Continuation of free kittens in Butler

[Medusa]

Y'know, Rebecca - if people show up with kittens to give you, I hope you are able to get through to them the idea to do what you did - for the mom and dad to invest in spaying and neutering for the cats around their place.

Kind of like a neighbourhood improvement tax!

There is a town somewhere in the USA - I forget which - where the trap/neuter/return program eliminated the stray cat problem.

A quote from one site:

Here is a link to a couple of places: http://weblogs.newsday.com/news/loca...og/feral_cats/

Also see here! http://www.alleycat.org/wheretnr.html

For a fraction of the taxpayer's $$, and with volunteers, neighbourhoods and areas can be totally feral-free...no new wild kittens.

Surely some folks in your area might get on board with this? And ask the nasty neighbours to donate?

Think about it....

It's a great idea, Candace! When I was actively involved in rescue, the word spread quickly and people were even trying to drop off chickens at my place! I had to get on my soap box and talk to them about altering their animals and taking responsibility for it themselves. This could definitely help solve the problem. You're always thinkin', aren't ya, girl? You should've been a P.I.

[rebeccahowes]

In the last two weeks I have had two cats killed on my street. My twelve year old nephew witnessed the last cat killed. He cried the whole night. It is so sad about how many cats live outside my house. There are tons of strays. The little kitten that came by tonight made me sad. I definitely did not want to send him to the streets. I have had a bunch of replies to the four kittens that need homes. I hope that I can get them great homes. I know that the only thing I can do for the feral strays is pray and leave them food. I lived in San Diego where there were alot of homeless people. It is so sad when cats and people are homeless. I hope that when I finish getting help for all of my cats that I can somehow help the homeless cats. It is hard though because they run as soon as I open the door.

[rebeccahowes]

I live on the Island. It is the worse place in Butler. The person that brought me the little gray kitten was a little girl of about 11. I told her that I could not keep the cat. She left it on my back porch. What am I suppossed to do? I asked her to take the kitten back to her neighborhood. Tonight I worry about that cute little kitten. It is probably starving or being chased by a dog or mean little boys. Gosh, it is so hard to say know. I love animals and children with all of my heart. It is so hard to say no. The good news is that I only have one more cat to be spayed out of seven. She goes on June 17. I have a lot of replies for the four kittens. After I finish taking care of my own cats I am going to try and find a way to take care of the cats outside. Remember I adopted three outside cats last winter. They are now spayed and live in my home. They are so beautiful and two of them let me pet them. The other one hisses. That makes me laugh. I wonder why a cat would live in a home with seven or more people and hate us. That is amazing. She never wants to go outside. I will attach a pic. This cat is amazing. They lived on my back porch when they were babies. I am glad they adopted me. They are so special.

[Catty1]

Rebecca...I just wondered if maybe someone else on the island might want to start up a TNR - and get several people together to do it.

It's a lot easier if there is a town ordinance that allows it...if someone could figure out how much it would save the town (its shelters) in money, they might go for it with some funding for the spays and neuters.

I am not suggesting you take all this on...you still have another kitty to spay, and all - but if and when you get a chance to check the links I posted, you might find people who can help.

TNR has made huge differences in areas where it has been implemented.

HUGS! You are doing great, and doing so much for so many already!

[rebeccahowes]

You are such a positive person and always have nice things to say. You inspire me. Unfortunately, where I live, people only care about crack and alcohol. People would laugh at me if I ever mentioned getting help for cats. But that is ok. I will take on this job. I love every minute of it.

[Medusa]

Unfortunately, where I live, people only care about crack and alcohol. People would laugh at me if I ever mentioned getting help for cats. But that is ok. I will take on this job. I love every minute of it.

Mention it anyhow. There have got to be more people like you that want to help. You'd be surprised, when you start talking to people, how helpful they can be. Check out the links that Candace posted and give it a whirl. It certainly couldn't hurt and it may just get things going and you wouldn't feel so overwhelmed.

[Anikaca77]

What if signs were posted around about TNR and how maybe you can get low cost spay/neuters?

You are such a positive person and always have nice things to say. You inspire me. Unfortunately, where I live, people only care about crack and alcohol. People would laugh at me if I ever mentioned getting help for cats. But that is ok. I will take on this job. I love every minute of it.

[Emeraldgreen]

Hi Rebecca, your kittens are scrumptious! I LOVE the one without the tail, so cute. I'm sure you'll find good homes for them and if people continue to contact you after the kittens are gone, maybe you could tell them about the little grey kitten?

The 'trap, neuter and release' program is a great idea. I looked through the original 'free kittens in Butler' thread because I remembered writing something about another woman who does this in your area. Here it is:

I also spoke with Pam about the fact that some of Rebecca's cats are somewhat feral and asked if they had a trap they could lend out. Pam said they spay and neuter ferals all the time and they do have a trap they lend out but it is on loan right now. She will let Rebecca know when it comes available. She also said that she will be speaking today with a local woman named Cindy who traps ferals and brings them to Suburban Animal Clinic on a regular basis and see if she would have a spare trap she could lend Rebecca.
It looks like it's all coming together!

And when I spoke with Pam at the Suburban Animal Hospital, she also told me about a man (she didn't give me his name) who traps ferals and brings them to their clinic to get them fixed. Maybe you could contact the hospital and ask them if they could give you the phone numbers of these two people to see if you could get involved and they might be able to help you focus on the cats in your area. It would be alot easier if you had the support of others who are already doing this and they are near where you live so it makes sense.
You have such a passion for these cats, it would be wonderful if you could continue to help them. Thanks for looking out for them!