Banner Sponsors

Tracy Nov 13, 2006

So far, there are FIVE cats that someone dumped at our house during the past week.   4 girls. 1 boy.  2 of the girls are pregnant.  Thankfully, one of the girls I thought to be pregnant doesn't seem like she is now.  This is more than we can handle at the moment, so I called the Animal Protection and Education people who have the low cost spay and neuter clinics for feral and barn colony cats.  They also can help place cats if needed.  The lady I talked to was so nice and had me take pictures of the two pregnant mommas to send to her with a short bio of the situation.  She will then send this information on to various shelters and rescues searching for a foster family to keep them until they have their kittens and all of them can be adopted out.  This would give them a safe place to deliver their kittens, indoors and out of the Iowa winter weather.  Plus, she told me of another clinic in the works of being set up for Dec 1 in the town near us....apparently, the 'cat lady' in town has been catching feral cats and has several that need fixed ASAP and needs a clinic.  I can get in on that! :dance:  We are on the list to have the other two females spayed.  I will worry about the young tom next spring as I still have a few toms here that need neutered also. 

This is hopeful! :pray:   Please keep your fingers crossed foster families can be found and the clinic is scheduled as they think it will be (normally they would have already quit for the winter months).  Also cross fingers, toes, and eyes that no more kitties pop up in my barn!

Here's pics of the new additions........the first two are pregnant.  They are all a bit thin too....the poor babies! One of them wasn't present at picture time, so I didn't get hers taken.

Tracy Nov 14, 2006

I was just contacted by the folks from A.P.E.  Their main vet wants me to bring the girls in (all of them) to her office Friday so she can check and make sure they are pregnant.  If not, they can be spayed.  I could be wrong...it's happened before. :doh:  Don't think I am this time, but............

Just heard from them again.......they have three families wanting to take the pregnant mommas....if they are pregant, like I'm sure they are.  Yeah!!  That's the best news!!  The pictures they sent out worked! :dance:  :dance:

K Pawz GuestNov 14, 2006

:clap:  :clap: awesome Tracy somebody like me got the email and couldn't say no to giving a pregnant momma a warm room to deliver her babies in!!!!!

Hugs,
krista

Tracy Nov 14, 2006

Isn't it wonderful!! :hug:  :hug: The right people just needed to know about it......I'm so happy right now! :dance:   I do wish though that I could bring one inside myself.....problem is I'm already maxed out.

PS--I thought of you Krista, when I was told about the three families willing to take these mommas.  That is an act of love.......and so deserving of recognition:love:  :hug:  :hug: ............

Delartful Bears Nov 14, 2006

Oh Tracy, that is WONDERFUL!  Fantastic vet also - what a great ending for everyone, especially the kitties!
Danni

Michelle Helen Nov 14, 2006

Oh such good news Traci....There are kitty angles looking out for them. For they sent them to you and you found them good homes.

Many bear hugs to you for helping these sweet kitties.

Michelle

Pumpkin & Pickle Bears Nov 14, 2006

Tracy you are a wonderful person for all you do.

The 3rd picture down looks exactly like my cat - except mine is a bit tubby!! 

Bumpkin Bears Nov 14, 2006

oh they are sooo sweet, I particularly love the girlie in the first photo..   I'm so pleased to hear that they will all have safe homes to go to - well done you   

hugs
catherine
x

Tracy Nov 14, 2006

Thanks girls! :hug: I am so happy about the way this has worked out.  Thank goodness I called A.P.E.!   This group is really doing a wonderful service for cats....and dogs too.  They started up a couple of years ago, and their main mission is to spay/neuter feral cats and barn colony cats, as well as uncontrolled puppy litters.  That's great......going to the root of the problem of so many unwanted animals!   They also will help place animals......as I found out! Coming soon are more programs such as low cost spay/neuter for people with low incomes.  Right now, they cannot accept house pets, but they will soon for those in need.  The package for barn kitties includes the spay or neuter, shots, worming, and a microchip.  $35 for females, $25 for males and kittens.  Kittens can be placed on their website in search of a new home......and if they are adopted, you would get the $25 back. 

Unbelievable that many vet offices feel like their toes are stepped on by this.    These animals would most likely never get to a conventional vet office.........it just costs too much!!  When I told my vet office about the problem, all they could say was "Oh no, that's horrible!"  That's it ........no help at all unless I wanted to fork out tons of $$, which I can't.  They already get tons of $$ from me anyway!

psichick78 Nov 14, 2006

Oh wow, what wonderful news. It's nice you don't have to keep or pay for all of them, but they will all get taken care of.

These cats are very lucky for you, I just hope more don't show up on your doorstep........

Tracy Nov 14, 2006

I just hope more don't show up on your doorstep........

Me too!!

:pray:  :pray:

thumperantiques Nov 14, 2006

Tracy,
    I'm thrilled that there is help for you with your kitty problem.  Heck, I'm thrilled for the kitties!!!!!  A spay/neuter program is so important for feral cats.  My sister (that adopted the two tossed kittens) works with a group in Nova Scota that neuters feral cats.  She says it's better just to neuter a feral adult cat and leave it in it's colony, because they've proven that if you remove it, another one simply takes it's place, so it's impossible to get rid of the feral cat groups.  Colonies become like a clan and they like to control themselves.  Lots of times, they won't make a good pet because if a feral cat hasn't had any socialization with humans by a certain point in their lives, it will never happen because of the "touch barrier".  I think that's the reason Skippy won't let Shantell near her.   

A vet that isn't willing to do some "reduced rate" work with these cats is really sad.   Even working a rabies clinic is helpful.  These poor babies can't help themselves.  Anyway, I'll get off my soapbox now LOL!  I'm sooo happy the mommies and babies will have nice warm homes and that means the kittens will have human contact, which is wonderful.   Yeah for Tracy!!!!

                                                              hugs,

                                                              Brenda

PS:  They are beautiful cats, but that first one would be mine, if I was near you.  She just looks sooooo sweet!