http://shelterhelpers.org

As some of you know that surf the dog side, I have started a web site called shelterhelpers.org. I hope you all check it out and let me know what you think.

I'm afraid I am not real knowledgable about the issues associated with rescue and shelter cats - so I was hoping some of you would give me a little feedback on what you think should be included. I am looking for information on things like cat enrichment, socialization, feral cat issues, suggested readings, etc.

Obviously many of the issues are similar, but I would really like to include items that are cat specific.

Clara

not sure what your website is about exactly. Just want to emphasize re: ferals and no kill shelters are not doing them any favor. I had to endure seeing ferals caged year after year after year. Only to eventually be kicked out to be "floor cats" but still not adoptable and sick. They'd pick up the ringworm and all the upper respiratories but could no longer be medicated. I also witnessed very sick cats being treated medically beyond death. In other words, ferals that had eye damage, internal damage, broken bones, you name it and the owner of the shelter insisted on medically treating them even when the vets said it was cruel to keep the cat alive. And us workers had to watch them suffer in pain.
So, you want info re: ferals, the best we can do for them is find them foster homes where they will be socialized (or not). The truely ill and battered and broken ones are better left to God and the best thing we can do is to help them get to God. I am very serious about this, I am sick of seeing cats suffering to satisfy someones idea of "rescue". It's not and it's cruel.

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Originally posted by leslie flenner
not sure what your website is about exactly. Just want to emphasize re: ferals and no kill shelters are not doing them any favor. I had to endure seeing ferals caged year after year after year. Only to eventually be kicked out to be "floor cats" but still not adoptable and sick. They'd pick up the ringworm and all the upper respiratories but could no longer be medicated. I also witnessed very sick cats being treated medically beyond death. In other words, ferals that had eye damage, internal damage, broken bones, you name it and the owner of the shelter insisted on medically treating them even when the vets said it was cruel to keep the cat alive. And us workers had to watch them suffer in pain.
So, you want info re: ferals, the best we can do for them is find them foster homes where they will be socialized (or not). The truely ill and battered and broken ones are better left to God and the best thing we can do is to help them get to God. I am very serious about this, I am sick of seeing cats suffering to satisfy someones idea of "rescue". It's not and it's cruel.

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IMO true ferals should be altered and released back to the wild, hopefully with someone to feed them on a regular basis.

Though young cats can be resocialised, one of my cats was a feral kitten and she is such a love bug now.

Which shelter do you/did you work at ? It sounds awfull

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true ferals should be altered and released back to the wild, hopefully with someone to feed them on a regular basis.

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I agree wit PayItForward. TRUE ferals almost always are beyond being socialized. And taking them to a shelter is an ultimate death sentence, since they cannot be placed.

I have worked with feral kittens, from ages 6 weeks to 4 months. It takes a special person with patience and commitment to be able to bring them out of their feralness.

The ones that have been feral for years should be fixed and put back out where they feel comfortable with other ferals. I have a friend who maintains feral colonies. All of the cats have been spayed/neutered, vaccinated and ears notched and she goes around putting out food and keeping the feeding stations clean and the "shelters" (they're made of Rubbermaid bins) camouflaged and in good condition.

Some of the cats have been around for years.

I so agree with you guys about the ferals. TNR is the best thing in the world for these special kitties!! Most can not be socialized and even if they become somewhat trusting they don't want to be indoor kitties. God forbid that they should be caged!!
I, like moosmom, have worked with younger ferals. The younger of our three we got indoors and started working with at about 4 months. The first three had eye and voice contact with us for the first 6 months of their lives and they were still very difficult to get calmed down. I know I have told this before but we lived with one for 18 months before I was ever able to touch him!! Now at the age of three he is a love muffin!
I don't think that I could or would ever try to take an adult feral completely away from outside. Even if you could handle them. I think they would go crazy!!! Each kitty seems to choose his/her way to be handled and you just have to look, listen, and pay attention!

Another newbie here, jumping in. I agree (and have witnessed) with Leslie's mention of the horrid shelter we've dealt with in the past. It has been mis-managed for too many years to the point that many cats have sat in cages unable to excersise for years! Forget about the MSPCA etc. they've been there, and done nothing more than say "get the numbers down". I do extensive rescuing and socializing of kittens, but there are instances where the TNR doesn't work. Some of the neighborhoods are filled with persons (if that's what they are) that would do all they can to see the released cat is tormented and killed. It can only work where the cats are wanted, and provided with food etc. P.S Styrofoam coolers (thrown out by many larger vet clinics) make much better shelter for cats that have to survive bitter winters. Cut a small hole just under the lid, seal the raw edges w.duct tape, tape the lid down and stick your hand inside and feel the warmth that the cats will return back to their bodies! Make sure it's situated in a dry area. If a neighborhood is willing to allow these ferals back that's one thing, but as we know people move, new managers buy property, and it's the cats hanging around that get the boot. I think it's high time that apt building owners, etc. step up to the plate and make sure that renters pets are altered etc. before they move and dump out un-spayed Fluffy, and un-neutered Smokey and voila...more feral kittens. Ranting....

QueenScoopalot forgot to mention that one would put hay in the styrofoam and if, in wet climates, cover with tarp or put under an area that provides some roofing if possible. (Even if it's pushed under some bushes.)

I would like to point out that in Australia there is no TNR for feral cats. They are trapped (or baited with horrible poison) and killed inhumanely most times. The RSPCA here can only manage strays. There is no halfway house for these cats. You are very lucky to have TNR and that no kill shelters should follow that same principle. Most ferals are just that, feral and nothing else.

Wow! I wonder what keeps animal lovers from starting a TNR situation? I mean, it only takes one feeder to do this (and pay for this). Then the idea would spread I would think.
Is there bad politics against cats in AU? I mean, like, are they regarded the same as rodents, pests, that kind of thing?
Like in Greece? But even Athens has many many rescue organizations.
Your right about ferals are just ferals in a way- maybe there it's different but here, it's very iffy because a feral female can give birth to kittens and have some turn out feral and some not (given they are untouched before 8 weeks)This is because it depends on the father and his genes and each kitten could have a different father, and the mother and her genes. It depends on how many generations of "feralness" the kitten inherites. At least this is what I've been taught over the years! (and experienced- I remember one feral litter I'd had caged at the foot of my bed for a week and was socializing, and one night I woke up with one of them curled up next to me purring!- she'd been as spitty as her siblings but lo and behold, she wanted human contact- must've been because while sleeping, I was not a threat. But she never went back in that cage, it was like she had never been feral! These kind of wierd things happen sometimes!`
QueenScoopalot- maybe you can clarify the significance of "feral genes" better than I can?

Cats in Australia are considered pests - unlike dogs who do more damage to the native wildlife population but everyone seems to here like the cute, angry puppy who was badly treated ... (note sarcasm).

TNR programs won't work here because most people wouldn't bother feeding the strays let alone spaying them. Cats are just something that nasty kids can use as footballs, hang in trees by collars and give poisons to - to see how long they survive and yes - this happens all the time.

It frustrates me that they can get away with treating an animal in such a shocking manner. Take for example my brother in law. A stray cat likes to use his garden bed for the usual toilet. He has poisoned it once (still lived but was sick for weeks and he was gleefully telling me this), trapped it and released it into nearby bushland and lay down firecracker things in the garden so when it dug these things went off. I have tried to go over there and help the poor cat out but it is so terrified of humans it won't go near me - but still uses my brother-in-laws garden as a toilet.

Bear in mind that the dog next door comes over and tears out the plants and all he says is ... it had to go it wasn't thriving....

This seems tobe a long standing attitude of a lot of Australian people. It frustrates me. End of rant .....

oh my. Well, surely in the cities there are rescue groups? What are the laws, is it legal to kill cats, dogs, wildlife (not here, well, yes, wildlife within regulations). If so, has anyone ever pressed charges and then been so badly treated that it discourages others from reporting? If not, well, there's a heck of a project!

You know what's really helped in my area is the prescence of the Animal Rescue League and MSPCA in terms of advertising. I don't know that there is any difference in the way people shuck their pets out but in terms of feeling more supported... in rescue work. Like today, on the news, 10 pit bulls found in a basement needing nursing care from fighting. That would not have made the news a few years ago. and there have been 2 situations of women hoarding cats in a neglectful manner that made the news and would not have a few years ago- I think it's all the money the ARL and MSPCA has spent on advertising that has caused the media to pay a little more attention to these stories and hence, make it a bit more unacceptable in our society to treat animals poorly. Also the cable shows help. Animal Precint etc.