First serious cat fix in months -- years, really

[KamaAina]

For years I have been doomed to live in a series of no-pets hellholes. Landlords here hate animals so much that there was once a bill introduced at the legislature to void no-pets clauses (it failed). :grr:

Mom and Repuke Stepdad? Ditto. Some of you old-timers may recall the trouble we had placing her two females when she, uh, crossed the aisle, so to speak, and moved in with him. So even in NYC, the last cat fix I had was when I stopped over at a friend's house -- about three years ago. :eyes:

Fast-forward: My office is conveniently located between the two branches (men's, and women and families) of the city's premier homeless shelter. A large number of women, and some kids :scared: , congregate outside the women's shelter near my bus stop on a daily basis. They sit out there on lawn chairs all day, and, to get to the point, have even tamed one of the feral cats that live in the used car lot across the street. There are at least four of them. The women leave food and water over there for them!

So this morning, I'm walking past the car lot (the women pretty much block off the shelter side of the street), and there are three of the cats: an orange tabby, an older calico, and a little tuxedo. The tabby crawled back under the fence into the car lot and did his business. Then one of the women started calling to the calico, who crossed the street and joined them! I have a feeling that, if she could transform into a human like that gray tabby did into Mrs. McGonagall, she'd fit right in with them.

That left the tuxedo. In the past he, like most ferals, had been shy of my approach. But today I scored! Once I got that first pet in on his head, it was like the good old days. Headbutts against my shoe, even a rollover! For five full minutes I felt alive again. It would have been longer, except that I was bending over the whole time (you wouldn't want to sit on that sidewalk, either). It was a cat fix my hamstrings will not soon forget...

Poor little guy. His fur is quite thin in patches, particulalrly on his hindquarters. So there you have it: what the casual observer might describe as a "mangy old cat" made my whole day! :bounce:

[stuntcat]

1. I LOVE tuxedo kitties

:loveya:

You made him happy too, it sounds like!

[hamsterjill]

2. Fabulous story

Awe, that's a terrific story. What a great interaction between you and the cat!! Plus, it always amazes me the (general) kindness of the homeless towards animals.

You might call your local animal shelter and see if your city has a TNR (Trap Neuter Return) program available. Many cities are signing on to this type of program for feral cats. The cats are trapped (humanely), spayed or neutered, given a rabies shot (and many times other necessary vetting) and then returned to their original hangouts after a brief recovery period. This keeps the population of cats from growing.

In addition, neutered male cats are much less likely to engage in fighting over territory, which in turn, cuts down the transmission of many feline diseases, a great number of which diseases are transmitted through bite wounds.

Thanks for caring about these guys.

[KamaAina]

3. The rabies shot is not necessary

this is in Hawai'i, which enforces quarantine against the mainland to keep rabies out.

I recall reading about such a program. I'm sure they're overwhelmed. The feral population here is enormous. No winters for the guys to suffer (and die) through.

[applegrove]

4. I often talk to cats as I pass by their houses in hopes one will come

out to the sidewalk and say hello. Rarely happens.