Farm Boy & Buttermilk

[Laura's Babies]

Nancys, we are not attacking you here or trying to make you feel bad so please don't take it that way. Many of us here do rescue work and it is just overwhelming how many there are already without anyone that wants them. Kittens are just the sweetiest and cuteiest things on earth but knowing the lives many of them have ahead breaks our hearts.

I just wanted you to know there is help out there if you look for it and in helping to stop needless bredding, you save so many of them from a horriable life and death. To me, they ALL deserve a loving safe home but only a small percentage of the ones born ever get that. Please help us save some lives...

[Medusa]

The picture you described sounds so cute. Too bad you didn't get it on camera. As for the spay/neuter thing, I must agree w/my sister PTers. I have an acquaintance who has a huge farm and she started out feeding just a few cats. I told her then to get them altered but she didn't listen. She said she really couldn't afford to but I told her that she wouldn't be able to afford even just the food for them if she let things go. Time passed and just a few months later she had 80 some cats. I can't even imagine how many she must have by now. They inbreed and get so sick from it, plus they're not immunized. There's no way she can care for that many cats. In your situation, having them altered is still doable while there are only 14 but things can get out of control very quickly. Time is of the essence. I do hope you discuss the seriousness of this situation w/your sister. And thanx again for sharing that story of Farm Boy and Buttermilk w/us. We're looking forward to some pix.

[columbine]

It's so hard to explain responsibility to animals to a family member. My sister-in-law is a hoarder, and the first thing I do when I go up to my brother's house for Christmas is bring the ferret & bunnies a drink of water because their bottles are dry. I've told my brother again and again (he's better about considering animals individuals rather than accessories) but I hit the nag point early on and was labeled "animal nut" and my words written off as hippie fertilizer, and if I persist, I'll be shut off, accomplishing nothing and losing contact with my only local family.

It's not even something that's easy to bring up here, because each family is different, it's the hearer and not the talker who defines the nag point, and it's usually pretty soon, because most hoarders know at some level that they're doing wrong.

All anyone can do is their best, and only you know your family. And if you're overwhelmed with advice that you've already tried or that wouldn't work at all with your family, it DOESN'T necessarily mean that people think you're a moron or that you're not trying. They're just as frustrated as you are, and wish they could help somewhere - and vicarious is always easier!

Love, Columbine

[nancys]

Oh no! I am just reading the replies (RE Buttermilk & Farm Boy)... please, please, everyone don't think badly of my sister - she loves cats as much as I do, even to the point of rescuing them. Because they took in mama cats, and 2 of those mamas have had babies, they have now ended up with too many cats. BUT, they are trying to find GOOD homes for them. As for me, I am just getting started in taking my cats to the vet to have them fixed. I plan on taking one a week to have it done. I learned a lesson this summer - what is that saying...you get what you pay for or you can't get something for nothing?

[Laura's Babies]

I am sure your sister loves each and every one of them and thank God for her that she has a place they can stay where they are safe, fed and allowed to live out their lives in peace, free from harm. (I wish I had a place like that!)

She has a sanctuary for the unwanted and due to that, she should qualify for help in getting them all fixed which will make them healthier in the long run. Check that out for her and see what options are in your area. Here, they would even have people come out and trap them for her, take them to be fixed and return them back to her to keep.

They will fix them from about 8 weeks up. I helped out last week for 2 days, spaying and neutering ferals to be released back where they came from. I really think your sister would qualify for this kind of program in getting her the help she needs to get this done.