Controlling the Population

Domino

Most of my readers know that we had a mother feral cat leave her litter of four kittens on our back porch last April.  We hadn't had cats in several years and it was fun to feed them and watch them play in the yard.  Then in September, another mother cat brought her litter of five!  The same neighborhood tomcat was the dad and we could see similarities to all nine kittens.  I wasn't really sure who would stay and who would hang around but it seems all nine know they have a good thing going here. ha.

Well, kittens do grow up, don't they?  I saw Marmalade being "cozy" shall we say...with his lil' half sister in the photo.  Oh dear! Then later that day, he was doing the same pleasurable act with the little grey striped kitty!  Oh dear!  I didn't know the sex of either one of these kittens, as they won't let me near them, so I guess I can at least thank Marmy for that bit of information.  lol.

Anyway, it's time to have them spayed and neutered!  I'm afraid if left to their own ways, I could easily have 20 more cats by summer!  No thank you! ha.  I really didn't want to take them all to the vet and pay a couple $1000 for the work of spaying, neutering and all of that. Thanks to Jill's recommendation, I called the local Humane Society and talked to someone there. 

 I actually wasn't too happy with the person on the other end of the phone.  She was curt, impatient and really made it seem difficult for someone trying to do the right thing and stop the populating of feral cats in the neighborhood.  They only have a clinic once a month.  She expected me to have 9 carriers and bring all 9 cats in at once! The day before I have to come alone, bring a photo ID and have an 'interview' at which time I have to pay $38 per cat, in cash.

Well, I explained that they are wild.  I can't guarantee what cats would be available and able to be caught come appointment day.  Not to mention 9 carriers would be a little crazy.  I bought one.  I'm not buying nine nor could I borrow nine!  She didn't seem too sympathetic, but I knew $38 was a very good price and something needed to at least be done with Marmalade...and soon!

 

Well, today was my interview.  I went with my driver's license and $38 in hand.  The lady working today was extremely nice, very sympathetic and seemed to understand my predicament.  She had rescued many cats in her own neighborhood and even had a litter born in her garage.  She said even though the clinic was busy tomorrow, she would make appointments for as many as I wanted to bring.  She said she would charge $20 each and send as many carriers home with me that I wanted to borrow!  So, she let me run to the ATM to get more cash (although she said I could have written a check, which would have been nice to know before I came! Actually, knowing I could borrow carriers from them would have been nice to know! ha.) .  I decided I would try to bring four cats.  She said if I only could catch three, I would simply have a credit for next time and I could keep the extra carrier until I needed it!

She loaded me up with the carriers, a huge bag of cat food, and a bag of litter in case I wanted to keep them inside overnight in this cold weather while they recovered that first 24 hours.

So people...animal lovers out there....wish me luck!  I have to have four cats there before 9:30 on this Saturday morning.  And I get to pick them up by 5:00.

The only thing a little worrisome is that they test them for feline leukemia.  I had to sign a waiver allowing them to be put to sleep right then if they tested positive.  I know it's a fatal disease and extrememly contagious and that's the best thing to do, but I sure would be sad, especially if it was one of the original four that I've become so attached to!  Hopefully they will all be healthy. 

Update and more stories to follow Saturday night, I am sure. ha.

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