Helping The Ferals
Now that I'm 41 my life perspective has changed a lot. It's funny what life events shape the rest of your life. This afternoon I had the most wonderful time with my wife watching five feral cats eat and play with each other. Besides the time I spent with Liam, it's the highlight of my weekend. We've been taking care of these five ferals for over seven months even though we have three indoor kitties. You wouldn't be wrong if you called me crazy cat guy but I accepted that moniker months ago.
Killer changed my life after I punched my one-way ticket to hell with the pet rabbit. Time won't allow me to go back and change what happened, but I've made it my focus to help those animals in which I can make a difference. These five ferals first came to our condo patio last summer. The world may not see a difference, but it makes a world of difference to these cats.
It began innocently enough. A hungry cat showed up on our patio and I fed it a bowl of food. Two days laters another showed up. These were the kittens parents. As we continued to feed them, eventually the five kittens appeared. We didn't know how many there were for a while. Two look so similar you have to know the differences.
Ashley and I were about five months pregnant with Liam, and with three cats indoor, adoption was never an option. I began to look into the Catlanta Trap-Neuter-Release program through Lifeline Animal Project and discovered that they would neuter/spay the animals for free...if I trapped them.
The TNR program informed me that they had no extra traps so after a quick visit to ebay, I purchased two feral animal traps. The process was simple and I had trapped my first two within 45 seconds of laying the traps out on the patio. In my mind, the process was as simple as the kittens would be spayed/neutered and I would release them once we returned home, but the vet techs informed me I had to watch the kitties for three days. So, I took them to work with me where my office smelled like a hamster cage for next two days.
And then I did it again the next week. I trapped a total of four. The first two were a male and female. The all-black female we dubbed Blackie for lack of a better name. The male was a tuxedo cat which I named Tennessee after the old cartoon penguin from the 60's. Eventually each one earned a nickname - Stormy, Pepper and the one I couldn't catch, Wiley, not because he was a wily one to catch but because he had wily ear hair. He/she is also the most beautiful.
Over the summer days the cats and I began a ritual where I would put food out for them in the mornings, and a bit more in the afternoons. Over time Tennessee and Blackie because my daily regulars, knowing my schedule as much as I knew theirs. Blackie would only get within a few yards of me, but Tennessee became less and less fearful with each passing day. Eventually Tennessee allowed me to pet him. This occurred one morning after about 3 months. Within three days he was rolling on his back, letting me rub his belly.
Tennessee is the only one who will let me pet him, but he has become my buddy. Tennessee and I spend extra time on the patio when he's out there. Special trips are made outside in the middle of the night to "check on him." It's been a slow but rewarding process which is very different than with our indoor cats. They were friendly from day one. The feral cats require that I work with them almost each and every day.
Once the winter came, I began to worry about the welfare of the cats so I bought them a doghouse to replace the cardboard shelter I had put together. With the nice insulated pine dogcathouse, the patio has been transformed into feral cat central. We even get random additional ferals and strays which I look out for, if only to make sure they aren't sick or a danger to my feral five.
There are a few perks - no more squirrel issues, and no rodents and someone usually always greets me when I come in from work. We also have fewer insects, but it gives me a purpose. Taking care of them is a bit of a chore, but it's rewarding. There's no denying that I'm emotionally attached and if something were to happen to one of the cats, I'd be devastated, but I know the life of a feral is not easy and it's possible, so I make theirs as fun and enjoyable as I can. So far, so good.
Since we're not very active in our community, it's also another way to show Liam you can give back and make a difference. If we had more time we'd volunteer more regularly with Lifeline. Once Liam is older, I plan to do something like that. I think it is important to teach your children the value of life.
We've already discussed what might happen once we move. Some of the ferals may not be "feral" any more. I am taking Tennessee and Blackie with us where ever we move, and will build them a nice area in our garage, complete with cat door. Ashley and I have also discussed the animals with my neighbors who enjoy them as well so there is a contingency in place.
All of this rang special to me tonight when Ashley got involved, putting fresh wet cat food out for all of the cats. Normally they stream in at two at a time during the day, but tonight all five were competing for a turn at the wet food. So we filled up another bowl, and watched as they played and carried on. It did my heart good to know that they've had a good life so far and while I may never be able to pet all of them, that they have a benefactor who will take care of them if they are sick or injured. Helping them has also eased my soul regarding the rabbit. I don't know if my karma debt is paid in full, but I'm happy to do it.
Killer changed my life after I punched my one-way ticket to hell with the pet rabbit. Time won't allow me to go back and change what happened, but I've made it my focus to help those animals in which I can make a difference. These five ferals first came to our condo patio last summer. The world may not see a difference, but it makes a world of difference to these cats.
It began innocently enough. A hungry cat showed up on our patio and I fed it a bowl of food. Two days laters another showed up. These were the kittens parents. As we continued to feed them, eventually the five kittens appeared. We didn't know how many there were for a while. Two look so similar you have to know the differences.
Ashley and I were about five months pregnant with Liam, and with three cats indoor, adoption was never an option. I began to look into the Catlanta Trap-Neuter-Release program through Lifeline Animal Project and discovered that they would neuter/spay the animals for free...if I trapped them.
The TNR program informed me that they had no extra traps so after a quick visit to ebay, I purchased two feral animal traps. The process was simple and I had trapped my first two within 45 seconds of laying the traps out on the patio. In my mind, the process was as simple as the kittens would be spayed/neutered and I would release them once we returned home, but the vet techs informed me I had to watch the kitties for three days. So, I took them to work with me where my office smelled like a hamster cage for next two days.
And then I did it again the next week. I trapped a total of four. The first two were a male and female. The all-black female we dubbed Blackie for lack of a better name. The male was a tuxedo cat which I named Tennessee after the old cartoon penguin from the 60's. Eventually each one earned a nickname - Stormy, Pepper and the one I couldn't catch, Wiley, not because he was a wily one to catch but because he had wily ear hair. He/she is also the most beautiful.
Over the summer days the cats and I began a ritual where I would put food out for them in the mornings, and a bit more in the afternoons. Over time Tennessee and Blackie because my daily regulars, knowing my schedule as much as I knew theirs. Blackie would only get within a few yards of me, but Tennessee became less and less fearful with each passing day. Eventually Tennessee allowed me to pet him. This occurred one morning after about 3 months. Within three days he was rolling on his back, letting me rub his belly.
Tennessee is the only one who will let me pet him, but he has become my buddy. Tennessee and I spend extra time on the patio when he's out there. Special trips are made outside in the middle of the night to "check on him." It's been a slow but rewarding process which is very different than with our indoor cats. They were friendly from day one. The feral cats require that I work with them almost each and every day.
Once the winter came, I began to worry about the welfare of the cats so I bought them a doghouse to replace the cardboard shelter I had put together. With the nice insulated pine dogcathouse, the patio has been transformed into feral cat central. We even get random additional ferals and strays which I look out for, if only to make sure they aren't sick or a danger to my feral five.
There are a few perks - no more squirrel issues, and no rodents and someone usually always greets me when I come in from work. We also have fewer insects, but it gives me a purpose. Taking care of them is a bit of a chore, but it's rewarding. There's no denying that I'm emotionally attached and if something were to happen to one of the cats, I'd be devastated, but I know the life of a feral is not easy and it's possible, so I make theirs as fun and enjoyable as I can. So far, so good.
Since we're not very active in our community, it's also another way to show Liam you can give back and make a difference. If we had more time we'd volunteer more regularly with Lifeline. Once Liam is older, I plan to do something like that. I think it is important to teach your children the value of life.
We've already discussed what might happen once we move. Some of the ferals may not be "feral" any more. I am taking Tennessee and Blackie with us where ever we move, and will build them a nice area in our garage, complete with cat door. Ashley and I have also discussed the animals with my neighbors who enjoy them as well so there is a contingency in place.
All of this rang special to me tonight when Ashley got involved, putting fresh wet cat food out for all of the cats. Normally they stream in at two at a time during the day, but tonight all five were competing for a turn at the wet food. So we filled up another bowl, and watched as they played and carried on. It did my heart good to know that they've had a good life so far and while I may never be able to pet all of them, that they have a benefactor who will take care of them if they are sick or injured. Helping them has also eased my soul regarding the rabbit. I don't know if my karma debt is paid in full, but I'm happy to do it.