Cat Question...

[Hamsters82]

We have two stray cats that live in our area. We see them from time to time, one of them a tan/white cat is friendly. He came over to me twice, which I allowed him too although I'm deathly allergic to cats. Anyway, yesterday he straches me. I'm okay, even though the skin reacted.

Anyway, my question is this: Should I call the ASPCA and have them take the cat to a no-kill shelter? My parents tell me the only time the ASPCA will come out is if I know the exact location of the cat & I don't. So should I call someone to help this kitty out? He's nice, but tempermental. I feel bad, he's pretty & nice. What should I do?

[Die Fledermaus]

I was thinking about what to do with a cat in the backyard, the one I mentioned - the one who eats the tuna I sometimes leave out. Is that a cat some idiot lets out of their house at night, or a real stray?? I do not know, but he sure survived the Winter in great shape. (?)

I would certainly try to get yours off the streets. Call a Humane Society or cat rescue group and ask for advice. Have-a-Heart traps big enough for a cat are not cheap, and I have heard of groups that lend them out.

www.saveacat.org

Contact them for better advice.

[Hamsters82]

Thanks for the website. I've been trying to look up different no-kill shelters. I found one that was said, "Meow Center" or something like that & the closest shelter I could fine was "West Jersey", but I'm afraid thats too far.

You bring up a very good question & my Dad brought it up too. I'm not sure if that tan/white cat is owned by someone. If he is, when last we felt of him, you could feel the bones. Do you think I should still call or check out the websites even though he could be owned by who knows?

Btw...if he is a stray, I've named him Cuca which means "rogueish, mischievous, but friendly." So I'm hoping Cuca is okay, just saw him 2 days ago. What do you think I should do if he is owned? We have so many townhouses & apartments here, I couldn't tell you where he came from!

[Hamsters82]

Sorry to up this b/c it's kinda old, but I just wanted to state my progress so far.

I contacted the AWA--nothing they don't come out for strays. West Jersey shelter-forget it, overcrowded they said & they euthanize. Next Animal Control, the officer said most people won't want feral cats. Great. I'm still going to try & the officer said to contact the Burlington Health Department. Okay, so I'll do that soon.

I just hope this doesn't come around full circle at a dead end. We haven't seen the white cat in a long while! The tabby is still here & is fighting with another cat. The grey tabby, we're not sure, is a stray or is someone's cat.

So wish me luck as I call the Burlington Health Department to see if they can come on out or if not they can do that spay/neuter program.

[Die Fledermaus]

Sad. At least get them spayed or neutered. Not you, whomever.

I spotted a GROUP of cats outside the window of my apartment house's laundry room late one night. there is also a black one. I think I have seen 3, or 4. One gave me a little nervous snarl when I got close. Sad. They moved away. I leave out a little soft food; someone else leaves out some hard food.

Feral cats. They wouldn't stay that way foreevr; they just need a home. House cats are domesticated by genetics. it is not like there is a civet loose in the backyard.

More, later. . .

[Hamsters82]

Sorry I wasn't on, had computer problems. Somehow Josh fixed it!

Haven't called yet, will do so soon. I've heard it's not good to feed strays b/c they'll hang around you more. But I guess it's good b/c they can be fed & will learn how to trust more.

We had, a long time ago, these bunch of feral black cats in our thicket behind the townhouses. There were a whole family of them & one lady would feed them. But one day the thicket was gone, so the cats had to of moved somewhere else. I forget what we nicknamed the lot, but they weren't all that friendly.

They wouldn't stay that way forever; they just need a home.
^You're absolutely right. I just wish the Animal Control officer realized that, but he must get so many calls about strays. I kinda pressed that the tabby was half friendly & that's when he said to call the dept. Also I just thought I could try the ASPCA or the SPCA in our state.

Many more calls to come & e-mails to send.

[Die Fledermaus]

I have to keep asking about this. I have seen some of those cats a block away scavenging for food on the business street wehere the stores are late at night in the dark.

At least now the nights will be getting longer and they will have more time to scavenge.