Let's celebrate ALL cats

Why is October 16th National Feral Cat Day? Because that's the day Alley Cat Allies officially became a non-profit 25 years ago. This group has done incredible work for cats, from hands-on rescue after Hurricane Katrina to challenging laws and government policies that are deadly to cats. They offer a National Cat Help Desk hotline: (240) 482-1980, ext. 330. ACA hosts an online Veterinary Resource Center so that veterinarians themselves can then help community cats and the folks who care for them. By providing grant money and education on how to implement low cost/high volume spay/neuter, they partner with shelters across the country to stop the killing of cats turned into county shelters. 

I think ACA is not only helping how our systems in place handle stray and community cats but how many people view them. The vast majority of animal welfare and animal protection groups have embraced trap/neuter/return as the proven and humane method of allowing community cats to live out their natural lives without suffering endless breeding cycles and all the issues Tomcats bring to the table. In my experience however, it's usually one special animal who acts as the catalyst for people who have a shift in their thinking. My client Beth has been a devoted kitty mom her whole adult life, and while all her kitties were rescues they were usually indoor cats. Here is her story of BK, a feline on his way to being feral after being abandoned outside to fend for himself. BK is still a bit of a wild child and he is loved just the way he is! 

In the spring of 2010 a bedraggled little black long-haired kitten wandered into my yard. He was matted, dirty, had “stud tail”, & was scared & hungry. So of course I started feeding him. In the beginning, he wouldn’t come anywhere near me. I was patient & talked to him in soothing tones telling him it was OK to come eat. At first he would only eat in the yard & watch me. Then after months went by, I managed to get him to come closer & closer until he came on the porch where I made him a bed. I named him BK.

Our first breakthrough happened when BK sniffed my hand, then finally allowed me to pet him a little. It took lots of food & kind words to finally get him to trust me. As soon as I thought he wouldn’t freak out, I got him into a cat carrier & off to the Vet we went! Pronounced healthy, he was neutered & got all his shots. As I like to say, “$367 later he was “mine.” I honestly thought he might take off but he didn’t & still lives with me & my other cat. He’s still a bit wild & is the only allowed outside during the day because he was “homeless” for the first year of his life & screams to go out. Little by little he’s staying inside more & always stays in at night where he sleeps on the bed next to my head unless he’s on one of the kitty perches or on top of the armoire (his favorite spot!)

I think BK came from ”down the street” as I know there’s another cat who looks just like him who lives with some neighbors who rescued her around the same time. She’s also named “BK” (Black Kitty). Even though he can be a handful sometimes & is a bit of a bully, he also has turned into a very affectionate cat with a big, rumbling purr. He’s still afraid of anyone he doesn’t know but he seems to love me & I love him.

National Feral Cat Day is coming soon!

Wondering what's going on in your community for National Feral Cat Day this coming Sunday, October 16th? Check out :National Feral Cat Day and stay tuned to my blog for another "formerly feral" story about a kitty client of mine!

Gigi,  one of the first feral kitties who came into my life and helped educate me. She came from one of the first TNR sites I worked on, in a south Seattle area called Hillman City. 

Meet some KittyStars...

Here are just a few of the kitties I visited in late summer. Adorable huh? We usually have fun with toys (da bird especially), catnip (lots from my garden this year), and just hanging out together.

MJ, with Da Bird toy in foreground

Ginger Pye

Gus and his fave toy

Pepper

Miles

Hermes

Iggy (yes, he's a boy and a torti!)

Nora, Iggy's sister

The Humane Economy, book review

I've had an incredibly busy summer taking care of kitties all over Seattle! I do find time to read, usually while taking a dinner break with my own kitties. I'm a fan of Wayne Pacelle's first book, The Bond, so was happy to find his latest book, The Humane Economy, at my local library. I keep up on a variety of animal issues but actually learned a lot from reading this. There is good news re. animal protection but remaining vigilant in what companies and practices you support with your consumer choices has never been more important. Wayne's coverage of SeaWorld, trainer deaths by killer whales and the hailstorm resulting from the film "Blackfish" gives us hope that people will eventually stop spending entertainment dollars to see couped up marine mammals. If you have ever wanted to go on safari, Wayne discusses which countries to travel to in order to view splendid wild animals and which places still need to curb the poaching and trophy hunting they allow.

Greyhound racing is one issue I've seen gain momentum very quickly over the last few years; 19 tracks still operate in six states but I believe we will see these tracks close up as well in the newt 10 years. People have probably met lovely "retired" greyhounds in their neighborhoods, are more educated about what the dogs endure and are less likely to support the tracks. Animal based circuses are another. Consider that Feld entertainment (Ringling Bros.) decided to retire their elephants from life on the road (yes!). With cities such as Redmond and Port Townsend banning performing wild animal acts and reduced attendance in Seattle, these shows were finding it difficult to justify their costs.

In the U.S., the number of companion animals killed in shelters each year has dropped by 80% since the 1970s to 3 million. PetCo and PetSmart have made an impact by featuring animals from rescue groups instead of breeders and puppy mills. Wayne discusses certain shelters that had historically high kill rates and how they worked to turn their numbers around to very high "save rates." He gives a brief mention of trap/neuter/return of community cats but I suspect that TNR efforts are making much more of a difference in shelter kill rates where volunteers have taken on the long-term goal of sterilizing street cats. Fortunately Becky Robinson has written all about how TNR is affecting change for cats in her new book, The Evolution of the Cat Revolution, available here:
Alley Cat Allies

Wildlife management in the U.S. is another area Wayne covers and we should listen since our tax dollars are going towards the killing of tens of thousands of coyotes, mountain lions, bears and wolves. Why does the federal government kill these animals? To protect ranch raised farmed animals, usually grazing on public lands. All this ties in well with the information about how said ranchers and producers are being swayed to change their methods to (slightly) more humane accommodations for the animals who end up on the dinner plate. Companies such as Chipotle caused a chain reaction with giants like McDonald's and Walmart following to eliminate sow crates and offer egg laying hens a tad more room in their cages. Again, your consumer choices make a difference and it's pretty easy in Seattle to find alternatives to cheap meat and dairy products. Humane Society of the United States has led the way with farmed animal reform laws in individual states as well as helping expose cruelty within farming operations.

Wayne writes, "...we need to broaden our understanding of moral responsibility to animals. Cruelty isn't limited to practices that we in society hold in general contempt, such as beating a dog or setting a cat on fire, or even long-established but now widely reviled activities such as dogfighting or commercial whaling. The abuse of animals is also embedded in economic enterprises that provide staples in our daily lives. Because it's both routine and invisible, and we play no direct role in the violence, we generally consider it a moral problem not of our making. Our physical removal from harmful actions towards the animals provides a sort of buffer. Yet as end users, we enable it, just as we have the power to deny it by abstention. It is only consumers who give these products value, or, conversely who can make them worthless in the marketplace." (pg. 256-257) The ways in which certain animals are marginialized and others are considered members of are family is interesting in many ways; in my experience it is often once special animal who changes a person's perceptions.

Check out Wayne's blog and how you can purchase the book (remember to boycott Amazon until they stop selling body-gripping animal traps and foie gras!):
Humane Society of the United States

"Love me, don't eat me"

Let the Sun Shine!

Some kitties are lucky enough to have a custom catio and other adventurous felines take matters into their own paws to stake out their own space with the best view of the neighborhood. If you just can't build an outdoor cat enclosure, here's an article on creating an outdoor inspired space for your indoor cat. Invest in a tall kitty condo with lounging platforms, grow cat-safe plants or buy fresh cat grass weekly, and let the sun shine in. Your kitty deserves the sunniest window in your home and preferably an open window (safely screened of course) where he or she can smell all those fascinating outdoor smells. Sisal mats, baskets,and cardboard boxes are inexpensive and offer interesting textures to scratch and sleep on or in. If you can find a hefty log from a recently cut tree, even better. Basking in the warm sun is one of the pleasures of being a cat!

How to Help Kitties in our Community

Here are two easy ways to help homeless and community cats in Puget Sound: 

Friends of Campus Cats needs items for their annual fund-raising Jumble Sale, and they need them now! They are gratefully accepting donations; please contact them to make arrangements for delivery or pick-up. Wanted are books, jewelry, collectibles and vintage items, knick knacks, kitchenware, small appliances, even smaller furniture, lightly used toys, guy stuff, amusing oddities. (No clothes, please, unless they are unusual; they are already amply endowed with quality clothing from a consignment shoppe.) Campus Cats is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) org dedicated to the humane management of feral cats on UW campus and elsewhere. This year’s Jumble Sale is scheduled for July 30th at 10 AM (last Saturday of the month) in the Maple Leaf neighborhood - no early birds please. 

PS: Volunteers are needed on the day of the sale. Get paid in popsicles and pizza! Email stalbert@uw.edu or call 206-524-7326 to arrange for delivery or pick-up. 

Everyone's favorite shelter in Arlington, Purrfect Pals, will host their annual gala in October. The Black Cat Ball provides more operating funds for Purrfect Pals than any other fundraiser. More than 400 supporters will come together to enjoy a Halloween-themed champagne reception (costumes optional), gourmet vegetarian or vegan dinner, fine wines and both a silent and a live auction. If you can attend it's a lot of fun! 

If you own a business you can donate a gift certificate and have you business listed in the catalog. If you have a favorite wine you enjoy, consider purchasing a case to donate as wine is very popular in this auction. Or donate in honor of your favorite kitty and receive a tax deduction too.

To learn more: Black Cat Ball Donation flier

To donate online, click here: Black Cat Ball online auction donation form

When Your Cat is Hurting...

As our companion kitties age, it's natural that they may develop arthritis or stiffness after getting up. However it's often difficult to tell if and where they experience discomfort. Lots of clients tell me their kitties sometimes favor one paw or have limps that come and go. Many cats go into "hunker down" mode when they go to the vet's office so guardians may need to video the movement or behavior they are concerned about to show the doctor. Given that cats in the wild are prey for many animals, it's instinctual for felines to hide illness and weakness. Here's a good resource to keep handy if you think your cat may be silently suffering:

How to Know When a Cat is Hurting

How can you manage minor joint aches and pains at home? Many of my clients give their kitties a joint health supplement on their food. There are lots of websites to buy reputable veterinary supplements on. Cannabis supplements are also popular and these are often used for a variety of issues in addition to body aches, such as nausea and helping to increase appetite. Infra-red lights (reptile bulbs) can feel good during our dreary, damp days. These can be set up with a clip lamp or you can purchase a stand that holds the bulb at sufficient height for your kitty to doze under. (Only use these under supervision of course.) Heated beds are also soothing. Acupuncture and laser therapy may be recommended by your veterinarian. I prefer an acupuncture vet who makes house calls so that the experience is more relaxing for kitty. It may be helpful to keep a notebook of your kitties ups and downs so you can figure out the best treatment combination. The bottom line is that it may take some trial and error to help your kitty feel his best during his golden years. It's not uncommon for cats to thrive into their 20s with good genes and all the best care..

Sidney, obviously feeling relaxed, cozy and safe (showing his belly), taking his after breakfast nap.