feral cats

[dahdahdahdancer.livejournal.com]

I want to give a shout out to the volunteers at Charles River Alleycats. Thanks to them I was able to help a small feral cat colony in our neighborhood between Davis and Porter squares. With their guidance, I obtained vouchers from the state (through the S'ville Animal Control officer) for free spaying/neutering and shots. They supplied traps and showed me how to trap, made appointments with vets who accept the vouchers, and offered advice when I trapped a few skunks instead (oops). So now the cats are spayed, inoculated, and back in the shed that they'd adopted as a home. Great outfit, ready to help anyone who wants to give feral cats a better life. They also offer - for free - small, safe, warm "beds" made of styrofoam carriers and straw.

Comments

[aurewl.livejournal.com]

Interesting. Is the shed on or near Hawthorne by any chance? My 65 lb dog was attacked by a cat while were walking down that street last summer.

I saw it up ahead so I crossed the street with my dog who was oblivious to what was going on. Then I heard moaning noises, looked over, and saw the cat running towards us. I didn't react fast enough and it managed to catch up with us and swipe my dog with its claws while we were running away. My poor dog was yelping in fear. Comically a party two houses away became silent as the drama unfolded and we sprinted away. I haven't brought him back to Hawthorne since.

docile kitties

[dahdahdahdancer.livejournal.com]

The colony isn't near Hawthorne. The feral cats here are pretty docile. They share the immediate neighborhood with dogs, skunks, and raccoons - and the cats are the ones to freeze or run away when they encounter each other.

RE: docile kitties

[pakoo.livejournal.com]

I know you say that Charles River Alleycats did a lot, but you did above and beyond to help them as well.
That's really great of you to help those animals.

RE: docile kitties

[dahdahdahdancer.livejournal.com]

I hope most people would want to help, but they don't know that there are resources out there. I didn't until I started looking. For our little colony, I found that even my gruffest neighbor was putting out food and water for them every day. It's his shed - he could have kicked them out but he's let them stay.

[brouhaha.livejournal.com]

Yes! CRA is such a great group. I adopted two cats from them a few years ago (they'd rescued them from an alley in Medford as tiny kittens) and in visiting their foster homes to pick up my kittens, I could tell that the volunteers are very dedicated and caring.

[ruthling.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, I lol'd when you mentioned trapping skunks. I hope it turned out ok for both of you. And good for you for doing this.

skunkies

[dahdahdahdancer.livejournal.com]

The skunks were actually pretty polite. It was a tough winter for them with all the snow so foraging was impossible and they went for the food in the traps. Who knew they liked tuna. By the fourth time, I was pretty good at throwing a towel over the cage, lifting the door, and backing away very very quickly. They chattered to me, which I found kind of cute.