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Need help in Ohio
Hey folks.:^)
Not sure what you'll think. It's a long story to explain but I was talked into adopting a stray cat and moved into my present neighborhood with it. I wanted the cat to be free to come and go so I installed a cat door but he wouldn't use it so I propped it open and other cats ended up coming in. Now the first cat disappeared long ago and I have 15 cats camping out in here since it got cold in the fall. I was finally able to close the door and make the ones here use it properly so I shouldn't be getting more in but they are driving me to bankruptcy and it is a lot of work caring for them and I just got a notice from the city that they will start fining me for letting any run free. I don't consider myself an owner. Anyhow, I can't afford to fix them or give them all the attention they should have. I don't really want to alter them and I'm a vegetarian myself anyway so it bothers me that I'm feeding them meat. I just love them so much though and I'm attached to all of them but I have to start trying to adopt them out to good homes. I'm not sure some are even adoptable though because some are feral. Some more than others. There are a few I can maybe start with though and a new litter and maybe one on the way. I was thinking one was pregnant but she may just have gotten too fat.:^) Anyhow, I would appreciate any suggestions e-mailed to me.:^) Sincerely, Scott |
#2
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"Scott Eversole" wrote
I wanted the cat to be free to come and go so I installed a cat door but he wouldn't use it so I propped it open and other cats ended up coming in. Now the first cat disappeared long ago and I have 15 cats camping out in here since it got cold in the fall. Dunno if this of any help, but there's a company that makes a electromagnetically-latched cat/dog door, that will only open if the pet is within a foot or so of the door. There's a trigger for the latch in a small dongle that attaches to the pet's collar. I was finally able to close the door and make the ones here use it properly so I shouldn't be getting more in but they are driving me to bankruptcy and it is a lot of work caring for them and I just got a notice from the city that they will start fining me for letting any run free. I don't consider myself an owner. Anyhow, I can't afford to fix them or give them all the attention they should have. I don't really want to alter them and I'm a vegetarian myself anyway so it bothers me that I'm feeding them meat. I just love them so much though and I'm attached to all of them but I have to start trying to adopt them out to good homes. I'm not sure some are even adoptable though because some are feral. Some more than others. There are a few I can maybe start with though and a new litter and maybe one on the way. I was thinking one was pregnant but she may just have gotten too fat.:^) Anyhow, I would appreciate any suggestions e-mailed to me.:^) That's a toughie. My vet, and the adoption shelter where I got my cat -- both said that stray populations (in urban areas, particularly) are rife with infectious cats, and that nose-to-nose contact is all that is required to pass along some of the nastier, fatal diseases. The shelter made me sign papers promising not to let my cat live outside, or even BE outside without supervision. I hate that I have to keep him in 100% of the time, but he's got a pretty good life, I suppose. As heartbreaking as it may sound, you may need to call your local animal control folks to assist you with your options regarding your "pride" of kitties. -- a d i d a s i n h e a t politics, multitracking, digital video http://jprestonian.modblog.com/ |
#3
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"I don't consider myself an owner. Anyhow, I can't afford to fix them or give them all the attention they should have. I don't really want to alter them and I'm a vegetarian myself anyway so it bothers me that I'm feeding them meat" Scott, Legally you became their "owner" when you allowed them to stay in you home and you began to feed them. There are organizations that can assist you with the costs of spaying/neutering these animals. Contact Spay USA, Alley Cat Allies. If you DON"Y take responsibility to get these animals "altered", then you must be willing and ready to take on the expense of caring for (more) unwanted kittens and finding suitable homes for all of them. Do you have any idea how many kittens can be born in a year's time? Each intact female, that is at least 9 months old, can have up to 3 litters in a year. The average number of kittens per litter is usually 4. Are you sure you want this responsibility? Regardless of your own eating habits, cats are carnivores and as such EAT MEAT, deal with it. Feed a quality brand of dry food if feeding canned food is such a turn off for you. ". . . I have to start trying to adopt them out to good homes. I'm not sure some are even adoptable though because some are feral . . .. " A good home would be one where the "owner" would get the animal altered, see to it that all medical needs were met and keep it inside. None of these cats are "feral"; truly "feral" cats avoid contact with humans, would not venture inside a building inhabited by humans. What you have managed to em mass are several neighborhood strays along with quite a few "free-roaming" pets, and possible some "pets" who got outside and ended up "lost". I would strongly suggest you find a no-kill shelter and turn the bulk of these animals over to them. Any you should chose to keep need to be taken to the Vet immediately for complete check-ups (for infectious diseases) and to be altered. Close and permanently lock the cat door, and keep the animal indoors. It would seem your area has regulations against allowing pets to be free-roaming. Jeff stated, "My vet, and the adoption shelter where I got my cat -- both said that stray populations (in urban areas, particularly) are rife with infectious cats, and that nose-to-nose contact is all that is required to pass along some of the nastier, fatal diseases." Most of these infectious diseases can be prevented through inoculations and boosters, however, once the animals become infected there isn't a cure., only control of the symptoms. There are upper respiratory infections, feline leukemia, feline HIV, to name a few. Plus there's the flea and ear mite problem, internal parasites and the like that can cause serious illnesses. It sounds to me that it is time for you to do the responsible thing and get help in properly caring for these animals, find them new, permanent homes and doing your part in helping to control the massive pet over-population. |
#4
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Thank you for your suggestions. I'll take them under advisement.:^)
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#5
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Love you but you have got yourself a problem, they must
have passed the message along that your a soft touch. I am wondering where the first cat went to though didn't you say he wouldn't go out through the cat door? best wishes for your problem to be solved Jean.P. Scott Eversole wrote in message ... Hey folks.:^) Not sure what you'll think. It's a long story to explain but I was talked into adopting a stray cat and moved into my present neighborhood with it. I wanted the cat to be free to come and go so I installed a cat door but he wouldn't use it so I propped it open and other cats ended up coming in. Now the first cat disappeared long ago and I have 15 cats camping out in here since it got cold in the fall. I was finally able to close the door and make the ones here use it properly so I shouldn't be getting more in but they are driving me to bankruptcy and it is a lot of work caring for them and I just got a notice from the city that they will start fining me for letting any run free. I don't consider myself an owner. Anyhow, I can't afford to fix them or give them all the attention they should have. I don't really want to alter them and I'm a vegetarian myself anyway so it bothers me that I'm feeding them meat. I just love them so much though and I'm attached to all of them but I have to start trying to adopt them out to good homes. I'm not sure some are even adoptable though because some are feral. Some more than others. There are a few I can maybe start with though and a new litter and maybe one on the way. I was thinking one was pregnant but she may just have gotten too fat.:^) Anyhow, I would appreciate any suggestions e-mailed to me.:^) Sincerely, Scott |
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