebody abandoned her at some point in her life.
On a happier note, I rescued a HUGE shelter favourite today - "Graham":
I didn't go in to rescue Graham today, but I couldn't leave him behind one more time. Graham is one of those cats with huge doe eyes and lays on his back and kneads in the air with his paws. He has been at the shelter for 2 and a half months waiting for rescue, but not euthanized because he's so sweet.
When I brought Graham to the veterinary clinic today, he sniffed at "Bob" the clinic cat and licked the top of his head. Love that boy!
I also rescued a cute little girl named "Tortalini":
Tortalini could never be mistaken for a boy - she has a little girl's delicate face and she's very sweet - only 4 months old. :)
I'm embarrassed to say that I also nabbed a 6 week old brown tabby kitten who is safely ensconced in "The Land of Dirty Underwear". I was going to take a picture of him, but he was nestled sound asleep in a big pile of dirty t-shirts on my son's floor. He looked peaceful and happy, but I just couldn't bring myself to post a picture of a kitten on my blog in the middle of a pile of dirty clothes. I'm sure you understand. :)
I can't resist a brown tabby kitten sitting alone in a cage. I don't know what I'm going to do with him, but he's a party-kinda-boy and has already met "Howard". He and Howard instantly started to play together. It was like two 4 year old boys in the park! "HEY new guy! Let's play!"
The adoption events from the weekend were successful despite the poor weather. I'm not sure how to measure the success - cats were adopted into loving homes - ALWAYS a good thing. I suppose my measurement for success is the answer to: "How many cats can I rescue on Monday?"
Time to check in my newest foster - maybe he's off the pile of dirty t-shirts. Probably not - they seem to like it best there.
10 comments:
Oooh I'm glad Graham got out! Charlie Brown was the first adoption we had at the adoptathon this weekend in Kitchener, was he ever popular! I still have Kentucky at my house but I'm hopeful he'll be adopted soon, there were 2 families that were seriously interested in him at the very end on Sunday, but they had to go home to discuss it with spouses/families etc.
All of my kittens went too, I'm sad, but really glad that they went to such good homes, in a few weeks I'll have room again when Celeste's litter is adopted, sorry I don't have room for those 6 kittens now, I hope that the person you have a lead on is able to take them!
I wish we didn't have the one-bag garbage limit, or I'd take the six. Right now I have to use the vacant house next door as part of my quota.
Oh Steve, you're such a good man, spreading your garbage around so you can take more cats!lol. Beth maybe you can find someone willing to take in feral foster moms and their kids, it's not really that difficult you just need a big dog cage and a spare room, leave the Mom and kids alone in the cage with litter, food and water for 1 week then open the cage door and Mom will gradually come out of her shell. As long as you don't try to pick her up she should just hide in the cage and she will take care of the babies until they are over 3 weeks at which point they'll come out by themselves. Once the mom knows she can trust her new home, she will come out and relax, she can't be expected to do that in a shelter environment. Maybe they could put the feral moms and their babies in the dog cages at the shelter??
Caroline: The problem is, these cats are often considered unadoptable, or there is a LONG wait until they are. That's when a rescuer like me says, "How many NICE adoptable cats will die at the shelter while we wait for this ONE feral cat to come around?"
The shelter is a city pound, and they won't hold these kind of cats - there is no room. :(
There is a major calling for those angels who rescue feral cats. God bless 'em. :)
Hey, Steve... are you in the City of Toronto? I would totally donate a couple of the "extra garbage" sticker tags I have if you are... I mean, if that's the only thing keeping those kittens from getting a chance...
Renee
I love feral cats. I have 1 very feral, and 6 semi ferals or as I like to call them "the unfriendlies". These cats don't have interest in me at all and as long as they are happy (and healthy) that is all the matters. They even have outdoor enclosures to run around in. So when people say "I can't believe you have 13 cats" it is not like I have 13 cats that are all over me all them time, only 6 of them are :-) Ferals mean that I can give them a chance without stretching my time and affection to the limit...otherwise I would only have my 6 "friendly" cats and the other 7 would have killed years ago. There is definitely some positives to having ferals.
Home to Many: Thank you so much for saying that. There's a special place in heaven for those who care for the ferals. :)
Another successful rescue day. I really hurt for the feral mom, God, it seems harsh, doesn't it.
Today we add 2 cats to the mix here for at least a month. I guess you know I have 6 seniors and now we will have 2 youngun's staying that are 6 months and 4 years. THIS should be interesting. I will post lots of pics. Hugs, Deb
The other problem with fostering ferals is they don't always learn to trust other people once their foster works at socialising them - they become bonded with that person and more often than not, you end up keeping them because they are with you for so long and then the foster space is taken up... and the mom teaches the kittens to learn feral and they are harder to adopt than the cutesy playful ones.
Saying that, I love my little feral princess and wouldn't trade her for my dream maine coon
aww.. that's so sad about feral mummy and her litter of 6.. would the shelter allow her to raise her kittens until they're weaned then maybe someone can find a home for them? then maybe mama cat can be spayed and released? i don't know..
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