Playing God

I had the opportunity to trap, neuter, return yesterday.  Thanks to Sue from Another Chance Ranch (see her link in yesterday's post), she was able to get me two spots at her clinic in Batavia.  I decided I needed to get two cats off the street that I highly suspected were pregnant, both being the above kitties, Laura and Sparkles.  Through a friend of a friend, someone offered to help with the transportation in getting these cats to Sue, who was driving in from South Livonia and then onto Batavia.  This person picked up the cats in the morning, because I had to be at work, and drove them to Henrietta to meet Sue for her next hour drive to the clinic.  Late yesterday I was informed that these two females were indeed pregnant, both full term.  They were spayed regardless - which means their kittens were aborted.  Now, as much as that saddens me, I can't tell you how elated I am to know that I got these two in the nick of time.  They would have had their kittens on the street, where not only other critters would have eaten them, but most of the kittens born would not survive.  Sparkles had five kittens inside her.  Not sure about Laura.  If I had had a home for these cats to go to, this would be a different story.  But I did not have that choice.  The woman who transported was very upset, and told me I shouldn't be playing God, and she will never help me transport again.

One of the most controversial issues is whether or not to spay a rescued pregnant cat. While some people are repulsed at the thought of killing kittens, others believe the question begs a larger issue, that of the overpopulation problem.

Stray female cats have an uncanny knack of finding shelter immediately before giving birth, and will suddenly appear at a doorstep, seeking human help. Other female strays will find themselves cast out into the streets, punished for getting pregnant, because their owners failed to spay them and keep them indoors. Or the owner, in an attempt to salve their conscience, will surrender the pregnant female to a shelter, as a "found" stray, or summarily dump her at the door of a known rescuer.  All too often, these pregnant females are kittens themselves. It is fairly common for a cat to have its first period between four and six months of age, and to give birth as early as at six or seven months.  The survival of the mother cat, and any kittens that live is rare.

Animal rescue groups, humane societies, and TNR groups are overwhelmed in trying to stop the birth of new kittens, and "kitten season," is met with dread by these groups. Dread, because they know that this year's kitten crop will be responsible for the deaths of last year's kittens, or older cats, at shelters. There simply isn't enough space to house them all, and something must give. It's a matter of supply and demand. In a world that loves kittens, kittens are a dime a dozen.

The pros of this are:
1.Spaying a rescued pregnant cat will help contain the overpopulation problem. There are simply too few homes for the huge number of homeless cats.
2.Spaying a pregnant rescued cat will help prevent the deaths of living cats and kittens. Even though a pregnant female cat might be adopted by the finder, with good homes waiting for her kittens, each of those kittens will indirectly be responsible for the death of a shelter cat or kitten that might have been adopted into one of those homes.
3. Very young cats and very old cats rarely enjoy the kind of physical condition that would warrant allowing them to give birth. Birthing and nursing a litter of kittens would easily take their last ounce of strength, and could kill them. This truth is even more evident in the case of pregnant strays, who may have already borne dozens of litters of kittens. (A female cat is capable of having at least three litters of kittens each year.) The kindest and most compassionate action anyone could take with one of these cats is to spay/abort her. I have to believe this, as much as it bothers me.
There will never be an end to this issue until cat owners become responsible, by spaying and neutering their cats. As more kittens are born each year, more stray cats will appear, and the cat overpopulation problem cycle continues. That is why this issue is just a small part of a greater issue: Spay and Neuter.

I Did It!

Yes, I trapped Sparkles this morning.  She didn't like it one bit, but she is in the trap in my back yard, ready for transport to a clinic in Batavia where my good buddy Sue, President of Another Chance Ranch http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/NY705.html (not to be confused with Another Chance Pet Rescue http://www.anotherchancepetrescue.org/) got two appointments for spaying.  And a wonderful girl by the name of Vicki is going to do the transporting to and from Sue.  Sue lives in South Livonia, so its a big drive for her, so Vicki will be the go between.  I also got Laura, who is an adult female from Grand Avenue that I also suspect to be pregnant.   She was easier - she allowed me to pick her up and throw her in the carrier.  Both are in my backyard now, miserable as can be, but will not be reproducing anytime soon after today.  Thank God.  I thank Vicki and Sue too!  

Thats all the good news.  Here's the bad:  There are two kittens that I am 98% positive are pregnant on Grand, out of three.  The third is a female and needs neutering anyway.  They are very early in their pregnancy, I suspect.  I need to get clinic appointments fast for these young things.  One is a very fluffy black female kitten, with the prettiest face I've ever seen.  Seriously, her eyes are beautiful.  And the other is a little baby tabby, kind of like Taffy, who I rescued two weeks ago, also pregnant.  If anyone would like to foster a pregnant kitten, I could get them easily, they are very sweet little things that gobble up the food each mornign when I arrive.  I must get them off the street, at least get them spayed, and quick!

Wednesday's Child is Full of Woe

“Monday's child is fair in face, Tuesday's child is full of grace, Wednesday's child is full of woe, Thursday's child has far to go, Friday's child is loving and giving, Saturday's child works hard for its living, and a child that's born on a Christmas Day is fair and wise, good and gay.”  

I received the following from the girl who took in the kitten that was in early stage of pregnancy - I was overcome by her note - I can't tell you how good it feels when someone falls in love with a street cat that I have personally rescued.  She is not the first one to fall in love, there have been many others - Jenifer with Mama Girl, my mother with Gracie and Biffer, Wendy with Timmy, my sister with Digit and Buttons, Mary and Mike with Mike and Mary (yes, they named the cats after themselves! :)), there are just so many...  to know that I was able to save so many cats from a life of misery, and placed them in the loving and caring hands of so many kind people, it just WARMS - no, not warms, it MELTS my heart!

"Janine,
I may end up keeping Taffy for myself...she is such an angel and doing so well with the others....Uggh...thanks so much...LOL. Seriously though...she is doing great and it warms my heart to see her running and playing with the others a little everyday...If it weren't for her growing tummy you would never know she was expecting. Being a kitten herself I hope instincts take over when it gets to be that time. She loves just watching me and the other cats too...she is taking in how we interact and what goes on in an indoor lifestyle. SOCIALIZING I think is the big term...K...drop me a line...talk to ya later!!"

I did not feed at Sparkle's spot this morning.  I am praying I can get her tomorrow as one of the two I am planning on TNR'g (trapping, neutering and returning (uggh)).  The other is another adult female I suspect may be.  I will have to keep them overnight and then return them due to their surgeries that day.  I HATE having to return cats, but it must be done, as there is no where or no one to take them.  Say a prayer for me that I am successful! 

Quote of the day:  "Don't miss the donut by looking through the hole."

Tuesday's Tales

"To succeed in life you need three things:  A wishbone, a backbone, and a funnybone."

Isn't that the truth?  I am so glad I have all three.  I am glad I am able to see the humor in life, and I am the first person to laugh at myself for doing one of the million stupid things I've done in my life, and even in conflict with others, and as I get older, I let things go now, its just not healthy to carry misery and burdens - I hung onto things when I was younger, and all that got me was wasted time...  There are lots of people missing one of those bones...  :)

Two things I discovered this morning:  Jimmy is now Jimina after reaching back there and discovering he is a she.  You have to realize I go out in the darkness of the mornings, its sometimes hard to tell who is who and what is what, and Jimmy just looked like a boy to me this whole time!  But no, he is a she, and her new name is Jimina.  The second discovery is that I believe Sparkles, the kitty on 4th and Pennsylvania, is pregnant.  She is a sweet little thing, runs to me when I pull up, rolls on the ground in front of me, but is wary of me.  Sometimes she gets close to me, and sometimes she won't.  She got close to me this morning and I put my hands around her belly for the one split second she allowed me to, and I think she is.  Not sure what I am going to do here.  I have a chance to get two cats neutered this Thursday through Sue at Another Chance Rescue, which is mainly a dog rescue, and I had already chosen two of the three very young females who actually let me pick them up on Grand Avenue that need to be done, but now I have to rethink this.  And I would most likely have to trap Sparkles, and not sure if she will fall for it.  So, its a tough call what I do.  I have already contacted Habitat for Cats for appointments but they can't give me anything until mid-April.  So, I just have to cross my fingers, and pray that these females keep their tails down!

Wild Wild Weekend

There is never, ever a dull moment in my life.  I don't have time to sit and read a book, but I make time to sit and read all the old newspapers that build up on a weekend day - I don't want to miss any news or good articles that could benefit me.  Sometimes there are good ones, like the guy going around building shelters for the dogs in the city.  What a good man that one is.  Bless him.  Wish there were folks who would do the same for cats.  Just place them around the city, with straw in them.  At least the cats would have shelter from storms.  And I like columnist Marc Hare.  He keeps it real, for sure.  Even mentioned me in an article on civility!

Anyways, onto the good stuff.  On Thursday, I was introduced to someone who wanted a cat younger than a year.  We made plans to have me come bring two of mine, Rufus and Buddy, to visit to see which one she wanted, on Saturday.  So I did.  And she wanted both of them rather than split them up.  I left with a very heavy heart, as this was the first time I had been 'fostering' a cat and had to let him go.  You get so attached to these little babies.  Buddy was my cuddler, and Rufus was semi-feral when I got him and after three months was a little love bug too, but on his own terms.  Well, by Sunday, not even 24 hours later, I got a call asking me to come get the cats.  Apparently they weren't compatible with her young daughter.  I was heartbroken having to leave them, and heartbroken to have to pick them up.  It was a chance for my house to get back to some order, with two less cats, and a thought that I could foster more.  So, Buddy and Rufus are back home, and grateful from what I can tell.  And I have learned a lesson too.  I must screen people before I give my cats to them.  Careful consideration must be given to the size, age, type and temperament of prospective pets. Ask yourself the following questions:  Do you have the patience and commitment to understand your cat's needs and ways of communication? Some cats seem aloof, but they bond with you for security and company.  Realize, unless the cat is just a baby, all cats need time for adjustment, and they will come to you when they are ready, you cannot force a cat to be held, especially one brand new to your home.  You have to feel them out, get to know them, and let them get to know you.  Trust is a big factor here.  How old are your children? If they're under 6, you must remember that kittens have sharp teeth and claws, and strike back when teased.

On Sunday morning, I also had the opportunity to Trap, Neuter and Return two cats for a once a month clinic.  Julie, from Another Chance Pet Rescue went with me in the morning.  Bless her heart.  I realized after yesterday's ordeal (for both me and the two cats), that I need someone for moral support.  I have a VERY hard time letting a cat back out into the world after I have trapped it.  But I know I did the right thing, in fact, one of the cats I trapped was a girl, and in early stages of pregnancy.  My friend Mary came over in the afternoon to not only help me go get Rufus and Buddy from these people's home, but then came with me while I released the other two.  It was just so much easier for me to do with someone helping me.  Thank you both of you for your help.

"I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world.  This makes it hard to plan the day."  Evelyn Brooks White

Home Sweet Home!

Sandy is now Sasha.  She was tested and all came out negative.  She is about 10 months old, and will deliver in about three weeks.  Such a lucky little girl.  Thanks to a foster mom named Joanna who took her in and is making a home sweet home for this little one.

The picture above is from a home for sale in California.  Its a multi-million dollar home in Calabasas that I was browsing through.  I am a big dreamer.  Although as I looked at the prices of these homes, I thought to myself, what I could do with all that money.  And these people spend these enormous fortunes just to put a roof over their head.  Think of all the cats lives that could be saved with a tenth of this wealth.  Unbelieveable.  The glass is beautiful for sure, but life is so much more precious.

Sandy

Well, I did it again.  I rescued another pregnant kitten.  Isn't she BEAUTIFUL.  I have named her Sandy, but only briefly, because I am relinquishing my rights to her after 4 pm. today when this kind woman comes to pick her up and take her.  But she does look like a Sandy to me.  Very very beautiful little girl.  Kittens having kittens.  Its a crime.  I first saw this girl about a month ago on Third, and have not seen her since until this morning, when I went there to feed.  First I had to chase off a very large raccoon.   Then she came up to me and started purring, and nudging me, and I felt her belly.  Very round and full.  I had no carrier in my car, but she came willingly.  I got her home and into my spare bathroom.  Got to work and sent out a desperate e-mail and thank God a few offers came in.  I am going to be TNR'g a few in the next few days thanks to a couple offers of help I recently had.  We've got to get this under control!  Its hard forme to do, but its obvously imperative it gets done, little by little, one by one.  Here are some interesting statistics:
 
•It is impossible to determine how many stray dogs and cats live in the United States; estimates for cats alone range up to 70 million.
•The average number of litters a fertile cat produces is one to two a year; the average number of kittens is four to six per litter.
•The average number of litters a fertile dog produces is one a year; the average number of puppies is four to six.
•Owned cats and dogs generally live longer, healthier lives than strays.
•Many strays are lost pets who were not kept properly indoors or provided with identification.
•Only 10 percent of the animals received by shelters have been spayed or neutered, while 78 percent of pet dogs and 88 percent of pet cats are spayed or neutered.
•The cost of spaying or neutering a pet is less than the cost of raising puppies or kittens for a year.

70 million!  Holy Moly!  Please, spay and neuter your pets!!!  Have a wonderful weekend!