What the Fudge?

First off, thank you for the kind sentiments that some of you expressed this past week - its been a rough one!

I don't think a lot of people who are friends with me on Facebook read my blog.  If they did, over time, they would learn that TNR is exactly that.  There are many kinds of cats out there on the streets, some are friendly, some keep their distance, and some you won't even see because they are wild, feral cats.  They range in age from newborn to senior, if they are lucky.  Some are very sick, most are somewhat sick, and very few are extremely healthy.  When you trap, you are getting a cat that you have every intention of returning to its location after its been spayed/neutered.  There are occasions when you can actually grab a cat and put it into a carrier for spay/neuter.  If the cat is sick, most likely the vet at the low cost clinic will tell you and ask if you want a shot of Convenia.  This is what happened with me, about Melissa, the boy, that I trapped yesterday morning.   She also had gooky eyes, but the vet said its a case of upper respiratory for this kitten, but she wouldn't recommend euthanasia.  Euthanasia is something that crosses my mind a lot over the years that I have been doing this.  If a cat tested for Leukemia positive, I would have that cat put to sleep rather than putting it back out there.  This little baby Melissa is a feral kitten.  She is unhandleable.  You cannot put drops in her eyes, or give her pills.  She was given a shot of Convenia and was going to be released this morning.

Instead, I woke this morning, went out to the porch and discovered she was gone, trap and all.  I found out a few minutes later ON FACEBOOK, after complete panic, that someone had come and gotten her to try to help her.  This is a person with a huge heart.  And I had put it out there on Facebook about the kitten, just saying how much I hate TNR and how much I hate releasing these poor babies, and she took it one step farther and came and got the kitten.  I have very mixed feelings about this.  Not only did she do that, but she got bit and wound up going to emergency.  Fearing rabies.   Which is very very unlikely.

And now what are we going to do?  I guess stay tuned?

On top of that, Skippy, who I knew was friendly, was one I was able to grab from Parsells yesterday morning for neuter.  Very sweet boy, but needed to be fixed.  So after arriving back to my house from the clinic last evening, I decided to keep him in my bathroom overnight.  I opened the door this morning and there was all snuggled in the cat bed I had in the tub.  You cannot imagine how difficult it was to have to return him to the street.  I felt like I was abandoning a pet.  I actually was and it made me sick to my stomach.  This is why we need fosters.   I am a one man show.  I don't have a lot of people I can call on to help out.  The ones that are doing it now are doing me a huge favor and I need to get the cats in their care homes, and fast.  But this morning, it was very hard to do that to Skippy.  He was so comfortable being in a home.

I hate TNR but it has to be done.  We HAVE to stop the cycle. 

Someone was asking about the Pennsylvania garden project that I started in the mid-summer.  Its still there, and even though things are dying, its still prettier than what it was - just a vacant lot.  I need to start thinking of bulbs for spring.  I need to come up with a plan.  Like a little design of what will bloom, continuous blooming would be ideal.  Any thoughts any body?  The cat huts are hidden in the back, and there are still eight kitties that run to me each morning.  I need to build up the shelter, as they are only plastic totes that will need to keep all these animals safe and warm this winter.  I need more shelters.  I need more straw.

Thanks everyone for reading this, and for your donations to the clinic to help with the three kitties from yesterday.  Little Parker was released after pick up last night and I trust that Gael had food out for him throughout the night.  Say a little prayer for all these guys out there.  They face so much challenge each day. Please consider foster or adoption.