She Did It!

Laura got the prego twin this morning on Parsells!

I cannot tell you how wonderful this is to me.  I failed with the other twin, she was lactating when she was brought into the clinic, which means she already had her litter somewhere on the street.  Whether they survived or not is a mystery.  But this little girl will NOT be having babies.  And as much as some people are offended and think this is a sin, go to a shelter someday, heck, go to Lollipop Farm and ask to see the cats they have, and the kittens.  Ask them how many will actually survive there?  Go to any neighborhood in America and see these very large and pregnant cats that are running around having litter after litter.  And then go to the rescue groups who have thousands and thousands of baby kittens just born, and where will they go?  There are NOT enough people to adopt them.  What do we do with all these cats?  We can't allow another litter to be born.   I am not heartless, I am human.  I love babies, human and otherwise.  But I am seeing firsthand each and every day what not spaying or neutering your animal can do.  And its heartbreaking.  Dead cats, sick cats, flea infested, FIV, FeLV, all out there left to suffer alone.

Nehemia

Niles

Above are pictures of the two boys that Diane trapped on Saturday for me.  They are both from Niagara. Diane named the little one above after determining that he was a sweet gentle boy and hoped we could find him a home before we had to put him back on the street.  She has named him Nehemia (or Nemehia) which has a meaning, but I am not sure what that is.  Poor Niles will be returned for sure.  He is a bit more feral.  Poor baby.  Thank you to all who called to make a donation on my behalf for the TNR of these kitties.  I could NOT do this without your donations.  It costs $50 per cat.  Thats a lot.  I called yesterday and got two more spots for Thursday.  There is a pregnant kitty I saw a day or two ago at the same spot I rescued Peepers from, and TNR'd another cat there a few weeks ago.  And there are at least two pregnant cats still on Niagara I need to focus on.

Pictures taken this morning.

Mr. Whiskers The Second

Mr. Whiskers The Second, George The Second and Buttons are the next babes I want to rescue.  Mr. Whiskers and Buttons are on Short.  Mr. Whiskers RUNS after my car when I drive away, EXACTLY like Mr.Whiskers did before I rescued him. Nancy, my dear friend, adopted him, along with six others from me.  George the Second is on Parsells - he is such a sweet boy.  He has the same personality as my George. Very sweet, gentle and playful for adult street cats.

Above is a newcomer to this spot on Short. Leery of me, but there each morning. He or she is not fixed, yet. Milly is still around too.  I am sure she suffered after not seeing Captain Morgan around after I found him dead inside his shelter there.  So sad - these cats do mourn, just like we do.  Click on the pics to see them up close.

Lets not forget Elvis and Jellybean, both still needing homes being fostered by my friend Debbi, who promises me updated pictures.  Both of them are praying to find homes this summer!

Have a great day everyone!

"Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen."

Updates

Updates:  The female Laura trapped on Friday turned out to be lactating, so she was released.  Where she had babies is unknown to me.  But so tragic.  Her twin sister is still pregnant.  Diane trapped for me on Saturday and once again got two males.  Its not like you can release them even though you are trying for the pregnant females, which is what I was hoping she would get on Niagara Street.  They will most likely never go in a trap again, and they are the ones getting the girls pregnant so they must be done also.  I am waiting for Diane to get pictures of them so that I can post, but in the meantime, they will both go to the clinic tomorrow morning.

If y'all remember Peepers.  She is the girl I rescued from Parsells on April 9th.  Barefoot and pregnant. Well, look who had her babies!

I kept her warm and safe for a week and she was then whisked off to a woman that I don't know - arranged by a friend of mine - to foster her and help deliver her babies because of how far along she was.  From the pictures, she looks to be a good mom.  I've tried to reach out to the woman for a little more information, but don't seem to get responses from her.  Thats the only hard part of what I do, is when someone, or a rescue group that I don't know takes in my little ones that I love and care for on the streets, and I don't have any say, or get any information from, about the cat.  But that's the chance you take when trying to decide what is best for that animal.   You just have to trust that all will be ok.

It was a very foggy morning,  you could cut it with a knife.  We had heavy downpours, thunder and lightning yesterday afternoon, surely spoiling the many Mother's Day cookouts going on around Rochester.  We definitely need the rain, but how frightening it must be for homeless animals.  The rain came down in buckets, and the sound of the booms of thunder made you jump.

In the quietness of the morning when I go out to feed the cats, just around 5 am. you start to hear the birds.  They make the most eerie sounds.  I sometimes have to stop and just listen, because it almost sounds like baby kittens crying.   Terrible to think it actually could be kittens.

Have a good day all.

""Hope" is the thing with feathers - that perches in the soul - and sings the tune without the words - and never stops - all."

Dumb and Dumber

Lilac - My Very Favorite Flower!

I firmly believe that cats have different IQs.  Some are smarter than others.  Laura was out there again this morning trying to get the pregnant twin on Parsells.  She just notified me that she did get one sister, not visibly pregnant.  NOT the one I was hoping for, but a good catch nevertheless.  I am afraid that thats it.  This poor angel will have her babies on the street.  :(  I am sick over this too.

These cats are smart.  They know its a set up.  :)  But I could go down the street to any other corner and set a trap and boom.  There would be a cat in there by the time I circled back.  The trap would lure any cat with my smelly tuna.  :)  Don't forget, there are at least three more locations that I feed at where there are a ton of cats left to be done, pregnant too.  Niagara is next.  There is a pregnant black kitty there, and another but I can't remember the color, brown tabby I think.  Diane will concentrate on that spot Saturday.  I have two spots at the clinic on Tuesday.

Vanessa!

I received a call back from Officer DiDimenico from Lollypop Farm Humane Society who told me that his officer went to the location of the generator that was running on some guy's back porch on Sixth, who had dogs chained up in the back yard - that I witnessed at 4:30 that morning - and it just seemed suspicious so I reported it, just in case.  Just in case the generator was drowning out the sound of dog fighting going on inside the house.  Humans can do the worst things to animals - when I read something later that morning, about fighters putting dogs in the trunk of their cars and driving around until there was no sound left, it disturbed me so greatly that my imagination raced, and I just had to report it.  He said there was no generator on the back porch, and that the dogs had insulated houses, and seemed in good shape, so they pretty much closed the case.  I thanked him for getting back to me, and for all he and his officers do for the animals.  But I will be keeping an eye on this house!  We must be the voices for these animals that cannot fight back.  Fight what humans do to them.  Please, if you ever see something that just doesn't look right, please say something.  Do something.  You could regret your silence someday.

My children - all brats (be sure to click on pics to see up close!):

Smoky Bokey aka Fang!

Georgie Porgie!

Fang!

Midnight!

Scooter the Stalker

George Loves the Camera!

The Scoot

Mary Jane!!!

Brady!

Leo Beo!

Told ya, that George loves the camera!

Gemma is still missing.  Please say a prayer for her to be found.

GEMMA - She is so missed...

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us."

Orange Julius

Great suggestions from yesterday - on how to find missing Gemma, thank you.  Kristin, can you please make that sign for her today?   That's an awesome idea too.  Gemma from Garson has still not been found as of this morning.  She is in the Lyell/Child Street area in an totally unfamiliar area.  I am heartsick.

I was driving to my next spot on Central, off Sixth this morning when this young kid - black with orangish hair was walking toward the car.  It looked like he was going to ask me, again for something.  I had seen him on the same street near Brenda's house the a few days ago, and now recall seeing him on a corner or two on Bay Street in the past.  I had my window open at that point because I was trying to hear if the generator noise was still going behind a house that I had investigated the day before, but wound up saying hello to this kid who was standing right there.  He did not ask me for money, instead, he asked if I had anything to eat.  My heart sank.  I said, "oh honey, really?"  He immediately went on to explain his situation to me most likely for fear that I would drive off rejecting him.  He said he ran away from home because he was transgender and his family didn't approve.  He was from Buffalo, and he said he wound up in Rochester because he didn't want to go to NYC or anything.  He sounded 'young'.  I am used to people his age because of my nieces.  They all sound alike.  I can relate.  So I questioned him about a few things, where he was sleeping, etc., he said he was sleeping on porches, abandoned houses, etc.  I asked him his name - Julius.  I told him that in 'forty minutes', to be at the gas station down the street and I would meet him back there with some food.  He promised he would be there.  After 30 minutes, I was home making him sandwiches, a banana and bottle of water to bring back to him. Drove there, he wasn't there, drove around, asked a few of the 'girls' on the corners of Bay if they knew of him, they did, thought they had seen him down the street.  Drove around, no Julius.  Drove back home with two sandwiches, a banana and bottle of water.  Its a shame.  He probably found a trick and was doing his thing to get his own meal.  He was not on drugs when I spoke to him, nor drunk.  Just desperate.  I was going to leave him my number too in case he ever 'needed to talk to someone.'   I thought that I would gather some information for him to have for him to get some help if he did call me, or if I saw him again around there.  Oh well.  I will still gather information on where he can get some help and let him know when I see him.

Above are pictures of The Twins I took this morning - actually I think this is the pregnant one only.  Click on the pictures for a more close up look.  The Twins are the young female tabbies that are waiting for me each day, that are elusive to the trap.  One is pregnant, or has had her kittens.  Laura was there early trying to get the prego one.  Before I left for work, I swung by with a cup of coffee for her and a quick chat.  I asked her what she was using for bait and she told me regular wet cat food and I suggested fishy tuna, etc.  She looked at me and said 'are you telling me how to trap?' to which I burst out laughing, knowing I had just told the Queen of Trapping what she should be using We both laughed ..  (at least I hope she was ...  :)).  At that point I thought, you know, I am kind of bossy, aren't I!  I think people should do everything MY way!  :) But I did suggest that my 'girls', the Twins, were not going to fall for the regular stuff, they needed to be lured in with the big guns.  Its been over a week since I tried with them, and last weekend Diane I think used regular food one day, and the next tuna.  She will try again tomorrow.  Its so disappointing to think she may deliver any day outdoors.  I had to chase away a VERY LARGE raccoon off the porch this morning.  I spooked him so bad he fell down the steps trying to run.  :(  Poor raccoon.

In the meantime, there are at least two suspected pregnant females on Niagara Street I need to focus on.  I will call the clinic today to see if I can get two more spots, for a total of four, for this coming Tuesday. Prayers we get them!

Here is my prayer to St. Anthony:

Saint Anthony, perfect imitator of Jesus, who received from God the special power of restoring lost things, grant that I may find Gemma, my sweet sweet Baby that I rescued from Garson Avenue, who has been lost. As least restore to me peace and tranquility of mind, the loss of which has afflicted me even more than my material loss.

To this favor I ask another of you: that I may always remain in possession of the true good that is God. Let me rather lose all things than lose God, my supreme good. Let me never suffer the loss of my greatest treasure, eternal life with God. Amen.

Chain Saw Massacre

First off, I love horror movies.  Second, I can imagine the craziest things in the mornings when I go out.  Hey, its dark, and its 4:30ish.  When I left Short Street, feeding Mr. Whiskers #2, Buttons #2, and the three others there, I turned the corner onto Sixth and saw a red fluffy kitty that looks just like my elusive Butters, and looks like Vanessa's kids Charlie and Pumpkin.  I immediately got out and set a bowl of food and water down in front of a boarded up house, as I do with every freaking single cat I see in the morning outside of one of my 14 locations that I have shelter and feeding stations at.  As I got out I heard this noise that sounded like a tree grinding machine - not sure of the name of those, the kind that tree companies grind up tree limbs and brush in.  I then heard dogs barking, sort of a muffled barking.  I got back in the car and drove ahead a little, got out and listened again.  A distinct loud machine was running, sounded like it was grinding something every so often.  I shined my headlamp into the back of this yard where the sound was coming from.  I saw pairs of eyes glowing in the back.  I crept slowly down the driveway, closer and closer to the back of the house, but not quite, all the while trying to figure out the sets of eyes, and the noise.  And watching for a human.  The house looked dark in front, but there was a light in the back.  I then got close enough to see some kind of generator running on the back porch of this house.  I could not get any closer, not knowing what was going on, and I also determined that the glowing eyes in the back were of dogs, on short chains, but dog houses for them.  Several of them.  They were not barking either, just watching me.  It was absolutely spooky.  I slowly walked back to the car, making note of the house number, and not knowing what to do.  Do I call the cops and tell them there is something odd going on there?  I didn't, but call me crazy, it was very odd.  I wish I had the nerve to report it.  What would you do?

For those of you not familiar with trapping, here are some very good instructions, ones I follow to a T.  Even if you ARE familiar with trapping, these are excellent reminders.  Even if you aren't interested, its interesting reading.  The highlighted portions are what I consider extremely important.

1. Set-up and Prepare for Trapping. Do all of your set up and preparation away from the colony site—remember, feral cats are generally fearful of people. Trapping will also go more smoothly if you don’t disrupt the cats’ feeding area. Throughout the entire trapping process, clinic stay, recovery, and return, you should make the environment around the cats as calm and quiet as possible. This will help minimize their stress. 
   Twenty-four hours before trapping, withhold food, but always continue to provide water. This will ensure that the cats are hungry enough to go into the traps. Remind other caregivers and neighbors to withhold food as well.
2. Prepare the traps
   

   • Line the bottom of the trap and tag the trap. Place newspaper, folded lengthwise, inside the bottom of the trap to protect the cats’ paws. If it is windy, secure the newspaper to the trap with tape—this is done so the wind will not move the newspaper and frighten the cats. Should you open the rear door, be sure to relock it before trapping. If your trap does not have a rear door, you can secure the front door open with a twist tie while you work and then remove it for trapping. You may need to have several different areas to set traps when trapping an entire colony; in this case, tag the traps with a description of the location so that you can return the cats exactly where you trapped them.
   • Bait the traps. First, ensure the trip plate is functioning properly. Place approximately one tablespoon of bait (tuna, sardines, or other strong smelling food—usually the ones in oil work best) at the very back of the trap, so that the cat will step on the trigger plate while attempting to reach the food. You may choose to put the food in a lid or container for this, but make sure that it does not have sharp edges that could harm the cat once trapped. Drizzle some juice from the bait in a zigzag pattern along the trap floor toward the entrance. You should also place a tiny bit of food (½ teaspoon) just inside the entrance of the trap to encourage the cat to walk in. Do not use too much food at the entrance of the trap for two reasons: 1) the cat may be satisfied before making it to the trip plate, and 2) cats should have a relatively empty stomach for at least 12 hours before surgery.
   • Set the traps. Place a trap on the ground and make certain it is stable and will not rock or tip—cats will not enter an unstable trap. Do not place the trap on a hillside or incline. If you are using multiple traps, stagger them and have them facing different directions. Try to place the traps where they will attract a cat and be camouflaged, for example, near a bush. Move quietly and slowly so your movements will not frighten cats away. On your already prepared trap labels, fill in the exact location where you are setting the trap. This will make return much easier!
3. Keep track of the traps at all times. Traps should never be left unattended. Check the traps frequently from a distance. Choose a location to park your car and wait where you are far enough away to give the cats a sense of safety, but close enough so that you can see them. 
   
   There are several reasons to make sure you always have an eye on the traps. Leaving a cat uncovered in a trap for too long will increase the cat’s stress and could lead to injury since they thrash against the cage. (You may want to place a sheet over just the back part of the trap—not the front—before you place the trap so you can easily cover the entire thing after the cat is caught. This could also encourage the cat to go inside the trap since it appears to be a covered, safe place.) When in a trap, the cat is exposed—and could be injured by other animals or a malicious person. Also, traps may be stolen, damaged, or sprung, or someone who does not understand your intentions may release a trapped cat. To be safe, take an exact count of your traps at the beginning and end of your trapping day.
   
   In larger colonies there may be multiple trapping locations. It is important not to leave any traps unsupervised, so consider bringing multiple trappers to help. If you are trapping alone don’t put out more traps than you can keep an eye on.
   
   Be prepared for the fact that you may trap cats that are already eartipped. If you do, it is sometimes best to hold that cat in the trap, covered, until the cats you are aiming for have been trapped.
   
   Trapping a feral cat may take some time, be patient. It may take the cat a few minutes to go into the trap, so make sure the trap is sprung, and the cat securely trapped, before you approach the trap.
4. After the cat has been trapped, spring into action. Cover the entire trap with a large towel or sheet before moving it. Covering the traps will help to keep the cats calm. Move trapped cats away to a quiet, safe area to avoid scaring any remaining, un-trapped cats.
   
   It is normal for cats to thrash around inside the trap. You may be tempted to release a thrashing cat because you fear that she will hurt herself, but cats calm down once the trap is covered. Remember, you are doing this for her benefit. If she is released, she will continue to breed, and you may not be able to trap her again. Also, most injuries from traps are very minor, such as a bruised or bloody nose or a scratched paw pad. 
   
   You should never open the trap or try to touch a conscious or semi-conscious feral cat. Behave appropriately around trapped cats by being calm, quiet, and not touching them, even if they appear friendly under normal circumstances.
   
   When an entire colony is being trapped from the same area, it does not make sense to take each cat from the location directly after the trap is sprung. This could disturb the area and scare the other cats away. Instead, when you are setting the traps out you can partially cover them to help calm the cats once they are trapped. Since they will at least have part of the trap that is covered, they can feel safe and you can keep the trap where it is. This helps reduce stress to the trapped cat and reduce the odds of other cats being frightened away.
   
   Keep in mind that these are guidelines and some situations will call for you to deviate from them. For example, if a cat is severely thrashing around you may need to go ahead and cover the trap and remove it from the area, or if you are trapping in cold weather, cats should be covered and moved to a warm location (like your car) as soon as they are trapped.
   
   During a quiet moment when no other cats are investigating the set traps, or if the trapped cats are making noise and deterring other cats from approaching the traps, remove the full traps and put them in the holding vehicle. Rebait any traps that have had the bait eaten but have not sprung.
5. You may be faced with particularly hard-to-trap cats. Cats can become trap-shy—frightened to go near or enter a trap, or trap-savvy—mastered the art of removing food without triggering the trap. Don’t be discouraged. There are several unique but straightforward techniques to humanely trap hard-to-trap-cats. Follow these tips to help with your efforts.
6. Count your traps again when you are finished to ensure you didn’t leave any traps behind.
7. Take the cats to a veterinarian or a spay/neuter clinic. You should have already made appointments for sterilization and vaccination before beginning to trap. Confirm that only dissolvable sutures will be used, eliminating the need for a follow-up visit to remove stitches.
   
   If your appointments are not the same day as the trapping, keep the cats indoors in their covered traps and make sure they are dry, in a temperature-controlled environment, and away from dangers such as toxic fumes, other animals, or people. Your trapping should coincide with the clinic’s ability to neuter right away—or the very next morning, so the cats don’t remain in their traps for long. (IMPORTANT: It is possible for a cat to die from hypothermia or heat stroke when confined in a trap outside. A simple guideline—if it is too hot or cold outside for you, then it is too hot or cold for the cats.)
8. Never move trapped cats in the trunk of a car or the open bed of a pickup truck—this is unsafe and it terrifies the cats. If traps must be stacked inside the vehicle, be sure to secure the traps with bungee cords or other restraints and place puppy pads or newspaper between the stacked traps. If an unsecured trap tips sideways or upside down, it can open and release the cat. If it seems precarious, it won’t work. Don’t take the risk.

AFTER SURGERY:

1. The cats should be returned to you in the same covered traps in which they were brought to the clinic, with clean newspaper inside. You will receive medical records, including rabies vaccine certificates. Be sure to save these!
2. After surgery, allow the cat to recover overnight. Keep the cats indoors in their covered traps and make sure they are dry, in a temperature-controlled environment, and away from loud noises or dangers such as toxic fumes, other animals, or people. When the cats are recovering from anesthesia they are unable to regulate their body temperature. It is important that the recovery location is temperature-controlled to keep the cats from getting too hot or too cold. A basement or bathroom will usually do the trick.
3. Put your safety first. Keep the traps covered to reduce the cats' stress. Never open the trap doors or allow the cats out of the trap. Do not stick your fingers through the bars or attempt to handle the cats.
4. Monitor the cats. Check the cats often for their progress; keep an eye out for bleeding, infection, illness, and lack of appetite. If a cat is vomiting, bleeding, having difficulty breathing, or not waking up, get veterinary assistance immediately. Ask the clinic before the surgery how to reach them if there are surgical complications. If a cat is vomiting while still unconscious, her head should be turned to avoid choking. Sometimes this can be achieved by gently tipping the trap to no more than a 30 degree angle to change the cat’s position. Be careful when tipping the trap so that you don't harm the cat by jostling her too much.
5. Feed and provide the cats with water after they regain consciousness.Wait eight hours after surgery before feeding adult cats. Kittens can be fed shortly after waking from anesthesia. When feeding the cats, lift the back door of the trap very slowly and allow only a small gap—one-half to one inch at most—to open. Slide a plastic lid with a little bit of food on it through the gap without putting your hand inside the trap. You may want to purchase or borrow a device called an “isolator” or “trap divider” for this purpose. An isolator can be very helpful, especially if you have a trap that does not have a back door. Always relock the trap door. (If you don’t have an isolator device to keep the cat in the back of the trap, and you feel you cannot even slide a plastic lid in without the cat trying to escape, then don’t feed them.)
6. Hold cats until they recover. Cats usually need to be held for 24 hours after surgery, depending on recovery speed. Male cats and often females can be returned to the trapping site 12 to 24 hours following surgery, as long as they are fully awake and do not require further medical attention. In some cases, females may need 48 hours of recovery, depending on their specific circumstances. You may return nursing mothers as soon as possible, once they completely regain consciousness so they can get back to their kittens. Make sure all cats are fully conscious, clear-eyed, and alert before release. If a cat needs further care (longer than 48 hours), you will need to transfer her to a holding pen. You may also need to transfer cats to a clean trap in case the newspaper is soiled during recovery. 
   
   In order to transfer a cat from a trap to another holding device like another trap, pen or carrier, you will need an isolator. Begin by putting the front of the covered trap and the front of the new device facing each other. Make sure the new device is covered. Next, insert the isolator in the middle of the trap where the cat is, forcing the cat to the back of the trap. Once this is done, open the front of the trap and the front of the new device. Make sure that the two fronts are touching and will not separate. Then lift the isolator and remove the cover. The cat should go toward the new covered device. As soon as the cat enters the new device, make sure the door is locked.
7. Return the cats. Release the cat in the same place you trapped him or her. Open the front door of the trap and pull back the cover. Or, if the trap has a rear door, pull the cover away from the back door, pull that door up and off, then completely remove the cover and walk away. Do not be concerned if the cat hesitates a few moments before leaving. She is simply reorienting herself to her surroundings. Sometimes a cat can “disappear” for a few days after she is returned. She will appear eventually. Resume the feeding schedule and continue to provide food and water—she may eat when you are not around.
8. Thoroughly clean the traps with a nontoxic disinfectant when the returning is complete. Whether the traps are borrowed or your own, they should be cleaned before they are stored. Then they will be ready for the next trapping adventure. Even traps that appear clean must be disinfected—the scent of the cat previously trapped may deter other cats from entering.
9. Trap the remaining members of the colony if necessary, after a short break of a week or two, and complete the colony’s Trap-Neuter-Return effort. Be prepared for the fact that you may re-trap cats that are already eartipped. If you do, it is sometimes best to hold that cat in the covered trap until the cats you are aiming for have been trapped.
10. Relocation of the cats should only be done as a last resort. Alley Cat Allies does not recommend relocation; it should be done only under extreme circumstances when the cats’ lives are in eminent danger. In that case, be fully prepared by reading our Guidelines for Safe Relocation of Feral Cats.

Here is what they say about hard to trap kitties - I need to reread these so that I can get The Twins:

Tips for Successful Trapping of Trap-Shy Cats

Cats can become trap-shy—frightened to go near or enter a trap, or trap-savvy—mastered the art of removing food without triggering the trap. Don’t be discouraged. There are several unique but straightforward techniques to humanely trap hard-to-trap-cats.

Conduct Trap-Neuter-Return Guide »

Tools

Drop Trap Instructions »
See a List of Drop Trap Options »

• Get the cats used to eating out of the trap. A short break can reduce a cat’s fear of the trap. During this time, keep feeding that cat and others in unset traps for about a week or more before trapping again. Feed the cats in the same place and time as always. Load the trap the opposite way you normally would, so that the food is in the front of the trap and the front door is closed, because you do not want the trap set. Take off the back door or tie it securely open. Place the food by the entrance of the trap, then inside, then over a period of days gradually move it closer to the back. Feed in the same place and time as always. Monitor the traps while the cats eat to ensure traps are not stolen or a cat is not accidentally trapped. The cat will see other cats eating inside the traps and will likely try it as well. When you are ready to trap again, withhold food for 24 hours.
  
• Try using a larger size trap. Some cats may be more comfortable entering a larger trap, which has a taller opening and wider sides.
  
• Make the trap more enticing. Consider using the following smelly treats as bait:
  - Bits of jarred baby food (not containing onions)
  - Catnip
  - The pungent herb valerian. Make a strong-smelling broth by boiling Valerian Root in water, and then douse the trap with it.
  - Other types of bait, depending on what you originally used, such as “People tuna” in oil, mackerel, canned cat food, sardines, anchovies, or cooked chicken.
  
• Use distraction techniques to help coax the cat onto the trigger plate. You may be able to guide some cats into a trap with a laser pointer. You can use a pointer from quite a distance away, too. Another distraction technique is to hang a piece of cooked chicken from a string above the trigger plate. The cat will likely need to step on the trigger to reach the chicken.
  
• Place the trap in a more secluded location or camouflage the trap. Moving the trap to a quieter or more protected location can raise the cat’s comfort level enough to enter. Or, you can try to blend the trap in with its surroundings. First, hide the trap under a bush, under a leaning piece of wood, or in a box so the cat feels like he is entering a dark hole. To further disguise the trap, cover it with branches, leaves, camouflage material, burlap or other natural materials. Even simply covering the trap with dark cloth or a towel can do the trick. Be sure that the coverings you use do not interfere with the trap door closing.
  
• Withhold food for up to two days. For a particularly trap-savvy cat, you might consider withholding food for up to two days, but do not withhold food for any longer. Never withhold water.
  
• Spring the trap yourself. It is possible to manually spring the trap. You can do this by propping the trap door up with a piece of wood or soda bottle and tying a pull string to it. When the cat you want enters, simply pull the string to close the trap. Be sure you practice first.
  
• Use a drop trap. If you are still unable to trap a cat or if the cat has learned how to steal bait without springing the trap, consider using a drop trap, which does not rely on a trigger plate to close the trap door. Drop traps allow you to catch a cat without having to force him into a confined space. These traps are generally large, mesh covered squares that, when triggered by you with a rope, fall down over the cat. All drop traps allow you to easily transfer the cat from the drop trap to a regular metal trap. Using a drop trap is often a last resort, because it either requires you to build or purchase your own or find one to borrow. Also, using a drop trap is cumbersome enough that it normally requires the help of another trapper. Read these instructions for building a drop trap. Purchase Alley Cat Allies' Collapsible Drop Trap.
  Take a break from trapping. If a cat will not go into a trap after repeated attempts, take a break for a week or two (except in the case of an injured cat). The trap-shy cat needs to be reconditioned to not be afraid to go in the trap. It is important to stop trapping until you have trapped the trap-shy cat. Continuing will most likely result in the cat becoming increasingly reluctant.

Gemma is still missing from her home in the city.  I am very upset by this - I cannot begin to tell you.  Then again, if any of you has ever lost a cat, I am sure you know the feeling.

The Twins were at their spot on Parsells this morning, along with the fluffball boy that is always there waiting for me.  He now allows me to pet him, he is so happy to see me with the wet food.  The girls always wait on the steps.  I was so mad at them for not taking the bait from my two trappers the past three days.  So mad! That one is pregnant and I need to get her before her babies are born on the street!


Meow and Chow Fundraiser will be held on July 18th!

Have a nice day.

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

So much 'news' this morning.  I found out yesterday about a tragic fire that happened over the weekend in a suburb of Rochester called Hamlin.  The house burnt to the ground, with over 20 cats inside.  The house belonged to an animal rescuer, who I know.  As a matter of fact, she took in two kitties from me.  The first one she actually adopted for herself, she loved her so, and years later, years ago, she took in a pregnant kitty for me from Third and Central.  I can't begin to know the grief and excrutiating pain one must feel losing that many at once, in such a vicious way, I just can't fathom it.  My heart goes out to this girl, and anyone else who has lost animals due to a fire.  We recently had a dog kennel fire where many many dogs lost their lives.  Such tragedies.

Just this morning, I passed a terrible  accident on 104 where it looks like everyone in both vehicles died, but I pray they didn't.  The cars were mangled beyond belief.

Have a plan people.  I know accidents happen, gas lines rupture, etc., but have a plan.  Double check things in your house to ensure that when you leave, your house is secure.  Don';t leave the dryer on.  Cherish your lives each and every day.  And drive safe.  It takes less than a second to be distracted and die.

GEMMA

My beloved Gemma, who I rescued from Garson, Mylene fostered, and was adopted by a family with young children, has gone missing. She was mistakenly allowed to escape from an open window yesterday morning.  I am SICK over this.  I rescue these cats and am very careful when adopting out these cats to ensure that they will be safeguarded.  Just like you would a human child.  I know accidents happen here also, but my God, I am still sick over this.  Please say a special prayer for Gemma to be found today.

The 'girls' were out in full force this morning, on practically each corner of Bay Street, hawking their wares, and the johns were perusing what they were selling.  I saw one make a purchase.  The other tried to sell, but not sure if it was him, or her, who declined services because all I saw was the girl walking away.  They are all colors out there, all ages.  One white girl looked like she was late 50s early 60s, but I will be you bottom dollar she is in her 40s.  Pretty sad really.  But I am not as judgmental as I used to be.  Everyone has to do what they have to do in order to survive.  Do I wish they had alternatives to this?   Yes, but obviously, these girls are in it for the drugs that they buy after they do their thing.  They are addicted, and this isn't going to stop them.  Pretty sad.

Its TNR Tuesday and as usual I am pretty uptight today (I think you can see why from above anyways).  I had it easy because Diane trapped the two over the weekend, and I have to pick them up and bring to the clinic.  I didn't have to set a trap today.  But boy I could have.  There are so many out there that need fixing.  There is one very pregnant girl on Niagara Street I need to focus on next. But the main focus this morning is one of the Twins on Parsells, who is very pregnant also.  Laura is there at this very moment trying to trap her.  I pray she takes the bait.  If she doesn't, this little girl will have her litter on the streets.  She will most likely give birth to several kittens, who may or may not survive, and she herself may not survive the birth.  She is a small girl, and sometimes these births don't turn out so well.  I am not an expert, but sometimes they have a hard time getting the baby out, and the placenta.  Look at Ruthie, that baby was too big to come out on its own.  That would have been a tragedy had she had to give birth outside.   (UPDATE:  Laura was unsuccessful).  :(  

So Porter and Prince from Parsells will go to the clinic this morning to get snipped, and if we are lucky enough to get the Twin girl, one of the boys will go on 'standby' so that we can take care of this girl.  Its heartbreaking.  Just so many out there.  Today will be $150 if I do all three. This is very expensive and I can't continue to do it without help.  Its SO important to spay and neuter your pets.  I can't stress enough.

"Grief is like the ocean' it comes in waves, ebbing and flowing.  Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming.  All we can do is learn to swim."

I Have a Dream

I have a mission.  For 2015, I want to try to spay and neuter every cat out there in the City of Rochester so that I can reduce the population, and dwindle down the amount of cats I go out and feed every single morning of my life.  At 4:15 am.  Wind, rain, blizzard, lightening.  It doesn't matter, they are waiting for me, and they are hungry.  I feed over 50 cats a day, and those are the ones I can see and count. 

Diane offered to help me with my mission because of how hard it is for me to TNR AND feed these cats at the same time, all the while needing to get back home to get ready to go to my full time job and be there by 7ish each day.  Diane helped to trap two last weekend, which turned out to be heartache for one pregnant female Ruthie - who I had been feeding for quite a while through the winter, and she survived in my shelters at night during those brutal months, and her baby.  Cedric was also trapped, and let go.  I think I saw him yesterday. 

I asked Diane to focus this past weekend on trapping two young grey girls on Parsells that I've nicknamed The Twins.  They are both young, and one is for sure pregnant.  Diane has a drop trap which I believed was better at getting just the right kitty.  Maybe that is not the case.  Maybe its just easier to get the cat to go into this because its a much more wider opening.  Nevertheless, she did get two kitties, but neither of them The Twins.  Both are males, Prince and Porter!  And its not like you can just let a cat go that is unneutered or spayed, so they will be my two kitties for tomorrow at the clinic, the only two spots I have allotted to me for this week.  I was heartsick yesterday thinking about what I would do.  I need to prevent this cat from having her babies on the street.  She is a baby herself. 

Prince

Porter

I then got up the courage to ask the other expert drop trapper Laura, if there was any way she could help me, and to focus on The Twins - or at least just the pregnant one, and I pray she is going to try for me this week.  Diane can only help me on weekend mornings, and hold the cats until Tuesday morning for me until clinic.  Laura is a busy woman in the land of TNR.  She is president of Habitat for Cats and most likely gets a LOT of requests for help.  I am grateful for her help.  I did try myself this morning and set two traps with some smelly tuna in it.  Wouldn't ya know it, George The Second from across the street, an unneutered male, but friendly, was in the trap when I went back to check on it.  I let him out, petting him as he carefully walked out of the cage.  He will be an easy boy to get, but I am holding off on him because I really want to find him a home.  He is JUST like my George, the cover boy of the newspaper article on me that I am so proud of.  A good boy in need of a home.  No where in sight were the girls, the twins.  She was there when I got there but as soon as she saw that trap, she hid.  I don't know how you trap hard to trap cats, can anyone suggest anything?

This is my lot in life, and I am determined to go on and get these street cats homes of their own, and determined to get those that are not sociable at least into the clinic for their shots, and fixing.  It costs me a fortune to do this so if anyone can help out by donating for a spay or neuter, I would be forever grateful because I've said this again, to borrow a quote from you know who - it does take a village.

Please mark your calendars everyone for July 18th at the Creekside Inn in Rush. The 2nd annual Meow and Chow FUNdraiser to benefit Rochester's homeless cats. 100% of the money raised goes to TNR (trap/ neuter/return), food, shelter, and vet costs to get these babies ready for adoption. There will be live music by the Honey Badgers, great food (even vegetarian!), amazing items to bid on, raffles, full bar, and tons of fun with the kindest, most fun-loving people in Rochester! Last year was a blast, this year will be even better!!! Jello shots too if we can work out the logistics!

Have a great day everyone!

"God sleeps in the minerals, awakens in plants, walks in animals and thinks in man."