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To Catlovers

A Star is Born
Felicity is a gorgeous little FIV+ lady who was biding her time as The Cat House on
the Kings office cat while waiting for adoption. Felicity had the good fortune to be
accepted at a Southern California rescue with an excellent adoption rate. Felicity’s
lucky streak continued when the people from Rachel Ray’s Nutrish for Cats chose
Felicity to be one of three cats featured in a unique experiment. Three cats would each
live for one week with a person(s) who said they didn’t really like cats. Felicity went to
live with a young couple that wanted a pet but had never owned a cat. By the end of the
week, all participants were in love with their cats and all elected to adopt. One woman
summed it up; “You don’t even know you are a cat person until you get a cat.”
Felicity’s new family dotes on her and she retains her diva status!
http://bit.ly/felicityadoption
 
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Poe is a 5 month old kitten who was abandoned when his family moved away and left him behind. He showed up at the neighbor's house hungry and crying. The neighbor took him to Brevard County Animal Shelter and explained how he was abandoned when his family moved and had no one caring for him.

Did Brevard County Animal Shelter find him a new home? No.

They sterilized him and re-abandoned him in the yard of the very same house they knew no one was living in to fend for himself.

This is not a kitten who had found a niche. This is not a kitten who was being cared for. This is not a kitten who had a home. This is not a scenario that called for "Return to Field" as the default choice.

Poe was abandoned twice. First, by his original family. Then by the very shelter that is supposed to enforce laws against it. But Brevard County cat lovers face a Hobbesian choice: if they complain, the shelter will just kill them instead. If they do not complain, kittens like Poe will continue to be abandoned.

Indeed, Poe is not unique. Brevard County Animal Shelter, which just declared itself as having achieved No Kill “through hard work,” has also released friendly kittens in unfamiliar locations and in Walmart parking lots (the latter were intercepted by a rescue group). And while many of us -- myself included -- support "Return to Field" and TNR and do so enthusiastically, it is dishonest to take friendly kittens -- KITTENS -- and abandon them in a Walmart parking lot (or an unfamiliar location or a known abandoned property) and claim they've achieved No Kill through “hard work.” Adoption is hard work. Releasing social kittens in a public parking lot is easy.

Should we celebrate Brevard’s decline in killing? Absolutely.

Is RTF for cats worth doing? Yes, for various reasons, not the least of which is that most cats are not lost but they become lost when they are taken to the shelter.

Is RTF of kittens better than killing? Absolutely. But here’s the rub: that is true by definition. Everything is better than killing. And abandoning kittens to unfamiliar locations, to Walmart parking lots, or to abandoned homes does not represent the spirit or ideals of the No Kill movement.

More on point, do we want a system of shelters that are paid to serve the animals of our community shirking their responsibilities by simply dumping baby animals in parking lots or abandoned houses then claiming they’ve crossed the No Kill goal line? No.

We can do better. And it is not divisive when animal advocates demand that their shelters do so: http://www.nathanwinograd.com/?p=16831
Click to expand...

I read Poe was back crying outside the neighbor who brought him to the shelter.The neighbor is now looking for a home for him.
I really think TNR is good and we have to work with it to reduce the number of cats and I understand if there is a colony with lots of cats it might be impossible to take care of all the kittens.Maybe you have to release kittens but then you release them with their mothers and other adult cats.There are male cats taking care of kittens too.
When they are released I want the cats to be fed everyday and they have a shelter to go to when it´s cold and rainy.
Trap-Neuter-return-Manage
I suppose there can be places where you just can release the cats if you know it´s easy to get food and take shelter from the weather but not for lonely kittens.
 
Why I Gave Up a Corporate Career to Build a Sanctuary for Rescued Big Cats
If I only make a fraction of the impact that Sampson and the other cats have made on me, then I am very blessed.” Tammy Thies, The Wildcat Sanctuary Founder

Times like these are when I realize how fast time flies by and how special each moment is. Today, I’m spending a few of the last days with Sampson, the caracal. At 17, he’s spent his entire life here at The Wildcat Sanctuary (TWS). He was our second resident, and I remember him being a little ball of red fur and fire, hissing non-stop. Over the years, we became very close, and he was the most easygoing caracal anyone had ever met. His best friend, Cleo, the serval, was the first resident to call TWS home.

I sit here giving him pain medications and subcutaneous fluids to support his failing kidneys, making sure he has no pain. Yet, I know his time is near. For now, he enjoys laying in the grass, trotting after new caracal Aurora and being the ham of a cat he is. My heart breaks knowing he’ll be leaving us soon, just like so many of our other original cats now in their senior years. And so many dear ones have already left.

Seventeen years has gone fast. I feel like it’s the end of an era. The original cats have been here from the beginning, since I had the first crazy notion that I wanted to make a difference in the lives of animals but had no idea how I was going to do that.

A day doesn’t go by that I’m not asked, “How did you start the Sanctuary?” Some of you have been on this journey from our inception in Atlanta. Others have joined the cause once you heard about our first tigress Meme. Others recently joined. Thank you to each and every one of you who has made mine and so many cats’ rescues possible.

An Unlikely Beginning

As a young girl, I was always eager – eager to do as much as I could in as little time as possible. Some would say I haven’t changed much. In high school, I started attending college when I was just 16. After high school, I double majored in marketing and advertising, graduating in 3 1/2 years while holding down a job. I knew I wanted to work my way up the corporate ladder as fast as possible in a creative advertising agency. I worked for a few smaller agencies before being recruited to The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta. I was the youngest in their marketing department and the first to be hired without a Master’s Degree. Later in my career, I worked for many international, high profile companies, too.

I was introduced to exotic cats during my work in advertising and on photo shoots. On one particular shoot, there were two young Bengal tiger cubs named Titan and Tango. At first I was smitten, like everyone else. How cute and adorable they were. The cubs were on leashes, being pulled in many directions. They started screaming when they got tired, but their job was not over, so the trainer kept redirecting them to stay on cue.

Volunteering With Cats

After that, I decided to volunteer for a few organizations only to find out they were breeding and selling. Each time I volunteered, a favorite animal would be gone, and a new one would appear. I never got straight answers.

Once, an owner wanted to prove to me he did nothing wrong and asked me to accompany him to pick up a baby cougar. What I saw that day, I’ll never forget. Metal corn cribs cut in half, turned on their side to create an 8 x 12 space no higher than 5 feet at the tallest point. On one side was a severely scarred leopard with fur missing and flattened feet due to a declaw. The owner said the leopard had been in the house when she was younger and been burned by boiling water. I looked to the right and tears welled up in my eyes. There was the male lion I’d loved so much, that I’d volunteered to care for at the other facility. He’d been traded for the cougar kitten we were picking up today. He could barely turn around in the small space, his face was bloody from scraping the fence, and his paws were raw from the hard surface he paced on. He was a shell of the cat I’d met before.

But that wasn’t the worst. We went into a pole building that had dozens of small galvanized boxes with round holes. They were no bigger than a copy paper box. The only thing you could see were small eyes peering back from the round air holes. The sound coming from those boxes was deafening – the screaming and hissing, I can still hear it today. I was told they were all bobcats that would be electrocuted for their pelts.

I was physically ill. Incredibly, the owner thought it would somehow bring me peace to see the lion I’d loved so much. To him, this was just a regular business transaction. That was one of many days I vowed to make a change, but I had no idea how.

In 1999, I was contacted by a volunteer who was still helping one of the facilities I had volunteered with. She told me one of the adult Bengal tigers would no longer work on a leash and the trainer deemed him dangerous. The tiger’s reward for years of service and profit to the trainer was to be killed and taxidermied.
Starting a Sanctuary

I didn’t know how I could help from so far away, but I had to do something. My mom had given me a Parade Magazine featuring actress Tippi Hedren and her big cat preserve. I dialed the number in the article and, to my surprise, Tippi answered the phone. She committed to finding a sanctuary for the tiger if the trainer would relinquish custody. It had only been hours since the first phone call, but when I called back, the tiger had already been killed and put on dry ice. Tippi and I were outraged and quickly became friends. She mentored me and introduced me into the sanctuary world for big cats.

I incorporated in 1999 to do advocacy and education for big cats, but quickly learned more sanctuaries were needed.
Tippi told me, “You have to quit thinking you are saving big cats by getting them surrendered and sending them to other sanctuaries, you need to become your own sanctuary.” So I did.

It began on two small acres in a suburb of Atlanta, then moved to five acres in the country. Running a nonprofit was harder than I thought, so I moved back to my roots in Minnesota bringing our 10 cats to 10 new acres. After a zoning dispute over a geriatric tiger, I rescued named Meme, we moved north to 40 plush acres in Sandstone, MN where we reside today.

For the first several years, I worked both a full-time job and also ran the sanctuary. I received no salary from the sanctuary and invested tens of thousands of dollars of my own money to build habitats and care for the animals. This is because it was, and still is, a labor of love.

Over the years, I’ve acted as Executive Director, animal care director, keeper, construction manager, fundraiser, financial manager, and overnight caretaker of the facility. Often all at the same time. Anybody who has started a business understands the commitment and sacrifice it takes. Starting a sanctuary is no different, except there are 100+ animals whose lives depend on us. I have made my share of mistakes, but never wavered from the mission.

Life came full circle as it often does. Just weeks after moving to our property in Sandstone, MN, we were contacted by authorities that Cynthia Gamble had been killed by one of her performing tigers just five miles down the road. I knew that property all too well. It had been years since I’d been there. My heart sank when I heard it was Titan and Tango – the two cubs that I’d met years earlier on the photo shoot. They’d been through so much through the years. Another tiger, Lilly, was also on the property and had her own troubled past. All had been through starvation multiple times. Titan and Tango survived when 30 other cats perished in the barn from dehydration and starvation just a few years earlier.

Tango’s fate was sealed by authorities who euthanized him after Gamble’s death. Thankfully, The Wildcat Sanctuary was able to offer survivors Lilly and Titan a home. Over a decade had gone by since I first met Tango and Titan. I made a new vow that no cat should ever have to withstand a decade of abuse and neglect before being rescued. And we would dedicate ourselves to inspiring change to decrease the number of cats needing sanctuary.
A Continued Mission

Since 2006, with your help, we have built out 40 acres to provide natural habitats for rescued wild cats, added an onsite hospital to treat our ever growing geriatric population, built a talented and compassionate team, became a leader for change nationally through our advocacy work and supporting legislation to stop the breeding and ownership of big cats as pets, grew our onsite internship program to help educate future animal advocates, mentored other sanctuaries to expand the number of homes available to rescued cats and acted as placement officer to coordinate national rescues with dozens of big cats needing placement at a time.

What you have helped us accomplish is amazing. I am thankful for that daily. But still, on days like this, as I experience the last chapter in a very special cat’s life, all goes silent. It is as if time stands still – or I just wish it to in order not to have to say goodbye.

I know that Sampson is one of the lucky ones. Arriving at a very young age, he has never known the abuse or neglect many of our other residents have. He has only known love and kindness. But more importantly, he changed our lives. He was one of the first to teach us why wild cats should not be pets, why they need special care and deserve to live wild at heart. People say I’ve built a legacy, but it is their legacy. If I only make a fraction of the impact that Sampson and the other cats have made on me, then I am very blessed. Because their legacy inspires change and only in their legacy can we end the captive wildlife crisis. It is the best way we can honor each and every one of them.

For now, I choose to celebrate the very special days and weeks ahead as Sampson and other founding cats move to the next chapter in life. And with your continued support, we will also start a new chapter here at The Wildcat Sanctuary by welcoming new cats that need refuge who will be just a special as the first to call the sanctuary home.

Thank you for the past, present and future! You have truly made a difference in my life and all that call TWS home.
http://www.onegreenplanet.org/anima...er-to-build-a-sanctuary-for-rescued-big-cats/
 
Small But Mighty Feral Kitten Inspires Rescuers To Help His Entire Colony

The life of a feral cat is difficult to say the least. They face disease, injury, predation and harsh weather, not to mention the constant search for food.

Recently TinyKittens Rescue discovered a colony of more than 50 ferals on a rural property near their facility in Fort Langley, British Columbia. Among them was the tiniest kitten they have ever rescued – a mere fraction the size of his littermates.

They named the special little tabby Nano. At 5 weeks old he weighed in at only 5 ounces. His four brothers were all well over a pound and healthy, but poor Nano was weak, dehydrated and suffering from severe anemia due to a flea infestation.

The feral mama, Nano and his littermates were removed from a delapidated barn that was scheduled to be torn down and taken into the care of TinyKittens. Despite the tender nurturing from his mother and the volunteers who rescued him, Nano passed away a week later.

Aside from his tiny size, he had also been born with several deformities including a life-threatening diaphragmatic hernia. His vet attempted surgery, but his tiny body was unable to recover. Nano’s final week was spent being loved and snuggled in a warm, safe place with plenty of food. He was free of fleas and out of pain.

In the short week that Nano was in their care, he touched the hearts of his rescuers and their social media supporters with his bright eyes and heroic spirit. One Facebook follower commented, in part:

“…I don’t think he intended to live a long life. I think he was always going to leave us, it was just a matter of how long it took to save his family. Nano was a hero. He accomplished his mission. Look at all he did in a mere few weeks. He is a miracle…”

The volunteers at TinyKittens were determined to ensure that the brave little kitten’s death would not be in vain. They plan to host their first ever Feral Fix-a-thon of all the cats in Nano’s colony in his honor.

The event is scheduled to take place the weekend of October 15 with the Trap, Neuter, Release (TNR) efforts live-streamed via the TinyKittens Facebook page. The staff at Mountain View Veterinary Hospital will be donating their spay/neuter services.

TinyKittens posted via Facebook:

“Nano came into our lives to teach us even the tiniest life has value. It didn’t matter that he wasn’t like other kittens, it didn’t matter that he was tiny, or that his floof was always in disarray, or that he had special toes. What mattered was his extraordinary ability to open our hearts and inspire us to make a difference.”

What a beautiful tribute to a tiny kitten who made a huge impact on his rescuers.
http://iheartcats.com/small-but-mighty-feral-kitten-inspires-rescuers-to-help-his-entire-colony/

[video=youtube;Lz72yQNqfjQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz72yQNqfjQ[/video]
 
Cat House On the Kings: More Kittens

Harvie coordinates Facebook and Fundraising for The Cat House on the Kings, and lives with a house-full of rescued cats.

“I’d like to donate some cats to you.” As silly as that may sound, Cat House on the Kings staff and volunteers get between 200 and 300 calls a week during spring and summer from people who have kittens and cats that they want us to take in. Though we do give shelter to hundreds every year, we obviously cannot take in the vast majority that are offered to us, which means that we’re often left with upset, frustrated, rude, and even hostile people on the other end of the phone line. This wears on our staff, who have to deal with this on a daily basis. Of course, there really is only one answer to this problem: spay and neuter, spay and neuter, spay and neuter. For those who call, our best advice is usually for them to make a personal commitment to just one litter. Take in just one litter. Keep them fed, keep them safe, get them healthy. And get them ALL spayed and neutered before finding them good homes. For those of you who are willing to do some much-needed TNR (Trap – Neuter – Return) in your own area, we’ve created a handy resource for you: www.cathouseonthekings.com/docs/tnr_basics.pdf.

A few months ago, a very small kitten was brought to The Cat House on the Kings by someone who had found it covered in the sticky glue used in mousetraps. Cat House on the Kings founder/director Lynea Lattanzio and her staff spent countless hours working diligently to “unsticky” the adorable tabby girl, who remained loving and full of purrs during the process. After using Blue Dawn dish detergent, peanut butter, coconut oil, and corn starch, the staff realized that she smelled like a candy bar and she was named Almond Joy! In early August, Almond Joy was adopted by a loving family from northern California. PLEASE do not use these sticky glue boards anywhere that a cat (or dog) might become stuck! The Humane Society of the United States says: “There are numerous reports of cats becoming stuck in glue boards and requiring veterinary help, sometimes surgery, to remove the board. Because of their agility, cats are able to access seemingly out-of-the way places, so it is dangerous to assume that a glue board can be placed safely out of the reach of cats.”

http://kingsriverlife.com/08/27/cat-house-on-the-kings-more-kittens/
 
U.S. Hunters Can’t Import Trophies From Canned Lion Hunts Anymore

There are now estimated to be 200 lion farms in South Africa, where thousands of lions are being bred to be killed.

The cubs are snatched from their mothers shortly after birth and used to draw tourists to interact with them. Sadly, once they’ve outgrown their usefulness, the cubs are sent to canned hunting facilities where trophy hunters are guaranteed an easy kill.

Trophy hunters then import their dead animals home to decorate their home and commemorate their kill. However, according to an announcement on Thursday, U.S. hunters participating in these cruel canned hunts will no longer be able to import their trophies.

“Today, I’m proud to announce decisions regulating the import of sport-hunted lion trophies under the ESA from South Africa ― home to many of the remaining wild lion populations,” Dan Ashe, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), wrote in an op-ed. “Beginning today, the United States will not allow the import of lion trophies taken from captive lion populations in South Africa. While U.S. law has not prohibited such imports in the past, the protections now afforded to lions by the ESA do not allow us to issue import permits.”

The horrors of this industry, and the lies being told to the public in an attempt to convince people this is all being done in the name of conservation, were brought to light by the documentary Blood Lions last year. According to the film, at least two to three captive bred or tame lions are being killed in canned hunts every single day, while hundreds more are killed annually for the lion bone trade.

[video=youtube;-T86GCjCpus]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-T86GCjCpus[/video]

There’s no question African lions, whose population has plummeted from an estimated 200,000 across the continent to an estimated 20,000 today, are facing a growing threat of extinction in the wild, and while some continue to argue this industry is taking pressure off of their wild counterparts, Ashe acknowledged there’s no scientific evidence to support that claim.

None of the lions being bred at these facilities will ever be released into the wild, they’re just being used by those who continue to profit from their miserable lives and deaths.

It’s now hoped the latest announcement will have a chilling effect on this industry in South Africa. According to the FWS, “U.S. hunters make up a disproportionately large share of foreign hunters who book trophy hunts in Africa,” and Ashe further added that the vast majority of lion trophies that have been imported into the U.S. in recent years have come from lions killed in canned hunts.

“This is huge,” Ian Michler, a conservationist who played a leading role in Blood Lions, told National Geographic. “If we can start seriously clamping down on the demand side, then it will impact things here in south Africa.”

For more info on how to help captive lions, check out Blood Lions and the Campaign Against Canned Hunting.
http://www.care2.com/causes/u-s-hunters-cant-import-trophies-from-canned-lion-hunts-anymore.html

I would like pictures of killed lions with their killers too would be forbidden.
 
What will happen to Seaside boardwalk cats?

SEASIDE HEIGHTS - They've prowled the boards for many years, but the borough's boardwalk cats face an uncertain future.

Mayor Anthony Vaz and the Borough Council voted unanimously June 1 to remove the Seaside Heights Animal Welfare Organization as administrators of a four-year-old program aimed at trapping, neutering and then releasing cats back into managed colonies, where they are then fed and sheltered.

The mayor said the controversial decision was made because the animal welfare group -- which does not receive borough funds but raises money to pay for the trapping program -- was unwilling to compromise and work with the borough to alleviate ongoing complaints from residents and beachgoers about cats urinating and defecating at Borough Hall and on private property.

But members of the animal welfare group dispute that, and said as a result of their ouster, they now fear for the cats' well-being. Ken Salerno, direct-care manager for the Seaside Heights Animal Welfare Organization, said that since Seaside no longer wants his group to be in charge of the program, they may have no choice but to stop feeding the cats.

"As much as I hate this, they have to step up right now," Salerno said of the borough. "They forced the situation. This was a fully functioning TNR (trap-neuter-return) program."

There are about 160 feral cats living in 20 cat colonies in Seaside, according to Salerno; about 60 of the felines live under the boardwalk. The Seaside cat project is a trap-neuter-return program, one of a growing number of similar projects in the state aimed at controlling the feral cat population.

Vaz, however, said there are more than 300 feral cats in town.


"The intent was good, but when you get people you can't compromise with, it doesn't work," Vaz said of the group, noting that the cats who live by borough hall have damaged some equipment there. He said some beachgoers have complained about finding cat feces in the sand, while some Seaside residents have become frustrated by strays destroying gardens and gathering in their yards.

The animal welfare group was dismissive and unresponsive to those complaints, the mayor said.

But members of the group's executive board said they were unaware of any serious issues with their management of the feral cat program and were shocked to learn that they had been removed as program managers. The animal welfare group was not told that a vote would be taken at the June 1 meeting to remove the organization as program managers, giving them no chance to plead their case, they said.

"We have no cantankerous relationship," said Seaside resident Lisa Franciosi, president of the Seaside Heights Animal Welfare Organization. "Any nuisance complaints that we were made aware of, were taken care of immediately. ... We have no idea why they don't want us to administer this program."

'Not killing cats'

The borough's decision to remove the animal welfare group as managers of the feral cat program has caused a firestorm on social media. An online petition asking the mayor and administrator to reinstate the animal welfare group has garnered nearly 8,000 signatures in four days.

Vaz said an advisory committee, which will include a business owner, three residents, and Administrator Christopher Vaz (who is the mayor's son), will be appointed to research ways to manage the feral cats in the borough. He said the residents chosen for the panel would be citizens who are active in the community.

He said on Monday that he believes the borough will continue a trap-neuter-return program, but likely with new management.

Vaz stressed that the borough does not plan to harm the cats, but it remains unclear who will care for them.

"We're not killing cats," Vaz said, noting rumors to that effect were being shared by animal lovers on social media. "That's ridiculous." Vaz said.

He said the ordinance governing the cat management program gave the borough no control over the project, making it impossible for Seaside to address residents' concerns.

The mayor said he believes Salerno will continue to feed the cats while the borough decides what to do next, and said he would find money to feed them if the group's money runs out.

But Salerno said the animal welfare group has no choice now but to give the borough a date that they will stop feeding the cats.

The Seaside Heights Animal Welfare Organization, a 501(c)(3) charity, has paid all costs related to feeding and caring for the cats since the program's inception in 2012, according to the mayor and group members
Sharon Kugler, the group's treasurer, said the organization has spent $30,000 to neuter more than 300 felines, and an additional $400 a month on food since the program began in 2012. The money comes from donations the group receives, she said.
The group has also worked with Calling All Cats rescue organization to get dozens of kittens and cats adopted over the past four years, Kugler said.



Feral cats are trapped and taken to a veterinarian, where they are neutered and vaccinated for rabies, and have one ear tipped to indicate they are part of a managed colony. They are then returned to colonies to live out their lives. Shelters and food are provided.

A successful trap-neuter-return program aims to reduce the population of feral cats over time, advocates say. Plumsted, Brick, Point Pleasant and Point Pleasant Beach are other Ocean County towns with similar programs. A trap-neuter-return program in Atlantic City has reduced the boardwalk cat population by more than 70 percent since 2000, according to Alley Cat Allies, the nation's largest cat advocacy organization.

Feral cats are animals that have lived their whole lives in the wild and have not been socialized, so they are fearful of humans and not considered adoptable. They are descended from felines who were abandoned or allowed to roam free by owners.

Kittens born to feral cats can be adopted if they are captured and socialized by humans when they are young. Adult ferals are often euthanized if trapped since they are afraid of humans, animal advocates say.


Vaz said moving the cats from the boardwalk area is necessary because the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers beach replenishment project expected to start sometime next year, .
He said the boardwalk cats could potentially be relocated to a strip of land Seaside owns along the bay near The Dock Outfitters store.

But Franciosi said that the property, located between the bay and busy Route 35, would be a "death trap" for the cats, who would not have adequate shelter from storms and could be hit by speeding cars.

Franciosi noted that the trap-neuter-return program was actually beginning to achieve its goal of reducing the number of kittens born in town by trapping and neutering strays.

The animal welfare group has also paid to neuter cats belonging to borough residents, in an effort to keep them from reproducing, she said. The borough continues to have problems with people who dump cats within its borders, she said.

Seaside, like many Shore towns, has struggled to deal with stray cats that are often left to fend for themselves at the end of both the winter and summer rental seasons.Some studies have shown that trap-neuter-return programs can reduce the number of feral felines in an area over time, although those who oppose the programs say that the studies are inconclusive at best.

Trap-neuter-return programs are endorsed by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Humane Society of the United States.

Such programs are not without critics.

Feral cats don't just kill rodents, critics say; they also kill many songbirds. The American Bird Conservancy and The Wildlife Society oppose trap-neuter-return programs. claiming feral cats are responsible for large declines in native bird populations.

Advocates of trap-neuter-return programs have disputed those figures.

Many of the Seaside cats survived Sandy – which flooded the borough and destroyed much of its iconic boardwalk – as well as a September 2013 boardwalk fire.

Salerno said the cats control the rodent population in the area, and many business owners have been supportive of the program. Four cats even live inside the Coin Castle Arcade.

Former Mayor Bill Akers, a strong advocate of the program who manages one of the cat colonies in the borough, was honored in 2014 by Alley Cat Allies, for his support of the trap-neuter-return project in Seaside.

Vaz, then a councilman, actually accepted the award for Akers, who could not attend the dinner at which it was presented.

"The intention of the cat society is good," Vaz said Friday, "but we have to remember the citizens, too." He noted that many of the signatures on the online petition, as well as many of the calls received at borough hall, were from people who do not live in Seaside.
"We have to protect the property owners and the business community," Vaz said. He said as the borough has continued to rebuild after Sandy, complaints about feral cats have increased.

Salerno and Franciosi said before the animal welfare organization began running the feral cat program, people were feeding cats under the boardwalk, throwing straw underneath to protect the animals and even pitching tents there to shelter them.

The animal welfare group created clean shelters and feeding stations for the felines, helping to clean up the mess, they said.

"It's so sad that we've been doing this for four years and now they've told us we can't do it anymore," Franciosi said.
http://www.app.com/story/news/local/animals/2016/06/04/what-happen-seaside-boardwalk-cats/85346206/
 
Re: to catlovers

9/7/'16...

On a more serious note...Sara and the CACR Farm Sanctuary have taken on a huge undertaking.. Because of the upcoming Beach Replenishment/ Dune Project the city of SSH decided the Beach cats had to go.. The new ordinance states no new colonies in town.. That means the fate of the beach cats was Euthanization.. Every National,big buck organization we turned to for help FAILED to offer any REAL solutions... They all said relocation was not an option.. This was not acceptable to us..SSHAWO and CACR have worked hard for 4 years to ensure that ALL the cats of SSH were cared for in a humane manner.. We have been relocating the beach cats since July.. We have 25 cats living on the Farm already..This is a costly, time consuming effort..We ,SSHAWO and CACR are also committed to the LONG TERM care of the cats.. They are OUR cats now...SSH has turned their back and them and wishes they would just disappear..But that isn't gonna happen..
We are asking for the help of all who support the SSH Boardwalk Cats..Donations are urgently needed..NO donation is ever considered too small.. Money,food,cleaning supplies,materials to build shelters and feeding stations.. Anything and everything is appreciated..
Since we,SSHAWO, are now partnered with Calling All Cats Rescues we urge all of our 3,426 followers to PLEASE visit and LIKE CALLING ALL CATS RESCUES FARM SANCTUARY fb page.. That way it's easy to follow what's happening on the Farm and they are set up with paypal and online donation sites that we don't have.. And our supporters can easily see what materials are needed for the daily upkeep and care of the cats and the facility..
Everyone can also get aquainted wih the awesome cats that reside at the Farm..Thank you all for your continued support of the SSH Boardwalk Cats...ken
PS: We will have Calendars and merchandise for sale soon...

https://www.facebook.com/Seaside-Heights-Animal-Welfare-Organization-688841677826446/?fref=ts

It takes time to trap all the cats but here are some of them who has been relocated to the farm
https://www.facebook.com/CACRfarmSanctuary/?fref=ts
 
EUREKA SPRINGS (KATV) — Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge has been open since 1992, and in that time, they have rescued more than 300 big cats. However, on September 21, they took on their biggest rescue yet.

"It's just been quite a mission," Emily McCormack, animal curator, said.

Turpentine Creek worked alongside Tigers in America to rescue 110 exotic animals from a facility in Colorado. McCormack said the owner of Serenity Springs in Colorado was recently diagnosed with cancer and was forced to sell his big cat sanctuary.

"From the day that the papers were signed on September 21, we went from having 84 cats here and 9 bears, to all of a sudden 110 more animals," McCormack said.

27 of those big cats are in still in northwest Arkansas, and many have been in need of emergency medical care.


Five-month-old tiger cubs have been battling severe metabolic bone disease from the lack of nutrition in Colorado.

"Portraying babies to the public like, 'Look how cute this is,' is the absolute wrong way to educate. Tigers don't make a good pet," McCormack said.

They may be cute, but within just two years, these cubs become powerful, 400 pound animals. McCormack told KATV that's when people no longer want them and they end up at places like Turpentine or worse, they are killed.


"There's been facilities in other states that were shut down, and 59 tiger cubs were found in a deep freezer," McCormack said.

She said the Colorado sanctuary was breeding their animals, but McCormack said Turpentine does not because a true sanctuary does not breed.

"Now it's gotten totally out of control. There are more tigers in the United States than are left in the wild," McCormack said.


McCormack said there's about 7,000 tigers in the U.S., and of that, only 6 percent are in zoos and reputable sanctuaries. She said she believes none of this will change due to the lack of animal welfare laws.

Only 12 states - including Arkansas - have a partial ban on owning lions, tigers, or bears. (Oh my!)

It's an issue McCormack said they are trying to educate their visitors on, and hopefully, save many more animals in the future.

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http://katv.com/news/local/arkansas-wildlife-refuge-makes-historic-big-cat-rescue

They are not alone , Big Cat Rescue wrote this ;A number of accredited sanctuaries are collaborating in the unprecedented challenge of rescuing 110 big cats and bears in Colorado.

Tigers in America has a list with what they think are the best sanctuaries in the U.S and they also write why they support these sanctuaries

http://www.tigersinamerica.org/sanctuary.htm
 
A World War on Cats

Australia will kill 2,000,000 cats in five years. New Zealand has announced that it will exterminate every community cat in the country. Hawaii officials want to wipe the state free of community cats. Washington, D.C., officials want to eradicate cats. And now there is a call to exterminate cats throughout the continental U.S. “by any means necessary.”

As Dr. Marc Bekoff notes, “Cats are vilified and no attention is paid to the emotional lives of these sentient beings.” “n addition to it being morally repugnant,” he writes, “it is not based on science and it won’t work.” And he’s right. It is to propose a vicious, medieval slaughter with no end in sight: a cruel and barbaric genocide against cats not unlike those from the darkest chapters in human history.

Not only does removing one species to allegedly help another not work as a metaanalysis of every published study concluded, but those calling for the removal of cats because they claim they are “non-native” are guilty of the most pernicious hypocrisy, for they, too, are “non-native” to North America.

They belong to a species that is the most “invasive” the planet has ever experienced, causing virtually all of the environmental destruction, including the tragic decline of birds.

And while they blame cats for harming birds, they kill or pay others to kill birds so they can eat them, supporting a viciously cruel industry that kills billions of birds annually.

And yet for reasons based entirely on narrow self-interest, they do not hold their own actions to the same standards which they impose upon cats: they do not force themselves to live exclusively indoors, they do not pack up and move back to the continent where humans first evolved, they do not stop eating birds, and they do not impose upon themselves or their fellow humans discriminatory standards which judge the worth of an individual based solely on the lineage of their ancestors.

It is time to reject such a cavalier call to human violence and such blatant forms of discrimination we have come to regard as intolerable in our treatment of one another.

We need a kinder, more tolerant and saner vision of environmentalism, a movement which at the beginning of the 21st century now promotes a philosophy of biological xenophobia which would be unrecognizable to its early founders such as John Muir and Rachel Carson, individuals who preached an environmentalism based on kindness, compassion and respect for the natural world and its inhabitants.

Above all else, we need an environmentalism that is guided by the principle that respect for sentient life is paramount, irrespective of species, irrespective of where members of that species may currently reside, and irrespective of any traits a particular species may have evolved that do not suit arbitrary or culturally inherited human prejudices.

What can you do to stop the nativist agenda?
It’s time to take the environmental movement back from the hateful bullies and thugs of the nativist movement. Here are some suggestions as to what you can do stop the momentum and proliferation of this cruel philosophy:

Stop Funding the Proliferation of the Nativist Agenda:
Stop supporting “environmental” organizations that are guided by a “native” and “non-native” philosophy and agenda and that actively promote killing, partner with corporate polluters like Monsanto and Dow, and call for mass extermination and clear cutting of forests. This includes groups such as the Sierra Club, the Audubon Society, the Nature Conservancy, and the Natural Resources Defense Council. Tell these groups you no longer recognize their agenda as that of environmentalism, that you oppose discrimination based on species, and that you will only support organizations that champion individual rights of animals over those, like them, that promote human bigotry.

Think Globally, Act Locally:
Organize and push back against the nativist agenda in your community, which, given the proliferation of this insidious philosophy among environmental organizations, local governments, city, county, state and federal land management agencies has probably declared war on plants and animals in your area, too.

In my community, I am fighting to stop the Sierra Club agenda to clear cut 450,000 healthy trees and spread thousands of gallons of herbicides in the Oakland and Berkeley hills (and other East Bay cities). If you live in the East Bay, please join me. Similar efforts to destroy thousands of healthy trees in San Francisco are also underway.

Break the Cycle of Violence:
If you are a parent like I am, do not allow your child to be indoctrinated into a philosophy of intolerance and hate. Refuse to allow your child to participate in school field trips or summer camps with “environmental education” programs that preach reverence for the “native” and fear and disdain for the foreign while instructing children to demonize animals and go into our natural places and rip up plants.

Preach Compassion and Tolerance:
In your communications with friends, family and coworkers, begin to push back against the language of intolerance and biological xenophobia whenever you hear it. Tell others you respect nature and therefore reject the narrow, arbitrary litmus test of worthiness of “native is good” “non-native is bad” and the incredible harm to animals and the environment that such irrelevant distinctions ultimately enable.

Because of climate change, one-third of all plant and animal species are on the move. Not only should we welcome this, as doing so is the only way they can survive, we should actively help them. For example, as tree lovers and environmentalists in Cambria are banding together to determine how, if at all, they can save their precious remaining Monterey Pines now dying from drought in record numbers, here in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Sierra Club is calling for willfully destroying them in record numbers. Instead, we should be planting more of them. Destroying them is not only ecologically irresponsible, for those of us who dearly love the stunning, even arresting, beauty of these trees, and for the animals who depend on them as “home,” it is also truly heartbreaking.

Educate Yourself:
A growing backlash against nativism is already brewing within the environmental movement and among scientists who reject it as a dangerous, harmful pseudo-science.
Suggestions for further reading https://milliontrees.me/2015/06/26/retreat-from-invasion-biology-becomes-a-stampede/
http://www.nathanwinograd.com/?p=16731
 
[video=youtube;D2MtcO762Cw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2MtcO762Cw[/video]
The shelter was bombed some weeks ago
New Onslaught Of Airstrikes In Aleppo Hit World-Famous Cat Sanctuary
The man who runs the sanctuary survived, though multiple animals were killed.

Update: Nov. 18 ― The sanctuary said Friday they had been attacked again and would be moving the animals to another location.

Previously:

Renewed airstrikes in Aleppo this week have killed at least 32 people, including children. The attacks, which struck a children’s hospital and a blood bank, were carried out by either Syrian or Russian warplanes, Reuters reported, citing the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The bombings also hit an internationally celebrated animal sanctuary that was hailed as a place of peace and hope in the war-torn city.

The sanctuary was a refuge for hundreds of cats as well as local children who would spend time with the animals and play on an adjacent playground.

Mohammad Alaa Aljaleel, the man who runs the sanctuary and cares for the cats, is alive, said Alessandra Abidin, an Italian woman who helps Aljaleel run a Facebook group to communicate with his supporters.
Aljaleel, an electrician and ambulance driver, has stayed behind in Aleppo to care for the city’s many stray cats, some of which had been left behind when their owners fled the region. He told the BBC in a September interview that he would stay and protect the animals, “no matter what.”

On Wednesday, Abidin announced on social media that bombs had hit the sanctuary and killed multiple cats and a dog (warning: graphic images). The dog, named Hope, was known as the sanctuary’s mascot.

The strike also hit Aljaleel’s house, killing two cats, including a tabby that had been entrusted to him by a young girl when her family fled to Turkey.

However, many cats survived. Photos posted Thursday showed cats being fed at the sanctuary amid some rubble and fallen branches.

The Facebook group, Il Gattaro D’Aleppo ― meaning “the cat man of Aleppo” in Italian ― allows Aljaleel to post daily photos of the cats and aids supporters in making donations. Those funds allowed him to build the cats a proper shelter, construct a playground for local children, and purchase food for the cats as well as local people in need. He has emphasized the connection between compassion for humans and animals.

“There is a firm bond between humanitarianism and caring for animals,” he told Syria Direct.

The airstrikes on rebel-held eastern Aleppo were part of a major military escalation by the Syrian government and its allies after a three-week pause.
 
Winter Weather Tips

From Arizona to Alaska, cats are resilient and able to live in all varieties of locations, weather conditions, and climates. There are still things you can do to help make life outdoors even more comfortable. Follow our winter weather tips to keep outdoor kitties safe and warm.

Food and Water

Cats need extra food during winter and fresh water twice a day. Wet food freezes, so put out dry food as well (or just feed dry food).
Warm up canned food and water before serving, or use a heated bowl. Check out some bowls tested by caregivers.
Spray insulation foam into the underside of plastic feeding dishes to keep wet food from freezing.
Use bowls that are deep rather than wide and place them in sunny areas to keep water from freezing.
Build a feeding station that will shield food, water, and the cats from the elements.
Put a microwavable heating pad disk, like a Snuggle Safe, under the bowls.
If there’s a water source like a spigot, run the water slightly—it won’t freeze as fast as still water.
Shelter

Some cats find their own shelter, but you can also provide additional options. Check out our list of outdoor cat house ideas, or build one yourself! Don’t worry, they’re easy to build, cheap, and fun! Learn what to look for in a good cat house.
Bigger shelters aren’t always better because heat disperses quickly. Three to five cats per shelter is OK. If only a few cats use the house, make it smaller so it takes less body heat to warm up.
Clear snow away from house entrances and exits so the cats don’t get snowed in.
Insulate the shelter with straw to repel moisture. Do not use hay—it soaks up moisture like a sponge, and gets moldy. Learn the difference between straw and hay.
If the kitties aren’t using the shelter, try to make it more enticing by sprinkling catnip inside.
Provide more than just one type of shelter. Since certain cats might be more particular about where they like to stay, more than one option is always a good thing.
If cats still aren’t using the outdoor shelters, try to find where they are sleeping and then do what you can there to “upgrade” the spot, such as adding straw.
Safety Tips

Before starting your car, give a firm tap on the hood and check between the tires—sometimes kitties crawl into the engine or hide under the car for warmth.
Antifreeze is toxic and deadly. Keep it out of reach and clean up spills! Know the symptoms of antifreeze poisoning.
Don’t use salts or chemicals to melt snow. They can hurt cats’ paws and some are toxic.
If you’re conducting Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) in the winter, keep trapped cats covered and secured in a temperature-controlled vehicle or holding area. Use your best judgment when deciding if it’s too cold to trap.

http://www.alleycat.org/community-cat-care/winter-weather-tips/
 
Legislation pending in New Jersey would add declawing a cat or other animal to the cruelty statute. The ban on surgical mutilation of cats passed the Assembly Agricultural Committee, which is no small feat: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2016/Bills/A4000/3899_I1.HTM
But it has picked up a powerful enemy. As NJ Animal Observer notes in a recent post, "Virtually all animal welfare groups support the bill to end this barbaric procedure except the New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association."
I am not surprised.
Tragically, veterinary medical associations (VMA) have often opposed progress in shelters.
While there are a lot of innovative, deeply caring veterinarians working hard for shelter animals, their values are often not reflected in the industry associations which claim to speak for them.
Neither are ours.
Equally tragically, NJ is not alone. At all levels -- national, state, and local -- VMAs claim their goal is to “advance the science and art of veterinary medicine” and “to promote animal well-being,” but while they do these things, in part, their main concerns are to increase profits, even when it hurts the animals they are pledged to protect.
In Texas, in California, and elsewhere, state VMAs have opposed efforts to allow families to get justice even in cases of wrongful injury and death because of veterinary malpractice, illegal shelter killing, tainted pet food, and other harms.
None of this is new.
In the 1970s, the AVMA opposed the endorsement of municipal- or SPCA- administered spay/neuter clinics that provided the poor an alternative to the prohibitively high prices charged by some private practice veterinarians.
Despite the fact that low-cost spay/neuter services aimed at lower income people with pets had a well documented rate of success in getting more animals altered and reducing the numbers of animals surrendered to and killed by “shelters” in a community, the AVMA would not agree to any program that threatened the profits of veterinarians, even though poor people were not, and were unlikely to ever be their customers.
In 1986, it also asked Congress to impose taxes on not-for-profits for providing spay/neuter surgeries and vaccination of animals at humane society operated clinics.
And earlier this year, it argued in the Georgia Supreme Court that an animal who was negligently killed by a boarding kennel was not worth much, despite the fact that she was rescued by a family, deeply loved, and the family spent tens of thousands of dollars on dialysis trying to save her life.
Instead, the AVMA argued that she was just like a toaster. You break it; you simply throw it away and get a new one.
VMAs are not shy about acknowledging what they call “the deep bond humans develop with their pets.” But that only seems to matter when we are writing the checks to them. It is time to stop thinking of them as "aimal welfare" organizations and call them out for what they are: industry associations focused on the almighty dollar.
If you live in New Jersey, contact your local legislator and ask him/her not only to vote Yes on Assembly Bill 3899, but to cosponsor it as well: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/legsearch.as

https://www.facebook.com/nathanwinograd/?fref=ts
 
71 Million Reasons to Save Animals
There are many good reasons to save more lives in “shelters,” not the least of which is that animals have a right to life, we have an ethical duty to do so, and we have the means to do it as communities across the country have proved.
There’s also another reason: it makes economic sense.

A 2016 Florida Southern College study of the impact of the SPCA of Florida on the regional economy found that for every $1 in revenue generated by the SPCA, $1.67 was created in the regional economy. On top of that, the SPCA’s adoption center generates over $5.7 million yearly in economic impact (as adopters spend money on veterinary care, pet supplies, shop while in the area, and more), has provided approximately one additional employee to each of Polk County’s 179 for-profit veterinarians, and helps reduce intakes and costs at the local municipal shelter.
Overall, from 2010-2015, the SPCA had a regional economic impact of $71 million.


The 2016 analysis is only the latest to prove that saving lives not only makes ethical sense, it also makes dollars and cents. Before Reno’s 2007 No Kill initiative, the shelter adopted out less than 5,000 dogs and cats every year.
The remainder were put to death at great cost to taxpayers and donors.
In 2010, as death rates declined, the number of animals adopted doubled to just under 10,000 adoptions.
In addition to a cost savings of roughly $200,000 associated with killing, adoption fees brought in almost $250,000 in additional revenues. Moreover, the positive economic impact of spending by adopters on those animals to community businesses totaled over $12,000,000 in annual sales.

With an average lifespan of roughly 11 years per animal, the total revenues to community businesses over the life of those pets could potentially top $120,000,000. The number is substantially higher given that those impacts are exponential (in Year Two, businesses would benefit from two years worth of adoptions; in Year Three, they would benefit from three years of adoptions; etc.). In addition, not only do those businesses then employ people who turn around and spend even more, all these activities also bring in badly needed tax revenues. At an average 6% rate, adoptions over a ten-year period could potentially bring in over $20,000,000 in sales tax alone.

Similarly, a case study of Marquette, MI’s No Kill initiative found that while costs increased slightly, associated savings and overall revenues also increased, more than offsetting those costs.
In 2006, the Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare Shelter (UPAWS), the open admission shelter which serves Marquette, MI, was killing 64% of animals and on the verge of bankruptcy when it chose to embrace the No Kill philosophy.
It has been saving over 90% ever since. (In 2015, UPAWS saved 97% of dogs, 96% of cats, and 97% of rabbits, hamsters, ferrets, and other animals.)
What did it cost?
When UPAWS was killing 64% of the animals, they spent $190.85 per animal. Now saving over 95%, they spend $207.58. At the same time, however, they lost $178,636 in adoption revenue when they were killing the animals and it would only have cost them $15,660 more to actually save them.
But that’s not at all: while the cost per animal went up slightly (8%), so did revenue: an overall increase of 61%. The conclusion? We can afford to save them all.
Copies of the studies are here: nokilladvocacycenter.org/costs.html
More info is here: nathanwinograd.com/?p=16973
 
Re: to catlovers

HOLLY UPDATE ~ Holly is a calico kitten who was shot in the head with a pellet, and the pellet is still in her head near her eye. She is safe at The Cat House on the Kings. She's been to the vet and is on meds. Once the swelling subsides, she will have surgery. She does have some nerve damage. (We will keep you updated) Holly is just one of MANY cats in our care who need love, treatment, and attention.
https://www.facebook.com/TheCatHouseontheKings/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED
 
Re: to catlovers

Happy Christmas all cat loving people:)

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funny-christmas-cat-kitty-love-4711.jpg


Cat-Under-Christmas-Tree.jpg


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Perfect gift for Christmas for cat person:)
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Re: to catlovers

Chris from Happy Cat Sanctuary is upset here..and so am I when I hear about it
 
Re: to catlovers

Trap - Neuter - Release - Manage ( TNRM ) Malaysia

This is our standard TNRM fact sheet. We use this to distribute around to create awareness among the public so people will know there's an alternative humane way beside culling to curb stray problem. Some people are clueless as to what will happen to the strays when they call the local councils to catch them. If you would like us to send ou this template so you can print it out to distribute around your neighborhood, please comment in the thread or pm us your email. Thank you.
Credit to Ai Ling.

https://www.facebook.com/4037094396...709439694040/1304663619598613/?type=3&theater

They work with "sponsorsnip" for both cats and dogs

We know we have been asking a lot for funds but neither can we stop as the strays keep breeding out there. We need to fight against time to get them neutered as many as we can so their number and suffering will be reduced. Currently we have 4 female dogs and 3 cats ( 1 female and 2 males ) are looking for full sponsorship because we don't have much funds left. They were all caught last week. Please help us to help these strays. Their costs are as follow
1. Female dog ( spay Rm160, post op boarding one week Rm105 and Vaccination Rm15 ) - Rm296 ( inclusive of GST ).
2. Female dog ( spay Rm160, post op boarding one week Rm105 and Vaccination Rm15 ) - Rm296 ( inclusive of GST ).
3. Female dog mid pregnancy ( spay Rm160, post op boarding one week Rm105, Vaccination Rm15 and Surcharge Rm50 ) - Rm349.80 ( inclusive of GST ).
4. Female dog mid pregnancy ( spay Rm160, post op boarding one week Rm105, Vaccination Rm15 and Surcharge Rm50 ) - Rm349.80 ( inclusive of GST ).

5. Male cat ( neuter Rm70, post op boarding one week Rm60 and vaccination Rm25 )- Rm155.
6. Male cat ( neuter Rm70, post op boarding one week Rm60 and vaccination Rm25 )- Rm155.
7. Female cat ( spay Rm90, post op boarding one week Rm60 and vaccination Rm25 )- Rm175.

Grand total Rm1796.60

If you can contribute, please comment or pm us, when the amount is reached , we will stop the donation.

Account name : TRAP NEUTER RELEASE MANAGE SOCIETY OF KUALA LUMPUR AND SELANGOR

MAYBANK Account Number

512558325774

Swift Code : MBBEMYKL

Thank you so much.
 
BETHESDA, MD—Alley Cat Allies today reminds communities that winter is the ideal time to spay and neuter cats to get ahead of prime kitten season and end the breeding cycle before it starts.

“The time for prevention is now,” says Becky Robinson, president and founder of Alley Cat Allies. “Cats may even be pregnant before the snow melts. For community cats, Trap-Neuter-Return is the most effective way to reduce the impact of kitten season by preventing litters.”

Every year animal shelters experience a rise in the number of kittens brought to the shelter throughout spring and summer. According to Alley Cat Allies’ analysis of ten years of data from their Northern Virginia spay and neuter clinic, pregnant cats brought to the clinic peaked in March—over half of all female cats were pregnant. However, less than one percent of female cats were pregnant from October through December. Cats are therefore breeding in the winter and birthing their kittens in the spring and summer, making spaying and neutering efforts during the wintertime essential. By spaying and neutering cats now, communities can prevent the peak of pregnant cats and new litters in the spring.

Spring is a notoriously difficult time for animal shelters in every community across the country because multiple litters of kittens are impounded every day once kitten season begins. “Most animal shelters are not equipped to care for young kittens who have been separated from their mother too early,” says Ellen Jefferson, a licensed veterinarian who serves as Executive Director of Austin Pets Alive! and an advisor to Alley Cat Allies. “Neonatal kittens require around-the-clock care from trained staff or foster homes. Without a network in place to care for neonatal kittens, many, if not all of them, will be killed in the shelter.”

Jefferson noted that cats can become pregnant as early as four months of age, meaning the kittens you see today will be having kittens of their own come springtime. With a 63-day (nine-week) gestation period, kittens are usually conceived in January and February and born in the spring.

Kittens can be safely spayed or neutered at 2 months old, or as soon as they weigh two pounds. Veterinarians consider pediatric spaying and neutering for cats an easier, faster procedure. Research has shown that kittens spayed or neutered before 12 weeks of age have fewer complications from surgery than those older than 12 weeks. Kittens also rebound much faster after surgery with less stress than cats over 6 months of age.

In a Trap-Neuter-Return program (TNR), community cats—also called feral cats—are humanely trapped and taken to a veterinary clinic for spaying, neutering, and vaccination. The tip of the cat’s left ear is painlessly removed while under anesthesia, indicating that the cat has been neutered and vaccinated. Unsocialized cats are returned to their outdoor homes, while friendly cats and kittens are fostered before adoption. TNR ends the reproduction cycle, and stops behaviors associated with mating such as yowling and spraying, thereby addressing community concerns and decreasing calls to animal control.

Most communities that embrace a TNR program see fewer cats entering animal shelters, allowing shelters to focus their efforts and taxpayer dollars on adoption programs and community outreach and education. In addition to the over 600 nonprofit groups nationally practicing TNR, there are more than 450 cities and counties with official ordinances or policies endorsing TNR for community cats.

Individuals can find additional help at www.alleycat.org/GetHelp or request a list of local resources, including spay/neuter clinics and community cat organizations at www.alleycat.org/Response.

https://www.alleycat.org/beat-the-h...cats-before-kitten-season-to-prevent-litters/
 
Today in “Well duh!” news: a family purchased a lion cub only to find out that the cub bites, scratches, and urinates in the house! Turns out a wild animal will, you know, act like a wild animal – even if you invite them inside. The Russian family bought the lion cub for their children to play with (what?!) but have since posted an online advertisement to sell the cub. In their plea, stating, “‘Attention! Maximum repost! Lion cub, female, three months old. We bought it for our children, but it turned out that the lion cub can scratch, bite and most importantly pee.” We are shaking our heads hard at this one…

Thankfully, animal lovers saw the online advertisement and reported it to a local animal rescue shelter. The shelter staff stepped in and found out the family was keeping two lion cubs, Tver and Tula. They are now trying to find a suitable home for the duo. Already The Taigan Safari Park has shown interest in taking the two lion cubs.

Wild animals, even the adorable ones, make terrible pets. We hope that Tver and Tula are placed in an adequate home and hopefully the family has learned their lesson about keeping wild animals as pets.

Sadly, it does not look like these wild little ones will ever get the chance to experience life in the wild. We do not know where they came from, but given they have spent their young lives being juggled through homes, instead of training for survival in the wild with their mother, they can’t be released into the wild. This is a horrible shame for these lions, especially considering wild populations are teetering on the brink of extinction.

Unfortunately, this fad of taking animals from the wild to become pets is more common than we’d like to think. The majority of exotic pets are purchased as infants but they become unmanageable and aggressive as they age (after all, they are wild). The desire to own exotic animals is often short-lived, yet it is the exotic animals who suffer in the long run. It’s estimated that over 5,000 tigers reside in U.S. homes; that’s more tigers in captivity than there are left in the wild. Born Free USA has documented over 2,000 attacks, incidents and escapes involving exotic pets since 1990.

Exotic animals require stringent and specialized diets that are essential to their well-being. When their needs are not met, the animals wind up malnourished and develop illnesses and disease. Further, many exotic pet owners are not prepared to provide full grown tigers, lions, bears with tens of pounds of raw meat and primates with the appropriate diet.

Protecting the wild populations of any species does not entail keeping them held captive as pets. Instead, we must continue to dissuade the public from buying exotic animals in an effort to reduce the demand that is currently fueling the illegal wildlife trade. If you are looking for a pet, consider adopting one of the millions of domestic animals waiting for homes in shelters. It is our responsibility to keep wild animals wild.

http://www.onegreenplanet.org/news/...r-kids-only-to-discover-the-animals-are-wild/
 
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