Thursday, December 3, 2015

Help. I Need Some Kitty Moral Support Guys

Well, things have gotten a tad bit complicated here at chez CatLady.

I'm not even sure where to begin, but the short version is that the schedule for trapping and neutering the outdoor kitties got bumped up to this Saturday (day after tomorrow).

Now here's the long story.


Basically, both the gray female, and Little Blackie started letting me pet and handle them. On the one hand this is a great step and means they might get to move indoors... on the other hand I was getting increasingly worried about handling cats with unknown medical situations, and life was turning into a complicated series of hand washing and clothes changing to make sure that I kept Smoky and Jasper safe.

Anyhow, the gray female was getting so tame that I called my regular vet and asked if they'd be able to run a quick FIV/FeLV test on her if I could get her into a carrying case. They said sure, no problem, so this past Saturday, I got her into a case and took her over.

My plan was to get that test done and then if she came out clean I'd bring her inside and see how she was gonna adjust before moving forward.

But... the vet tech totally botched the whole thing... didn't listen to me when I told her that she wasn't entirely tame, and it ended up being a disaster. So I basically had no choice but to either let her go, and probably never catch her again, or keep her inside and wait for the next feral cat clinic (this Saturday.)

Anyhow, she's been adjusting and doing well in the basement bathroom, though I did discover that she has a tapeworm... yuck!

Here she is getting a belly rub

Then, Little Blackie turned up with some sort of abscess or bite on her face. I actually think it's a bite of some sort that got infected. But whatever it is, it needs medical attention.

I called the feral cat people and they said to bring her on Saturday too and they'd fix her, vaccinate her and deal with the abscess. Thing was, I wasn't sure if I could get her into a carrying case or if I'd have to trap her, so they said it would be best to just trap them all and bring them all in for testing, vaccinations and neutering.

I was able to get Little Blackie into the carrying case today, and she's now downstairs with the gray female... and even though she's pretty freaked out, I think she's doing OK.

Hiding behind the toilet...

In the meantime, I had been working on Little Gray (Blackie's brother) and was finally able to get him a little less scared of me. No petting yet, but he was enjoying playing. I really didn't want him to be separated from Little Blackie because they are soooo bonded. After I put Little Blackie inside, I was worried about him, but he was hanging out with Gray Boy and seemed to be OK.

But Gray Boy runs off to do his rounds of the neighborhood each night, and I was worried about Little Gray trying to follow him. So I figured maybe it would be best to try to trap him tonight and just let him spend an extra night in the cage.

Anyhow, I set up the trap and obviously didn't think it through very carefully, because Gray Boy headed right into it with Little Gray right behind him. Problem was that as soon as Gray Boy stepped on the plate, the trap slammed shut trapping Gray Boy but totally freaking out Little Gray.

So now I have Gray Boy in the basement in a trap, and poor Little Gray is all alone outside.

Poor Gray Boy in his trap

I tried for 3 hours to trap Little Gray, but he's terrified and won't go near any of the traps. I hope he'll be OK alone tonight, because it's too late to try trapping him again - we're into the skunking and raccooning hour, and I don't want to risk it.

Anyhow, I just feel horrible about all of this and I'm worried sick about Little Gray out there all alone. I've got all day tomorrow to try to get him, so maybe he'll be hungry enough to go into the trap then.

In the meantime, I just feel like sobbing - well, to tell the truth I have been sobbing for the past hour or so. I'm just not cut out for this sort of thing, and I feel like I'm in totally over my head.

And that doesn't even scratch the surface of the worry, because what if it turns out that some or all of them have FIV or FeLV? Apparently there is great controversy about what the best thing to do is, but the feral cat place generally says it's OK to release a FIV positive cat as long as they are neutered because FIV cats can live long healthy lives, and it's only spread through mating and fighting (both behaviors pretty much go away once fixed.)

FeLV (feline leukemia) is more complicated because it's spread through more casual contact (the virus is shed in the saliva and mucus) so it's more contagious. Some people say it has a terrible prognosis, and other say cats can live long healthy lives with it... so some folks think it's OK to release an FeLV positive cat and others (including the feral clinic folks) say it's best to euthanize them.

In either case, if any of them have FIV or FeLV, they can't live inside because of the danger to Jasper and Smoky.

OK... so this is a long humorless blather, and I'm sorry. Not the sort of thing I try to write, and I'm sure many of you could care less, but I just feel unambiguously horrible and overwhelmed at the moment.

I'm sort of hoping against hope that somebody out there might have more experience than I do and can offer some words of wisdom, because, honestly... right now, I just feel like puking. I just hope that I'm doing the right thing, and that I haven't just made everything worse. Help.


34 comments :

  1. Cat, I don't have any words of wisdom, but sending hugs. I understand your feelings, and I am praying for the best possible outcome for you and all of the cats.

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    1. Thanks so much Lili. I'm feeling significantly less freaked out today than I was yesterday!

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  2. I don't have any advice or words of wisdom, sorry. Cat health issues isn't something I know anything about. Just wanted to say I think you are one super amazing person to care so much for stray cats to go to such lengths to care for these cats.

    If all are healthy and they do come indoors to live with you just think of all the love you will get in return.

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    1. Thanks Lois. I'm feeling much better today. Yesterday sorta just took me by storm. The gray girl is already giving me plenty of love - I'm amazed at how just a few days inside has tamed her up. I can now scoop her up and hug her, and she doesn't want to leave my lap. Still not sure who and how many I'll be able to integrate into my household, but I'm confident she'll get to have a real home one way or another.

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  3. Well, you might try sprinkling the area with catnip. One cat? One trap, no more, unless completely out of sight of each other and never more than two, they get suspicious quickly. Get him high, heat tuna to piping hot, as bait, put a bit dry food on a paper plate out front of the trap, piping hot tuna inside, for bait, nice flat dish, so it clearly visible. Try using something in the area on top of the trap, rather than a towel or other cage cover. Spray it with catnip spray. (these are just tips) Or, quickly make a drop trap. You can get that plastic fencing stuff cheap at Home Depot. Or use wire, on a frame. The trickiest part is the slide up door to transfer him into a regular trap. I liked my old drop trap best with the transfer door on the front edge. Here's how to make one quickly. http://droptrapdesign.blogspot.com/2005/10/build-your-own.html

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    1. Thank you SOOOO much. I just spoke with the feral rescue people and they have a drop trap I can borrow, so I think that might be the way to go.

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  4. If you go to bed and its safe where the trap is, tie it open, so it can't be sprung, remove most of the bait, but not quite all. Leave the bait plate in there, with crumbs of bait. This plays with the cats mind, like, well some cat went in there and ate it, probably for me to do the same. Bait and set again, when you take up trapping. Early morning, evening, night, best times. Give the cat privacy by leaning a board from the ground over the trap against a building. Preferably using something from the area. It's a threat, an unknown, they don't want to enter that in the wide open spaces. Don't move the trap around. He knows where it is. Resist the urge, which can become huge.

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    1. More great suggestions. If I don't have any luck with the drop trap, I'll definitely give these a try.

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  5. If there is moisture in the air, mix the hot tuna in with dry food, so it holds its smell better. Dry kitten food, really cheap varieties, like Purina Kitten Chow, are irresistible.

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    1. Ooooo good to know! He's much more of a fan of dry food rather than canned, so I think I'll be picking up some Kitten Chow!

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    1. Awww... that is the perfect name. If I end up keeping her, I think she'll be called Lady Jane Grey!

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    2. p.s. that's one of my favorite movies!

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  7. The crying probably did you some good whether you realize it or not. You needed a release from all of the stress. I'm glad Strayer was able to give you some advice. She knows what she's doing.

    Good luck. I'm pulling for you and the cats.

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    1. Thanks June... you're totally right about the crying. You know, I think that to be successful at this sort of thing, one needs to be able to maintain a certain amount of emotional distance, and that is decidedly not something that I'm very good at. It's just sooo hard for me to watch an animal in distress and not internalize it all. I'm feeling like a much more rational human being today though.

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  8. Sending good vibes to you and all of the cats!

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    1. Thanks Melissa, I really appreciate your support.

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  9. I’m so sorry you’re going through such an ordeal with the kitties. You’re awesome for persevering! Seriously, I just want to hug you and bake you a cake right now.

    The folks who do the trapping for the colony I sometimes help out with (I don’t have any trapping experience, sorry!) usually use really smelly food like canned tuna or sardines. The herring that comes in the little rectangular tins seems to be a good choice too, even our pickiest cat likes it. They say the smelly stuff is more tempting and usually works better. My sister also had some success that way during the summer trapping feral cats in her neighborhood.

    As far as FIV/FelV, I don’t have any experience with those. Like you, we have other indoor cats, so just can’t risk their health that way. Have you talked to your vet about their feelings on euthanizing FelV ferals? Sometimes it’s better to hear something that makes you feel bad from a vet you know and trust.

    My sort of “rule” for myself in rescue type situations is to make sure I only work with reputable groups, so that when decisions I don’t have the experience/ability to make have to be made I feel like I can trust the group to do the right thing.

    If the group you’re working with is the same one you wrote about earlier, it sounds like they’re really good, and like you respect them. As horrible as it is, it sounds like they be on to something with humane euthanasia being the best choice for FelV cats who would otherwise have to be released back into the feral population. I hate the idea, but it actually makes a lot of sense in light of how easily that’s spread.

    Unfortunately caring so much for animals comes with a certain amount of heartbreak and tough decision making. If you ever figure out a way around that please let me know!

    Good luck with your trapping efforts. Fingers and paws crossed for negative test results!

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    1. Thanks so much Danielle. I just got off the phone with the feral rescue people and I'm feeling much better about things.

      Years ago, when I was trying to rescue Princess, I ended up trapping the neighborhood tomcat. I took him to a different rescue place who insisted that he be put down because he was FIV positive. It was very traumatic for me and I still haven't completely gotten over it. I feel much better about this group though, and am inclined to trust their advice.

      But you are totally right, caring for animals means inevitable heartbreak and hard decisions, even in the best of situations.

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  10. No experience in cat saving here. I just want to say that although sometimes when we try to help, we make things worse, but we are more likely to make things better (especially if we stay as informed as we can), so it's what we have to do, isn't it.

    Hugs!

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    1. Awww, thanks Debbie. I have to keep reminding myself that I am only human, and that even if something doesn't go according to my plan, it doesn't necessarily mean that all is lost... in fact, sometimes things can work out better. Still no luck with Little Gray this morning, but he actually seems to be letting me get closer to him than usual. Perhaps being on his own for a few days without the other cats to rely on will help me to build a better bond with him.

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    2. Huh, well, that would be nice!

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    3. Well... it worked better than I could have imagined. I'll post details later, but I managed to lure him into a carrying case using a towel that his sister had slept on (comforting smells) and a toy. Yay! He even snuzzled me a few times!

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  11. No advice, but you're in my thoughts. ::hugs:: At least you are doing something to try to help!

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    1. Thanks so much... hugs are much appreciated at the moment! :-)

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  12. Hang in there! Rescue work is tough! I'm a volunteer at our local humane society, as well as a board member, so I have to help make the tough decisions like this too. In the past, FIV and FeLV cats were always euthanized, but a couple of us weren't comfortable with that after we started doing more research about the issue. So now if a new friendly cat is positive for FIV, he/she goes to one of our fosters who is fine with having them in with her negative cats. Thankfully we don't have many come through though!

    With leukemia it is more difficult, and we do still euthanize those cats. Again, it is not too often that one comes to us thankfully. The last one came during Memorial Day and was weakly positive. We kept her in isolation, and she got sicker and sicker. We retested her and she was strongly positive, so we did choose to euthanize.

    There are some rescue groups out there that do take positive cats, so that might be an option for you if you need it. FIV cats do tend to live long, normal lives, and just need to go to the vet more often to keep an eye on their dental health. The majority of them die of old-age related causes rather than anything to do with their FIV.

    Personally, I have no problem with releasing FIV positive cats back into the stray population after they are altered, especially if they are not the type to get into a fight with other cats. And of course male cats are less likely to fight once they are altered.

    This is a good link, just in case you haven't seen it. I'm sure you've been doing research about the subject though! http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/Health_Information/brochure_fiv.cfm

    I am certainly no expert, but if you just need someone to talk to about it, feel free to email me at greenvegan at gmail dot com.

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    1. Oops! Correct email is greenvegan4life at gmail dot com!

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    2. Thank you soooo much. It's really helpful to hear how rare it is for you to get an cat with leukemia. Some of the things I've read make it sound like it's rampant.I suppose those sorts of things can be localized, but since none of the cats is showing any sign of illness, I am hopeful on that front. I really do believe that euthanasia is the more humane option for a terminally sick animal, it's just hard for me to make that leap for one who is perfectly healthy at the moment. Anyhow, I'll check out that link and keep your email handy if I feel like I'm about to fall apart again! :-)

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  13. Cheers for you for undertaking such a tough job for your feral kitties! I don't have much experience with this and have learned a bit today just from reading the comments. Good luck!

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    1. Thanks Mary. I've learned a lot from the comments too! :-)

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  14. I have never been involved with trapping as all the strays I took in were perfectly happy to come with me.
    You have been given excellent advice from the other posters.
    I just have a couple of comments
    I think you are being too hard on yourself, what you have done and continue to do is above and beyond. Relax...little gray will come to you, follow some of the baiting tricks, as someone else said crying is useful.....afterwards pick yourself up and get on with the task.

    I think it is a kindness to a leukemia positive kitty to be euthanized, rather that be outside to become the prey when he becomes too sick to hide the illness.
    I will say a prayer for little gray and you tonight.
    Sending hogs
    Marieann

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    1. Thanks so much Marieann. I have a really hard time dealing with the weight of responsibility in situations like this. I tend to feel like I must do everything "perfectly" or else all is lost. Of course this is nonsense, and it's really more about my own personal control issues than anything else. But I struggle mightily to keep those things separate.

      Anyhow, you make a really good point about the fate that would await a leukemia positive kitty if left outside to fend for itself with the foxes and coyotes. I hadn't really thought about it that way.

      Thanks again for your support, I really appreciate it.

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  15. Poor Little Gray, I pray he will be OK. Great job on catching so many and I will also pray they won't have FELV/FIV.

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    1. Late Breaking NEWS! I caught Little Gray! I'll write all the details in a different post, but suffice it to say, love proved to be a much more effective lure than food.

      Now we just have to keep our fingers crossed on the test results.

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