Empty Traps

I am not sure how I am continuing my attempts to trap this last cat?!  I am getting tired of watching her circle around the trap and walk away.  I think I am going to return the regular trap and rent the drop-trap.  This might be the only way to wrap the project up.

Ono and I are not on talking terms.  She hides from me when I go to feed her, but she seems to be doing alright and I look forward to releasing her and knowing that she will not procreate. 

Tracy's outdoor cat had kittens.  She blames me because they trapped their mama cat several weeks ago using my least favorite trap.  I did not explain how to secure the trap and she got out.  Sorry! (now you know why I hate that trap.)

SPCA Day

Robin and I went to "Bark Out Against Domestic Battery" this weekend.  It was held at the SPCA.  Christy (neighbor), Don (work), and Emily (Don's girlfriend) were all volunteers there.  The clinic that I take the cats to was there and I bought this bumper magnet.  I think that I am starting to become a bit fanatic...What do you think?


These cats were great!

I cannot catch Rosie.  Everyday I set the trap with tuna and everyday she walks around the trap.  Maybe I should try chicken? 

Good News: Little Boy was found.  Terri's daughter was walking about two blocks from here and saw him.  She called for him and he cried and then acted like he did not want to come home.  He has a large gash on his chin, but other than that he is doing fine.

Bad News:  Christy took Cole to be adopted in Indiana.  When they got to the home he jumped off their porch and into a small wooded area.  They are leaving food out for him in case he wants to return.  

Oh No! It's Yoko!

Driving to the clinic this morning I couldn't help but hear all about John Lennon's would be 70th birthday today.  When I got there I was the 10th person in line (I counted).  After a long wait and many other people's personal stories of their cat catching adventures, it was finally my turn.  I was told the surgery went well, well everything except that Harry is a female and she was in heat.

The woman suggested that I could easily change her name from Harry to Harriette.  I prefer to give her a fresh start and new name.  The woman also mentioned that she was a bit nervous, feral-like.  Given the troubles that she has caused me trying to trap her and successfully get her to the clinic, I have decided to name her after another woman who upset many people.  In honor of John Lennon, I name her Yoko Ono.

Starting to feel like Dr. Dolittle

Honestly, before this project I knew there were some cats around but I could barely identify them let alone tell you their hangouts and feeding times.  On most days I see all of the cats that I have sprinkled my fairy godmother dust on.  All expect for Mike who has not been seen since the day I released him.  Today, Kendall stopped me to talk for a minute and ask for food.  While I was getting her some dry cat food, she walked into the trap and got trapped.  She was pissed.  I let her go and she ran off apparently not interested in eating anymore.  Rosie has no interest in the trap or the food inside.  She and Pepper were over at Terri's tonight having dinner with Jake.

Harry went into the clinic this morning.  How satisfying.  I really did not think that I would ever trap him again.  I was so nervous to move him from the trap to the carrier that I put everything in the back of the truck (with the cap on), locked the window, and did the transfer hunched over.  He went in easy.  He was very good and only talked once we got inside the clinic.  There were about 12 cats in carriers in the small waiting room and once 1 cat starts crying it creates a chain reaction and they all start talking and crying. 

I have not been able to find a home for Cole, but I was able to find a foster home.  I feel satisfied with this because at least I know he will be taken care of and hopefully will find a permanent home.

Of all the gin joints...

...in all the towns in all the world, I walk into hers.

Harry Houdini returns!  I have a feeling that when Harry heard the trap door snap shut today he was saying more than just Casablanca quotes. 

I was frustrated using my 2nd favorite trap because cats kept going in it and the trap would not get set off.  So, I got up earlier this morning and drove to the clinic and rented one of their traps.  And boy don't you know it's even better than my favorite trap that I had to give back to Tracy!  This trap has a sliding door on the opposite end of the trap door, which will make it easier to move the cat into the carrier.  I can't wait.  I also learned that there is a different kind of trap called a "drop trap"  I really have no idea what their version of it looks like but if I can't catch Rosie, I am going to have to try it out.  I will have to take an hour long class on how to trap cats but it will be worth it.  They also told me of a lady who is so frustrated with trying to catch a certain cat that she is going to try to drug it.  Why didn't I think of that?!!

Anyway, I've gotten away from my story...I raced home from work (only 2 hours left of daylight).  Set the clinic trap, baited it, and disguised it.  I saw Harry and Rosie both circling it tonight.  I could tell Harry really wanted in.  He was sitting at the edge of the opening looking at the food.  I even saw him inch in and quickly walk out again.  I stopped watching to water the plants and then heard my doorbell ring.  It was my 7 year-neighbor and his mother coming over to tell me that there was a cat in the trap.  We walked down there together to get a look at my catch and there was Harry! 

Cole seems mad at me when he first sees me but as soon as I pick him up he starts purring.  He does this thing after a few minutes where he rolls on his back and throws his head back to get his neck scratched.  So cute!

Just now as I was finishing my blog entry, Andy, Robin, and I heard the blood curling cry of a cat in heat.  I got out the super flashlight and looked out into the alley.  There was Rosie.  I hope she was just looking for Harry and not her next baby-daddy.

How to Trap the Untrappable

Walk Right In..."Walk right in, sit right down
Baby, let your hair hang down
Walk right in, sit right down
Baby, let your hair hang down
Everybody's talkin' 'bout a new way of walkin'
Do you want to lose your mind?
Walk right in, sit right down
Baby, let your hair hang down"

Trapping these last two cats has been very difficult.  Of course one of the cats is Harry Houdini and the other has watched me trap three of her kittens, so needless so say they are both "trap sensitive."  I have decided to try the tactic of disguising the trap.  I have laid newspaper on the bottom and covered the trap with a large cardboard box.  Unfortunately the trap that I am using has a faulting lever that is difficult to trigger, so the last two nights I have fed someone a tuna dinner.  Tomorrow I am going to attach a string to the lever and pull on it if I get a cat to walk in.  I only have about 2 hours from the time I get home from work until it gets dark which is way less time than I had six 7 weeks ago when I started the project. 


Before and After Disguising

I continue to pet Cole.  I know this is not in my best interest, but he is so cute.  I am going to release him and Apple either tomorrow or Wednesday. 

I know that this is a happy blog and typically I do not mention sad or stressful news, however just to keep you updated now that I know the outcomes...Jake hurt his paw last week.  It had doubled in size.  I went and told his owners and they took him in.  Luckily, it was just an abscess (which they told me he has had before).  They nursed him and in a couple of days he was just fine.  It scared me though when I first saw the paw.  Other news, Jake's brother Little Boy, who is an indoor cat ran away when they let him out in the fenced backyard.  I helped them look for him on Friday night, but it was already dark and we didn't see any sign of him.  I did however see the opossum that I trapped several weeks ago!

Makeshift Surgical Lair

Several people have asked me (including 1 veterinarian) if I an doing the surgeries myself.  I am not sure what they imagine, some sort of makeshift surgical lair where I take the kitties to be altered. 
Apple and Cole are still in the lair.  When I picked her up from the clinic they mentioned that she was "a little feral."  She was very difficult to get into the carrier and very vocal about not liking the car ride.  She seems to be doing well.  I pick Cole up everyday and pet him.  He even purrs sometimes.  I decided to release them on the same day so they can have each other to be with and commiserate about their misery in the lair.

When explaining to some people that I am spaying and neutering cats in my neighborhood, some of them say, "I prefer just letting nature handle it."  Basically, they are saying if disease hits then it will naturally kill off the feral cats, thus managing the cat population.  I assure you that disease does not naturally manage the feral/stray cat population.  This is quite apparent because: A) if disease managed the pet population Bob Barker wouldn't have had to say "Remember have your pet spayed or neutered, B) I wouldn't have to do this project, and C) the cats that I am working with are exposed to diseases and they do die young (average life span of a homeless cat about 3 years), however they still have an opportunity to mate and populate before nature takes its course. 

Cheddar Update:  There have been a few glimpses of Cheddar in the barn.  He continues to eat and use his litter box daily, plus he drops his dead mice right next to his food bowl.  Uncle Billy is very satisfied with Cheddar's hunting skills!

Just One

Since Rosie is starting to get smart to my trapping techniques, I tried to catch her in a large carrier today.  I tied a string to the door and put food inside hoping to pull the door shut with her in it.  Well everything was working perfecting until I tried to close the door.  I should have practiced this plan out ahead of time.  So needless to say I did not trap her.

Tomorrow I am taking in Apple.  She is the only cat that I caught for the week.  I tried really hard, but it just didn't work out.  I did meet 4 neighbors though that I have never talked to.  I am really getting to know the neighborhood.  One guy told me that the SPCA actually went to the cat lady's home and asked her to stop feeding the cats.  Another woman thanked me because she is tired of the cats digging in her garden.

Doesn't Cole look like an old man cat?  I don't think he would do harm to anyone's garden!

Chicken or Tuna?

Yesterday, I was sitting outside with my 7 year-old neighbor discussing/debating which was more effective bait for cats, chicken or tuna.  Being raised a vegetarian, he has only recently begun eating meat and noticed that his cat Zolton goes crazy whenever they cook chicken.  I have been baiting the traps with tuna and I was explaining my rationale to him when we heard the blood-curling scream of a cat mating (or throwing her male pursuer off).  We both ran towards the scream.  He saw the gray male cat and as we turned the corner by that cat lady's house, I saw Rosie (black and white mama kitty).  Well, you know who I have to trap now.  It's raining, so I won't be trapping today.  Hopefully, the weather is more permitting tomorrow.

This picture of Cole reminds me of the scene in the Wizard of Oz when Dorothy and the others are knocking on the door to the Emerald City.  Cole of course is playing the role of the Guardian of the Emerald City Gates.

Guardian of the Emerald City Gates: Who rang that bell?
Dorothy, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, Tin Woodsman: [all four together] We did!
Guardian of the Emerald City Gates: Can't you read?
Scarecrow: Read what?
Guardian of the Emerald City Gates: The notice!
Dorothy: What notice?
Guardian of the Emerald City Gates: It's on the door - as plain as the nose on my face! It... oh... [does a "tisk tisk tisk" expression, goes inside door for a moment] [Guardian hangs the notice and goes back inside]
Dorothy, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, Tin Woodsman: [Reading notice, all together] Bell out of order, please knock.
[Dorothy knocks]
Guardian of the Emerald City Gates: Well, that's more like it! Now, state your business!
Dorothy: [Dorothy and friends, all together] We want to see the Wizard!
Guardian of the Emerald City Gates: [gasps] The Wizard? But nobody can see the Great Oz! Nobody's ever seen the Great Oz! Even I've never seen him!
Dorothy: Well, then how do you know there is one?
Guardian of the Emerald City Gates: Oh, you're wasting my time!
[starts to close the window]
Dorothy: Oh, please! Please, sir! I've got to see the Wizard! The Good Witch of the North sent me!
Guardian of the Emerald City Gates: Prove it!
Scarecrow: She's wearing the ruby slippers she gave her.
Guardian of the Emerald City Gates: Oh, so she is! Well, bust my buttons! Why didn't you say that in the first place? That's a horse of a different color! Come on in!

Green Acres

"Green Acres is the place for me.

Farm livin' is the life for me.

Land spreadin' out so far and wide

Keep Cincinnati, just give me that country side!"

Robin and I took Cheddar to the farm last night.

I don't think that Cheddar has ever heard a rooster before or seen chickens.  There was a lot of new things for him to explore and sniff as well as mice to catch.  He is going to be busy for  a while.

Because Pepper did not actually have a surgery, I let her out.  Besides, I caught Apple today and needed to use the kennel.  Apple is the last of the kittens.  She is calico with white. 

Pick-ups before Drop-offs

This morning I had to pick the kids up from daycare.....I mean, I picked the cats up from the clinic at 7:30am.  There was already a line a people waiting for the doors to open, like a line the day after Thanksgiving, faces pressed up on the windows, all trying to get in first to grab the super sale.  However we were all there trying to pick up our altered cats and others were there trying to drop off.  The new people do not know what to do.  It is really quite simple, fill out 1 clipboard per cat, label the carrier, pick-ups before drop-offs. So get out of the way lady who just dropped off 4 kittens!

This is Pepper.  The 7 year-old neighbor boy calls her "Golden Eye."

The vet tech told me everything went well...well except...Pepper was already spayed.  They sedated her, shaved her, and saw the scar.  Scanned her for a microchip and put her back in the carrier.  No chip found.  Oh yeah and the little female kitten, Colette, is actually a male "Cole."  Easy mistake.  Either way he was still neutered.  Both were negative for feline Leukemia.

The picture makes it look so easy!

Pink Eye, Isn't it Ironic?

When we first moved into our house five years ago, Mildred was living in the house that is now Christy's.  Mildred had been living there for 50 years and later we realized that she was 101 years old.  She wanted to know a little bit about us and so we told her that we had a cat, Georgie.  Mildred told us very adamantly that she did not like cats and that they gave people pink eye.  I thought, "Well you are a very old lady who still believes in wives' tales, what do you know?!"  Now don't you think that it is sort of ironic that this whole project is going on in her house and that one of the cats (Cheddar) has pink eye?

This is me with Georgie. She was 18 years-old when this picture was taken last year, (and she never had a litter of kittens in all those years!)

No Death Cab for Cutie

Tracy and her little girl Abi came over tonight to help me trap cats.  Actually, she wanted the trap back that I am borrowing from her which she is borrowing from Randy, because I lent her a trap that I hate (it's faulty) and last night she caught her Fugitive #1 cat (who also happens to be pregnant) and as they were taking her to the clinic she got out of the trap and ran off.  I think there may have been some bad words said about me at that time.

We caught Pepper tonight.  She has been around this block for years (estimated 6-8).  I think that the black & white mama cat may have even been from a litter of hers.  I am not sure.  Pepper has been walking into my traps from the beginning and walking out without setting the trigger off and tonight I finally got her!  I can't wait to take her in tomorrow morning.

Some other positive news...there are "Right-to-Lifers" in the cat world and they are willing to take feline Leukemia positive cats.  Now I want you to know that in no way, shape, or form do I regret the decision I made for little Boo, however I also do not want to become some sort of death cab for kitties.  So if Colette is positive (and there is a high chance that she is), I will be taking her to a special shelter that allows them to live out their lives with other positive cats.

I had a little bit of an epiphany so bare with me while I pontificate for the next paragraph or two.  This has not been an easy project.  At times it has felt like a second job and been quite exhausting.  There are different times in life when I hear people say or even say myself, "I don't know how you do that" or "I could never do that."  In fact, I hear it a lot when I tell people what I actually do for a living.  I was thinking about these sentences last night after having a stressful day and not feeling like continuing with the cat project.  When I tell people about the project I often here "I don't know how you are doing that?!"  But I can do this and it got me thinking about other activities, projects, undertakings that I can do.  Robin has been trying to get me to volunteer at the no-kill shelter for a couple of months and I said "Are you crazy?!! I could never volunteer in a cat shelter.  I would be crying every time I left and would be bringing cats home every time I went there."  But after doing this cat project for the last several weeks I realize that I can volunteer in the shelter without getting too emotionally stressed out and if I can help those cats out and improve their lives a little bit then great.  What I am trying to get across is try something you thought you couldn't do.  You might find out you can actually do it.  I know you've heard that before, but it is true.  I'll step off the soapbox now before I get too lengthy.  

When I see Kendall out and about and know that she will never have kittens it does make it all worth the trouble.

Most Wanted!

Here's a close-up of Harry Houdini for those of you on the look out for him. The FBI is offering rewards for information leading to the apprehension of the Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, "and remember, you can make a difference."  

Josh came over and helped me with Cheddar (sometimes referred to as Ched).  He likes a good petting before I goop his eyes up.  He purrs and kneads.  Josh asked me tonight if I bathed the cats that I catch.  I explained that this would just be too taxing of a task and that it probably is not necessary.  Unless you are a cat like Andy (pictured here) you most likely do not enjoy getting into the bathtub!

In others news…I caught another cat tonight.  A long-haired black juvenile feline.  I will call her Colette.  I had an internal debate whether or not I was going to trap tonight and I decided that it was best to just get back in the saddle again.

This project has allowed me to meet several neighbors I have never spoken to in the five years that I have lived on the block.  Tonight I met one such neighbor who had just adopted a rescue dog.  He was some sort of long-haired medium sized young black dog.  She introduced the dog, Buddy, but not herself and told me that it was her birthday.  She then thanked me several times for my effort in the neighborhood with the cats and told her dog to do whatever I told him to do because I was a great person.  Well that was very nice.  I don’t care if she did seem like she may have been celebrating her birthday a little too much!

When Positve Results have Negative Consequences

I started to feel a little bit guilty and anxious about releasing Boo (formerly Asher Levi and AshLeigh) back into the city streets after having been captive for a week and also petting her everyday.  She clearly had an upper respiratory infection and I was trying to give her time to get healthy.  I wasn't sure if she would be accepted back into the colony where her mother lives and I did not think that she could live on her own.  So I started to panic and ask everyone around me if they wanted this cute little kitten.  Not to my surprise, no one wanted her, but my anxiety level kept rising.  Finally my mother said she would take her from me if I drove her 7 hours to her house.  I was considering this.  Then when Robin and I were giving Cheddar his nightly eye goop medicine, she said the kitten looked sick.  Well I knew this because of her respiratory infection that she was fighting off.  So I decided that instead of taking Franny in this morning for her annual check-up which she has not had in 6 years, that I would postpone it for another week and take Boo instead.  I didn't want to be giving anyone a sick cat. 

This morning I scooped her up and took her to the country doctor.  Because it had been six years since my last visit, there was a little confusion as to what animal I was bringing in and for what reason.  I told the doctor right away what was going on.  We had a short talk about cat Herpes and he assured me that this should not be a primary disease to worry about and the testing is a bit more lengthy.  He examined the kitten and confirmed that yes she did have an upper respiratory infection but it was not bad (it was not in her lungs).  He started the test for FIV and Leukemia and then we waited 10 minutes. 

"The difference between something that can go wrong and something that can't possibly go wrong is that when something that can't possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair." -from the book Mostly Harmless

10 minutes passed and the Doctor said it wasn't good.  The little girl kitten had tested positive for Feline Leukemia and we needed to have her put down.  No options.  Well I never envisioned this scenario when I started the project.  I felt like I was in a scene from Old Yeller or Where the Red Fern Grows.  Neither book will I ever re-read.  I did what I needed to do and hopefully the little kitten is somewhere out there with St. Gertrude or Goddess Bast and playing with other kittens.

Colony Godmother

After doing some reading I learned that the "PC" term for the new aged Cat Lady is Colony Caregiver.  This is a person who not only feeds and provides some shelter for the cat colony but also provides health care.  Since I am not going to be feeding these cats but am providing some health care I have decided to call myself the Colony Godmother.  "I'll make you an offer you can't refuse!"

Today I took Andy and Camper in to see the veterinarian for vaccinations.  When we got into the waiting room Andy was so nervous she pooped in her carrier.  (Don't worry I did not take a picture of that to share!) 

I took Cheddar in later.  They said that he is in remarkable good health for a city stray cat, but he does have an eye infection so his "Green Acres" is just going to have to wait another week.  I have to pull his eyelid away from the eye and put goop in there.  Both eyes.  Twice a day.  Great!

Boo keeps purring and wanting to be pet all the time!!!

Vaccination Day

OOOO...that little BooBug kitten is getting to be so lovey!  She loves to be held.  She will let me hold her as long as I like and purrs the entire time.  What am I going to do when I have to let her go?  This is what happens to me when I try to hold Andy too long:

Seriously as I was writing I heard cat screams!!  This is the third night in a row.  Tonight I looked in my backyard and I saw Jake chasing after Kendall while she screamed.  The other night I heard a scream and when I looked out I saw Jake and Pepper.  Could Jake still be trying to mount the girls even though he doesn't have the equipment anymore?  Are old habits really hard to break?

With all the effort I am putting into these stray and feral city cats I have decided that I should also protect my own fold as much as possible.  I am already wearing only certain clothes over to the headquarters and hanging them when I get into the house or putting them directly into the washer as to not allow contact with my own cats.  So along with protecting them I have decided to get them vaccinated for diseases that typical indoor cats for not get vaccines for.  Better safe than sorry.

And, in case you were wondering I have not let Cheddar out because he is going from City Cat to County Cat.  I am going to have him checked out at the veterinarian's tomorrow and if he is healthy he is going to live in the barn at Robin's parents' to help rid the world of barn rodents.

Also of interest...I saw Harry Houdini tonight.  On my evening Jane Goodall stroll I saw Harry sleeping in a chair on the front porch of the cat lady down the street.  I may get him yet!

Cat Tracking

I've been thinking that I am a little like Jane Goodall in my own cat tracking way.  All the animal observing, identifying what cats live on this block, where they are, at what times they are in certain places.  Everyday I walk the same short loop- out my backyard down the alley around the block and back up the street to my front door.  I do this several times throughout the evening to see where the cats are and how many.  At 7:10pm tonight (with my 7 year old neighbor) we observed "Pepper" playing with a moth on the corner, "Black & White Mama" walking in Terri's front yard, and Jake sleeping on Christy's sidewalk.  Then we saw that Terri had let Little Boy and Jasmine out of the basement and were playing in their fenced in backyard. 
 At 8:00pm I noticed that the cat lady on the corner had fed her colony.  Pepper, Mama, black kitten, and calico kitten were all eating on her front porch.  I wanted to just reach out and grab one!  Then I saw Kendall hanging out under a parked truck.   Cats everywhere!  Now you know why I have to stop this epidemic. 


The food was untouched in the basement.  Looks like Harry flew the coop.  Cheddar has turned into a chatterbox and little AshLeigh a love bug.  She really gets into purring and loves being pet.

Spelunking with Steve

I decided to go looking for Harry today.  Too chicken to go alone I asked my neighbor Steve if he'd help.  Within moments he appeared in our alley armed with gloves and some sort of makeshift animal control pole.  Looked a little scary to me, but he assured me that all animal catchers used something like this.  Looking the part of "Crocodile Hunter" "Cat Hunter" we began the descend.

About 10 feet into my crawl I noticed a transom.  This looked odd sitting on top of the dirt floor and not over a door.  It must have been used for circulation and to close off the dug out section of the basement from the crawlspace.  The transom can no longer be closed because there are pipes running above my head.  Damn!  This could have been used as part of a strategy for keeping Harry in certain sections of the basement.  I'll have to think of something else.

I crawled over the threshold with my flashlight in hand, preparing to see the glowing reflection of a cat's eyes.  Nothing.  I am surprised.  I can see throughout the remainder of this dirt room and all is empty except where the plumbing is.  The space by the pipes is only about a foot high and I will not be able to enter, but a cat sure could.  It's the perfect basement abyss.  Defeat comes over me almost instantaneously.  My hope of throwing a towel over Harry, wrapping him up like a burrito, and throwing him into the oversized carrier shattered.  I read that Steve Knutson (editor of American Caving Accidents) stated, "...I use the term 'spelunker' to denote someone untrained and unknowledgeable in current exploration techniques, and 'caver' for those who are."  Becoming a knowledgeable caver at this point seemed impossible, so I crawled my spelunking ass out backwards with my empty carrier and resurfaced into the daylight.

Free Amish Kitten

7:30am, Pick-up time at the clinic.  The waiting room was packed with people and cats when I entered.  I took a seat prepared to wait and the next thing I heard was "Here are your cats and let me get you your paperwork."  Boy, you don't have to tell me twice that I have been hanging out at the clinic a lot when the workers there recognize me the moment I enter through the door.  I wonder if like a "bar fly" I have somehow become a "clinic flea"..."I'll have my regular."

I know that it really shouldn't matter because these are not cats that I am keeping, but I do review their paperwork just to make sure everything went well.  Right away on Ash's paperwork I noticed that "male" had been crossed out and "female" was marked along with the box stating that she had been spayed.  So much for overseeing my first Bris!  I realize now that she is Amish.  I can tell because she wears plain clothes - always black.

Half Way There!

Andy Loves the blog.

I am half way there!  I took Cheddar and Ash in today.  I had them weigh Ash before I left to know for sure that he would be accepted for surgery.  They were both treated for fleas, worms and vaccinated for dystemper and rabies along with their "altering."  I have never thought more about cat diseases in my life.  

"You will always be lucky if you know how to make friends with strange cats." - Colonial American proverb

The Cat of Monte Cristo

No sign of Harry.  I set the food right on the edge of the inside of the trap today and he ate it.  I will push it in further tomorrow.  My neighbor Steve has started to think that my operations headquarters is actually  Château d'If and that Harry Houdini is slowing removing the dirt and stones from the crawl space to burrow his way out to freedom.  Steve imagines that in years to come I will get a knock on the door and in will enter a stranger announced as the Cat of Monte Cristo wearing a top hat and and carrying a bag of gold coins then dramatically he will remove his disguise and say, "Tis I the cat Harry Houdini returned after all these years." Well we'll see if that happens.  I wouldn't mind if he returned with a bag of gold, but I would prefer he be neutered before he has his world adventures.

Well tomorrow is the big day for Cheddar and Asher Levi.  I am going to go in confident and armed with a side kick (either Robin or Christy) to assist with getting them into the carriers.  Because of the generous donations from Jami and Lori I will be getting the cats not only altered but also de-wormed, treated for fleas, and vaccinated.  Thank you!

Definitions:
Feral Cat: a wild cat un-socialized to humans.  Will hiss and run if you try to touch it.
Stray Cat: an outdoor unclaimed cat.  Typically lives nears humans and may let you pet them.

Does Anyone Want a Jewish Kitten?

How do I know he is Jewish you say?  Well I am overseeing his Brit milah on Friday and his name is Asher Levi.  There will not be a seudat mitzvah following the ceremony because I will be attending the annual St. Anne's Convent yard sale.

Harry is not falling for the "walk back in the trap" trick.  I went two days with the food in the trap and I could not take it anymore thinking of that poor starving kitty.  So I left the food out for him.  He ate the entire bowl.  Tonight I actually saw him for the first time since last Thursday as he ran back into the crawl space.  My new plan is:  tie the trap door open, set the food outside the trap, each day move the food an inch further in the trap, build trust, set the trap when I can get him to eat all the way inside.  I'll let you know if this works. 

Back to the kitten...I don't think that I will be able to re-trap Harry before Friday, so I set the traps tonight.  I saw the black and white mom with her black baby walking down the sidewalk.  I hid.  Then heard the trap door slam.  Little black kitten caught in the trap.  Now I only hope he weighs enough to get neutered.

Why I am NOT a Cat Lady

Some of you have been referring to me as a "cat lady", but I argue that I am actually not a cat lady.  Per Wikipedia the definition of a "cat lady" is as follows:

A stereotypical cat lady is a woman (applies to me), usually a spinster (does not apply to me), who dotes upon her cat (applies to me).  The term is sometimes used in a pejorative sense, e.g. "crazy cat lady" (I've been known to be called that, especially lately), to denote an animal hoarder who keeps large number of cats without having the ability to properly house or care for them (this does NOT apply to me and I am trying to eradicate part of this problem).  It is hypothesized that the behavior of such women may be due to the effects of toxoplasmosis- an infection spread by cats which has effects upon mental health (this could be starting to apply to me?????! just kidding).

In conversations with people who know more about controlling the pet population than I, they have mentioned that "cat ladies" are well intended people who think they are doing something nice by feeding the poor kitties in the neighborhood but providing no other care for them.  This actually leads to the spread of disease and overpopulation.  I was open to the name when it just meant "crazy about cats", but with a reputation like that I am definitely not a cat lady.  I would be open to a new term of endearment if anyone has any suggestions.

Cheddar

I trapped Cheddar tonight using the new trap that Jami lent me.  Cheddar has been in my traps on 3 different occasions and has somehow been able to not trigger them until today.  I had been sitting on my front porch today for hours watching that stupid trap (and reading a book) and don't you know, it was when I went to pick up the pizza that I caught one.  When I got home Jake was sitting by the trap keeping Cheddar company. 
  
                                                           

I am still trying to re-trap Harry with no luck.  Last night he triggered the trap but still no sign of him.  My email support person recommended that I not give up and continue to try to trap him in the basement.  I hope he does not bother Cheddar.  

Camper

Here's our girl Camper, Campy, Doodles, Doodie, Campy Doo.

Headquarters

For you newcomers who don't already know the set up, here's how this operation works.  Christy lives in the house next to ours.  She has an outside storm-door entrance to her unfinished, old, cob-webbed basement and she does not let her (pet) cats go down there.  This is where I house the cats and run the operation.  Many people have supported me with this project.  Don (a guy from work), well actually Don's girlfriend Emily lent me a dog kennel.  Robin's mom is lending me another one.  And Terri (the neighbor next to Christy), is letting me borrow her cat cage.  I typically use the dog kennels unless I am running a full house and need to throw someone in the cat cage for a night (I've done that twice).  I have consulted some websites regarding caring for the cats in my (T-N-R adventure, this stands for Trap-Neuter-Release, and no I did not make this up).  The kennels are four feet apart and partially covered with towels to help the cats feel safe and separated far enough to reduce any spread of disease (Jake for example).  I have 3 carriers, one from Laurie (work), Mr. Minor (work), and one of my own.  Originally I thought Laurie was lending me her cat cage because this is what I asked for and the next day she brought me a carrier.  I asked another person if she had a cat cage and I got another carrier, so then I had to change my language and started asking people for "dog kennels".  (See Definitions below).  The first trap came from Randy (a guy from work who is also a "cat lady").  Then Robin and I got a raccoon trap from out at her parents' farm, and just yesterday Jami lent me a trap from a guy from her work.  The world has been extremely supportive of me managing these cats.  Christy has lent me 2 litter boxes and there is one of my own.  Christy and I have been buying the cat food and cat litter.  We have a little supply closet with everything that is needed (rubber gloves, leather gloves, newspaper, plastic bags, sponges, food/water dishes, the wet cat food, etc). 
    Things have come together since I started the project about a month ago.  Planning actually happened back in July.  Robin and I had been considering getting a dog.  When we were at the shelter I asked if there were any programs or places to get outdoor cats fixed (people in this type of business don't use the word "fixed" they say "spayed or neutered").  I had a conversation which ended in "God bless you for doing this."  I thought wow that might be taking it a little too far.  I mean "God bless me" for doing this?  It's not that big of a deal.  Well now that I am doing it, I realize it is a big deal and I know why the woman said "God bless you" and I say it to anyone who tries doing this themselves.  And, now I have to give credit to the cat ladies at work who inspired me to go along with this project.  Amy actually fosters cats and has more cats stories than anyone I have ever met.  Randy is a cat lover as well and will always ask about your cats and how they are doing.  He too is no stranger to trapping-neutering-and "adopting" cats.  He is sad that I am not finding homes for the cats, but I say "I can only do so much Randy!"  Tracy has also become a cat lady in the sense that she too has a cat colony "feral outdoor cats" in her neighborhood and has started taking them to a clinic.  So with all this cat talk at work how could I not join in the adventure.    

Definitions:
Dog Kennel: Big cage
Cat Carrier: small carrier that I use to transport that cats to the clinic and back
Trap: a non-kill animal trap
Spay: fixing a female cat
Neuter: fixing a male cat
Cat Colony: a group of cats that live together outside, they have no human owner, maybe have a cat lady feeding them.

Jake

My inspiration for this project started with Jake.  He is the gray strippy cat pictured here.  He belongs to the nieghbor.  He used to be an indoor cat but now he's their outdoor cat and clearly not neutered.  Ever since Christy moved in 2 years ago we have been talking about wanting to take him in for neutering.  Well finally when I got enough nerve to ask the neighbor, she thanked me and said that she's been trying to get her daughter to take him in for neutering for years.  Then her daughter said she would pay me to take their 2 indoor cats (Jasmine and Little Boy) to be altered as well.   Jasmine happens to be Jake's mother and Little Boy a brother from another litter.  And that's how this cat project started.

Nothing Last Night!

9/1/10...Last entry from the past...
It was Tuesday evening which quickly became night. Spaying and neutering happens on Thursday mornings so I have picked Tuesday as the crucial day to trap cats in order to give me the secure feeling that I am prepared to take my catch in, give the cats a moment to calm in captivity, and also to give me a cushion day to trap cats on Wednesday night if I don't already have 2 on Tuesday. Now that you understand my train of thought and know that it was Tuesday, you know that I was hungry for the hunt and capture.  With Jake and Kendall gone I had work to do.  I had to mop the floor, wipe out the cages, wash the towels and bowls, clean out the litter boxes, wipe almost everything with bleach and then again with soapy water.  Then I set the traps (one in Steve's backyard and one in the alley).  I went back to the basement and set the cages (dog kennels) up for two new inhabitants.  Then nothing. 

I checked again at 9pm and 10pm.  I was worried about leaving the traps out all night, but I really wanted to catch a cat.  So at 6:45am I went to check the traps, excited thinking about what poor cat creature would be in the trap or possibly traps!  I went to Steve's backyard first and the trap door was down but no cat.  I think a cat/animal must have jumped on top of the trap and triggered it.  I walked over to the one in the alley, there was no food in the trap, but also no cat.  I hate that trap!  A bit mad I was still determined to get a cat and it was still early in the day.  I grabbed the good trap and ran down the street.  I put it between two bushes by the corner house (where the cat colony lives), made some coffee, and set a chair on the sidewalk to watch.  Jake came by looking like he was trying to warn others not to go near.  I yelled at him to scram (thinking "these are my cats Jake and you better leave them alone!")  Then I saw a black and white cat.  It looked like he was going to go in when Jake showed up again!  The two cats talked and I thought for sure my plan was ruined.  Jake sat in the grass and watched the b/w cat sniff around.  And then...the trap door slammed and the cat was trapped.  I ran to put my sweatshirt on, the leather gloves, and grab a towel.  When I got to the trap the cat was pissed!  I covered the trap with the towel and carried him to the basement.  I put food and water in the cage and then opened the door to the trap.  The cat came out no problem, hissing and screaming.  He looks young and his muzzle seems a bit broad for his face.

Did She Get You Too?!

8/31/10- Entry from a couple of days ago...

When I got home from work I checked on the two cats that I had- Jake and Kendall.  Kendall's stitches/incision looked good, so I covered her with a towel and let her go (I released her in the same spot where I trapped her).  She ran about 15 feet, turned around, and cried at me twice. Then she ran down the street and sat in a neighbor's yard.  She can be checked off the list now.  On to dealing with Jake.  I knocked on Terri's door to tell her that I was letting Jake out.  I set him down and he ran to get Kendall.  The two of them started talking and playing together like long lost pals.  Terri interpreted that cat talk, "Hey, did she get you too?!"  It was really cute to see them playing together and Kendall following Jake everywhere.  But I couldn't stand around and watch those two cats frolic around all afternoon, night was coming on quickly and I had more cats to catch...

Checking on the Patients

On 8/29/10...
The little girl cat Kendall does not eat or drink much.  Robin thinks it is because she has never been in captivity before and is not used to having food all the time.  She just stares at me when I come in.  She played in her food dish today and moved the water bowl (well I hope she was playing and not exhausting herself trying to get out).  Jake's cage was clean and his poop in the box was almost formed.  I think they will both be ready to leave on Tuesday.  I want to see Kendall's incision though before I let her go to make sure she's healing okay.
   I saw Cheddar tonight when I went to check on the cats.  He was coming out of the neighbor's yard.  I am going to set a trap over there.  Then I saw another cat at the end of the alley.  I would like to set a trap down there but am worried that a car would drive down and hit it.  I am going to have to survey the area to see if there is a good safe location to set the trap.

Surgery Day!

On 8/26/10...
This morning I woke up the cats around 7:00am.  I went to check on Kendall to see if she actually was a girl and she scratched me.  (I tried to wear only one layer of protection instead of two and that was a bad idea).  So, rather than be 100% sure she was a she, I just shoved her into the carrier.  It was like holding onto a greased pig!  Jake was easy and put up no fight, but I was worried that  they would reject him for being too sick.  I put some antibiotic ointment on my scratch and drove off to the clinic.  I arrived at the clinic later in the morning than I had ever been (8:15am) and it was busy with people and cats.  I asked for Jake to be tested for FIV and Leukemia.  I thought "Well at least if they reject him I can find out if he is sick."  I checked Kendall in hoping she was a girl and got flustered when filling out her color/markings.  I wrote white with gray stripes.  Later I thought that maybe that it was is called a "tabby" cat.  I need to look this up.  For someone into cats I really don't know much about cats.  So later in the day when I noticed I missed a call from the clinic I thought for sure that they were going to tell me that either Jake was too sick to be neutered, he had FIV or both.  Turns out the clinic just wanted to notify me that Kendall had fleas and get permission to treat her with medication for an additional $5.  Well I couldn't seem like an un-caring cheap person so I authorized the $5 treatment.  And what an feeling I felt accomplished because I knew that Jake was neutered.  Those balls were gone!  We have been talking about this for at least 2 years.  Of course I still don't know why he got so sick but maybe he won't be as sick since he won't be fighting with the other males. 
    On the way home tonight Robin and I saw the black and white cat, the black kitten, and the calico kitten.  I've got to get them!  In just a few weeks those little ones will be ready to be fixed.  I hope that Kendall is feeling well enough to be released on Tuesday because I want to catch 2 more cats that day. 
   The neighbors continue to be supportive and that helps.  I have set my goal to be 10 outdoor cats.  I am pretty sure I can do that by continuing to take in 2 at a time.

Just Checking

On 8/25/10...
I am pretty sure that Kendall is a girl.  I tried to look today but the cat was freaking out.  I tried to explain to her that I was just trying to determine whether or not she was a "girl"cat or "boy" cat.  But in the end, I put her back into the cage...undetermined sex.  Jake had some colored discharge coming out of his nose and he was sniffing it back up into his nose like a five-year-old kid.  It makes me frustrated trying to figure out how to make this cat healthy.  I am going to take them into the clinic tomorrow.  I hope he his healthy enough for surgery.
The 7 year-old neighbor boy gave me $5 and some change today…for the cause!

It's a Boy! until Jake starts singing.

A few days ago on 8/24/10...

I caught Kendall today!  I thought at first he was a boy-just looked like one, but now I think he might be a girl.  As soon as I brought her into the basement Jake started singing and trying to get out of his cage.  (There was no singing when I brought Mike in!)  I am going to have to check tomorrow so I'll know what to tell the clinic.  She's white with gray markings on top.  Pretty with yellow eyes.  She's probably 5-6 months old. 

I set 2 traps earlier today.  One in the backyard and one in Terri's front yard.  I used some salmon flavored wet cat food to attract them.  Initially I had Cheddar in the trap out front, but he got out before the trap door could lock in place!  I was standing across the street watching it all unfold before my eyes!  I reset the trap and went inside for a while.  Later I went into the backyard to check the trap and it was still empty.  Went to the front and there was Kendall!  She's in the dog kennel in Christy's basement now.
I checked on Jake and he still has diarrhea.  I didn't see any blood.  I don't know when it will end.

I Release My First Cat

Several days ago on 8/22/10...

I let Mike go today.  I had him an entire week.  He did really well although he was very scared.  He let me pet him on several occasions before his trip to the clinic.  When I brought him home he started growling at me, so no more petting.  It rained a bit yesterday, so I waited until today to release him because I did not want his water soluble stitches to disintegrate.  I was able to just throw a towel over him and carry him back to our yard where I had trapped him.  After I set him down he took one look at me and ran!
Now it's just poor Jake down there in the basement all by himself.  He's been down there for two weeks.  He is so over being caged.  I had to put him in the cage for easy access because the clinic gave me another de-wormer that I have to give him for 5 days and it's liquid.  I am also mad at him, on Friday I grabbed a plastic bag from the shelf and cat urine splashed all over me!  I said "No more free roaming the basement for Jake."  He's such a sucker...I set the trap with some tuna and he went right in.  Now that we have him caged the place smells better too.  Now that he is easy to grab, I can pet him.  He is such a lovey cat.  He curled up on my lap and purred.
   Mike's kennel is cleaned out and ready for a new resident.  Tomorrow I set the traps.

How to Trick a Cat to Walk Back Into a Trap

I am a bit frustrated thinking about how I am going to get this cat back under control (named Harry Houdini at this point in time).  I am not sure he will fall for the whole "Here kitty kitty. Walk into the pretty raccoon trap so I can neuter you" line again.  I talked with Randy from work.  He suggested I disguise the trap.  This is the best idea I have heard yet.  The only alternative idea that I thought of was to open the door and let him run up the stairs and have someone at the top of the stairs with a fish net to catch him as he comes running.  Disguising it sounds better doesn't it?  His idea is to cover the trap with a blanket and cover the inside floor with one too.  Set the food outside the trap so he gets used to being around it again with the trap door locked to stay open.  Over several days gradually move the food deeper inside the trap until I know that he is actually going in the trap and then set it for real and WHAM!  I am going to try it out tomorrow.  Good thing it is a long weekend and I have several days to perfect this trickery.

Horrible Rotten cat catching!

So last night I looked out the window to check the traps and I could see the one trap was triggered. So I went down to check on it and Terri was standing there looking at the animal in the trap. At first glance I thought I had a calico, then it turned to face me and I realized I had gotten an opossum. So I unlatched the locks on the doors and left the critter to figure out how to get out on his own. I was not going to touch it and although I felt bad that it was trapped for a minute I knew it could get out. I triggered the other trap, so not to get another unwanted animal. Of course this morning the trap was empty and sitting next to the triggered trap was Jake acting all smug. Then I went to put the traps away and get ready to take the new cat in for neutering. It's now 7:00 in the morning. I would have asked for help in the past but I was feeling pretty confident. I took the top off of the dog kennel and went to throw a towel over the cat. The cat jumped and ran from me. I then tried to chase it around the basement and saw it vertically leap like 8 feet. I know that's not possible but somehow it spidermaned up the wall and hit the ceiling. I could see a lost cause. I put food out for him and left wondering if Christy was going to kill me for letting a feral cat loose in her basement. Perhaps it was the early morning, my overall tiredness, or seemingly hopeless situation of trapping this cat once again but I considered giving up the project, and that was how this blog got started...