Most cats adopt YOU, not the other way around. They very craftily sneak into your life by appearing on your doorstep with a pitiful look in their eye, which you assume to be 'hunger'. Being the kind person you are, you offer some tuna to the hungry kitty. That is, unless you are already feeding a cat or cats. In which case, you offer cat food. The timid cat hungrily accepts your offer. You feel better for having fed a helpless animal. You think you may never see the poor creature again, and...it was so cute!
If you are a seasoned 'cat person', you know the 'cute' little cat will be back tomorrow. At this point, you hope the 'cute' little cat won't bring a litter of kittens or, Heaven forbid, be pregnant. You might as well go to the grocery store and buy cat food, you've been tagged.
CAT DECLAWING COST
Dry cat food is easier and less messy for leaving outside. Don't forget to also leave a water bowl. You have now agreed to adoption. The law, in some cities or states, says "if you feed a feral cat, you are then responsible for its care and its actions" (such as pooping in your neighbor's flower bed). Most of us don't take that seriously enough to worry about it. The biggest problem most of us experience is that if you feed one feral cat, you may find you are feeding three or six or more.
If you decide to keep the cat and claim it as yours, you need to gain its trust in order to transport it to the veterinarian for a checkup and necessary vaccinations. Then, arrange for spaying or neutering. Buy it a cat-safe breakaway collar that won't get caught on a fence to strangle it. Put at least a name tag on the collar, with your telephone number. If you don't want to pay for a name tag, put the rabies tag on the collar, which has the veterinarians telephone number. The vet can identify your cat by the vaccination number. Now, you are a cat parent and this precious creature has a good home.
If you decide not to take responsibility for the cat, this leads to more serious questions. Can you afford to feed a neighborhood full of feral cats? Can you afford to have them spayed or neutered to keep a colony from growing? Can you afford to, at the very least, give them rabies shots? It really does become your responsibility to keep from adding to the problem.
The best solution I have seen is the TSNR (Trap/Spay/Neuter/Release) programs adopted by some Humane Societies, SPCA's and even some city governments. The program usually loans you a trap, picks the cat up after you trap it, takes it to their veterinarian for spaying or neutering and then returns it to your neighborhood. Then, you can continue to feed the cat without contributing to a growing colony of feral cats. It does, of course, require time to take care of a large colony but it can and is being done all over the country.
If you have a number of stray cats in your neighborhood, and would like to help, please contact your city or county humane society, SPCA or animal control to see if they offer the program.
What Do You Do With Homeless Cats?
The author, Pat Lemmons is a 66 year old woman who has owned cats for 10 years, knows cats and operates a retail web site for cat products. http://www.kittystoreonline.com The product prices are discounted for maximum savings. The site features the latest technological products such as unique automatic litter boxes, the best quality cat & kitty beds, pet doors, litter box furniture covers, pet carriers, crates and containment, unique artist t-shirts, sweatshirts & nightshirts, and a large selection of kitty condos, trees, scratching posts, cat toys and treats. Nothing but the best for your pampered feline, including premium quality cat furniture and outdoor enclosures to keep them safe.
A portion of every sale is donated to the Gulf Coast Humane Society in Corpus Christi, TX and to the SPCA San Pat County in Aransas Pass, TX. These organizations are the rescuer of homeless animals and make them available for aoption to good, safe homes. They perform a magnanimous service to our communities.
CAT DECLAWING COST
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