You have yet to meet my cat Isis. She knows how to open doors or I'd foster
the special needs cats.

--
Panther TEK: Staying On Top Of All Your Computer Needs!
www.members.cox.net/catprotector/panthertek

Cat Galaxy: All Cats, All The Time!
www.catgalaxymedia.com
"Kalyahna" wrote in message
...

Special needs: epileptic, diabetic, early stage renal disease, early stage
hepatic lipidosis, FIV+, FeLV+, ringworm+, IBD, semi-feral (only in need
of
socialization, really)... though half a dozen other personality or
behavioral issues could likely qualify for 'special needs.'

If you have a bathroom or a bedroom with a secure door, CP, then you have
the capability to foster FIV or FeLV+ cats, along with any other special
needs animal. I'm sure you're quite aware that neither disease is passed
by
one cat breathing in another cat's direction.
I have a pair of brown tabbies in my bathroom, for example. One of them
has
an ulcerated eye and would, at the shelter, literally lie in her own urine
out of fear. She wouldn't eat unless food and water were put directly in
front of her. In my bathroom, I can hear her brother playing with a
jingle-toy, and she came out to use her litterbox and then get attention
during only her second day. This weekend, they're getting moved into the
bedroom so that I can take two semi-feral kittens with URI that will need
medication at least twice daily plus very necessary socialization. I
didn't
like the idea of a cat peeing all over my bathroom, but I gave her a
second
chance, and she'll get adopted if I have to keep her in foster care until
someone expresses interest or she can get an office or a place at a
satellite multiple cat center. If she had continued to lie in her own
urine
and never move and never eat, she would have been euthanised. It wouldn't
have been for any physical illness, but for the mental deterioration.

As for spay/neuter and the whole overpopulation program there are still
going to be people out there who fail to get the message. But I think
the
key to winning the battle is through constant education. I know on the
adoption end at some shelters you can't adopt a cat unless they are
spayed
or neutered. When I adopted my cat Isis they would not allow me to take
her
home until this was done.

ALL of our animals are altered before they go home. This includes rabbits,
and some of the local vet students are also neutering rats for us. We
offer
decreased redemption fees (or in some cases, waive the fees altogether) if
the owner will allow us to alter their pet if they cannot afford the
redemption fee on its own. It's been suggested that when people give up
litters of kittens, we offer to spay the mother and waive the surrender
fee.
It -does- all come down to education, but how much educating is getting
done
when it's just arguing back and forth and there's never any agreement?