Homeless Cat Care

More Details for Drop Trap

2012-01-24T15:55:00.005-07:00

Recently, I spoke of drop traps. Below are links to a great video on the subject and building plans. I have found this trap design to be so valuable with any homeless/abandoned cat who is somehow trap-wise, eluding capture for spay/neuter or for a needed vet visit. Liddy, pictured here, avoided being trapped in the traditional trap for nearly a year. We successfully trapped her with a drop trap. Now she is very happy and much healthier being free of future litters.

Here's a little more detail which has helped some people who email me about this ..

Set up the drop trap where you normally feed your colony. Leave it up for days so they get to see it as simply part of the environment. Leave it propped up when you feed them (feed them under it) but put it down without the propping when you leave. Don't actually trap anyone until you see the cats are fairly comfortable eating under it. You will know they are used to it because they won't be sniffing it and will go under it for food without hesitation. This will pretty much guarantee that if the cat comes around daily that he will go under it for the food when you decide to spring the trap.

Do not trap any cats and leave them in it overnight. One which I trapped chewed his way out of it when he was in it overnight, nearly ruining the trap.

Use a really long cord as mentioned in the specs so the cat cannot see you and will be more likely to go under the trap. You will need another person available when you do the trapping. Once the cat is trapped, one of you must hold all edges of the smaller regular trapping cage firmly up to the exit door while the other person lifts the exit door. If only one tries to do both, you risk the cat forcing her way out when you open the exit door. If the cat does not exit the drop trap into the trapping cage, consider using a squirt water bottle or plastic kitchen spoon to prod him to move. This sounds unkind, but if you are careful, it only anoys them and does not hurt them. If cats get trapped which do not need to get fixed, do all you can not to let them exit into the trapping cage the same time as the one you are to get fixed. Once you have the un-neutered one transferred, lift the drop trap to let any other cats go.

Where I am in Arizona, most vets who are set up to spay/neuter feral cats will let you bring them in the trapping cage (I think some administer the anesthesia while they are still in it). So you don't want to try to transfer your subject from trapping cage to a holding cage for overnight for comfort or you will have a rough time getting him back into the trapping cage for the neuter appointment.(very difficult job) I leave water in the cage overnight and cover the cage with a blanket so they are less frightened. It might seem crue to some to leave a cat in such a small space for hours, but they do OK. And it's so much better than the struggle with the alternative. Don't get upset if such a cat moves bowels overnight and makes a mess - you can clean it up later.

If you have a morning appointment, I think it's best to do the trap procedure the afternoon or evening the day before the spay/neuter appointment since a cat who is getting put under the next morning cannot have food after 12:00 midnight. You can poke food through the cage if you want before the deadline. But know it can be difficult to get the food out if she has not eaten it by then. Often they don't eat because they are scared.

Have your spay/neuter appointment set up ahead for the morning of the next day. Also, in case your cat does not cooperate the day before, and you have to catch him whenever he cooperates, ask the vet ahead of time if you can call them spontaneously to bring the cat in without an appointment. I'm happily surprised some vets are very agreeable with this when you have a difficult feral/homeless cat.

I hope this helps any of you who may be overwhelmed at the prospect of trapping with a drop trap or with any methods for trap neuter release / return (TNR).

Video

http://droptrapdesign.blogspot.com/2005/10/demo-tape-available-vhs.html

Building specs
http://droptrapdesign.blogspot.com/2005/10/build-your-own.html

Would love your comments!

Debby in Arizona

Scrufty Doing Well

2012-01-16T19:13:00.005-07:00

Scrufty had major surgery on her mouth and throat a few years ago. She is still doing very well. I was told by the vet to give her ground turkey and scant sprinkles of Vitamin C powder, both to help her immune system stay strong. It must be working since she is really doing well - gum disease/Stomatitis has not returned.

Anyone else have comments about how you help your kitties' immune systems?

Here is an interesting article about feline immune systems

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+2133&aid=956

Debby in Arizona

Liddy is Healthier

2012-01-03T15:20:00.003-07:00

Liddy looks healthier than she used to. She hangs around more often instead of just eating and running. Her coat is fuller. It used to have missing tufts of fur - just after giving birth to one of her litters. It took us over a year to trap her since somehow she was trap wise. Finally, we caught her with a drop trap - hired my neighbor to make one.

So far, all is well this winter with our outdoor kitties. We have not lost anyone in our homeless cat colony to coyotes at this point. You never know what's going to happen with cats who live outside. Our ferals really depend on us for food. I wish we had more ways to help keep them safe.

Hope all of you had a wonderful holiday season!!

Debby in Arizona

Remembering Sunny

2011-12-19T13:11:00.005-07:00

I am remembering how sweet Sunny was. She disappeared this time two years ago. I never knew what happened to her, but she was probably taken by a coyote as so many are in our area in winter. She was abandoned (we knew her prior situation) but acted a little feral. She was starting to warm up to me a little bit just before she disappeared. I still miss her. Even though we were not able to foster her, I was becoming very fond of her. I hope all of your kitties stay safe and warm!!!

Debby in Arizona

Tabby Needed Dental Work

2011-11-30T19:21:00.019-07:00

I took our dear Tabby girl to the vet and found she needed dental work since she had more than the minimum of gum disease.

It cost $250.00. My income is down this time of year. I would dearly appreciate if any of you could donate something to help us. Even if it’s only $20 or $25 every little bit helps. There is a PayPal button to the right of this post. It is not easy for me to ask since I pride myself on being self-sufficient. But our household budget is completely stressed right now.

Thank you for your kindness if you can help.

Tabby was given anesthesia for the dental work. And she is doing really well now that she is back home.

Debby Arizona

Grizzly is Alone and Too Timid

2011-11-28T11:33:00.003-07:00

We call this homeless feral cat "Grizzly" even though she is a female. When she was a kitten, about 8-10 weeks old, she looked like a grizzly bear.

She never had an aggressive personality, though. And, as she gets older, she gets more and more timid. Her brother, Midnight, has recently begun to chase her away when we bring their food out. So I believe this is why she tends to move away from the food until the more dominant ones are finished.

My heart always goes out to her. She does not have another homeless cat friend to pal around with. All of the others seem to be paired off. I suspect the ones paired off may sleep together as they walk to our feeding area together in the morning.

Say a little prayer for Grizzly to be OK - being weaker and without a cat friend makes me a bit more concerned for her well-being than the others.

Debby in Arizona

Panther Down Under

2011-11-21T18:16:00.002-07:00

I was surprised to find Panther under the cover I use to protect the couch. The room is warm enough for her. But I guess she likes to hide!

Our indoor cats are so amazing .. coming up with something new they do from time to time.

Care to share in a comment or two what your cat(s) do(es) that you find amazing or cute?

Hope all you kitties and 'beans are well!

Debby in Arizona

Homeless Cats

2011-11-14T11:05:00.006-07:00

Our feral cat colony is doing well at this time. I often thank God for the priviledge of helping reduce their suffering and struggle outdoors

Thought I'd share an informative link - maybe you know someone who is just starting to help outside cats.

CLICK HERE FOR HOMELESS CAT TIPS

http://zimmer-foundation.org/art/10.html

Have a great week, cat lovers!

Debby in Arizona

Winter in Arizona for Homeless Ones

2011-11-07T10:54:00.005-07:00

Our homeless ones had to wade through snow to get to their food this morning. And this is the time when coyotes who are having trouble finding food come into neighborhoods here in Northern Arizona. So please pray for our kitties here that they stay safe.

It is unseasonably cold for this time of year here - but not as cold at night as it's been in the past. It's 10 to 20 degrees warmer than the coldest I've seen it since I'm here.

It's totally amazing how our homeless / abandoned cats tolerate the cold. I have cat condos lined with rug on my back porch. But I think they usually prefer sleeping under manufactured homes because of the heat which probably radiates from homes to the crawlspace underneath.

Hope all of your kitties are safe and warm!

Debby in Arizona

Midnight's New Position Outside

2011-11-03T08:02:00.003-07:00

Midnight, one of our 4 year old ferals in our homeless cat colony, has become very domineering recently. I guess he appointed himself the alpha of the colony.

He creates problems as he just started to chase away two of the more timid ones who happen to be female.

If you are one who prays, please pray that he will ease up since this makes it difficult for the timid ones to get their share of the food we put out. I pray for all disadvantaged cats everywhere, especially those who are abused and neglected.

Have a great day!

Debby in Arizona

Does She Understand Me?

2011-10-24T09:41:00.008-07:00

These three (from top to bottom) Scrufty, Angelina Stripe, and Panther, all started out as foster cats. We already had two indoor cats. But we have not been able to place them, so they have found a forever home with us.
They all stay in a really large room in the back of our house. We built a cat run behind this room so they could get out safely for some fresh air. Sometimes they get on each others' nerves and have a few spats. But mostly they get along.

Stripe seems to be the one who instigates hissy fits the most. So I have been talking to her about her doing more to get along with the other two .. that essentially they are like her sisters, so why not try to get along better. I have heard that talking to a pet can get a message through to them on an unconscious level, even if they don't understand the words. Do any of you readers know anything about animal communication?

Have a great day everyone!!! Stay well.

Debby in Arizona

Got Worms? Hopefully not

2011-10-19T14:28:00.012-07:00

One of the folks who commented on a prior post had this wonderful post on his blog
http://ebodhitree.com/treatment-of-worms-in-cats.html

It merits checking it out. Gratefully, none of my homeless or indoor cats has had worms.

Hope all you kitties and 'beans are doing well

Debby in Arizona

Multiple Uses Cat Brushes

2011-10-04T12:44:00.008-07:00

Three of our indoor cats love to be brushed. So we have several brushes around here.

Our cat towers, made of rug material, get lots of cat hair accumulating on them. I have discovered that it is faster and more effective to clean them with a hair brush than with a vacuum. The brush on the far right in the photo has a feature for expelling the hair from the brush when done. I use this one for the cat towers and the others for the cats since the other two are easier to use on their little bodies than the long one.

I thought some of you might enjoy this tip. But maybe many of you already do something like this!

I'd love to get comments on how any of you deals with the many challenges of cleaning up cat hair. And, for some reason, I don't feel irritated over the cat hair problem. It's the cat litter flying everywhere that feels most exasperating.

How about you?

All of you stay well!

Debby in Arizona

Workers Scare Our Cats

2011-09-22T17:59:00.006-07:00

Our electric company is working on the easement behind our house, about 20 feet from where our abandoned/ferals eat in the morning. I must remember to get up earlier to feed them since the workers and their machines scare off the cats. I don't think anyone else in the neighborhood puts out food for them. Of course, since there are people who are so unkind and outright mean to animals, I'm happy that they are skiddish around strangers.

If you want to read some interesting comments, Google "do loud noises bother cats". My indoor cats run from the noise of the vacuum cleaner. Most other noises don't bother them, including the VitaMix high speed blender.

How about your cats?

Tiger Lilly is Still Playful

2011-09-05T14:31:00.003-07:00

Tiger Lilly is 4 1/2 years old and still really playful. I totally love it! I remember other cats I had in the past getting really sedentary by this age. It's amazing how each cat has their own special personality. I hope all of you are having fun with your kitties!
Debby in Arizona

Gingivitis-Stomatitis - What to Look For

2011-08-21T17:22:00.004-07:00

Scrufty was a neighborhood rescue. She had really bad stomatitis which is like gingivitis. I think it's been a few years since her surgery. She had it really badly down into her throat.

She is a totally new cat after her operation. She is lively, eats better, and is overall a happer cat. I only wish she had been the kind of cat who would let us handle her since we might have been able to catch her problem before it got so far developed.

Here's information on recognizing gingivitis-stomatitis -

http://www.virginiaveterinarydentistry.com/647115.html

I hope all of you kitties are well and thriving!

Debby in Arizona

Hair Balls Could Become a Health Hazard

2011-08-10T15:26:00.016-07:00

I only learned recently that hairballs are called trichobezoars. I knew that cats groom themselves with their raspy tongues. But I did not realize that they are collecting loose, dead hair. I assumed they simply wanted their fur to be cleaner. Indeed, this is a normal healthy routine for cats to follow.

Most of the hair they swallow goes right through their natural bowel elimination process. But whatever stays in the stomach will usually be vomited up. Some of ours which I have found were so large and tube-like that at first I think they are fecal matter (trying not to be too crude here).

We have a cat who appears to have some Maine Coon in her (Stripe above) - definitely a long-hair tortie. I think she is the one who creates the huge hairballs. Persians and Maine Coons ar known to cough up more hairballs. I guess if a cat is more compulsive about grooming, regardless what breed, there could be more hairballs upchucked.

Symptoms like hacking, gagging, and retching are normal hairball symptoms. These indicate your cat will release the hairball soon. If you notice the following hairball symptoms, be sure to contact your vet, since they could be signs that a hairball has caused a potentially life-threatening blockage:

Ongoing vomiting, gagging, retching, or hacking without producing a hairball

Lethargy (probably with any of above symptoms)

Constipation (probably with any of above symptoms)

Diarrhea (probably with any of above symptoms)

Lack of appetite (probably with any of above symptoms)

Hoping none of you have any hairball hazards !!

Debby in Arizona

Indoor Pets with Ticks

2011-08-06T14:24:00.002-07:00

Here's something useful - click the hyperlink for more information on how to deal with this problem.

Indoor Pets Can Still Have Ticks!
Tick season is here and even if your dog or cat is an indoor pet, they can still get ticks. Ticks can hitch a ride inside on your clothing and make their way onto your pet.

I got this at http://catsndogsnaturally.blogspot.com/

Purina Recalls Cat Food

2011-08-05T10:08:00.004-07:00

Purina has recalled select bags of catfood - check out the details at the following link

http://fureverywhere.blogspot.com/2011/08/purina-recalls-select-bags-of-cat-food.html

Fur Everywhere has allot of informative posts.

Have a great weekend, cat lovers!

Debby in Arizona

Understanding the Lack of Gratitude in Bootsy

2011-08-03T07:11:00.008-07:00

Bootsy hissed at me this week while I was putting down food. I was temporarily a bit angry since I've been feeding him for the entire four years of his feral existence. Then I reminded myself of how many dangers, hazards and other stresses he faces every day as a homeless cat. And I let it go. People get grumpy in life - why not feral cats. Plus, from his perspective, I'm just the mechanism life put here for him to get fed. Gratitude? That does not enter into his perception of cat colony life.

Feral Cats Struggling

2011-07-27T18:18:00.008-07:00

Living outside as feral or abandoned is so hard on cats. We have found homes for all who are adoptable. Allas, some still suffer outside.

This quote came from ASPCA

http://www.aspca.org/adoption/feral-cats-faq.aspx

"The number of feral cats in the U.S. is estimated to be in the tens of millions. Sadly, many communities still opt to control populations via outdated methods, including lethal elimination or relocation. Not only are some of these methods horribly cruel, they are also highly ineffective. It’s time to focus on feral cats in the fight to end animal cruelty.

"The ASPCA endorses Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) as the only proven humane and effective method to manage feral cat colonies. The following information provides background on TNR, online and print resources, and what you can do to get involved in your community. "

Any of you doing TNR? Maybe you have learned something special that could help others here. If you have something to say on your experience that you would like me to post email it to

DTConsult@cableone.net

Debby

Arizona

Bootsy Has a Strange Expression

2011-07-22T13:46:00.005-07:00

Bootsy, one of our ferals has been keeping himself in good shape. He is lucky that he has short fur. He has a strange expression in this photo. I just hope the droopy-ness on the one side is not because of any teeth problems since there is no way he would let us catch him to help him. He is about 4 years old now.

You can see his extra toe in this shot, too. Double click on the photo to see it a bit bigger.

Have a great weekend!

Debby
Arizona

What is a Feral Cat

2011-07-21T10:35:00.002-07:00

Someone was so kind as to give me a link where I found a definition for feral cat - maybe I should start calling them free-roaming

http://www.feralcatproject.org/faq.aspx

"What is a feral cat?
Feral cat is a term that has been used to describe a homeless cat that is undomesticated. We consider “feral” to describe a particular behavior a cat expresses when it is not used to people or feels frightened. It is virtually impossible to differentiate whether a frightened cat was born without human contact, formerly had human contact and became un-socialized from living on its own or if it is simply frightened. For our purposes we choose to call these cats free-roaming and use the term “feral” to describe a behavior a free roaming cat may convey."

thanks to Tillia and Georgia!!!

Debby
Arizona

Angelina Stripe is Beloved

2011-07-21T09:01:00.006-07:00

Angelina Stripe is the only one of the dozens of cats we have managed that I have domesticated myself. I know someone commented on one of my previous posts that she could not have been feral if she came to me at 1 1/2 years, rubbing against my leg. That is possibly true - I understand the reasoning there. But I know most in our neighborhood do not want to be bothered with the colony let alone try to handle them at a young age. Stripe would not let me get anywhere near her when she was younger, especially not as a kitten when I attempted to handle her. And when she came to me at 1 1/2 yrs she had some rough edges - some wild behaviors like with claws and teeth. I managed to socialize away these behaviors.

So now that she is an indoor cat, she is lively and also gentle and sweet. She likes me to cuddle and pet her while she is sitting on top of a bookcase. I think she does that so she can be assured that the other kitties won't try to steal any of my attention.

I'm so touched by how she has truly and affectionately worked her way into the depths of my heart. She nuzzles, purrs, paws my face without claws, and wiggles so much that we enjoy such a love fest that neither one of us wants to stop.

Debby

Arizona

Tabby Cat Growling

2011-07-21T08:48:00.007-07:00

My husband Stew captured this great shot of our Tabatha in which she appears to me to be growling. Obviously, he must have caught her cleaning up after a meal or something like that. I was really tickled by this photo.

And he got one of her in which she looks blissed out - amazing what these creatures can project to us in their expressions.

Have a great day everyone in cat land!!!

Debby in Arizona

Oat Grass Growth is Less

2011-07-21T08:40:00.004-07:00

My indoor oat grass plantings are not doing as well as they used to. The seed is only maybe 6 months old. Not all the seed will germinate. Between plantings, I keep the seed in the refrigerator. Does anyone have any ideas about what I might do to get more of the seeds to grow?

Tumbleweed

2011-07-12T16:54:00.004-07:00

I thought you might like to see what tumbleweed looks like before it dies and starts tumbling around. It's the bigger green stuff in this photo.

I learned that it's edible - recipes on the Internet for tumbleweed soup - but I did not find it very palatable. Good survival food, supposedly.

I have never seen cats eat it. Cats seem to be very fussy about which greens they will munch on.

My inside cats like oat grass. How about yours?

Debby

What is a Feral?

2011-07-12T16:49:00.003-07:00

I've been assuming that a feral cat is one who was not born in captivity and has not been handled by humans - never domesticated. Some of the ones we have which fit that description will not let me come even within 4 feet of them when feeding them. Others will let me put food down in front of them, but when I try to touch them carefully they swat with claws out quite fiercely.

Could anyone illumine me on the true definition of feral cat?

Debby
Arizona

Heat Exhaustion or Stroke in Cats

2011-07-11T15:01:00.003-07:00

My indoor foster cats won't go out in their cat run once it gets really hot. They like it out there in the cooler morning. Also, they really object to the sound of the air conditioner in their room. So we work with a ceiling fan to keep them cooler.

I read many places that cats have the perfect anatomy to be good desert animals. But also I read this article on the dangers of heat exhaustion in cats - you might want to check it out.

http://cats.about.com/cs/catmanagement101/a/heatstroke.htm

Have any of you had any problems with heat exhaustion or heat stroke with your cats?

Debby in Arizona

Liddy Looks Tattered

2011-06-22T20:09:00.003-07:00

Liddy, one of our homeless abandoned ones is looking really ragged lately. I know which local home owner abandoned her. But Liddy won't let us come close or touch her. So you could also call her feral, I guess. I don't like to think about how she might meet her Maker.

If a cat can look depressed, she fits the role. She sort of sculks around, looking dejected, timid and frail. But about a year ago I saw her cavorting after some insects and also chasing and antagonizing another cat. So she is probably not as frail as she seems.

We know she has to be at least 6 years old because of what another neighbor said about her being older than another one who was abandoned, Samantha (she disappeared 1.23.2010). So I keep praying for her. Keep her in your prayers if you would.

Thanks for commenting!

http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/2011/05/helping-my-cats-with-work-at-home.html

Debby in Arizona

Where do they go?

2011-06-07T11:25:00.003-07:00

Sometimes I wonder where our feral homeless cats go during the day. I should follow Bootsy sometime after he is done eating in the morning to see if that gives me a clue.

Now that it's getting hot during the day, I hope they find a nice shady spot. One neighbor behind me says he sees Bootsy and another cat (probably Tippy, as they seem to be a pair now) go under his mobile home. I asked him more questions and found out he will not be boarding up the place where they enter - so thankful he likes cats. Bootsy does not have to cross any roads to get from this man's home to my home - probably why he has lasted through so many coyote-filled winters - and why he has not been run over like so many others. He just turned four years old.

I am also amazed at how he can keep coming back to being so clean-looking. It's probably partly because he has short fur. The feral ones who look so raggety have longer fur.

I would love to learn from any readers where any stray/feral cats you know about go during the day.

Thanks for commenting.

Have a blessed day!

Debby in Arizona

Domesticating Ferals

2011-05-26T18:34:00.004-07:00

Recently, I met a man who volunteers for the Humane Society as one who helps socialize feral cats that come into that animal care facility. He is one of only 2 strangers who has been able to get close to and form a mini-bond with one of our ferals, Angelina Stripe (tortie in the photo here). Watching him work his magic with her was amazing.

It occured to me that I would post a link here to help people with socializing ferals. From my experience, it is easiest to do this when you can get hold of a kitten before it is 8 weeks old. Some people say before 6 weeks. But Angelina Stripe, who began feral, came to me at 1 1/2 years old, rubbing my legs, basically asking for attention. It took some time and work to train the remaining wildness out of her. But it was well worth the effort. She is so affectionate now - actually, she is the only one out of the five indoor cats we have who likes to sit on my lap. And it is clear that she is happier now that she is indoor-only and safe.

Here is the link to some extra information for any who might like to check it out -

http://www.feralcatcaretakers.org/Caretaking/DomestKittens.html

Enjoy and thank you for commenting. Be well!

Debby in Arizona

Drop Trap - Build-Your-Own

2011-05-16T12:03:00.004-07:00

If anyone needs specs for how to make one of these to get hard to trap cats, let me know.

DTConsult@cableone.net

Or go here to get directions from the source -

http://droptrapdesign.blogspot.com/2005/10/build-your-own.html

In your comments, feel free to share whether you have had any problems with catching feral or abandoned cats to spay/neuter.

Have a blessed day,

Debby in Arizona

Polydactyl Opposable Thumb Humor

2011-05-16T11:14:00.010-07:00

We have one polydactyl left in our homeless cat colony - the grey tabby, Bootsy. It's been difficult to get photos of his paws since he won't let us touch him.

Here's a really funny commercial about cats with thumbs - be sure to have your sound turned on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6CcxJQq1x8

Hoping all of you are doing really well! Thanks for leaving as many comments as you wish!

Debby in Arizona

Tabby Plays and Unusual Game "Smack Down"

2011-05-04T07:09:00.011-07:00

I have the tendency not to write much about our Tabby (Tabatha) because she's really her daddy's girl (daddy is husband Stew who takes our photos). She sleeps on him at night. And she sticks to him like a dog during the day. Sometimes he has her on his lap while he's at the computer. She just turned five years old and truly is a sweetheart - overall a very gentle cat.

Since we got a cat tower, Tabby has taken to laying in it and expecting my husband to throw her a small, soft ball. I wish we could get a video of what she does. Usually she swats it right back to Stew as if she were a professional handball player. If he does not throw it in the right spot, she often catches it with both paws. And sometimes she rears up to smack it, which is why I dubbed this game "Smack Down". (Above you can see her on her side in the smack down pose.)

I never knew of a cat who likes to play ball with her owners. Tabby is a sheer joy to watch. I have no idea how she acquired these skills since she was meeting with the ball consistently without any misses right from the beginning. Maybe cats just naturally have excellent "eye-to-paw coordination".

I hope all of you are well. All five of our indoor cats are well and thriving. All of our homeless cats seem to be surviving well. A few of them are looking quite ragged in their coats. But no one appears sick. So I am totally grateful for that.

Have a great weekend!

Debby in Arizona

Three Foster Friends

2011-04-16T08:25:00.009-07:00

We have three cats that we are fostering - Stripe (tortoise shell) was formerly feral; Scrufty (medium hair tabby) was abandoned; and Panther (black domestic short hair) was abandoned. Stripe has been healthy and happy since we domesticated her. Scrufty has the newly exciting adventure of being able to smell the smells of cats and dogs that waft into the area around our cat run every day. Her sense of smell used to be blocked by a severe throat infection (Stomatitis) which we did not catch until we started bringing her inside and got her to the vet. She used to eat very infrequently, which was probably because it hurt to chew and swallow. She had to have all but 4 teeth removed. Panther had bad gums, too, with the Caleci virus. So now that she is a toothless wonder, she is inflammation free. Panther really loves to be pet. She purrs so strongly that sometimes we call her 'Motor Head'. Despite being deprived of teeth, Panther and Scrufty even eat dry cat food, which totally surprised me. I don't know the age of Scrufty and Panther. But due to things the vet said about their muscle mass, they are probably no more than 6 years old, maybe less. All of our Three Mousecateers seem very happy and active.

We are hoping to find each of these cats a good home in the vicinity of Prescott Valley and Prescott Arizona. If you know anyone in this area looking for an adult cat, please contact me and leave a message on my voice mail.

Debby Taylor

928.772.6826

Scrufty is Well

2011-04-04T22:17:00.006-07:00

Scrufty is so much healthier than she was a few years ago. And she always amazes me with the broad spectrum of facial expressions she presents to us.

Nothing else major to report here - all is well with our cat colony!

Debby in Prescott Valley, Arizona

Cat Food Choices

2011-03-31T19:30:00.004-07:00

When I first started caring for our inherited cat colony, I was a novice. I did some reading and discovered the type of protein in dry cat food is not as good as the protein in wet cat food. Some online sites recommend NOT including dry cat food along with the wet for many reasons, including that it can make them fatter or contribute to diabetes later. But I think they need it for keeping the plaque off their teeth, so I offer them both. The ones who favor the dry food seem to me to have better teeth conditions.

Here is a site I found which I like regarding information on cat food.

http://www.catinfo.org/

Have a great weekend, all you cats and cat-lovers!

Leave a few comments if you like,

Debby in Arizona

They Love Oat Grass

2011-03-21T19:42:00.005-07:00

I ordered some "cat grass" (oats) from a company on Amazon.com

It grew well and our domestic cats devoured my test batch, as you can see. So now I'm growing another, thicker batch of it. Batch is not the correct term, but you know what I mean. I've grown other types of sprouts, like Alfalfa, for them since I grow that for myself. But they have not liked anything I've grown until this oat grass.

Hoping all of you are well. Please leave a comment or two.

Have a great week,

Debby in Arizona

What Happens When You Surprise a Cat

2011-03-15T19:50:00.007-07:00

Angelina Stripe wasn't ready for her photo shoot. She seems a bit startled.

And this following video is really sweet and extremely short.

Cat Habits Amazing

2011-03-07T10:59:00.012-07:00

I am always amazed at how cats form some habits and persist with them consistently. Tabby in the photos loves to 'steal' my husband's office chair when he's not occupying it. Also, she sometimes wakes him up early for no apparent reason (has plenty of food).

Then I discovered the following link to an article which includes reference to cats being prone to activity at dusk and dawn. The article calls this "crepuscular". I have heard of diurnal and nocturnal but never crepuscular.

Click here for this interesting article

Both Tabby and Tiger Lily have learned to vocalize very annoying sounds. Supposedly they try these out on us and whatever gets the responses they want prompts them to use them perpetually. (Is this like Pavlov's dog in reverse? Should I be embarrassed that they conditioned my responses? (:

)

Click here for similar to how Tiger Lily sounds at bed time

Anyway, our cats are always giving us wonderful surprises.

Please comment one or more times - want to learn what your thoughts are, readers.

Debby in Arizona

How to Decide if You Need a Vet Tech

2011-02-25T12:05:00.006-07:00

Here is an article which I find to be very valuable by Tina Marconi at http://www.vettech.org/

If any of my readers would like to submit an article for review - or even just a few paragraphs on a topic you would like many cat lovers to see, send it to me at DTConsult@cableone.net

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Do You Need a Vet or a Vet Tech? How Do You Decide?

If you own a pet, you probably have a regular veterinarian or are looking for a good one to provide medical care for your animal. However, there are times when you don’t need the services of a vet and when a veterinary technician will do. Both vets and vet techs provide medical care for animals, but vets are more qualified and have a higher level of education.

Vet techs usually assist veterinarians in their tasks, and provide basic care for pets and other animals. They are responsible for conducting lab tests, performing diagnostic procedures on your pets, administering intravenous medicines and assisting vets with surgeries. Most vet techs are adept at training animals – they teach obedience for dogs and other pets. Some of them go into the research field once they have enough experience as a vet tech. And most of them are able to treat minor wounds and injuries that are not life-threatening or serious.

So if your pet needs any of the above services, you would be better off with a vet tech because they charge less per hour and are more likely to spend more time with your pet. Vet techs have four years of formal education and are licensed by a national examination, so they’re well equipped to provide medical care for animals. They can be considered the nurses of the animal kingdom, because they augment and supplement the care provided by the vets.
You will need a vet only if your pet has to be diagnosed or if you’re taking them to the doctor for the first time. Follow up visits and routine checks can be done by vet techs. If you’re looking for a vet tech in your locality, here’s what you can do:

· Talk to local veterinarians and see who they recommend.
· Use the Internet to find vet techs who’re online or who have their own websites.
· Ask friends and family members who have pets and who use the services of a vet tech.
· If your vet tech is moving and you need to find a new one, ask them to recommend someone they know and who would be a good replacement for them.
· Look up your local directory listing and talk to the vet techs listed there before you choose one you think would suit your pet.

Enquire about the training and certification of vet techs before you hire them; ask where they work on a regular basis – they’re most likely to assist veterinarians with their private practice or be employed by hospitals and other animal health care facilities. Ensure that they’ve worked with animals similar to your pet and that they’re willing to provide follow-up care. Your vet tech will recommend a veterinarian if your pet needs the services of one, so don’t worry about not doing what’s best for your pet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This guest post is contributed by Tina Marconi, she writes on the topic of vet tech online . She welcomes your comments at her email id: tinamarconi85[@]gmail[.]com. http://www.vettech.org/

Trimming Cat Claws

2011-02-22T12:31:00.006-07:00

I tend to put off trimming the claws of the ones who will allow it. I can totally understand why so many of my friends who have cats as pets never try to trim the nails. I can distract Panther and Angelina Stripe and they will not fight me. But they squirm allot. Tabby and Scrufty are so fussy about holding them and headstrong that I have never even tried it with them. With Tiger Lily, if my husband gets a towel around her legs tightly I can get some of hers clipped. But she pushes with all of her might. (Previously I actually tried to do it casually while she was resting - no way would she allow it). It's such a nightmare that I am constantly procrastinating this task. But I keep an eye on them - would not want them to get ingrown - none of them get outside to reap the benefits of concrete, macadam and stone.

I often find Tiger Lily biting off the tips of her nails. She is the only one who does this. I would be interested to learn if anyone knows if this practice is good or bad for her. I did a little research and could not find anything on this. Please leave me a comment or two if you know anything about this.

Here are some links - two videos and an article - on the practice of clipping cat claws. Just click on the words to get there. In the videos it looks like the cat subjects are very compliant. I can only imagine what a delight that must be!

1 VIDEO CAT CLAW TRIMMING

2 VIDEO CAT CLAW TRIMMING

ARTICLE CAT CLAW TRIMMING

Maybe some of you have thought about it or used to do it and could use a refresher on the how-to of cat claw trimming. And for many this might be a first time operation. I hope this helps some of you who are interested.

Debby at

Homeless Cat Care

Cat Blogs Reviewed

2011-02-17T10:40:00.007-07:00

Tiger is yammering about a post you should like which includes 40 cat blogs which were reviewed by the author of the article, Tina Marconi. Please check it out!

http://www.vettech.org/keeping-your-kitties-healthy-the-top-40-cat-care-blogs

Hats off to Vet Techs everywhere. I have been given so much from them over the years. They can lift your spirits and help you understand procedures for your pet. They know allot, do allot and truly help allot. I know of a Vet Tech who runs an animal rescue shelter. I even know one Vet Tech once who gave me her cell number in case I could not get my cat to take an important medicine.

Blessings to all you cat lovers! Our abandoned and feral cats are doing great for now.

Thanks so much for leaving your comments.

Debby

Three Mousecateers

2011-02-11T15:26:00.008-07:00

Just wanting to give you a wink, nod and a nuzzle from our Three Mousecateers (from left to right) Scrufty, Panther and Angelina Stripe. They are all doing well. Nothing really new about them to share. Of course, I thank my husband, Stew, for the delightful new photos of them.

Even though they started out as fosters with us, they will probably remain for life. Scrufty and Panther tend to get flair-ups with Stomatitis and Caleci respectively. And Stripe will run and hide when a potential new owner comes to look at her. So the prospects of adopting them out look slim to none.

Sometimes the financial burden of all these cats adds allot of stress. 5 inside cats, including the 3 Mousecateers, and 7-8 outside remaining in the community as feral/abandoned. I get some help from a local rescue agency for which I am very grateful. I just took two cats to the vet for lumps. It turned out to be no cause for alarm. He said it was just subcutaneous fat. I'm so glad he has the skills to discern that by merely palpating the lumps!

I hope all of you stay well and happy!

Debby in Prescott Valley Arizona

Is Snow Salt Dangerous for Pets?

2011-02-07T12:13:00.004-07:00

We don't get much snow here in Arizona (I'm midway between Phoenix and Flagstaff). But I remember how much ice-melt I used when back in Pennsylvania years ago. We did not take care of abandoned cats then.

I found the following information on the internet. You might find it valuable. Snow melt can be harmful for cats and dogs. The article I quote below mentions a brand harmless for pets. But I'm not promoting that product. Just remember to read labels for ice melt which is harmless to pets and children.

"Ice melts are available in both liquid and solid forms. They are used to melt ice and snow on slippery sidewalks, roadways and driveways. In many cases the ice melt is simple salt. Although the foot pads of dogs and cats seem fairly tough, salt is still very irritating to them. In addition, some pets may ingest the ice melt as they lick their paws, or may eat it directly off of the ground. In small amounts this could result in drooling and diarrhea. If large amounts are ingested, the pet may show excessive thirst, weakness or fainting due to low blood pressure, decreased muscle function and, in severe cases, seizures, coma and even death. If you know your pet has been in a heavily-salted area, take a moist towel and clean off the salt. If your pet has very sensitive feet, you may want to consider providing boots for your pet. They come in various styles and sizes. Be sure to measure your pet`s foot so you know what size will be best. On your own walkways and driveways, use a salt-free ice melter. These products, such as Safe Paw, contain nontoxic granules, which will not burn or injure your pet`s paws like ice melters that contain salt.
Someone said: Trust Safe Paw!! It is guaranteed completely Safe for your pets. It works extremely well, and it is the only ice melter safe if it is ingested. Read warning labels on all ice melters before buying. Nothing compares to Safe Paw. www.safepaw.com"

CLICK HERE FOR SOURCE OF ARTICLE

Be well and I pray for an early spring for our country!

Debby and homeless kitties in Prescott Valley, AZ

Scrufty is a Sweetheart

2011-02-02T18:18:00.012-07:00

Scrufty can get some really odd facial expressions going at times. She can also be a bit skittish - petting her has to be on her terms or she might decide to run off to another part of the room.

Unlike the others who like being pet but eventually decide they have enough of it, Scrufty never gets enough of petting her fur. Again, it has to be the way she wants it. She likes her back rubbed, likes the sides of her face stroked, and sometimes her belly. Since we have taken her in and helped her heal, she has found her "voice" which is anything from a tiny squeak to an audible purr.

Scrufty seems so fragile to me. She is slight of build. But she is so incredibly intrepid when it comes to going outdoors. After the others have long come back inside from the cat run, Scrufty is still out there, braving the cold.

I haven't posted for a while, as always, due to my challenges with my work and managing my diabetes. But I just wanted to share what a quirky and special kitty this little girl Scrufty is!!

All you kitties stay well and purr to your hearts' content!!!

Thanks so much for commenting - Debby

Our Ferals are Doing Great

2011-01-15T12:15:00.010-07:00

In this photo from over 3 years ago, our little grey Bootsie looks like he is training for some kind of Smack Down activity. (isn't the phrase "Smack Down" used for wrestling on TV sometimes now?) He used to love wrestling with his brother, Tuxedo, also shown in the photo. Alas, Tuxedo was hit by a car about this time last year. The good news is that we have not lost any other abandoned or feral cats since then.

This is the time of year coyotes come into our development since food is harder for them to secure. I have not seen any so far, despite the unusual retention of snow and ice since our last storm a few weeks ago. (Generally, in this part of N Arizona even 6 inches of snow could be gone in two hours due to the prevalence of sunshine.)

So everyone here seems to be doing well, indoor and outdoor kitties alike.

I noticed that Scrufty's voice seems a little tighter than usual - when she 'talks' she barely squeaks. (Scrufty is the squinty-eyed grey tabby with her own photo in this post.) I'm hoping she does not have any recurrence of her stomatitis. She was just to the vet about 2 months ago for this (have to go about every 3-4 months to check it). It's so hard to tell if she has infection since she doesn't like me picking her up, let alone opening her mouth. She's a picky, infrequent eater even when she is healthy. So it's hard to tell whether she has any mouth discomfort. I just have to really watch her eating habits and whether she is lethargic, sleeping more than normal.

Here is a very good site with information and photos about stomatitis.

CLICK HERE

Thanks for reading this post - please comment. Check out my past posts where I have shared allot of my experiences and what I have learned from managing this homeless colony. Please let your friends know about my blog. http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/

I don't always post frequently due to a heavy work schedule. However, please sign up as a follower of my blog since I love getting diverse viewpoints as comments.

I would be extremely grateful if you feel inclined to donate to the management of this feral/abandoned colony, using the PayPal button on the sidebar.

Debby Taylor

DTConsult@cableone.net

Tiger Loves Kneading her Paws

2010-12-31T19:05:00.012-07:00

Tiger Lily loves to knead her paws on any soft blanket or jacket she encounters. I find it to be a fascinating behavior.

I have seen kittens do this when they are nursing with their mothers. And not every mature cat I've known still does the kneading. So I have speculated that maybe, when a mature cat does this, it could be a sign that the cat did not get enough of something from the mother during nursing - sort of like an older human child sucking her thumb.

Maybe some of you have wondered about what makes a cat do this. So below I have added a few links to sites where people attempt to explain this behavior.

I'd really like your comments with thoughts and opinions on this matter.

Why Do Cats Knead

Cat Behavior Kneading

May all of you have a wonderful New Year.

Debby

Tiger Lilly Progressing Well as Formerly Feral

2010-12-16T17:26:00.017-07:00

It occurs to me that it could be useful to readers for me to assess how two of our indoor cats have progressed from beginning as feral and now living domesticated. I'm going to talk now only about Tiger Lilly. Hopefully, I will remember to talk of Stripe's progress in another post.

Keep in mind as I share - Tiger Lilly would never let us touch her - not even come anywhere near her - when she was living outdoors, feral. Now, Tiger Lilly loves to roll around on the floor for attention. That, plus meowing is her way of asking for someone to pet her. She totally loves having her head, ears, chin and tummy rubbed, as long as I don't pick her up. Tiger does not let either of us pick her up. If we initiate that, she runs off. But often she will climb into my husband Stew's lap .. it has to be on her terms. She can be quite insistent about being in his lap, even if he is busy with something on his lap at the time. Stew saved Tiger Lily from dogs attacking her. So they have a special bond. Her bond with me comes from me caring for her with medications, food, and changing her dressings when she was healing from surgery after the dog attack.

She is extremely food motivated. If I place food in front of her, then in front of our Tabby cat, Tiger will run immediately to try to eat Tabby's even if it is the same thing I just gave Tiger. I think it might be a residual aspect of starting feral - the fear that someone will take your food, so you aggressively take another cat's share - sort of a survival instinct. This habit drives my husband nuts. He thinks Tiger should be able to feel enough reassurance from 3 years indoors that this habit should drop away. I can understand how such a thing could be ingrained for life no matter how much the cat is given security. People have things that eat at them for a lifetime, regardless of how much therapy you get. Why not the same for animals?

Does anyone reading this have a cat which insists on leaving his/her bowl and immediately going to steal it from another animal in the house?

Here is a link to the story about Tiger Lilly's rescue.

http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/2009/06/tiger-lillys-journey-from-feral-to.html

She would still be outdoors if this had not happened. So I think her attack was one of the best things that ever happened to her. She recovered completely from her injuries (one back femur was completely severed). She runs and jumps now as good as any kitty!!

I don't have much time to post to my blog. But I intend to come back as soon as possible with some more links to useful information for my readers.

Have a great holiday season!!

Debby of Homeless Cat Care

Winter Health Problems

2010-12-07T18:50:00.003-07:00

This is our outdoor cat run. The three mousecateers and our Tabby use this year-round. But they don't stay out as long in the cold weather.

I thought some of you might like to read about some problems cats have in the winter. Maybe some of you would like to comment with your experiences with any health problems your animals have had in the winter.

Here are a few interesting reads - click on these links -

SKIN PROBLEMS

JOINT STIFFNESS IN DOGS AND CATS

I'm sure all of you are having a great time together - pets and humans. Stay well!

Debby Taylor

http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/

Three Mousecateers Love the Cat Condos

2010-12-05T18:21:00.009-07:00

I found a guy selling cat condos at an intersection who charged less than 1/3 the going price in pet stores and catalogues. So I got these two pictured brand new for the grand total of $125.00. I'm using them in the room where I keep our three foster cats (whom I call the Three Mousecateers).

I took it out of bill money, but I hope to replace it soon. It was worth it for many reasons. I can now get rid of a large piece of dilapidated furniture which they used, freeing up a bit of space and making it easier to clean the area. Also, all three of our fosters LOVE these units. Even though the photo shows nobody lounging on the round shelf, each of the three takes turns occupying that space during the day. Wherever they are on these towers, they can see most everything going on in the room while having their own separate, unique space. I'm so happy they have something new and interesting to do since they are confined, inside-only.

I hope all of you are doing well. Keep it simple at the holidays to save your sanity, folks.

Be well,

Debby

Homeless Cat Care

Blanca Has Been Adopted

2010-11-18T18:35:00.004-07:00

I just found a new home for Blanca. The family came to pick her up Wednesday night, 11/17/2010. I hesitated to post this since I like to give any new adoption at least 1-2 weeks to be sure it's a good match.

So far, it is looking really good! She is warming to this mother/daughter team more than she did with me, my fosters and my husband. She did not hide away as long with Jami and Kala as she did for me. And she is sleeping part of the night on Jami's bed!! Wow. That was the first night.

Also, she is getting along well with their other cat who is a male and 14 years old. I believe they will make good companions.

The new family will be calling her "Cierra". They say she seems to like that name. I'll still be calling her Blanca for the time being.

For all who asked about her, and volunteered your help by posting her different places, I thank you so very very much!!!

Stay well out there, all you wondrous creatures and parents of creatures!

Debby Taylor

Play Time with Arizona Kitties

2010-11-13T10:54:00.020-07:00

And now a little about Tabatha alias Tabby-Tab. Of course, as you have imagined, she is the tabby cat in two of the photos above. She is in repose in these photos. But she can be quite active at her ripe young age of nearly 5 years.

I haven't been able to get photos of her play activities yet. But I hope to one day. She is one of two which live in the main part of our house. She is the first one we adopted from the abandoned and feral colony we care for (we spay/neutered about 34 in two years here).

She loves to grab the edge of a blanket and shuffle her back feet. We call this "doing the blankie shuffle". She really gets into it as play. And she will look to my husband and I as if she were looking for our approval. Her eyes get really soft and loving or wild and crazy, depending on her mood. And she loves to play 'bat the ball'. She does the back-feet shuffle on a soft ball. Then with her front foot she bats the ball to one of us. This goes back and forth for awhile. She gives the impression she is some kind of kitty sport athlete, for sure.

One of our foster kitties, Panther, seems a bit older than Tabatha. Panther's black hair is graying in many places. And normally she sleeps a bit more than the younger ones throughout the day. But Panther still loves to chase the ball. Panther is the only one among our crew who will play with a toy without any human interaction. I have watched her through a glass door as she does this. The others all stop playing once I leave the room.

Thanks for reading this post - please comment - more than once if you like. Check out my past posts where I have shared allot of my experiences and what I have learned from managing this homeless colony. Please let your friends know about my blog. http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/

I don't always post frequently due to a heavy work schedule. However, please sign up as a follower of my blog since I love getting diverse viewpoints as comments.

I would be extremely grateful if you feel inclined to donate to the management of this feral/abandoned colony, using the PayPal button on the sidebar.

Debby Taylor

DTConsult@cableone.net

Blanca Will Be Losing Her Home

2010-11-05T15:55:00.006-07:00

Blanca is a long-hair domestic cat with what I've recently learned to be "flame point" markings. She is white with apricot colored accents on face, ears, tail, and other places. A photo of her playing with her mother's tail is at the header of this blog.

Blanca was born April 11, 2008. I found a home for her with a lovely woman in June when SnowBall was only 8 weeks old. After nearly two and 1/2 years, I thought this would be a forever home. But, alas, the lady has to move and is being forced to give up her cats due to the allergies of her roomate. She is totally devastated about this. Fortunately, we have remained in touch over this time. She called me to ask for help. I may have found a home for her already here in the Prescott/Prescott Valley, AZ area. If this lead does not work out, I have a few more people resources to help me. I had success finding one kitty a home from Petfinder. So that's another resource.

I had a good relationship with SnowBall so I imagine she will remember me. Alas, even though my financial resources are taxed with the 5 indoor and 7 + outdoor cats I am now feeding and caring for, I would not want this beautiful and sweet animal to go to a shelter. She still has a few remnants of feral behaviors - runs from strangers - takes time to get her to warm up to someone new. So I am praying her feral roots will not cause problems.

IF ANY OF YOU READERS KNOW OF ANYONE TRUSTWORTHY IN MY AREA OR IN ARIZONA IN GENERAL WHO IS LOOKING FOR A CAT LIKE BLANCA, PLEASE GIVE THEM MY PHONE NUMBER 928.772.6826

She is spayed and has been inside only all this time. When she feels so inclined, she often crawls onto her owner's lap for affection.

Thanks for reading this post - please comment. Check out my past posts where I have shared allot of my experiences and what I have learned from managing this homeless colony. Please let your friends know about my blog. http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/

I don't always post frequently due to a heavy work schedule. However, please sign up as a follower of my blog since I love getting diverse viewpoints as comments.

I would be extremely grateful if you feel inclined to donate to the management of this feral/abandoned colony, using the PayPal button on the sidebar.

Debby Taylor
DTConsult@cableone.net

Helping Cats Survive Rough Winter Weather

2010-10-29T21:19:00.000-07:00

Here in my part of Northern Arizona, we don't get much snow in the winter. When we do, it only lasts about 2 hours, even if we get 6 inches. Having lived in Pennsylvania for my first 55 years, I know about harsh winters. If you or anyone you know who is helping feral or homelss cats in a climate which produces harsh winter weather, the following are links with suggestions for helping the ferals get through it all with less hardship. Click on each hyperlink to go to each of the articles.

COMING IN FROM THE COLD

FERAL SHELTER IDEAS

Thanks to all of you who are working at reducing / eliminating suffering for animals everywhere.

And thanks to any who feel inclined to leave a comment or two.

Blessings to you and yours,

Debby

http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/

Grizzly Looks So Rough and Needy

2010-10-29T20:57:00.000-07:00

Grizzly Girl

My heart goes out to Grizzly. Recently she started to hang around out back at night when the others have already gone to find their shelter for the night. She waits for me to bring out better food than what I'm used to giving the homeless / feral cats. I'm in the habit of doing this when the inside cats get too persnickety, not eating their food for whatever reason. Sometimes she will lay on the cold cement for hours. (she won't lay on the thick pillow I put out for her). She is the only one of our feral colony who does this. When I look out to see her waiting, she appears rather resigned but dejected at the same time - hard to describe it, but she has that sort of mood. It's as if she is saying "I know I'm homeless, I don't like it, but I know you are kind so I will wait out here as long as it takes for you to bring me something."

All of them are eating twice as much as they did in the summer. And their coats are all so much thicker. I wonder if increasing the amount of food per day combined with the colder nights turns on their internal mechanism for adding thicker fur. (Our day times in Arizona are still fairly warm.)

Does anyone out in the cat blogosphere know what turns on the homeless ones internal fur-building device?

Thanks for reading and commenting. All of our kitties seem to be well for now, thanks be to God.

Debby
http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/

Cats Curling Tongues

2010-10-22T13:04:00.006-07:00

Midnight and Liddy

Grizzly Girl

Tabitha alias Tabby-Tab

Cats are amazingly flexible and advanced creatures. I'm astounded at how they can stretch around to preen and clean their hindquarters. They can jump onto a table which is 8-10 times taller than they are without needing a running start. Their night vision is better than mine in my youth. And they have something like 200-some smell sensors as opposed to 50-some in humans (do I remember the ratio there correctly?) Until I got into caring for our abandoned and feral colony, I never appreciated the amazing skills and features of our feline friends.

Above are three photos which I find fascinating - not sure why. But the ability to curl their tongues as far out as they do is just one more amazing thing they do.

Thanks for reading this post - please comment. Check out my past posts where I have shared allot of my experiences and what I have learned from managing this homeless colony. Please let your friends know about my blog. http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/

I don't always post frequently due to a heavy work schedule. However, please sign up as a follower of my blog since I love getting diverse viewpoints as comments.

I would be extremely grateful if you feel inclined to donate to the management of this feral/abandoned colony, using the PayPal button on the sidebar.

Debby Taylor
DTConsult@cableone.net

So this is not just a frivolous post, I also offer you a link to
read about helping cats get through winter conditions (inside cats, too) in healthy ways.

for that article, CLICK HERE after you post a comment

Pre-Winter Cat Habits

2010-10-08T11:50:00.008-07:00

Sherbet crossed over 2/20/10

Sunny crossed over 12/14/09

With these two photos, I'm remembering two of our regulars who must have been taken by coyotes. I still miss them and think of them, even though they they never would let me get close as they were feral. So now I announce to the colony, "Watch out for those hungry coyotes! Get your escape routes lined up everyone." Coyotes are known to come into our development in the winter months.

The cats in our homeless colony (feral and abandoned) seem to be eating more now than they did in the summer. Is this because they are preparing for winter by gaining extra padding for the coming colder months? If any of you know anything about this please post a comment or two. For some reason, I do not remember the pattern developing in prior years. It would make sense that their instincts would include putting on some extra subcutaneous fat for the winter months. None of them is younger than 3 1/2 years old. So they all know that the temperatures here get really cold as the weather changes. In this part of northern Arizona, our night-time temperatures average between about 17 degrees F. and 35 degrees F (the latter is 1.6667 degrees C.)

Thanks for posting! It is always a help to receive your knowledge and opinions on my blog. If you have not already done so, become a follower of my blog (see below) and you can get my posts on your dashboard (or however else they are received).

I hope all of you are well and happy,

Debby of Homeless Cat Care

DTConsult@cableone.net

Trimming the Nails of our Cats

2010-10-01T21:53:00.002-07:00

Angelina Stripe Was Feral until October 2009

Tiger Lily Was Feral until November 2007

I have five cats which stay indoors perpetually. So, ideally, all of those should have their nails trimmed regularly. Stripe does not run away when I start it. I have to keep her distracted, but she lets me do it. For Tiger Lily, she resisted so much that I got one of those bags to put her in that vets use. Unfortunately, it was next to impossible to get her into the bag once she started to associate it with the nail trimming. So my husband and I stopped using the bag. He incapacitates her with a towel while I work feverishly at getting the front paws trimmed, careful not to cut too short so as not to damage what I think is called the quick. It's amazing that two cats who both started feral can respond so differently to the nail trimming.

I have not tried trimming Scrufty's nor Tabatha's nails because of some handling problems with them for other treatments. But Panther is a total gem, allowing me to trim her nails while she sits with me and purrs.

How is it for you folks regarding trimming your cat's nails? I would love to hear pieces of your stories in comments to this post. Or you could email me with any longer response which you think would benefit my readers so I can turn your response into a post. Of course, you might be like one of my friends and just not do the nails since it is simply too labor-intensive or aggravating.

Let me know your experiences!

And may you all be well!

Debby Taylor
DTConsult@cableone.net

Black Cat Abuse and Pet Safety at Halloween

2010-09-22T21:21:00.001-07:00

Tippy - One of the Homeless Colony

Grizzly - One of the Homeless Colony

Locally, I have heard from animal rescue agency people that there is enough possibility of abuse of black cats in our town that they won't allow black cats at adoption events around Halloween. There are now 5 black cats in my homeless colony. There is another one who lives nearby who used to be in our colony but prefers being fed by a neighbor. I always get nervous for these 6 cats around Halloween. But I think it is more likely they will get killed by a coyote than a perverse human.

The idea of someone abducting or torturing a cat for some sick reason makes my blood boil. According to part of the article at the following link, black cat torture is mostly done by psychopaths, less so by Satanists. But who knows whether these folks have all the facts. Anyway, it's an interesting read.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/hallocat.htm

On a lighter note, here is an article with suggestions for pet safety in the coming season, including dogs. Many of you will find interesting, informative and hopefully useful for yourself or for others.

.. this is the link where I found it
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/protect-pets-on-halloween.html#

By Hilary Stamper, Environmental Activism Manager, Care2.com

"The following is a list of precautions suggested and recommended by numerous animal shelters and veterinarians designed to keep pets safe on Halloween.

NOISES and STRANGE STRANGERS:

Trick or treaters can cause loud and excessive noise and frighten your pet, so try to keep your pets inside in a quiet room where they are insulated from the Halloween rukus. : )

Pets, especially dogs, that are easily excitable or threatened by strangers should be kept from the front door so they cannot bite anyone or run into the street. With many people visiting the home in strange attire, even normally calm pets might overreact.

Keep pets on a shorter-than-normal leash if you plan on walking outside on Halloween. Again, scary and weird looking trick-or-treaters could provoke aggression in even the nicest pet.

KISS OF DEATH

Candy, especially chocolate, is toxic for animals and can cause vomiting, restlessness, heart disturbances, and even death. Ask kids not to share candy with pets.

CANDLES

Be careful with lit pumpkins and candles because pets can knock them over and start a fire. Therefore ensure that all burning objects are out of pet’s reach. Remember that cats can jump high, and birds can fly, so try to confine a pet if it demonstrates an “unhealthy” interest in flames (e.g. it puts its paws in lit pumpkins or tries to play with candles).

PETS IN DISGUISE

Avoid costumes held in place by rubber bands, which can be uncomfortable and, more important, rubber bands mistakenly left on a pet can quickly burrow into the animal’s skin and cause injury. Additionally, rubber bands in the wrong place can choke a bird.

If a pet wears a costume, make sure it is not constricting, causing your pet to trip, or blocking its vision. Do not force a pet to wear a costume if it demonstrates discomfort. All of the above can cause undue stress and possibly cause aggression in even the nicest dog, goldfish, or iguana.

EVIL IN THE NIGHT

Don’t leave pets outside on Halloween. Many animals disappear as pranksters and those with darker intentions tease, abduct, torture, or even kill pets.

Be especially watchful of black cats, who which are frequent targets of cruel activities on Halloween. Try to keep black cats inside for the week of Halloween. Many animal shelters make black cats unavailable for adoption the week before Halloween because of black cat abuse."

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/protect-pets-on-halloween.html##ixzz10BwtCVoQ

I welcome your comments on the subjects of Black Cat Abuse and pet safety at Halloween

I wish all of my cat, dog, and other pet friends great health and joy.

Debby Taylor
http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/

Midnight and Liddy are Buddies

2010-09-21T11:44:00.002-07:00

Ms. Liddy

Mr. Midnight

Liddy and Midnight love to travel together. I have noticed that Midnight tends to rub up against Liddy. So they must be good buddies. They never had babies together as we had Midnight fixed while Liddy was busy being conjugal with another cat, pushing out litter after litter. Midnight is feral. I got the impression from someone that Liddy started out tame, but she has become skittish since her abandonment by a neighbor of mine. She won't let us come near to her.

She comes to eat daily (did not for a while). And will sometimes eat two bowls of food at one feeding, which I'm really glad for. For awhile, after long absences, she would come, hang out here, but not eat anything. I was starting to wonder if there was something medically wrong with her. Now it's just that she does not seem to look very healthy. However, she has looked worse before (her hair was falling out in places in the past). So I'm feeling somewhat positive for her now.

A neighbor of mine who lives two doors down helps me tend to the homeless ones. She has strong suspicions that even recently over the summer coyotes have been coming into our neighborhood, killing and eating skunks. She hears the coyotes' sounds. And she hears squeals from the skunks. Of course, this is the way of Nature. I love the skunks, too, but the food chain is what it is. And it makes me very concerned for our homeless cat colony. So far, we have not lost any since this past winter. So I guess there must be enough skunks (and maybe rabbits, etc) to satisfy the coyotes for now. I am hoping that our cats are learning how to avoid the coyotes as they are hunting the skunks.

If any of you have stories about coyotes or other predators related to homeless or stray cats, I would be interested in your posts.

Check out my past posts where I have shared allot of my experiences and what I have learned from managing this homeless colony. Please let your friends know about my blog.

http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/

I don't always post frequently due to a heavy work schedule. However, please sign up as a follower of my blog since I love getting diverse viewpoints as comments.

I would be extremely grateful if you feel inclined to donate to the management of this feral/abandoned colony, using the PayPal button on the sidebar.

Debby Taylor
DTConsult@cableone.net

Pedigree is Helping Dogs

2010-09-18T18:50:00.007-07:00

From what I can see, many blogs have been posting about Pedigree drive to help out homeless dogs, so we decided to join the trend. I am not certain I have all I need here. So if anyone sees I'm missing something, let me know in a comment which comes to my email. DTConsult@cableone.net
Also, I do not know how to keep the blog hop from running past the edge of the post. Help!

If you post on your blog about the campaign, and Pedigree donates dog food to a shelter!

Yes, this is a blog for homeless cats. But I love dogs, too! I just don't own any for the time being - too many cats to take care of for my budget.

If you want to help, write a post between September 16th and September 19th and Pedigree will donate a 20-pound bag of food to an animal shelter. Click below and add the direct link to your blog post to the Blog Hop below.

Reportedly, every year, more than 4 million dogs end up in shelters and rescue organizations. Pedigree created The PEDIGREE Adoption Drive to draw attention to the plight of such homeless dogs.

Special for BlogPaws West: For each blog that posts about the PEDIGREE Adoption Drive through September 19, PEDIGREE will donate a bag of its new Healthy Longevity Food for Dogs to shelters nationwide. Write a post, help a dog.

And sign the blog listing below -

Homeless Cats Well - Indoor Cats Great, too

2010-09-05T18:23:00.012-07:00

Our homeless cats seem to be doing well now. As always, they seem so grateful to get food that they are never fussy about what I give them unlike my indoor cats.

Above are Bootsy and Tippy. They are inseparable pals. Bootsy has never liked being a loner like some of the others. His first lady friend, Samantha, disappeared January of this year and has never returned. I imagine she was taken by a coyote since that's the time of year they come into our development the most.

We have one named Liddy who looks a bit worn out. I get this impression from the state of her fur and the look in her eyes. But she keeps coming every day now, eating heartily. And I saw her fight off another cat who was bothering her. So she must not be faring as badly as it looks. I don't have a current photo of her right now. My husband is the photographer of the family. He intends to get one of her soon.

Our indoor feline friends are doing well. Two of the five, Scrufty and Panther (photos below) seem healthier than ever. We started off calling them our foster cats - just visiting. But we have grown quite fond of them. I imagine they have a forever home with us now. We're not putting any effort into finding them homes. They are so happy with us!

Thanks for reading this post - please comment. Check out my past posts where I have shared allot of my experiences and what I have learned from managing this homeless colony. Please let your friends know about my blog. http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/

I don't always post frequently due to a heavy work schedule. However, please sign up as a follower of my blog since I love getting diverse viewpoints as comments.

I would be extremely grateful if you feel inclined to donate to the management of this feral/abandoned colony, using the PayPal button on the sidebar.

Debby

DTConsult@cableone.net

SCRUFTY

PANTHER

Do Cats Have Different Levels of Intelligence?

2010-08-24T15:08:00.003-07:00

Angelina Stripe

Hello, everyone. I have not posted for a long time. For now, all is well with our homeless colony, for which I am extremely grateful.

Angelina Stripe seems to need allot of stimulation through play, even though she is about 2 1/2 years old. Same goes for Tiger Lily, though she is 3 years old. Maybe it's because they were once feral and need the reassurance of human connection.

This brings to mind how people would tell me when my son was so active as a baby (over 30 years ago) that very intelligent children need lots of stimulation through games, stories, singing, etc. It turned out that he had a higher I.Q. than either his father or me. I wonder if the same dynamic can be true for cats? Does anyone know if the more intelligent ones need more stimulation? Or are they all pretty much the same level of intelligence? I have never read anything about this. If any of you knows anything about this, I would really be interested in your comments.

Blessings to all of you and your animals!

Debby

Help Jewel - Cat Amputee

2010-08-03T14:20:00.000-07:00

Jewel Needs Your Help

Jewel is a beautiful and precious black kitten, 6 months old, with golden eyes. Somehow she was injured which made it necessary to have her right front leg amputated. The posting on PetFinder does not tell more than that, probably since she was brought in by someone who found her.

The photo does not show her missing leg - must be a before photo. I know she is an amputee since the United Animal Friends rescue agency has 100% integrity.

If you have any questions about Jewel please contact Allie at allie.cat42@yahoo.com who is managing this case with UAF in Arizona.

Part of the bill is being covered by UAF, but Jewel will be short of the full amount. Please, can you donate at least $20 or $30 to help pay for Jewel's amputation? Jewel thanks you so much! Purr, purr.

You can make an online donation to help Jewel today by clicking on the PayPal button on her post on PetFinders. You can get to the whole listing including the PayPal button by clicking here -

http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/16148502

Donation checks made payable to UAF can be mailed to:

UAF
P.O. Box 11133
Prescott, Arizona 86304
(Please indicate Jewel as the sponsored animal on your check.
If more money is donated than needed for this specific animal, your donations may be used to help other animals.)

UAF is a non-profit and your contribution would be tax deductible.

If you have any questions about Jewel please contact Allie at allie.cat42@yahoo.com

Purrs of gratitude to anyone who will help her and her caretakers.

Debby of http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/

Caleci Virus in Panther and Tiger Lily

2010-07-31T12:01:00.000-07:00

Panther is My toothless wonder

I have posted about this before. I thought it is worth repeating.

We have a few cats with Caleci virus. It can affect different cats differently. One of ours throws up from time to time because of it. (Panther) The other seems to have no ongoing reactions. (Tiger) She threw up once, then never again after a cortisone shot. I wonder if this might have to do with the immune system. Also, we had Panther's teeth removed entirely at the vet's suggestion. It seems to have helped keep the Caleci from growing. She does not throw up as often. He first diagnosed this virus by looking at her teeth and feeling her lymph glands, which were swollen.

Here are some links if you want to read about the Caleci virus ..

http://www.cfa.org/articles/health/calici.html

http://www.cat-health-guide.org/feline-calici-virus.html

And if you are willing please help me by copying my blog link and sending it to your cat loving friends who might not be in the cat blogosphere -

http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/

Thanks so much for reading this,

Debby

DTConsult@cableone.net

Boots Loves Catnip

2010-07-30T21:05:00.020-07:00

Bootsy with Harvested Catnip

In this image of Bootsy, enjoying his catnip clippings, you can see from this view of his paws that he is a polydactyl. I believe he might be the last of them in our homeless colony. According to Wikopedia, "A polydactyl cat is a cat with a congenital physical anomaly, with more than usual number of toes on one or more of its paws as a result of a cat body type genetic mutation." I wonder where that mutation came from? Human intervention? Chemical? Genetic experimentation? Hmm. Anybody with information about this, feel free to comment on it after this post.

He has been rolling in the catnip. Every single one of our outdoor homeless ones has rolled in the catnip. Not one exception. That amazes me. In other ways, they all have different likes and dislikes - food, shelter, whether they run into or out of the rain, whether they roll in the dirt, and probably more that I'm forgetting.

I always think I see sadness in Bootsy's eyes. It seems to be there more often since he lost Samantha earlier this year. That might be a projection on my part. I think that is called personification [figure of speech in which human characteristics are attributed to an abstract quality, animal, or inanimate object] By believing that I see sadness, I'm assigning human traits to Bootsy. Nevertheless, I am convinced that cats have their own emotions, probably run by their own internal mechanisms which are not human. Otherwise, if my cats had human emotions, they would probably get upset when I cry - but they don't. I can be crying profusely and they just keep sleeping away. I know they have fear because I have seen it so many times. Recently, Tiger has been running under our bed during thunder storms!

Best to all of my cat and human friends!

Debby in Arizona, USA

"I love squirming in the catnip"

Scrufty Seems Problem Free

2010-07-23T22:07:00.000-07:00

The Mysterious Scrufty

It's been seven months today since Scrufty's surgery for advanced gum disease. Primarily, she has been progressing beautifully. We had her back to the vet twice for a cortisone shot since her gums got a bit inflamed again. But for the most part she has been more alert, a little playful, and eating better. I focused on giving her better quality protein and boosting her immune system with CoQ10 and Vitamin C. She stays inside - we do not let her roam free like she used to. But she loves going into the cat run and sleeping in her crinkly tube there. I believe on some level she feels safer and happier with this arrangement. She always seems to look happier and healthier to me.

But she is quite a mysterious creature. She stays to herself allot. Scrufty never asks for anything. She is one of those cats who just blends into the furniture, is not fussy about food, plays with toys by herself, and sits on a window sill, staring out of the window when not sleeping. She is a no-fuss, no-frills cat who keeps to herself more than any domesticated cat I've ever known.

The only thing that makes her less than a model cat is that she does not usually like affectionate treatment from her 'beans. But lately she is letting me brush her. She actually seems to be learning to enjoy it. She wiggles all over the couch when I brush her!

Here are links to three past blogs about dear Scrufty. I'm just so happy she is no longer a homeless cat.

http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/2010/01/scruftys-progress.html

http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/2010/01/scrufty-still-doing-well.html

http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/2009/12/emergency-for-scrufty.html

Thanks for reading and commenting!

Debby in Arizona

Tiger and Angelina Stripe

2010-07-06T11:55:00.002-07:00

Here are two of the most miraculous cats I have ever known. Tiger Lily is on the top, Angelina Stripe is below. Each of them lives sequestered in different parts of my home. I let Tiger go into the room where I keep Angelina Stripe but not vice versa since the latter does not get along with Tabatha at all. And each of them knows there are 4 other indoor cats getting my attention. (we have many more as outdoor-only) Each of these two started out feral. Tiger lived outside only for 7 months of her life before her serious injury from 3 dogs attacking her. Stripe lived outdoors for 1 1/2 years before I began socializing her.

Here is Tiger's story
http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/2009/06/tiger-lillys-journey-from-feral-to.html

Here is the event which triggered keeping my wild Angelina Stripe indoors only
http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/2010/01/stripe-returned-from-being-missing.html

Lately, each of these two ladies asks for more attention from me than before. I think they love the reinforcement that they are loved, despite their wild beginnings. I wonder if maybe a cat can feel insecure, especially when she had to fight for survival early on.

Anyway, here is what they do to reach into my heart more deeply. Tiger sprawls on the floor. If she does not play with any toy I offer her, I know she just wants me to pet her and rub the sides of my face on the sides of her face. I talk to her and stroke her. She purrs and looks right into my eyes with what feels like allot of love. She won't sit on my lap like Angelina Stripe does. But I know she really adores me in her own way.

Angelina Stripe meows and looks up at me, dancing around my feet as soon as I come into her room. If I have not spent much time with her for many hours (working from home) she meow/squeaks for me to put her on my lap where I either pet her, brush her unruly fur, or rub her ears and sides of her face. When I do the latter, she purrs and looks right into my eyes with what feels like concern about whether I really care about her.

I find it amazing that each of them looks right into my eyes and holds the gaze while I am giving love. None of my other 3 cats will do that. I read somewhere a long time ago (forget the source) that staring into the eyes of a cat can trigger something to do with dominance. But my alpha cat, Tabby, won't stare into my eyes when I love her. With Tiger and Angelina Stripe, I think it has nothing to do with dominance. I think they just love connecting with me that way.

Baby Girl has Been Adopted

2010-06-28T20:08:00.000-07:00

I'm so thrilled - we got Baby Girl adopted to a lovely home this week! She is already showing her new 'beans that she is really happy - eating well, interacting with the other animals well, and snuggling with her new owners.

I am so happy to know she is happy! She is the most socially adaptable cat I have ever sponsored. (she was a rescue from a drug addict)

My husband, Stew, really had a bond with her. But we cannot afford future vet bills for all the cats we take care of. Stew seems to be managing the loss just fine for now. I am just so happy we found a really wonderful family to adopt her - a family who is in the habit of giving animals a forever home.

Thanks for reading my post - leave a comment if you like. I plan to share more about my experiences and what I learn from managing this abandoned / feral cat colony. Please let your friends know about my blog.

I would be extremely grateful if you feel inclined to donate to the management of this feral / abandoned colony, using the PayPal button on the sidebar.

Debby
DTConsult@cableone.net

http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/

Bootsy Found a Friend

2010-06-07T20:32:00.010-07:00

This photo is of Tippy and Bootsy (he's the tabby), both feral. They are really close now. But this was not always so. Samantha used to be Bootsy's constant companion. We lost Samantha in January of 2010.

Here's a photo of Samantha curled up with Bootsy a few years ago (they got into this unusual position themselves). CLICK HERE to see it in an old post.

Bootsy is one of those cats who needs to have a friend to pal around with and wrestle/play. So many homeless we have encountered are loners. I'm so happy Bootsy found a new friend. He was so sad after Samantha left us.

Bootsy is also a polydactyl (am I spelling that right?) If you click on the photo of Bootsy near the hose, you can see his extra toe. What a shame we were not doing the TNR before he was born - so many people want this configuration of toes in a cat they adopt. He would have been very adoptable.

All of our colony seem to be doing OK for now. One named Grizzly has not been around for a few days. But I'm not worried yet. She might be going to another neighbor for food.

I'm still working on the management of my diabetes, which limits my time-frames for posting and blog commenting. Gotta keep getting exercise and making better food choices!

Thanks for reading my post - leave a comment if you like. I plan to share more about my experiences and what I have learned from managing this homeless colony. Please let your friends know about my blog.

I would be extremely grateful if you feel inclined to donate to the management of this feral/abandoned colony, using the PayPal button on the sidebar.

Debby Taylor DTConsult@cableone.net

http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/

Geriatric Kitties

2010-05-22T09:11:00.009-07:00

Sometimes we call Scrufty and Panther our "toothless wonders". (Panther is the black one) Lately, we have been calling them our geriatric kitties since they seem to be older than the others we care for. (we don't know their ages since they are rescue kitties)

Scrufty had another bout with infection in her mouth. But the vet says she may have that for life due to the way her system is. I'm grateful that the antibiotics has helped her get back to a healthier place. Panther and Scrufty both nap more than the others. But when they are up and about, each of them is known to play as vigorously as the youngest kitties here. In fact, Panther is the only one whom I catch playing on her own without any help from her 'beans.

I regret I have not had much time lately to post nor to blog comment. My work is demanding. Plus, I have been trying different approaches to better manage my diabetes. I hope to get to blog comment more to be supportive of my followers and blog friends.

Wishing you all a lovely day with your sweet kitties and other pets!

Debby Taylor

http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/

If you feel moved to donate to our homeless cat colony, there is a PayPal button on the right sidebar of this blog.

Three Kittens Doing Well

2010-05-03T13:45:00.006-07:00

The three kittens which I rescued from a feral mom are doing well with the lady bottle feeding them. She named them Tiger, Tyler, and Tonka. The photo to the left is Tiger, aka Tigger.

It turns out that the man of the house has gotten really attached to the grey one, Tonka. That is quite unusual since the woman bottle feeds lots of kittens during the course of the year and he does not get attached. Tonka must have quite a personality! I hope they adopt Tonka! And the others are so cute that I'm sure she will not have trouble finding fine folks to adopt them. The woman caring for them says they have become really comfortable with humans. I believe it is close to time for them to be weaned since they were born 3/13/2010.

And say a prayer that my 6-month foster cat, Baby Girl, can find a good home. We are in Prescott Valley, AZ. Here is the link if you want to pass it on to anyone in the vicinity.

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=15709391

Thanks for commenting!

Debby Taylor
Homeless Cat Care

Tabatha Is Sneezing

2010-05-03T08:45:00.008-07:00

Tabatha is one of our adopted inside cats. She has been with us since 2007. Her left ear is clipped because we thought she was going to be trap-spay-release ( TNR ). After we released her she wanted to come back in. She adopted us!

Right now, she has been sneezing quite a bit. Also, she does not play as much - seems less energetic than usual. I know many of you are more experienced with cat ailments than I am. She does not demonstrate any other symptoms. Any suggestions on this? I figure if it does not pass in several days, I should take her to the vet.

Thanks for commenting! I have been so busy lately - I will try to get some comments done coming up soon.

Debby Taylor

Kitten Rescue

2010-04-18T15:27:00.005-07:00

I just returned from a short vacation during which I went to different parts of Arizona to view wonderful spring wild flowers. Before that, my life was a treadmill because on top of my normally busy schedule, I spent time trapping a trap-wise feral momma and her three kittens. This is the first time I needed to separate kittens from the mother. It would not have been difficult except for getting conflicting advice from my fellow rescuers. Some said I should separate the kittens right away (they were about 3 wks old then) for bottle feeding. Others, including a vet tech, said it was better to let kittens nurse from momma until ready to be weaned. So I went with the vet tech's advice (also felt right intuitively). However, a few days after I had momma trapped and transferred into a holding cage with her kittens, the other faction was saying I would end up with kittens at 6-8 weeks old who would be difficult to socialize. Part of the point of this rescue was to keep the kittens from having to live the hard life of a feral. And those advising me had tons more experience than me. So I got out my thickest gloves and a few harmless kitchen utensils for grabbing the babies, and I reached into the holding cage where momma was determined to scratch my eyes out. After quite a bit of maneuvering, I finally separated the kittens from momma. All three are happily bottle feeding with the foster kitty mom now. (photo of one is above). And momma feral got spayed and returned to her home territory. Now the kittens have the best chance of having forever homes as domesticated sweeties. And momma feral won't have to struggle with more litters. Yippee!

By the way, I used my drop trap to catch momma who had been eluding capture by the pro volunteers here for quite some time. If any of you want to learn about drop traps, here is a link to the demo video - see on the panel to the left "build your own" for directions to do so.

http://droptrapdesign.blogspot.com/2005/10/demo-tape-available-vhs.html

Katuner - Oror - Lovely Music and Cat Video

2010-04-01T11:02:00.003-07:00

Kitties 3 wk old to Catch and Other Cats with Skin Problems

2010-03-30T22:34:00.008-07:00

I have not seen Liddy for a while. I just emailed a neighbor to see if she has seen her. Hopefully, we have not lost her. And I have two cats whom I keep inside who have skin problems. I don't have a clue when I'm going to be able to take the two of them to the vet - hopefully next week.

And to top it all off, I had an attack of raise-your-hand syndrome .. since I have a drop trap I volunteered to help a lady rescue a feral mom and her three kittens. I just seem to attract kitties who need help. I guess it's part of my life's purpose for now.

Yikes! How do I let myself get so overwhelmed here.

Plus I'm still working on getting one of my foster cats adopted.

Say a prayer I can get Baby Girl adopted. (her photo is in this post)

click here for the PetFinder description

I hope all of you are well,

Debby Taylor

Liddy is Better

2010-03-16T19:48:00.005-07:00

Liddy is so skittish that it is difficult for me to get my husband hooked up with her when she is around so he can photograph her. My talents just do not run in the area of photography. So pardon my using the same photo. (she is the tortie)

Liddy has been gradually coming back to eating OK! A soupy mixture of watered down wet food worked. And now she is even going for the regular wet food again, too. My neighbor has been wonderful in working with me on watching out for her and helping her with the watered down food.

I have not tried to catch her to have her checked with the vet. It took a year to get her trapped for spaying. So I am just going to keep an eye on her now. Maybe she just had a sore in her mouth or she ate something that did not agree with her. I thank everyone who left comments on my post about her not eating - you all gave me such helpful ideas.

I am sure that eventually I will have to trap her to see what's up for her. For whatever reason, she was in the habit of having her litters under a home where there is allot of asbestos and other totally unsanitary garbage. So I am hoping she does not have any major diseased condition because of that. I am just so happy the soupy wet food helped her come back to eating for the time being. If things change, I am sure I will be doing more posts on her, too.

Again, thanks for your comments, prayers and purr-ayers,

Debby

Liddy Cannot Eat Solid Food

2010-03-13T17:27:00.011-07:00

I have been doing a juicing program for my health since 2/25/10. The learning and practice curve on this has been quite labor-intensive, so I have not had the free time to blog more than once since I began my liquid diet. And of course there is always more news about the kitties here at Homeless Cat Care.

Liddy, one of the skittish abandoned ones in our outside colony, has been refusing to eat the dry and the wet food I put out. (she is the dark one in the photo). At first I thought she was starting to get fussy about the flavor of her food like the ones do inside (outside ones usually don't get fussy here). Then I noticed she would sit apart from the food and cry, looking up at me. She has never been one to cry at all in the 3 years I've known her.

I wondered if maybe she has a mouth, teeth or throat infection like many who have come to us. But she would never let me get close enough to touch her. So I put some kitty seafood paté with tuna and some water in a high-speed blender and slurried it all into a soup. After adding a bit of anti-biotic left from Scrufty, Liddy came up to the food and lapped up some of the soup. She did not eat much, but at least she had some.

So I believe her cries were her way of asking me for help.

I would appreciate prayers and purr-ayers for Liddy in Prescott Valley from all of you wonderful bloggers.

I just pray that she does not have anything seriously wrong. I have created an enormous dent in my savings from caring for all these cats over the last 3 years. My own health care is starting to be expensive (diabetes and blood pressure). Between Scrufty and Panther, it has cost about $1000.00 just for teeth and mouth problems. I am very grateful for the nearly $300.00 I received from bloggers to help me with the bills for Scrufty. Animal rescue agencies around here are seriously low on contributions. So I am on my own with the cat expenses for now.

If Liddy has any serious problems with her mouth or throat, I will have to put her down. I would do that only if my current efforts do not help her get better. I would not want her to die slowly outside, suffering over time. (I had to use herculean efforts to trap her to get her spayed - it took a year - would have to use the drop trap again.) She has had such a hard life since abandoned. Before we finally caught her she had more than 6 litters. She has had only about 9 months of freedom from the birthing stress. I'd like to see her have a little more freedom here, even though she won't allow me to domesticate her.

Thanks for your prayers,

Debby Taylor
DTConsult@cableone.net

Feral Sammie Intimidated by Two Roadrunners

2010-02-24T19:18:00.016-07:00

In November of 2009, I accepted a feral cat, Sammie, from a colleague in cat rescue work. The person who fed and kept him in their garage got him neutered. She did not know what to do with him, so I took him since I already have a feral colony. He was totally uninterested in being socialized, fiercely clawing my husband when he tried to get near him. So I put him in a holding cage outside to observe the other homeless cats and their feeding times hoping he would develop some sort of anchor or attachment to our area - so that when I released him he might decide to come back for feedings. At night, I brought him inside from the cold. I did this in and out ritual for about 4 days before releasing him from the cage. He never came back to feed with our colony. But one of my neighbors has seen him recently several times in a very healthy state in the yard of her neighbor, Benny, directly across the street from her.

This is a story she sent me a few days ago about an encounter Sammie had with two Roadrunner birds. You might find this story to be a bit amusing. (I have had so much intensity on my blog with losing so many cats that it's about time for something lighter). I changed a few words so it will make more sense to everyone reading it here. Enjoy my neighbor's story about Sammie -

Sammie seems happy and relaxed, living primarily in the bushes around and in the back yard at Benny's. He eats at my place and likes to sun himself on Benny's fence, which must be topped with a 2x4 or something like that since he sits up there and grooms himself and stretches out.

There is a roadrunner who also claims that yard as his territory. Judging from what follows, there must have been some kind of confrontation or altercation between the bird and Sammie in the past.

Sunday morning, Sammie and the roadrunner were in Benny's yard. Sammie, looking worried as they crossed paths, began to move away from the roadrunner. The roadrunner followed him. Sammie increased his pace as he crossed the street toward my house. So did the roadrunner. As Sammie dove into the ditch near my mailbox, the roadrunner stopped beside the mailbox. At this point a staring match began between the two of them.

Then a third party joined them - the roadrunner who resides in my yard. He'd been eating cat food, which he does frequently during the lean hunting times. My roadrunner marched over and began to stare at Sammie from the other side. So Sammie was flanked by the two roadrunners. Sammie became visibly agitated, looking from one bird to the other. Then my roadrunner stood up tall and spread his wings. At this point, Sammy lost his nerve, diving into the culvert (which is like a pipe under a driveway which drains water into the ditch when it rains hard) . The roadrunners nodded to each other and departed with dignity, Benny's bird walking back across the street, and mine down the street in another direction.

Sammie didn't peak out of the culvert for a good 10 minutes. I think their message got through to him -Do not mess with a roadrunner!

As I write this, Sammie is on the fence now, washing in the sunshine and watching some men repairing the roof on a nearby home. He's having a contented bird-free morning.

Thanks for leaving a comment if you are so inclined.

Be well all of you!

Debby

Thanks For the Posts of Support for Losing Tuxedo

2010-02-23T09:17:00.007-07:00

I want to sincerely thank everyone who left me a comment about my post "Tuxedo Was Hit by a Car".

http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/2010/02/tuxedo-was-hit-by-car.html

I have felt wonderfully supported by each of you. And thanks for all of the love, Light, prayers and purrayers sent my way for the passing of this dear feral from our cat community.

As many of you know, I receive an email from blogger.com for each comment. However, some people have a "no-reply" email for this notification of posts. So, regretfully, I was unable to thank each individually for the beautiful outpouring of concern and support.

Even though it still hurts that he was taken so abruptly and violently, I am focusing on Tuxedo being free in spirit now and forever free from harm.

Thanks so much,

Debby

DTConsult@cableone.net

Tuxedo Was Hit by a Car

2010-02-22T09:06:00.012-07:00

This morning, 2/22/2010, Tuxedo was hit by a car and died. He must have died from severe trauma to the head since his body was intact when I found him on the road. We are heart-sick over losing him.

I only hope he went to the Rainbow Bridge quickly without suffering.

He would have been 3 years old this spring.

Recently, we started keeping all of our special needs and adoptables inside 24/7. That decision was based primarily on increased coyote activity in our neighborhood lately.

If any of you reading this let your cats go outside because they bug you to do so, I hope you decide to make them stay inside. Eventually, they learn that they are inside for good and stop bugging you. There are many more dangers outside for cats than cars.

Here is a link to read about the many dangers

http://www.wildspirit.org/hazard.htm

Debby Taylor

http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/

I Need Your Thoughts on Adoptions

2010-02-18T15:58:00.015-07:00

I have been taking this sweet kitty, Stripe, to a weekly cat adoption event. She has trouble with being confined in the cage there. She keeps her head lowered and acts depressed. I don't know what to do to help her be more of her true animated self. She is under 2 yrs old, but people comment on her, saying they think she is older, probably because she is such low energy. Of course I have taken her to the adoption event for only 4 weeks. I plan to keep taking her. Please hold her in your thoughts for the right person to come to the adoption that wants her.

Also, I have her on PetFinder.com. I have heard that some people adopt pets from that site without even going to an adoption event. I'd love to hear some stories about anyone you know who has used PetFinder.com successfully that way.

I guess I'm asking for your encouragement that eventually I'm going to get a home for Stripe. In my head I know it is inevitable. But I am feeling a little discouraged. Last week 6 other cats were adopted - not Stripe.

I would be extremely grateful if you feel inclined to donate to the management of this feral/abandoned colony, using the PayPal button on the sidebar.

Debby Taylor DTConsult@cableone.net

http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/

Sunny is Missing

2010-02-11T20:32:00.003-07:00

And Sunny is the other one whom I believe was taken by a coyote. She not been around since December 14, 2009.

You can read about her at this post I made in October 2009.

http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/2009/10/our-sweet-sunny-is-turning-friendly.html

She and the other missing one, Samantha, were sisters. We miss them a great deal. They had such sweet personalities.

Samantha is Missing

2010-02-11T20:25:00.006-07:00

I have not been blogging for a while since I have been quite wrapped up in getting two of our cats adopted - think I have a new owner for one. (another story)

And we have lost two of our homeless kitties. (I'll mention the other one in another post.)

Samantha has not been around to feed since 1.23.2010. She was a totally consistent regular. And my neighbor who also provides shelter for some of our cat community has not seen her, either. When she disappeared, it was right around the time of two snow storms here in this part of Arizona. So I believe she must have been taken by a coyote. Alas, we have coyotes coming into built-up neighborhoods when we get snow and ice.

Of course, Samantha was friendly to humans. So maybe someone coaxed them into their home. I would like to think a kind person might have done this.

In the photo here, she is the tortie with the missing eye. And Bootsie, her buddie in the photo, was looking so lost without her the first week or so she was gone.

Stripe Cleaned & Well After Trauma

2010-01-28T16:55:00.012-07:00

As you can see from these photos, Stripe cleaned up beautifully at the groomer. Contrary to what you might think, her traumatic episode had made her more affectionate. She wants to lay on my lap longer now. So, gratefully, I did not lose any ground with her socialization.

The first and second day, she was trembling in my lap. Now she seems much calmer and very happy to be with us. She is itching to go outside, but I won't allow that.

I will be taking her to a pet store to be part of an adoption event this Sunday, 1/31/10. So say a prayer she attracts the perfect owner. Since Stripe is a 'door dasher' I feel I must screen anyone wanting her by going to their home to check her potential escape routes. And I want potential owners to come to my home to see if Stripe takes to them in her familiar setting.

I would be extremely grateful if you feel inclined to donate to the management of this feral/abandoned colony, using the PayPal button on the sidebar.

Debby Taylor
DTConsult@cableone.net

http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/

Stripe Returned from Being Lost

2010-01-25T11:27:00.012-07:00

There has been a sad cloud in my home. Stripe was lost for 5 days. Originally I got a spiritual message that she was hiding and scared. But then I got the message that she might have been attacked by a coyote. Well, she must have been too fast for him.

This morning she showed up at our back door!! I was totally gleeful. As you can see in her eyes in one of these photos she is one scared pussy cat. Stripe is caked with dried mud all over her head and coat, trembling and traumatized, but she is in one piece and now safe! I checked her for flesh wounds and, thankfully, there were none.

First I held her, comforting her. She was really soaking up the love as she laid trembling on my lap. Then she was eating so ravenously that I was concerned her empty stomach might be damaged by consuming so rapidly. So I stopped her and let her go back to the food a little later. I tried to clip off some of the dried mud. Seeing I was not equipped for the task, I decided it was necessary to take her to a pet groomer near by who said she could clean her up. She is over there now as I write this. I have never seen a cat with such a mud-clumped coat.

Thank you so much for your prayers, blog friends. I am so grateful to you and to God and the angels who helped guide her back home!

Please share this post with your animal lover friends.

http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/2010/01/stripe-returned-from-being-missing.html

Debby

DTConsult@cableone.net

Stripe Disappeared - Pray for Stripe

2010-01-23T11:06:00.003-07:00

Stripe is a nearly two year old feral which I have been socializing separately from our house pets. She is almost ready for adoption, spending every night for months in my cat room. The last she was with us was Wednesday, January 20, 2010. Since then, we had two snow storms here in Prescott Valley AZ. I am hoping she is just hiding somewhere, avoiding the wetness of it all. The roads cleared between storms. So, typically, if she was OK, she should have come to our back door. Coyotes tend to come into our populated areas when it snows. I really need all of your prayers that she is OK and will return. I would not have let her out the day before a potential storm but she was harrassing our other fosters.

Here is a previous post about Stripe
http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/2009/09/feral-named-stripe-learns-to-love.html

Debby of http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/

Very Unusual Daily Jog

2010-01-14T08:56:00.010-07:00

Ever since I have known Scrufty** she has preferred to stick around our home – usually in one of the kitty condos I built for the colony to use on the back car port. Thus, after her surgery I took the calculated risk of letting her out for a supervised walk. Over this last week it has evolved into a rather unique situation. I have needed to increase my exercise lately. When I let her out, I jog as follow her. I allow her to venture a little bit outside of our yard. Once she starts going too far, I stand between her and where she is headed. That is usually enough to prompt her to head back toward our yard. If not, I gently nudge her with the side of a stick. She always turns around. I’m jogging the whole time all of this is happening. So, while Scrufty is sniffing everywhere, sometimes lingering, sometimes rolling in the dirt, and sometimes doing her morning toilet ritual, I’m getting an aerobic workout. If any neighbors see me jogging in place with a stick and a cat, they are probably laughing or at least smiling. But I do not care what they think since this morning walkabout is good for both me and Scrufty. After about 10-20 minutes, Scrufty begins to head back to our house. I open the door, call her in, and she trots back to safety and warmth.

Can you believe it? Now, I’m not deluding myself into believing that I’m training her. She is responding because she does not mind doing so. If she were more willful, I am certain I would have needed to stop this after the first time since I do not want a post-surgical kitty to wander around the neighborhood. Fortunately, she is not strong-willed. Maybe since I brought her pain relief she is willing to comply with my promptings to stick around. Nevertheless, it is an amusing state of affairs.

Footnote: **Scrufty was part of a group of cats who were abandoned by a neighbor of mine in Dec 2006. This winter, it occurred to me that her daily fur loss was a symptom of something wrong with her physically. Our vet found she had very advanced stage of gum disease .. rotten teeth plus severe infection all the way into her throat! Scrufty’s throat was so swollen that the vet could hardly get a tube into her for the surgery. Today she is recovering very from multiple tooth extractions and laser surgeries. Her fur loss has stopped. Yippeeeeeee!!!!!

Donations to the animal rescue agencies I work with locally are way down. I am grateful for the donations that have come through the PayPal button on this blog (to the right). Please help if you can

Debby Taylor DTConsult@cableone.net

http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/

And please pray that she heals fully.

Scrufty Still Doing Well

2010-01-12T18:37:00.007-07:00

Scrufty does not seem to have any problems after her dental surgery. She seems perkier than before the surgery. Her sense of smell must have been impaired by the infection. Now she is smelling everything! Please keep praying for her infection to remain gone - I do not take her to the vet again for another week.

I am so grateful to contributors for her vet bill. Only $250. remains unpaid to date. People have been so generous as to donate on my site through PayPal (to the right)

What Scrufty needs most now is prayers. Many of you know how cats can hide pain. The photo above is one of her before the surgery. She definitely was not very energetic then.

I thought some of you might be interested in the post on my blog about how
we started tending to this abandoned/feral colony.

http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/2009/06/how-we-started-trap-neuter-release.html

Helping a Cat's Immune System

2010-01-07T20:30:00.006-07:00

Since Scrufty has been healing from a severe infection, I have been helping her with her immune system. The vet said to put a pinch of vitamin C in her food. Even before I discovered Scrufty's extensive infection, I checked with our town’s pet store. They gave me a supplement which I have been using for all of our cats. It is called,

"Dr. H's Multi-Vitamin Mineral & Herbal Supplement for Cats"Here are the ingredients -Bee Pollen, spirulina, Lecithin, Nutritional Yeast, Garlic, Flax Seed Meal, Alfalfa Leaf, Kelp, Bilberry leaf, Chamomile Flowers, Oat Straw, Ginkgo Leaf, Dandelion Root, Burdock Root, Thyme Leaf, Papaya Leaf, Rosemary Leaf, Peppermint Leaf, Fennel Seed, Suma, Red Clover Blossoms, Milk Thistle Seeds, Rose Hips, Yellow Dock Root, Licorice Root, Ginger root, Fo Ti Root.

I've heard of every ingredient except the last one. All of the cats here will eat their normal wet food with approx. 1/2 teaspoon mixed in per one large can. None of them including Scrufty has ever rejected the food with this supplement. I am careful not to use too much at one time. I could probably use it at each feeding considering how little I put in. But I end up forgetting. So it usually goes into their food a few times each week.

Dr H stands for Dr Harvey's. The newest version of this supplement on his website does not have all of the above ingredients listed on the site. Check it out. Here is the contact information

http://www.drharveys.com/products/line/2-cats

Dr. H's Healthy Formulations, Inc.180 Main StKeansburg, NJ 07773

1.866.362.4123

info@drharveys.com

I do not have any clinical way to measure whether this stuff is working. However, except for Scrufty and Panther (both dental problems), the outdoor cats are not demonstrating any illness. And I purchased this supplement at a reputable pet store in my town.

The website shows -

Multi-Vitamin and Herbal Supplement $8.95 And there is another product which looks good - Emune-Boost for Cats $11.95

For anyone who is reading about Scrufty for the first time, I still need some help with the remaining $275. of the vet bill for her surgery. But what she needs most now is prayers as she newly finished with her meds - very concerned that her compromised system will continue to rebuild itself. At the suggestion of the vet, I have also been giving her fresh ground turkey to build up her low protein levels.

http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/2010/01/scruftys-progress.html

Scrufty's Progress

2010-01-03T22:45:00.005-07:00

I am very pleased with Scrufty's progress after her dental surgery. Unfortunately, I only have a photo of Scrufty in her cage from right after her surgery. Recently, we let her out of the cage, allowing her to move about in our back room, active and seemingly quite happy.

She has started a new behavior - pacing back and forth before my husband to entice him to pet her. She purrs and really leans into his attentions that way. She has always been so stand-offish. This is such great progress! She is still eating well. I can hardly wait for her followup visit with the vet to confirm how well she is doing.

I am so grateful that many fellow bloggers have donated enough for me to have a little over 1/3 of the vet bill paid.

Please keep praying for her. She is finished with her meds for now. Her infection was so extensive in her body that I am sure she is going to be mending for quite some time. I am working on boosting her immune system. Also, I'm giving her higher concentrations of protein since that was the only factor which showed up as severely lacking from her blood test - low protein levels.

Thanks for commenting. And have a blessed day!

Debby

DTConsult@cableone.net

Navajo Blankie Shuffle

2010-01-03T22:10:00.005-07:00

One of our indoor cats, Tabby, loves to grab the edge of my Navajo blanket with her front feet and run her back feet on the blanket like a cartoon character running up in the air. It is so funny to watch! We call her game here "Navajo Blankie Shuffle".

I've been posting so much about our needy homeless/abandoned cats that I thought it was time for something a bit lighter!

I hope everyone reading this is having a good post-holiday rest time.

Thanks for commenting,

Debby DTConsult@cableone.net

Scrufty is Recovering Well

2009-12-29T00:00:00.011-07:00

Just to update you, Scrufty is doing well after her surgery. It is so wonderful to see her eating frequently throughout the day. She was never a good eater before, probably because of all of the infection in her mouth and throat. The vet said her throat was so swollen that he had trouble getting a tube in for the procedure. It must have been extremely painful for her to eat before. I feel sick when I think of how long she must have suffered before I found out about her problem.

It used to be she would only eat every other day. And now she has been eating about 3 times a day! I am hoping she will put on some weight. She is only 4 pounds. So tiny and frail.

She still sleeps allot. But when she is awake she seems a little more alert.

Thank you all for your contributions of thoughts, prayers and donations. I have 1/3 of the vet bill thanks to some very kind people.

May all of your kitties be healthy and happy!

Debby

Emergency for Scrufty

2009-12-19T15:07:00.006-07:00

Scrufty was part of the original group of cats who were abandoned by a neighbor in Dec 2006. Ever since we got to know Scrufty about 2 ½ years ago, she has been somewhat lethargic, sleeping more than the average cat. When she moves around, she is fairly sprightly. But she seems to prefer a life as a couch potato. I just thought it was either her personality or the fatigue born of having a rough life. She sort of blended into the furniture while I was tending to the problems of the others. Scrufty is a fairly gentle domesticated cat, yet always avoiding humans and other cats.

Recently, it occurred to me that her excessive fur loss in the winter might be a symptom of something wrong with her. I mentioned this to a friend, along with the symptoms of her flinching when I touch her head and her tendency to mind any cold weather. My friend suggested she could have a thyroid problem, basing her theory on experience with one of her cats. Also, according to her, thyroid treatments are relatively inexpensive.

At the vets, I discovered that Scrufty has a very advanced stage of gum disease. Plus, her teeth are extremely rotten. I pray she has not been suffering with this infection for the whole 3 years. I never inspected her mouth since she always gave off the vibe of not wanting to be touched. Perhaps her flinching was due to being in pain. The vet says her fur loss is likely due to the long-term infection in her mouth. I would have never suspected that connection.

I have been through teeth extractions before with two other abandoned cats. So I know the price ranges of local vets for the procedure of a total extraction. I arranged with the one with the best deal for me to bring her there 12/21/2009 so she will get 2 days of antibiotic injections before her surgery on 12/23. My husband and I tried a number of ways to get antibiotics into her. (could not use the food method since we have cats who stay overnight in the same room). But Scrufty went wild, bearing her teeth and refusing to let me put the syringe in her mouth, which is probably quite sore. I am grateful that this vet is taking her for the two days before surgery without charging me anything for boarding. I just have to bring her food and litter. She has to have the pre-treatment of antibiotic or surgery could cause mouth bacteria to destructively spread more completely through her system.

We contemplated putting Scrufty down since my finances are extremely stretched by so many cat surgeries this past year. My goal has always been to reduce their suffering, not to keep them living at all cost. But, since she seems to be only 4 years only, and the vet thinks her quality of life will improve after the rotten teeth are out and the infection disappears, we thought it only fair to give her another chance.

It will cost me a minimum of $370.00 if nothing extra is needed in surgery. So, I hope some of you reading this who have not done so before would consider donating with the PayPal button above and to the right of this post. Donations to the animal rescue agencies I work with locally are way down. So I am on my own.

Hopefully, we will be able to reverse Scrufty's infection and fur loss. I told my husband this is the last high-cost procedure we are going to spring for until I can get these major bills paid off. I am praying that the others will stay healthy for a long time to come. Fortunately, most of the feral/abandoned in our colony are relatively young.

Debby Taylor DTConsult@cableone.net

Cat and Human Health Risks with Cat Litter

2009-12-15T18:17:00.010-07:00

I went to PetPlace.com and subscribed to Dr. Jon’s cat newsletter. He has sent many valuable tidbits so far. Following is one of his articles which is about some health risks for cats and humans with cat litter boxes.

I welcome your comments regarding what you use for cat litter plus anything you have learned on this topic that could help other readers here.

“As much as we love our feline friends, many of us do not realize they can be a danger to us. Believe it or not, there are potential health risks for both owners and their cats when we come in contact with their litter box. But understanding those potential risks and knowing how to prevent them will help keep us safe. Who should stay away from the Litter Box?

1. Expectant mothers. Cat litter contains a mix of harmful pollutants, so if an expectant mother breathes in the dust, the chemicals can affect her fetus. Breathing in cat urine is also harmful for an expectant mother because it contains a high concentration of metals, which can make her and her unborn baby sick. Also, some parasites, like Toxoplasma gondii (Toxoplasmosis) found in some cat feces can cause shortness of breath, fever and neurological disorders. If an expectant mother comes in contact with these parasites, the unborn baby could potentially grow cysts on the brain or develop abnormally; or the mother could miscarry. Pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals should not clean cat litter boxes and they should avoid contact with cat feces and soil where cats may have defecated.

2.Children are at risk as well. The roundworm is a common cat parasite that passes through their fecal matter or urine and often lives in the cat's litter box. When the parasite comes in contact with a human, it can develop on the skin and inside the body. According to experts, nearly 10,000 children are diagnosed with roundworm each year.

What are the other risks associated with my cat's litter box?

1. Infections. Because cats lick themselves to stay clean, when they are forced to use a dirty litter box, they can develop a urinary tract infection.

2. Diseases. If multiple cats use the same dirty litter box, they can pass diseases to each other, like feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukemia & feline infectious peritonitis. The best way to prevent these dangers is to keep your cat's litter box fresh and clean! In addition to scooping regularly .. try using rubber gloves when you clean your cat's litter box and wash your hands afterward. If you're pregnant, have someone else change the litter for you.

I hope these simple steps will help protect you, your families and your furry friends from the potential hidden dangers lurking inside the litter box. Dr. Jon”

Check out the site http://www.petplace.com/cat-health.aspx

The newsletter does promote products. However, you can get some interesting tidbits of information for cat health.

Thanks for reading my post - leave a comment if you like. I plan to share more about my experiences and what I have learned from managing this homeless colony. Please let your friends know about my blog.

I would be extremely grateful if you feel inclined to donate to the management of this feral/abandoned colony, using the PayPal button on the sidebar.

Debby Taylor DTConsult@cableone.net

http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/

Is Tiger Yawning or Laughing?

2009-12-07T13:55:00.010-07:00

I like to think she is laughing at something - maybe she is laughing about something we do which she finds amusing.

She is the sweetest cat. She loves to nuzzle me, nose-to-nose, when she wants something. It used to be I could not do that since I was allergic to her pet dander. My face would break out with puffy red blotching. I used tea tree oil to get rid of it. Then, somehow I must have developed immunity. I do not get the rash any more. If any of you have problems with this, here is a link you might want to go to for some reading.

Click here for cat allergy information

Click her for more cat allergy info

And I wish there would be something like a gerbil wheel for cats so she could get some exercise. She is getting a bit pudgy around the midsection since we never let her outside.

I hope all of you are having a wonderful day.

Please let people know about my blog. http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/

Tabatha Goes Wild

2009-12-06T18:31:00.009-07:00

From time to time, Tabatha has to show Tiger Lily that she is the Alpha kitty of the house!

If you click on the photo of the two of them, you will clearly see the funny wild expression which is Tab's alter-ego.

The photo of where she looks sublime is her usual expression.

My husband took these photos. Many of his photos find their way to this blog. Although sometimes I want a photo sooner than he can get to take it. So if you see really bad, fuzzy photos on this blog, they are from my cell phone. I'm really grateful that my husband, Stew, has just the right equipment and expertise to get action shots like the one above!

Check out his website for more nature & wildlife photos -

http://www.nvpictures.com/nature.asp

Sammy Has Disappeared

2009-11-29T13:47:00.017-07:00

I agreed to take a new feral cat, transferred to me by a local rescue agency. Sammie could not stay in the garage arrangement any longer where he was being fed. So he came to me November 17, 2009, just having been neutered.

I kept him in a holding cage for about 4 days. We took his cage outside during the daytime (Arizona is temperate during daytime in the winter) so he could get acquainted with our cat colony and possibly gain some attachment to the place where we feed everyone. He was quite fierce, scratching and hissing when I put food in his cage or changed his litter (using heavy gloves was a must). Of course, as all the ferals are prone to do when caged, he appeared to become increasingly depressed. He ate once a day, but eliminated very little. Many other ferals before him have basically shut down even worse than that while recovering in the holding cage. I was not concerned about this since they always come back to life upon leaving the cage.

However, I was quite concerned about whether he would stick around after we let him out of the cage. The place where he was being fed in the garage is quite far away. Now, eight days after releasing him, there has been no sign of him. I know he saw the food as he was leaving (see above photo). And we made sure Sammie saw our colony eating each day.

Please pray that Sammie comes back to our Debby's home in Prescott Valley, AZ so I can be sure he gets the food and water he needs.

Thanks for reading my post - leave a comment if you like. I plan to share more about my experiences and what I have learned from managing this homeless colony.

And please let your friends know about my blog.

Debby Taylor

DTConsult@cableone.net

http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/