Comments on: Friday Cat Blogging

By: Bryan

Bryan — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 02:41:57 +0000

Well, it does involve less lass of blood on my part and it allows the kittens to be acclimated to people which really helps in the adoption process.

By: Anntichrist S. Coulter

Anntichrist S. Coulter — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 23:34:39 +0000

Yup, that’s why I’ve had to wait to capture the newly-spawned Mama cat here. Still haven’t seen the new litter of kittens yet, but I think that her milk is starting to dry up, so I hope to get her captured & neutered in the next week or two.

I just wish to hell that I could’ve gotten a fucking trap two weeks ago, to catch that calico at the recycling center, I’m sure that she’s delivered by now, I just haven’t been able to observe her out & about yet. Another whole litter to capture at a later date. Wheeeeee.

I’m so glad that you’ve been able to keep her & the kittens inside, it definitely makes the whole process easier, doesn’t it.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 07:17:28 +0000

I have to keep them separate, the ferals won’t accept them in their territory. I have had idiot drop off cats thinking this was a good area, but the ferals will chase them out. It’s a matriarchy and you have to be born into it.

They will be kept inside until they can be adopted after weaning. She will be kept in until she makes her next vet’s visit after the weaning. They don’t like to work on cats who are still lactating because of the extra blood vessels.

It can be a tough row to hoe, but it does work.

By: Anntichrist S. Coulter

Anntichrist S. Coulter — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 05:21:39 +0000

So, will you keep the kittens indoors until they are old enough to wean, and the mother is done nursing so that you can have her spayed?

I’ve been swimming uphill, trying to find a trap (from the animal-control hicks, and from Cat Haven) in time to get that gorgeous stub-tailed calico at the town recycling center before she delivers, but I suspect that it’s already too late. And now with this weird cold snap tonight, she might even go into labor prematurely. I don’t want to be trapping these cats the rest of my life, that’s why I wish that we could’ve neutered her while she was early-on in the pregnancy, but the fates were not with me on this one, I don’t think. Between the back surgery falling apart and all of my other ailments, I won’t be able to do this TNR thing for the rest of my life, much as I wish that I could.

The Mama cat here is within a couple of weeks of weaning her latest litter, and she has a new “friend’ hanging around here, so soon as I can, I’m going to get both of them before they have a chance to get knocked-up again.

And to think, I thought that my biggest worry was getting the four kittens that the landlady wanted to “eradicate”. Now it seems that I’ve made, however inadvertently, a lifelong commitment to finally catch & neuter a whole assload of cats. *sigh*

I’m too (physically) old for this shit, honestly. But they, at least the town animal control guy has gotten the hint about not euthanizing every cat that he catches, so maybe I’ve made a dent somewhere, despite the feeling of playing Sisyphus to these damned cat boulders.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 16:21:30 +0000

At least she is full grown. Many of the ferals start having kittens before they have fully matured and it’s bad for cat and kittens.

Given her reaction to Sox, I thinks she suspects the cause.

By: oldwhitelady

oldwhitelady — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 14:34:41 +0000

Poor Ringo. She probably doesn’t even know what contributed to this problem.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 02:29:39 +0000

She decided to check out the world last Halloween, and returned after two months. She was in the area, but was afraid to approach the house. She has taken short trips outside since her return, and I suspect that a trip around Valentine’s Day is responsible.

The “blues” have to hang together, LK.

By: Lab Kat

Lab Kat — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 02:01:30 +0000

Oh my. I wasn’t aware Ringo has been away or now has a family. Though I don’t know the whole story, I hope all are well and you find good homes for the kitties.

And, thank you for the good thoughts on Coby.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 16:46:28 +0000

Now, Steve, I have to find homes for the kittens, as they won’t be accepted by the ferals and can’t go outside. That’s why Ringo is back, she wasn’t allowed access to the food dishes outside – the whole point of the “trap-neuter-release” concept, the cats will protect their territory. I just wish she hadn’t decided that it was necessary to provide “sound effects”, including hissing and shrieking, when chasing her most persistent enemy – her tail.

Appreciation doesn’t even enter the calculation, Jams. I just wish it were over or Sox will need meds. Toms are not tolerated, even those that couldn’t possibly be involved in the situation.

Yeah, right, Anya.

By: Anya

Anya — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 16:17:11 +0000

Jeebs, Bryan. I was about to ask you if you wanted another cat….