Continuation of free kittens in Butler

[Emeraldgreen]

Hi Rebecca. I'm so surprised that no one wanted the sweet little one without the tail! They are both cute but that one stole my heart!
It's hard to say if it's a good idea or not for you to keep the two kittens. I have 9 cats but it's a handful and financially a big deal. A few years ago it didn't seem to cost that much but over the past couple of years, I've been dealing with health issues with 4 of my cats and it has really added up. It's so unpredictable when one of them is going to need vet care. One of the reasons we are selling our home is to move to a more affordable place so they can all get the vet care they need whenever that need arises. Our house is pretty big too, lots of room for everybody but it's expensive to care for so many animals. We do spend quite a bit of money on holistic dry food for them rather than the cheap stuff but I think in the end it helps reduce future vet bills. And, we seem to adopt a cat every 2 years or so and it's usually after one of our cats has passed away and a space has opened up. Part of me wishes I could take in all the needy cats but I just know that I could not handle it and they would not get the care they deserve or the attention.

Maybe there is another PT'r in PA who rescues kittens who could take these two in? I'm not sure if there is someone who could but it's just an idea.

Also, I wonder if you could ask the local shelter if you could place the kittens there and if no one adopts them within a month or two, you could take them back? I have no idea if this is an option but maybe worth asking about. This way they would get a chance to possibly get a home and if no one comes for them, they can have a home with you?

How is the flea situation going these days? I hope that your family and all the cats are not being bitten by them. Do you still have flea meds left to continue administering?

Anyway, hope all is well. Good to hear from you and please keep us updated with your fur family. Those kittens are so adorable.

p.s. Like Moesha, I'm concerned about the adult feral getting pregnant again. Is there a way for you to keep her in a room until her spay date? It might sound like a long time but really it would only be about 2 or 3 weeks and if you could avoid another litter on your hands, it would be so worth it. If you are having trouble finding homes for these last two cuties, a whole new litter will be even harder.

[Medusa]

Maybe there is another PT'r in PA who rescues kittens who could take these two in? I'm not sure if there is someone who could but it's just an idea.

Also, I wonder if you could ask the local shelter if you could place the kittens there and if no one adopts them within a month or two, you could take them back? I have no idea if this is an option but maybe worth asking about. This way they would get a chance to possibly get a home and if no one comes for them, they can have a home with you?



p.s. Like Moesha, I'm concerned about the adult feral getting pregnant again. Is there a way for you to keep her in a room until her spay date? It might sound like a long time but really it would only be about 2 or 3 weeks and if you could avoid another litter on your hands, it would be so worth it. If you are having trouble finding homes for these last two cuties, a whole new litter will be even harder.

These are the ideas to which I was referring, Rebecca. It doesn't hurt to at least ask the shelter if this is an option for the kittens. And if you can keep the feral isolated on your strict orders for a couple of weeks to avoid another litter, that could be the way to go. No one said anything about trying to find the adult feral a home, as you mentioned. What we said was to get her spayed so that she doesn't reproduce. PA is a large state, so if you can, try to find someone who also rescues cats/kittens that might be able and willing to take the two remaining kittens as a foster home until a permanent home can be found. Networking is a wonderful thing, as you have experienced by posting here on PT. If you can connect w/other rescuers in PA, it could be the answer to your prayers.

[rebeccahowes]

Hi everyone, on Wensday I have to catch the final adult feral cat in order to get her spayed. She has a big wound on her neck which I am going to get treated at the vets. I am not sure how to catch her without hurting her neck. My husband normally catches the cats by grabbing them like the mom does. I am scared that this will hurt her. Also, I could not catch her for her last appointment and they will be very mad if I don't make it to this appointment. Does anyone have ideas on how to catch a feral cat? Thanks!!

[Catty1]

Big towel or smaller blanket (THICK), drop it over her from behind and pick up the writhing fabric!

Prayers that you can catch her...and maybe she will get a bit more friendly after the surgery.

[Emeraldgreen]

Hi Rebecca, is there anyway you can get ahold of a 'heart trap' through the vet? They said they usually have one on hand but a few months ago it was on loan but it's probably been returned by now. You wouldn't have much time to get her used to eating in it but it's worth a try. If you get the trap you can try and lock up all the other cats in different rooms so they don't get caught in it or better yet, try and corral her into one room by herself. Then put a plate of stinky cat food in the back of the trap and set it. When she goes in to eat, the door will fall behind her. The only thing is that she will need to be fasted from midnight the night before the surgery. Do you think the vet would allow you to bring her in the day before if you manage to catch her? That way they can put her in a larger cage at the clinic until the following morning.

If you can't get a trap, Candace's idea of a heavy blanket or towel is a good one. Just make sure you put her into a cage after that because you don't want to try and take her to the vet just wrapped in a blanket. I met someone a few weeks ago in Northern B.C. who took their cat to the vet for a wound on it's neck and had it wrapped in a blanket and when the husband got out of the car with the cat in his arms, it jumped down and bolted into the woods across from the vet clinic. That was a month ago and they haven't seen their poor cat.

[rebeccahowes]

Both of you have very good ideas. I was going to call the vet on Tuesday and ask them if I catch her, can I bring her in early. That way I have two days to catch her. I will call about the have a heart trap. I am worried about what happened to her neck. It is a big wound. I am going to ask them to treat the wound and de flea at the same time. It is so exhausting with feral cats. You want to treat them, but they won't let you.

[Moesha]

I hope that you are able to get the kitty!

[rebeccahowes]

I wanted to let everyone know that I caught the last feral cat and got her to the vets to be spayed. It took seven people to catch her and my husband got bit pretty bad. I had them put flea meds on her. She had a big sore on her neck from scratching fleas. She is home now, but the bad thing is she got out an open window. I hope she comes back. The other two kittens are going to be neurtred in October when they are six months old. After that, all of my cats will be taken care of. The cat that came home today had kittens 8 weeks ago. They said she was pregnant at the doctors. That would have been six litters of kittens I would have had. I came to you guys because I did not want to become the next Tiger Ranch. Thank you all so much for making my dream come true. I would have never been able to afford to get all of my cats fixed. I have nine now and it does not seem to bad. Thanks everyone!!

[momtomany]

If your husband got bit, he will probably will need to go on antibiotics. Unfortunately it is very easy to get a infection from a bite, especially if it is a puncture wound. Most common treatment is usually Augmentin.

[carole]

yes please take hubby to see about that bite especially a feral cat, who know's what bugs are in her mouth, Ash bit our daughter a week ago and i got her straight on to them, and she is fine, Augmentin can be be very tough on the old tummy, she was given amoxicillian, so there are other' suitable ones out there.

Cat bites can become very serious indeed, please take care and WELL DONE both of you, awesome what you have been doing, and i am so happy to hear you managed to get her, you are doing a wonderful job, i cannot praise you enough.

[Emeraldgreen]

Hi Rebecca, I'm so glad to hear that your last feral has been spayed! That is great. Two kitties to go and your done.
How is the feral doing and has her wound cleared up? Has she come back yet?