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.)
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
SPCA Day
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| These cats were great! |
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.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
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.
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.
Friday, October 8, 2010
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.
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.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
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.
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.
Monday, October 4, 2010
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"
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 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!
Sunday, October 3, 2010
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!
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!
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