| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| bohemiangel |
Posted - Feb 07 2009 : 09:03:49 AM
I just spoke with a lady that has a farm and is exhausted in finding homes or help for the feral cats that come around and acquire. Can someone give me more information to this problem?
**~~Farmgirl Sister #60~~**
"... to thine ownself be true."
http://liggybitsandpieces.blogspot.com/
http://ligonierliving.blogspot.com/
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| 23 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| BlackHorseFarm |
Posted - Feb 12 2009 : 05:34:44 AM
I am a lover of all animals, but I find being a cat lover the hardest. There are just SO many unwanted cats and so many people like my neighbor that won't spay or neuter their cats. The "it's just a barn cat" or "we don't spend money on cats", mentality makes me so mad. I had a roommate in college that had a cat on their rural property with a dislocated leg. They just made a sling for the leg instead of taking the cat to the vet.
The granddaughter from the farm behind us came over one day and was so upset that we had taken care of a big ol' tom that was hanging around. The poor thing had ear mites so bad he could not hold his head straight. He was as skinny as a rail and I doubted that he could have hunted anymore because of his head. Her response to use have the cat fixed and vetted was- YOU FIXED MY BARN CAT. arg!
I have so much more respect for those of you that can just put the poor animal out of its misery. I can't do it, but it is so much more humane.
I do wish there were more spay and release programs around. In the areas that they have been used they have been shown to be very effective. |
| K-Falls Farmgirl |
Posted - Feb 11 2009 : 7:42:26 PM
Survival of the fittist. Its part of the Eco-system. Sad if people would only be responsible for their pets.
Cheryl
Farmgirl #309
Almost daily posts at:
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Come visit the barn at http://barndoorcreations.blogspot.com/
Every time I hear the dirty word 'exercise',
I wash my mouth out with chocolate.
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| ranchetta |
Posted - Feb 11 2009 : 7:18:27 PM
Jami we haven't used the .22 solution (yet) but that's how it is on our mini-ranch. I don't know how many kittens I was able to tame enough to take to the vet for neutering or spaying just to have them disappear a few months later but at least we slowed down the breeding process a tiny bit! I've probably spent enough money to buy a second car...(well, kidding on that one!)I've had some females that hid in our barn and ate the food that we always leave out for our own cats (.....and possums, birds, raccoons, etc. :.()
Well, guess what? Yup, more un-catchable kittens sooner or later. It just takes one fertile Mertyl to birth lots of babies at a fast rate....Thank goodness for the coyotes out back (oooops sorry but...) or else we'd really have an overpopulation on our place.
http://curlywillowsranch.blogspot.com/
http://alteredshots.blogspot.com/ |
| Prairie Princess |
Posted - Feb 10 2009 : 12:10:20 PM
You ladies are all right, in that shelters are not a practical solution for feral and abandoned cats. Most of them can't be tamed, and if they could be, the shelters would be drowning in surrendered cats. It's not practical, or even financially an option for either the rescuer or the shelter. Alley Cat Allies (alleycat.org) stresses non-lethal population control to manage feral colonies so they aren't reproducing or being a bother to the people around them. This is the most effective approach long term..... It just needs to be more widely embraced and utilized before we start seeing less strays and drop offs. :)
~Jodi
"Women are like teabags...you never know how strong they are until they get into hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt |
| pnygrl |
Posted - Feb 10 2009 : 09:39:05 AM
This is an issue I deal with constantly. I work for a local horse/dairy farm and we are constantly finding strays most of which are perfectly friendly house cats that have been "dropped off", most of them are female and most of them are pregnant. In the average year, we spay/neuter and find homes for a dozen or so cats. All becuase someone else was too irresponsible to take care of their own pet. Some of them (usually the older ones) end up staying on with us as barn cats for a bit. It is pathetic and infuriating. Just once I'd like to catch someone dropping a cat off.......
On my own farm, I would have to agree with the shotgun method, I have a 12-guage. Not just for cats though, we've had trouble with dogs too... |
| Jami |
Posted - Feb 10 2009 : 07:34:05 AM
So I imagine most folks say they found the animal abandoned. Although I do understand the stress of working in a shelter and all of the unwanted animals, it seems the "creed" they operate under should prevail, to accept and care for free roaming animals (pets) and try to find them homes and I know what happens if they don't, but it's better than my .22--at least they get fed until the end.
This is probably why and how so many private rescue organizations got started and the no-kill shelters from donations.
If people would just spay and neuter, we'd have no worries.
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://woolyinwashington.wordpress.com/
http://farmhouseflair.etsy.com |
| MuslinBunnies |
Posted - Feb 09 2009 : 1:55:03 PM
We also get a lot of cats dumped where we live. Just last week we took a poor little fellow to the shelter after a month getting him to let us near him. Most of the strays we don't bother with, but this one was trying to scratch into our window and was obviously a very tame cat, just scared.
Unfortunately, around here, if you are taking your animal to the shelter, they require a fee of $50 or more depending on the breed, size, age, and sex of your animal! If you cannot pay the fee, they will not take you animal. Yet, to take in an animal that you find abandoned in your neighborhood, all they ask for is a small donation (we paid $10, and they asked us if we were sure where it wasn't even our cat.) We live in a poor community, hence all the abandoned cats.
It's so sad.
Tina A.
My Website: http://muslinbunnies.tripod.com/
My Etsy: http://FelineFeathers.etsy.com
My Button Quail Site: http://groups.google.com/group/button-quail-planet |
| Prairie Princess |
Posted - Feb 09 2009 : 12:10:34 PM
You might try looking at alleycat.org, Bridget. They are the national feral cat resource, and I used them as the primary source of inspiration when I started the feral cat program at the old shelter I volunteered for. :) Good luck, and PM me if you have questions about the site and their ideas!
~Jodi
"Women are like teabags...you never know how strong they are until they get into hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt |
| Amie C. |
Posted - Feb 09 2009 : 11:09:22 AM
I've never adopted a pet from a shelter yet, just because I've gotten them directly as strays or from friends who had to give them up. So, kinda avoided the middleman.
But I certainly intend to keep supporting shelters. I think the people who operate them get burned out, and start to see anyone bringing a pet in as the problem and anyone taking a pet out as the solution. It's a job for them, after all, and a hard one. But if the attitude makes the problem worse, that's when it needs to be addressed. |
| Jami |
Posted - Feb 09 2009 : 10:59:06 AM
Thanks for sharing your experience Amie. Kind of defeats the purpose if people are made to feel bad for using shelter services. That's too bad. I know they are happy when people adopt...I've adopted multiple shelter dogs and will continue to do so in the future.
Debbie, whatever it takes to get the job done quickly and as kindly as possible! I always say "do it so they don't know what hit them" as I think it's more humane.
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://woolyinwashington.wordpress.com/
http://farmhouseflair.etsy.com |
| harmonyfarm |
Posted - Feb 09 2009 : 10:46:47 AM
Ok...I'm on Jami's side here...the day a ferral cat killed 17 of my chickens...was the day I said no more...only now I use a 410 instead of a .22...you don't have to be as accurate when they are running...sorry.
Debbie
"If you can't find the time to do it right...how will you find the time to do it over" |
| Amie C. |
Posted - Feb 09 2009 : 10:36:18 AM
Well, animal shelters usually have some protocols that you have to follow when dropping an animal off, and they might even appreciate a donation to cover the cost of feeding and housing your pet while they find it a new home. I suspect that the kind of people who abandon animals just don't have the basic sense of civic responsibility that it would require to do that. It takes a certain amount of character to admit that you can't take care of your pet/child/home/etc and need help. Guess it's too much for some people to handle and they try to push the problem out of sight.
I don't mean to excuse this kind of behavior, but I did find a stray, injured cat this winter and tried to utilize the nonprofit shelters in my area to get help for it. The people at these places made me feel like dirt for bringing the cat to them. They made me feel bad about it even though it wasn't my cat and I gave them a pretty substantial donation. So I think perhaps the places that are set up to help sometimes make the problem worse by putting people off. |
| Jami |
Posted - Feb 09 2009 : 08:44:53 AM
Grace, I too get frustrated with the careless way in which some people regard pet animals--as if they are disposable. There is an animal shelter in every town for unwanted animals and they still will not use them. Why not?
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://woolyinwashington.wordpress.com/
http://farmhouseflair.etsy.com |
| abbysshadow |
Posted - Feb 09 2009 : 08:25:48 AM
I too understand, I have always lived in rural areas, but I've stopped trying to have any outside cats of my own because the feral cats always harm them...not to mention coyotes, etc...and I LOVE cats...
...I cannot do all the good that the world needs, but the world needs all the good that I can do... |
| katmom |
Posted - Feb 09 2009 : 08:18:21 AM
No offense taken Jami,
I truly do understand your position.
Isn't it sad that thoughtless' coldhearted (cruel) pet owners have such little regard for a cat/dogs life & will drop them off in the country or along side a road...knowing that these animals will not survive or will become a problem for someone else.
Sometime I think we should "herd-up" those people & drop them off on a deserted Isle w/no food & let them fend for themselves...oh wait we do,,, it's a T.V. show called "Survivor"...lol!
>^..^< Happiness is being a katmom.
"I've never met a sewing machine I didn't like!"
mjf#72
Sisters on the Fly#472
www.katmom4.blogspot.com
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| Jami |
Posted - Feb 09 2009 : 08:04:49 AM
I had a feeling that might shock some of you, but I was being perfectly honest.
We are not heartless - here's how it got to the .22 stage. We have tried adopting some of the cats but they just don't last long with the coyotes and our guardian dog hates cats but they are smart enough not to get in his sheep pasture (I hope).
The minute we start to feed one and get it tame enough to catch (to take to the vet to get neutered or spayed), a new cat(or several) will move in and kill it or run it off...it's this constant state of motion with the cats that people dump off here in the country. They have a spay/neuter program for feral cats here in Ellensburg but it's the catching of them that's the issue. We have just decided to not spend time and energy and the possible transmission of diseases to our sheep on these cats. It seems when a few disappear, more show up. Sorry if it upset some of you, truly, but I only have so much energy and time and choose to spend it on my well-taken-care-of critters. I don't hate cats...have had pet cats in the past and took very good care of them and did the right thing by spaying/neutering them. I rescued a dog many years ago (now passed on) who hated cats and decided to not keep cats after that as we require guard dogs and herding dogs for our sheep and they usually don't do well with cats.
Thanks for understanding.
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://woolyinwashington.wordpress.com/
http://farmhouseflair.etsy.com |
| bohemiangel |
Posted - Feb 07 2009 : 11:07:04 AM
true that..........lol stupid is permanent :-p we need to make shirts with that tee hee
**~~Farmgirl Sister #60~~**
"... to thine ownself be true."
http://liggybitsandpieces.blogspot.com/
http://ligonierliving.blogspot.com/
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| katmom |
Posted - Feb 07 2009 : 10:19:23 AM
to true Bridget,,,, we are accountable for our actions, especially the stupid ones.
Hmmm, maybe if the same treatment were applied to the insensitive moran of a human, if they were treated as they treated others, be it animals or humans, maybe they would become more compassionate... but sadly I doubt that. We have prisons full of those type of people, who truly think THEY are the victim! uugghh! again I say, Can't Fix Stupid!!!
ok, I am stepping down off my little wooden soap box, and putting it away for now....
>^..^< Happiness is being a katmom.
"I've never met a sewing machine I didn't like!"
mjf#72
Sisters on the Fly#472
www.katmom4.blogspot.com
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| bohemiangel |
Posted - Feb 07 2009 : 10:06:21 AM
yeah Jamie you made me go OMG but I do understand.......sad to say. It breaks my heart though. I just want to control this issue...........sigh I wish the people that do the stupid acts would get treated like they do to animals....was that mean of me :-p I don't care. Everyone is in charge of their actions
**~~Farmgirl Sister #60~~**
"... to thine ownself be true."
http://liggybitsandpieces.blogspot.com/
http://ligonierliving.blogspot.com/
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| katmom |
Posted - Feb 07 2009 : 09:55:46 AM
Jami,
I am sad to say, that as much as I dislike your solution, I do understand where you are coming from.
Insensitive stupid people have made their problem your problem....
You have to do what you have to do.
It breaks my heart but I guess I would rather that be the solution then see these poor animals starve to death or die a slow painful death from injury or starvation.
Again, ya can't fix stupid....hmmm maybe some buck shot to those stupid peoples back side would get their attention, haaa, I doubt it.
This is such a sensitive discussion so I think I will leave it with my final thought.
If humans would take responcibility and do the right thing, spay & neuter their pets, that would solve half of the problem, the other being that if only they would take proper care-feeding, shelter & love their pets.
Well I know it's just a 'warm fuzzy thought' but I hope this will someday be a reality.
>^..^<
>^..^< Happiness is being a katmom.
"I've never met a sewing machine I didn't like!"
mjf#72
Sisters on the Fly#472
www.katmom4.blogspot.com
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| Jami |
Posted - Feb 07 2009 : 09:45:28 AM
Around here we use a good .22
Sorry, but that's our solution. It just gets plain out of hand and kittens transmit toxoplasmosis to pregnant ewes and we just can't have that. (causes abortions).
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://woolyinwashington.wordpress.com/
http://farmhouseflair.etsy.com |
| katmom |
Posted - Feb 07 2009 : 09:44:10 AM
Check out www.allycatrescue.org they are a TNR group....(trap-neuter & release).
Sadly people are the problem.... they dump off their unwanted cats/dogs in the wild, and the cats/dogs that do manage to survive become/breed feral cats/kittens.
There is some success in reverting a very young kitten back into a domestic cat but older cats are not easily reversed from their feral behavior.
Ya just can't fix stupid...and that's what some people are.... the mentality that cats & dogs can survive in the wild is just plain stupid...these poor abandoned animals usually starve to death or fall prey to larger peditory animals. There are so many organizations out there to help with low cost/no cost Spay & Neuter. And rescue groups that will take in unwanted animals,,,now that being said,,,with the economy what it is, these good hearted groups are struggling to keep a float and are having to close down or not accept more animals. It breaks my heart that humans can be so intelligent and yet so ignorant.
People fall in love with cute adorable puppies & kittens till the cuteness wears off, then these people don't want to be bothered with these poor animals. Both cats & dogs are social creaatures and thrive on human companionship, yes even snobby cats do! I have proof times 4 that cats are very social dependent & not just because I have thumbs & can use a can opener! lol!
Bridget, and your friend, the lady with all the feral cats,,, I hope you can help her find an organization that will help her with the cats in a very humane way.
hugz,
>^..^<
>^..^< Happiness is being a katmom.
"I've never met a sewing machine I didn't like!"
mjf#72
Sisters on the Fly#472
www.katmom4.blogspot.com
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| sleepless reader |
Posted - Feb 07 2009 : 09:41:55 AM
Do you have a feral cat society in your area? They usually provide the loand of have-a-heart traps, then you bring the trapped cat(s) in for spay and neutering. They usually operate on donations, so it may hard to find in the current economy.Maybe SPCA??? Good luck
Sharon
Farmgirl Sister #74
Life is messy. Wear your apron! |
