Laugh. Learn. Love cats.
Hey, Cupcake, will you model the straw hat Miss Jeanne bought you?
Cupcake: Can I wear it like this?
Cupcake: You aren’t trying to put that over my ears, are you?
Cupcake: I have an idea!
Cupcake: This is more like it.
Cupcake: Mr. Bones, now I see why the other cats like you.
Cupcake went on a special shopping trip this weekend. She visited a discount home furnishing store. The nationwide chain welcomes well-behaved dogs, so we asked if they would also welcome cats.
She saw some amazing sights.
Cupcake: Wow, Mr. Dragon. You’re so tall!
The store has a pet section, and when we passed the cat trees, she immediately wanted to climb. The trees were grouped together on the floor, so she could even step from one to the other.
I’m not sure how she knows the cat trees are for her, since neither of our cat trees at home have the kind of carpet used on commercial cat trees.
Being a cat, she found her way to the tallest tree in the whole place. All of the shoppers who walked by was surprised to see a real cat in the cat tree.
After the cat trees, she wanted to find a special gift to bring home to Pierre. Then she insisted on testing out a few chairs. They didn’t seem to pass the curl-up-and-nap test.
When we got home, she helped set up the gift she picked out for Pierre.
Cupcake: I know Mr. Pierre will love this.
She was right! Pierre made himself right at home as soon as he found it.
Pierre: I’m staying right here until dinner time.
Did you know that an estimated 70 million cats live outdoors, getting by the best they can? Some of these cats are homeless cats who have previously lived with humans and been lost or abandoned. But many others not socialized to humans and are afraid of them. Those cats are considered feral.
Feral cat. Photo credit: flickr creative commons/Quinn Dombrowski
Since feral cats are afraid of humans, you can’t just pick them up and take them home with you. Their idea of family isn’t humans and a warm bed. Instead, they often live in groups of other feral cats called colonies.
You can help take care of your local feral cat colonies by making sure they have food and shelter. Feeding your community cats isn’t enough. It is important that you also get them neutered to prevent them having lots of kittens. With unaltered cats breeding in feral colonies, overpopulation can happen in a hurry.
Feral tuxedo cat. Photo credit: flickr creative commons/myri_bonnie
Since you can’t pick up a feral cat for a trip to the vet for a neuter the way you would a cat in your home, you can use a trap to catch a feral cat, then visit the vet for the cat’s neuter and vaccinations. Afterward, you return the kitty to the colony where she can live out her life without continuing to reproduce. This process is known as trap/neuter/vaccinate/return, or TNVR (sometimes shortened to TNR).
Cats who go through the TNVR process are usually identified by clipping the top of one ear while they are having their surgery. This allows you to tell a cat is already neutered without having to approach too closely.
Feral black cat. Photo credit: flickr creative commons/fauxto_digit
Many communities have groups that can help teach you to use a humane trap. You can search for one in your community in one handy place. Some of them even organize affordable spay and neuter surgeries for feral cats going through the TNVR process. If there isn’t a local group in your community, you can look to the national Alley Cat Allies organization for guidance.
You may not have a feral colony near you needing a caretaker, so you might wonder what else you can do.
Feral cat. Photo credit: flickr creative commons/charlenesimmons
Here are some ideas:
Orange feral cat. Photo credit: flickr creative commons/charlenesimmons
Cupcake: What are you doing in the party barn, Mr. Pierre?
Pierre: I’m having a party of one.
Cupcake: That sounds kind of boring. Can I come in, too?
Pierre: I don’t think that’s necessary, kid.
Cupcake: Okay.
Pierre: That was too easy. Where did she go?
Cupcake: Are you SURE you don’t need any company?
Pierre: Sleeping in here. Or trying to.
Cupcake: How can you sleep when there is food out here?
Pierre: Those pumpkins are decorations. They aren’t for eating.
Cupcake: You’re right. That tastes awful. I’ll just be out here if you change your mind about letting me in the party barn.
Pierre: It’s going to be a long wait, so enjoy your pumpkins.
