TNR project! ** release 20 pics 4/25 post 33

**Freedom** · 04-23-2007, 06:52 PM

I know I missed updating this thread for a few days.

We were done catching the adults, except for the 2 nursing moms. But just to be sure, we set the trap once more and caught a huge orange male. Turns out he has not been neutered either, so he will be neutered and then released. He appears to be a stray as well. Probably he was in a neighborhood near by and once we removed all the males from this territory he tried to move in.

I now have photos of the 5 males. They were released on Saturday evening.

This is "Big Daddy." He is a huge tom cat, scarred and scraggly and the father to most of these cats we are working with.

This one is "wild man." He likely would have grown into a tom and taken over this colony, forcing Big Daddy to move elsewhere. He rocked the trap the entire time he was in it. He rocked the carrier when he was in that. He was in a frenzy for the vet. The only one who was so wild and excited / nervous.

Male cat #3

Male cat #4

Male cat #5 (I took a few shots of this one.)

I did take photos of their release, those pictures are still in the camera; will have them later this week. You can see they all look so similar! No wonder no one was really sure how many there were!

I expect that tomorrow I will be going to pick up the rest of the cats. One female for release, the huge orange male for release. One black and white female for rehoming, and Little King may come home with me, I'm not sure yet.

The black and white mom cat has been out and eating at all the 3 homes. No one has seen her babies though. The black mom cat has not been seen since release.

We have rung up $600 in vet bills, thus far. Pawswatch keeps reminding us that we have to refill the coffers, somehow. Working at their fundraisers, baking, and such, most likely.

**kt_luvs_kitties** · 04-24-2007, 10:13 PM

Thank you so much for doing this for these kitties! I hope that they live long happy and healthy lives. You are giving them a chance.

**CultureJunky** · 04-25-2007, 06:48 AM

Sandra I'm sure you could make some things to sell, as you have done before for Church meets, I will see if I can get my mum to make something, she's made some lovely small quilts. I'll let you know next time I email you!

**kimlovescats** · 04-25-2007, 07:31 AM

I haven't been reading or posting in a while. I just now read through this thread and I am amazed at all you have accomplished! These kitties were probably inbreeding over and over! Thank you SO MUCH for all of your hard work and dedication! You have prevented so many births and deaths as well! Good luck in getting those two mommies and babies!

BIG HUGS,
Kim

**Freedom** · 04-25-2007, 12:34 PM

Here are the photos of the release.

First, we released the 5 black males on Saturday. We lined up all the carriers in Linda's back yard, as that is where these were trapped.

Linda opened two gates, but they weren't in any rush to get out. They must feel as though they'd been abducted by aliens, and need to get their bearings as to where they are!

She just kept going down the line opening carriers.

Big Daddy wouldn't even look at the camera.

More pics coming!

**Freedom** · 04-25-2007, 12:37 PM

The first one to have his carrier opened was the last one out!

That was also the day we caught the large orange male. He was NOT pleased.

The next day we released one female. She was the one who had just come out of heat, so she wasn't far along in her pregnancy and was able to heal more quickly.

You will notice her side is shaved. This vet does the European method for spaying. He goes in on the side, through muscle; which provides a protective shield for the healing.

Linda had to coax this girl to come out.

More pics next post!

**Medusa** · 04-25-2007, 12:39 PM

Wow! What an assembly line! What a great job!

**Freedom** · 04-25-2007, 12:52 PM

Two days later, on Tuesday the 24th, we released the rest of them.

Here is the orange male. Now he KNOWS he doesn't like us!

At the same time, we picked up the remaining two females for release. Little Darling is the black and white one; she is quite cuddly with Linda. The other is a black female. They came in a carrier together.

Linda had been a bit upset about Little Darling when she was trapped. And she really felt this girl was adoptable. So I separated the girls, and Dad and I went off to release the orangie and the black girl.

I let Little Darling out in my small bedroom. She was terrified, poor thing. Tore down the curtains, rod, valance and all. Raced all around the room. When I got her, she calmed down. I could hold her, pet her, but once I let go she was in a fright again. So I felt it was better to release her as well, which we did. She will be with her siblings.

This morning, Linda told me that she went out at about 8 AM as usual with breakfast. Little Darling came dashing across the lawn and right up to her. Linda hadn't seen her in a few days so she scooped the little cat up and hugged her. That cat LOVES Linda, but she isn't too sure about the rest of us humans, or rooms with walls and ceilings. Because she was back with Linda, most of the others came right up to Linda's ankles again, just as they had been doing before we started this little escapade! So Linda feels they aren't holding it against her, he he. The major part of this project is now complete.

We have 2 females out there who were nursing when we trapped them, so we released them. One has not been sighted since; an all black. The other, black and white mom cat, has been lounging around in the 3 backyards, so we fear she lost all her babies. (She is the one with the baby tiger kitten in the baby pics thread. Her name is Smudge.) We will wait a few weeks to be certain there are no kittens around, then we will try and catch her for spay.

One little black male has a handicap, his head is tilted. It seems to be some sort of middle ear balance issue. He can't fend for himself and the vet told us NOT to release him. I think I will be taking him; I've been calling him "Little King," as he is getting loads of special attention at the Kathy's home.

So this is the end of this thread and my venture into TNRM (Trap, Neuter, Release, Monitor). Hope you have enjoyed reading all of it!

**Medusa** · 04-25-2007, 01:23 PM

Hopefully, the vet will find out what exactly is wrong w/little King and can get it taken care of. If it's an ear polyp, his head will tilt like that. It's easy to remove in the early stages but if it "takes root", it gets more complicated. Yodie had to have it lasered after it grew down into her throat. It nearly strangled her before Dr. Lee could do the surgery. My prayers going out to little King. And to you for all the good work that you do.