Cat Rescue
Cat rescue is such a heartbreaking job. Especially if you love kittycats like I do. It is very physically hard work, there is a lot involved with finding the colony, setting the trap, and most importantly, checking it really frequently to see if it worked. Then, it's emotionally difficult when you do trap anybody, because the reality is: you still have to find a rescue organization who will take the babies, and you have to find a vet who has an early morning spay appointment, or who is kind and caring enough to make room for you. If I can't find a spay appointment for Friday, I'm not sure what I'll do. Try to make an appointment for saturday? Take her to (don't say it) Animal Control and have her euthanized? Let her loose again, unspayed? She'll never get in a trap again if I do the latter, so it's almost more humane to have her euthanized, although... none of the solutions are great. I have to hope for pity and kindness and understanding. And then I will probably have to shell out a hundred and fifty bucks or so.
I caught the momma cat tonight, but she is wild and full of fear. I feel sad for her babies, because I have no idea where they are, and I'm sure they are terrified and alone and ... alone. I have to catch them too, or the feral cat colony will keep growing. I feel sad for momma cat; in a terrible cage, no food or water (in case they can spay her tomorrow, no food or water before surgery), unfamiliar place, terrifying car ride, awful human carrying her in the cage, setting her up on two chairs in the basement. More of a crawlspace, really, but keeping her off the floor keeps her dry and out of her own poo if she has to go, and there is a door to the space so she is safe from any predators, and it is dark and cool and mercifully quiet down there.
I feel like a monster, doing this. It is so heartwrenching every time. The cats don't understand. I AM THE ENEMY! I know that having her spayed and releasing her is not a happy-fuzzy-feel-good ending, but it is the best life she can have at this point. Better than having endless litters of kittens and being hungry all the time. Or dead.
I know I am doing the right thing, but man, it breaks my heart. I weep for the feral cats of the world. I do my best, my friends, and I know my best is not enough. I love kitties too much. I hope momma cat forgives me.
Forgive me, forgive me, forgive me.
Comments
I'm so sorry you've got a mad, hungry, thirsty mama cat in your basement right now! So... okay, what about maybe feeding and watering her right now, and then getting a vet appointment in the afternoon tomorrow? Is that an option? It might alleviate her immediate anxieties and help her relax and maybe even sleep, and then if you don't feed her tomorrow she'd be good to go in the afternoon i you can get an appointment for her.
Oh man. I know that I wouldn't be strong enough to do what you're doing... Not this time, and hopefully all kitties will suddenly hear the message of abstainance and stop having sex until marriage, but in case you capture some more kitties in the future, my old roommate went to school in Blacksburg and the new vets traveled around in the summer and provided free spays and neuters throughout Virginia. It might be worth a call. I'll also drop her an email to see if I can get more info. Hang in there.
Note: this might be a place to start http://www.lovethatcat.com/spayneuter.html
These might be your people:
http://www.operationcatnip.org/
Seriously, you are drenched in good juju. Also, probably in cat fur. Are there other vets in the area that might do a low-cost spay? Around here, I know that a lot of vets do special deals over the weekends. Or is the challenge in finding a vet who will accept a feral cat for a patient?
I still have to pay for it (and they talked me into a rabies shot and a pain reliever shot) but at least we got her in. Plus, I always give money to shelters and the SPCA, this can be my donation this year to the welfare of animals. I might ask if they will give me a discount for this feral, since my vet offered (in March) to spay the mom cat for free if I caught her.
I had a little cry about it all last night, and then I fell asleep watching TV. I feel better about it today. I mean, ultimately I know that I am doing the best thing for this kitty, I wish I just had Kittycat telepathy to tell her, "I am helping you, pretty girl. I am sorry it is so confusing, but it will get better."
I'll make sure her babies find great homes, like Fatbutt and Coal did. I still need to work with Gus, he is still in the shelter, still sort of distrustful of people. I'll work with him once we catch this last batch of kittens.
You should see this mommacat. She is a gorgeous tiny tortoise-shell with big yellow eyes and bright white toes. She is absolutely a beautiful cat. It's heartbreaking that such a pretty girl has had such a difficult, wild life. She would've made a lovely pet. In her next life, maybe. At least I can do that for her babies.
Oh and PS to Erin: The cage she's in is a hav-a-hart trap, it would have been almost impossible to open it to give her food and water without the possibility of her busting loose. Better that she's a little hungry and a little thirsty (which she's probably used to) than to let her loose again. If I catch the babies, i'll put them in a Dog Crate I bought with a litter box and food and water. We'll probably foster this set until they can go to adoptions. I am keeping my fingers crossed that we catch them. If we don't, then all of this was for nothing.
u are such a good person, cait. no one was blessed with a bigger heart. xxoo
don't worry, the babies will find YOU. And also, cats -- even feral ones -- are incredibly receptive to human energy, so even though she was scared she knew on some level that you weren't going to hurt her or eat her or whatever.
I wish that I could come and get Gus myself. I have had success with feral cats in the past, and I think since our house (prior to the fatbutts we have now) was free of other animals and kids and we both know a lot about cats, it's a calm environment for a wild cat to be domesticated. Plus, after rearing Ruckus, I've learned a LOT about feeding wild beasts. Holy shiz -- only give 'em one teaspoon of food at a time, otherwise they inhale everything they can sink their teeth into and then have tummy troubles. Better to give them 68 tiny meals a day. Plus, Ruckus had a busted leg & hip, so it was SUPER sad to see him all constipated when he couldn't even squat. Poor baby. Makes me cry all over again.