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[ursulav]

Just got back from a cat-trapping trip with Kevin--he's part of a local cat rescue that feeds and traps ferals, fixes them, and either finds homes (if possible) or releases them. It's mostly the latter these days--as usual, the supply of cats vastly outstrips demand. Since he was trapping in an area that involved fence hopping, it's much easier

Comments

[briar_witch]

I think everyone should spay/neuter their pets. What I hate is hearing someone justify not spaying/neutering their animal because "It stays inside" or "It's a male, I don't have to worry about that". :(

[aineotter]

"It's a male" means essentially "I'm a surrogate deadbeat dad"
Grrr...

[briar_witch]

That's right. Total abdication of responsibility.

[silverblue]

Indeed. And 'I don't care if my cat gets FIV or abscesses'.

[aineotter]

I second permission to smack, on behalf of the entire staff of a clinic I used to work at (as a tech; pre DVM), where we did this; one exceptionally feral specimin got loose, unsedated, in the surgery room and tore up the entire place and half the staff before being contained.

Plus you know, as stressful as that kind of stuff is on us, it's worse on the cats, who are never really convinced that we aren't about to have the for lunch.

[hakeber]

All three of our pooches area neutered. Wouldn't have it any other way. And I always smack folk upside the head for not getting it done.

[kytyn_]

We recently got a cat from the shelter here in Austin. When they spayed her they tattooed the female symbol with a slash through it on her tummy to signify she'd already been fixed in case she was ever picked up again. Much more subtle than an ear notch but I can see how those would be good when releasing and later trying to check out a crazed cat in a live trap. ("Now please stop ripping up my hand as I try to look under the fur on your belly. It's for your own good. Ow Ow Ow.")

[moiety_tx]

Yes, my Austin-shelter-cat has that tattoo also. I can see the ear notch being better for ferals, though.

[askeladden]

We found an unfixed juvenile (~1 year old) cat in the park last April, took him home, neutered him, and have been living blissfully with the little devil ever since. Bless you guys for doing it on a regular basis, though; one is plenty for us.