PAWS had their spay/neuter van--the the GusMobile out so we thought we'd try to get some ferals TNR'd from the Barbara Bunch at 68th and Langley.
Our medical-care coordinator, Laura S., went out the other Saturday evening and set three traps on Barbara's front porch. Because of the rain, only one cat--perhaps the most important one at this site--took the bait. It was Fluffy, a cat who is well known to Barbara. Fluffy's owner died of cancer 5 or 6 years ago and Fluffy, who seems to be a long-haired Siamese mix, was put out on the street. He's become pretty rough, has developed a pronounced limp, and has managed to father quite a few kittens in the area. Barbara has done her best to help the neighborhood cats, including this one, and has been very happy for our help.
Courtesy of Hyde Park Cats, Fluffy was neutered, treated for fleas and ticks, dewormed, given some penicillin, given rabies and FVRCP vaccines, eartipped, and his wounds and ears were cleaned. Fluffy had a bad case of earmites and had been scratching his head and neck raw. Getting rid of those earmites will make life much more comfortable for him. Fluffy's right hip has crepitus (grating, crackling, popping sounds) possibly due to arthritis or an old injury, and probably is the reason for his limp.
Fluffy was very groggy from the surgery and eager to get out of the trap. He stayed the night in Barbara's garage where he has a safe, warm place to sleep and lots of food and drink.
Good luck, Fluffy.
8 comments:
Fluffy is also de-clawed and has to fend for himself on the street. So another good reason not to de-claw a cat is here - that cat is at a profound disadvantage if it ever finds itself lost or homeless.
Why is Fluffy being put back out on the street when he's been declawed and is friendly? I don't understand how this is in any way a good thing for him. Why is no appeal being made for a foster home for him to go into?
Spot on, Ruth. Fluffy was a declawed but intact male! What vet would do one surgery and not the other?! What owner having caused those odds would put THAT cat on the street?!
Anonymous - don't know for sure, but I bet the problem is lack of foster space! Curtesy of HPC, his street odds are ever so much better now that he will not be biologically programmed to pick fights.
Anonymous how do you know what has or hasn't been done or what work has already been performed?
If anyone wants to take Fluffy in I will gladly donate to help with his care.
Mike R.
Hi anonymous, Unfortunately, our waiting list is very long and so is the number of friendlies on the street. Fluffy is currently on our waiting list. Because Fluffy is being fed and cared for outside(and has been for years) we are comfortable putting him back outside.
Please do what you can to direct responsible and loving foster homes our way and we can do all we can for outdoor friendlies together!
Lilolady - Fluffy was not kicked out - his previous owner died and evidently no relatives or friends did anything to care for him - so a neighbor has been feeding him.
Can Fluffy be picked up and handled? What is 'friendly' in this case? If someone offered to foster him, can he be gotten there in a crate or does he need to be re-trapped?
Cathelper, let me share my own experience with you based on ten years of observation. In 2001 I moved into my present home and saw a gorgeous tortoise patterned tabby sitting at the edge of dense hedge. I felt she must have been “left behind”, and fed her, hoping to bring her into my family. The next day she sat at the edge again, and just behind her were a set a tiny triangle ears, so I called them “Mommy and Ferah (feral)”. Within the month Mommy gifted Ferah to me, seeming to know the treasures behind my door. At that point, I was not a TNRer. The next thing that happened; a new litter, and then she presented her wee Felix to me at my porch door. Felix was absolutely the best cat ever.
I trapped Mommy for her TNR and vaccinations then tried to let her recuperate inside, hoping to make her an indoor girl. She went nuts so I let her out.
Since 2001, I have fed Mommy outside, and provided a hut for shelter against harsh New York weather. We talk a lot at a distance of at least a few feet, with locking and closing of eyes conveying “peace” and maintain a deep abiding caring for each other. She tells me she is an outside cat, and a very happy girl, indeed. I still cannot touch her. Here is the thing – although Felix seemed very robust, he died suddenly at 5 and broke my heart. Ferah is showing signs of aging, but Mommy, the older outside cat, is still agile and curious as ever. Given the right circumstance –spay/neuter, vaccinations combined with committed feeding and shelter – a cat can live outside and thrive.
It seems that Fluffy has been provided all the right circumstances by HPC, such that their very scarce resources of time and foster homes needs to be directed toward helping less fortunate cats at this time.
Based on my experience, knowing Fluffy is OK, I do not want the HPC volunteers to feel badly – they do so much and make wise choices.
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