The first set of five cats (3 females and 2 males) were spayed/neutered and vaccinated Friday. They recovered at my house over the weekend while I continued to trap there.
I trapped Friday night with the intent of catching the kittens (figured I would catch one adult but that's ok). Caught 1 adult and 1 kitten within the first hour. And then it took 2.5 more hours to get another kitten. Very hot, sitting in car with no air (can't run the car for hours on end plus I need to be inconspicuous).
Went back Saturday night around 10P and caught 1 adult in less than 30 minutes. Took 2 hours before I even saw the other kitten (thought there was 1 or 2 left). Then I sat there watching until 5AM, when I finally gave up for the night. The last black kitten mocked me much of the night and morning just looking at me like "naanaanaanaanaa - you can't catch me". HA - that's what you think little bugger - I'm coming back with KFC tomorrow! :-)
Sunday was return day for the five vetted on Friday. The inmates were happy to see me because I brought the cats back as promised. We released the cats from their traps. I talked to the inmates and officers about the ear crop and looking for cats that do not have a cropped left ear and making notes of how many, what they look like, and where they hang out so we know how many more we need to TNR.
I then set up traps outside the gates near the one trailer to get the last kitten. Bam - sky opens up and torrential downpour. So I covered the traps with heavy towels and caught one adult rather quickly. About an hour later almost caught the black kitten (who will be named Alcatraz because he was hardcore when it came to trapping him) but he stepped over the plate. Looked out a little bit later with the flashnight and ACK, I see three little sets of eyes glowing in the dark at me. There's not one kitten, there are at least three. Oh dear - we really are full, but we are committed to this project. So I put out a couple more traps.
About 45 minutes later, I see mama and two little kittens following her. I make a mad dash and one squeezes through the chainlink fence into the prison front yard and the other goes under another trailer. Call the guard and ask to be let in the front gate. Start crawling on the ground in the mud (oh well, I'm already wet by now, what's a little mud) to try to sneak up on the kitten (yeah right, that didn't go so well). Kitten runs up to one of the buildings and tries to crawl up a drain pipe and I managed to scare him into a spot he can't get out of but he's such a small little one that I can't wear my animal control gloves to get him so I reach in and grab him. OUCH - little bugger bites my fingers and scratches me. My gloves and trap are too far away so I wrap my shirt around him and run to the trap and drop him in and then take him to my car and transfer him to a carrier (and get bit again - little stinker!). He's definitely a different litter than the other four (maybe a week or so younger). Set up another trap by the trailer. See mama and TWO kittens following her (seriously - they are multiplying right in front of my eyes) - obviously the same litter as the little gray one I just grabbed. Decide maybe I can lure other kittena or mama into a trap by putting the carrier with the kitten at the end of one trap (it had stopped raining). After several more hours, it's midnight and I really need to get home (35+ minute drive), get cats settled, consider going to bed since I have to get up early and take the ferals to Jill's house so she can drop them off at Dr. Farmer's today for S/N). Left two traps for the corrections officers, Jessica (Officer Ward) works today and they will try to get the kittens.
A super huge thank you to Dr. Farmer for fitting in three ferals for spay/neuter and vaccinations today - cats for which I did not have appointments. Hadn't intended on trapping adults, was only trying to catch the kittens, but our rule is - you go in the trap, you don't come out (except onto the operating table) until you're missing your boy or girl parts.
So for those keeping track - this is what we have done so far at correctional facility:
- 1 friendly mama and her 5 kittens (all in adoption program)
- 2 kittens born to a feral mama (in adoption program)
- 5 adults spayed/neutered (3 females, 2 males) - all 5 TNR'd
- 5 kittens captured this weekend (plenty young enough to socialize - 4.5-5.5 weeks old) (in our adoption program)
- 3 adults at the vet today (two males and a female) that will be returned Wednesday (TNR)
There are:
- At least 2 more small kittens to catch
- At least 2 adult cats to catch that I know of for sure that need to be TNR'd, but of course I'm sure there are more - there always are!
I was talking with one of the officers Saturday night and he said while he's not crazy about cats, they sure keep the rodents away. He's been at other facilities that have so many mice, rats, and bugs, but not here. The cats all seem healthy, none of them are skinny, and they make the inmates happy. The cats be able to remain there is a great thing.
From Tiger's forever home: Just wanted to give you a quick update on Tiger. I think he is acclimating well in his new home and he and and our female kitty, Alice, seem to be getting used to each other, at least they agree to disagree! Just check out the attached picture, I think Tiger has decided to keep us. Thank you for what you do, we and Tiger hit the jackpot!
Had a great night trapping at the correctional facility last night. We trapped five cats for spay/neuter and vaccinations today. The inmates were a phenomenal help and were able to pick up three of the cats and put them in the traps for me. The cats raised a ruckus when they saw the traps, but the guys put on the heavy animal control gloves I have (bite resistant but not bite proof) and dropped them in the traps. First three caught in first 30 minutes there. We covered the traps and set them next to the laundry house and I got two more traps from my car and we set them and caught two more. One of them is a lactating mama cat but I saw her kittens and they are definitely old enough to eat on their own and I put some food under the building where they are hiding (and the sneaky little buggers dragged the food under the building to get to it).
I'm going back to try to get the kittens tonight - they weren't cooperating last night. But tonight with a smelly gross mix of sardines and tuna (the real stuff), I'm sure I can tempt them out of their hiding spot. They are actually hiding outside the gates so I can sit in my car and watch the traps all night if need be (inside grounds have to be escorted).
The inmates and the corrections officers were absolutely fantastic and I thank them for their cooperation and more importantly, for their help. They were happy to learn the cats can stay there after they are spayed/neutered and vaccinated -- no more trap and kill by animal control. And when the guys told me about the fighting among the males, I explained that the majority of that should cease after they are neutered -- which is great because apparently Bobo and Blackie fight alot.
I'm pretty sure there are more than 10 and we'll have to do staggered trapping (I went from 8:15 to 9:30 last night, would've stayed longer but caught 5 and that's all the appointments we had for today), but some of the cats come out after it's lights out in the courtyard, and some only come out at breakfast time. We'll alternate trapping between the various members of the TNR Task Force and me and we will get those cats! We've got the drop-traps for the hard to trap kitties.
We are very committed to this project as this is great not just for the cats, but for the inmates also. There are a few guys with life sentences there and they love the cats and the cats are good for the inmates. It's win-win.
Now, I just have to work on getting more donations for this.
Meet Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Bo Peep, and Jessie - the Toy Story kittens. These kittens appeared on someone's doorstep late one evening when they were about 2 weeks old. After a call to our voicemail, we picked up the kittens that night. Fortunately, we were able to find a foster home that could bottle feed. We found out later they were born to a feral mom in a mobile home park. Thanks to one of our TNR Task Force co-leaders (Marie P), we we have started doing targeted TNR at that location and the mama cat has been trapped and spayed.
Woody and Buzz Lightyear are males. Bo Peep and Jessie are females. Bo Peep is a manx with just the cutest little nub of a tail. The kittens are about 8 weeks old now and will be available for adoption in July.
Bo Peep
Buzz Lightyear
Jessie
Woody
Yes, another new kitty in our adoption program that we hadn't planned on taking in but this one had special circumstances.
A primarily dog only rescue pulled a dog from a shelter and pulled a cat also - a super sweet and affectionate medium haired tuxedo boy about 4 months old. Apparently the cat scratched someone as he was being dewormed and so the rescued said he was aggressive and was going to take him back to the kill shelter where they pulled him. Fortunately, the vet clinic called us and we took him in.
I must admit it is hard not to be too judgemental. I mean are you kidding me? Cats are smarter than dogs when it comes to medicine. With a dog, wrap a pill in a piece of bread, hot dog, anything and throw it to them and they will scarf it down and won't know they were dosed with medicine. Cats will figure it out - they don't blindly catch things in their mouth! My personal cats are super loving and affectionate, but break out the medicine and they will not cooperate and I may get scratched. Does that mean they are aggressive? No, it means they don't want to take their medicine.
There is nothing at all aggressive about this cat, he is the sweetest, affectionate, and loving kitty. He's a "we'd trust him around a young child" kind of kitten. Will get pictures of him up soon - we just got him last night.
So to the "rescue" that pulled him, we thank you for him and I'll stop there.
**Now stepping off soapbox.**
