UP YOUR ALLEY - MARCH/APRIL
Sharon Talbert
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Up Your Alley is a bimonthly electronic newsletter for Friends of Campus
Cats. Free and worth it.
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I am sending this off early, as time is going to be even harder to come by
for the next several months. And anyway, I have a lot to say that I want
to say now, though some of it I have said before.
LURCHIE REPORT
Lurchie, a feral cat who is Footless in Seattle, is doing fine. Her
x-rays turned out much better than I had expected, and her health seems
good overall. She is with us now, caged at least until she has gotten
through her two weeks of quarantine, and probably will be caged longer.
She is very frightened, as one would expect of a cat who was born in the
bushes some 5-6 years ago, but she is eating and drinking and using the
litterpan, which is reassuring. Even better, she is talkative, murfing
miserably when we pay her visits (she knows her name, and responds when I
use it), peeping anxiously to any cats she sees. Once she chirped at me
when I was tidying up near her cage ("cage" being a huge dog carrier,
partially draped for the time being). I heard soft mews, looked up and
realized Lurchie's face was just inches from mine, with only the cage
grill between. She looked ernestly into my eyes, talking. I will not
dwell on what she may have been saying. She will come to change her
opinion of me soon, I hope.
Today I made contact with our trusty long-handled brush while Lurchie
moomphed and moaned and huddled but did not strike or try to dig out of
the carrier or climb the walls. She allowed me to stroke her with the
brush (one of those wooden, natural-bristle bath brushes) for perhaps a
minute without incident. Such a sweet cat; I must remind myself how very
wild Lurchie is and not take chances with her. Today she could easily
have struck and did not.
Babyfood was not a hit, at least not offered on a dish; some cats just
don't care for the stuff. I will try that another time, nevertheless.
Babyfood cuts many a corner in the socialization process.
There is something dear about this cat. If I were to translate her into
human form, it would be that of Olivia DeHaviland (sp) as Melanie in Gone
With the Wind. Sweet but strong, with a loving core that cannot be
destroyed. Lurchie will prevail, I am sure. She has friends just waiting
to meet her, kindred spirits in Pumpkin and Tasha and Madeline and perhaps
most of all in Frederick the Invisible. There is always room under the
bed for one more.
HELP - CAT OVERLOAD!
Friends of Campus Cats is overwhelmed with tame adult cats seeking homes,
and kitten season is just around the corner. Kittens are being born out
there and I don't know where we will put them. Why is it people always
prefer kittens over cats? Garfield was right when he said, "kittens are
like string; every yoyo wants one."
Meet some of the cats needing homes.
SAMBA. Beautiful brown tabby longhair, spayed female, face of an angel.
She comes from tough stock, nevertheless; mother was abandoned in our
neighborhood and made her own way for several years before we brought her
in (and Mom is still with us, among the home-seekers) and pop was a giant
alpha tom named Bismark who also had had a home once. Samba is very
loving but opinionated and needs a home as an only cat or at least a
home without too many other cats in it. This is one fine cat, but she
needs her own space. No children, no wusses.
MOMCAT. Samba's mom. Big, black, and beautiful, with the coat of a chow
chow. She needs a lap large enough and loving enough to handle her. Also
needs grooming and a weight-loss program. Adult home, other cats ok if
not fellow alpha females. This cat was queen of the backyard for perhaps
three years, with little to no help from humans. We are honored to be
among her friends (she is quite devoted to Diana) but want her to find a
home of her very own, one to give her the attention she deserves and
needs.
RAGS. Small calico shorthair, abandoned by neighbors. Sweet, loving, lap
warmer par excellance. Loves to be held. Great little family cat.
FRITZ. Burly boy with a coat and heart of gold. Short, ticked fur with
stripy tail; white paws and bib; white smudge on his nose. Easy going,
great personality. Currently sharing quarters with Rags, who thinks he is
a lout. Don't listen to her; this guy is a great all-purpose cat.
ODIE. Another burly boy, this one a classic shorthair tabby. Looks
exactly like the paper cat you can mail-order as a novelty "pet." Odie
was captured on campus, possibly a student cast-off who was displaced once
and for all when the West Campus housing units were razed. He is still a
bit thin from his ordeal but is sound. One ear is shorter than the other
because he was mistaken for a feral and ear-marked before we realized he
was tame. We like to think the slightly bobbed ear gives him distinction.
Odie very much wants to be an in-and-out cat, though we have not yet given
up on converting him to indoor-only. We would consider a indoor-outdoor
home, if it is not on or near a bad street. Odie loves other cats and
even puts up with Tipsy, who for reasons unknown has declared him her
mortal enemy and attacks furiously whenever he wanders her way.
HARLEY. Harley, or Harlequin, is not a burly boy, as one might expect
from her name. She is a dainty medium longhaired tortie/calico who was
brought to us as a five-month "kitten." She is closer to 1-1/2 years old.
Small, though, and very thin from prolonged homelessness, so it was an
honest mistake. She has tested clear and has been started on shots. Her
markings are charming: her face is precisely divided down the center,
withone half black and the half orange, and the dividing line as straight
as a ruler. Once she is fattened up (and she is working on that), she
will be a beautiful little cat. And yes -- she is very sweet. She will
be spayed this week and is being boarded at the vet's until that time.
Then we aren't sure what is going to happen. There is no more room at the
inn. She needs a home or a foster home.
ANANSI AND PURSIVAL. These two guys, both retired ferals captured as
kittens, have been with us for several years. Anansi is part of our
family and is known as the Black Hole of Affection, he has grown so tame
and loving. But both have developed urinary tract problems (just crystals
at this point; no blockage) and need a permanent change of diet to prevent
their developing life-threatening blockage. This means a change of
address as well as a change of diet, unfortunately. These two are close
friends; Pursival is devoted to Anansi. We are willing to place them
separately but would very much like them to go together. Healthy,
handsome, sweet guys. Anansi is a striking jet black shorthair with eyes
wide with wonder; Pursival is a tall shorthaired tabby with white boots
and bib. No spraying, ever, from either party.
All our rescue cats are tested for FeLv/FIV, sterilized, and started on
distemper and leukemia shots as needed.
JUMBLE SALE
The annual Friends of Campus Cats jumble sale is scheduled for August
23-24 (Sat-Sun). We are accepting donations for the sale now and receive
them all year round, though we prefer to receive donations early rather
than late. We need volunteers to cashier, move stuff, help set up for the
event and/or clean after. It's fun, honest! Our sale, with any luck,
will be part of a block event in Seattle's Mapleleaf neighborhood, though
the sale is worth it on its own merit. Mark your calendar, if you love a
good rummage sale. And spread the word -- this sale, along with a little
help from our Friends, is what keeps Campus Cats afloat. The more we
make, the more cats we are able to get off the streets or at least out of
the kitten business.
NOTES ON KITTEN SEASON
This is the time of year queens are giving birth to their first litters,
with possibly as many as two more litters before the year is out. Please
spay your pets, folks (I am not necessarily preaching to the choir, here,
as I am dispersing this newsletter far and wide); rescuers and shelters
are very, very tired of picking up your "litter." When we capture a
pregnant feral, we always go ahead and spay her. Better for the cat in
her compromised condition not to have to give birth and raise a litter,
better for the kittens not to be born when there are so many already
seeking homes. As for pets, much healthier for them not to even come into
heat before being spayed (which should be done before they are 6 months
old, by the way) to avoid breast tumors and other lethal problems later in
life. "Letting" them have a litter is no favor.
NOTES ON ADOPTING KITTENS
Those seeking to adopt kittens, please consider adopting from your local
animal shelter or human society or neighborhood rescuer (such as Friends
of Campus Cats) -- not from your local bozo who did not spay. And for
gawdsake do not buy from a "pet shop," unless the kittens are known
rescues (some pet suppliers display for adoption cats and kittens from
alternative shelters or recognized rescuers; their selling kittens gotten
from local bozos is not quite the same as rescue, however, so ask
questions before you adopt).
HUMANE FERAL MANAGEMENT - YOU CAN DO IT
I recently was the proud advisor of a woman in Seattle who single-handedly
captured, tested and sterilized half a dozen cats who had been living in
her backyard, including the tough-as-nails momcat who started it all.
With a loaner trap and all the advice she could stand, she pervailed.
Then, 24 hours after the last cat was processed and released, she had a
gall stone attack and is now recovering from major surgery, watching
contented cats cavort in her garden and no kittens on the way. Sandra, I
know you can't read this, but I am so *proud* of you! Others in the
Seattle area who want to do the right thing, call on me; I will help if I
can.
CAMPUS CATS WEBSITE.
Our website may have improved slightly since your last visit. We still
have high hopes of, among other things, installing our own "virtual
shelter," complete with photos. Meanwhile, we advertise through PAWS and
have made some very good placements thanks to their service.
Our URL is http://weber.u.washington.edu/~calvin/cats.html. Not very
catchy, I'm afraid, but there you are. Pay a visit, though there is still
not a lot to see (my fault entirely). Also visit the Feral Cat Coalition
website at www.feralcat.com if you want to know more about ferals
generally.
FERAL CAT COALITION OF KING COUNTY/SEATTLE
Dull name, I know, but that's not my doing. Our intentions are pretty
exciting, though. Those out there in the Seattle/King County area who are
caretaking ferals or feral colonies get in touch. One of the things we
are actively pursuing is free sterilization of feral cats who are being
cared for, aka what is being done in Portland, Oregon (which recently did
its 1000th cat). Those who would like to join the coalition or who have
ferals that need sterilization, please get in touch with me. Our next
meeting is currently scheduled for Sunday, April 13.
Meanwhile, PAWS in Lynnwood is offering free testing/steriliation/rabies
vaccination for ferals on a first-come, first-serve basis. I have not
been able to get a clear phone number, of course -- PAWS has never quite
come around to accessibility. Those who can get to the PAWS website can
e-mail for further information or dial the ever-helpful 787-2500 phone
number and wind your way through the voicemail treasure map.
SATELLITE ADOPTION
PAWS is moving to off-site adoption, in an effort to expand shelter space
and further reduce euthansia of adoptable animals (yes, they are still
killing, but they are looking to become a "no-kill" shelter soon -- but
don't get me started on my opinion of no-kill shelters, at least not this
issue). They are also urging the City of Seattle to consider this option,
something I am following with interest. Seattle came close to it some
years ago, when they allowed me, as underground foster mother, to foster
under-age kittens and momcats and do my own screening of homes, with only
the paperwork done at the shelter. Now if they would just come out of the
closet and start using willing rescuers. A step at a time, though; I have
hopes. Meanwhile, those out there in the Seattle and King County area
write or call your local shelter and ask whether they are considering
satellite adoption or at least thinking about using volunteers in the
shelter in an effort to better conditions for the animals, free up time
for the professionals so they can better serve the public, and make the
shelter a less horrific place to visit. Seattle Animal Control has a new
administrator who seems to be open to change. Let's encourage him.
On a final (and unabashedly preachy) note, Friends of Campus Cats
advocates responsible TTVSR, which is to say the trapping, testing,
vaccination (for rabies), sterilization, and release of feral cats to a
caretaker. What we would really like to see, however, is for all cats to
be indoor pets, or at least be retained on their owner's property. If you
are feeding a homeless cat, good for you. But please also at least
sterilize it and better still test it (for FeLv/FIV) as well. Best of
all, take that cat home if at all feasible, using sensible quarantine and
socialization techniques as you integrate it into your family. Feral
felines make fine friends, to you and your other cats. Also bear in mind
what you see as a feral cat is just a long-abandoned pet who would like
nothing more than to come home again.
Cheers.
Sharon Talbert & Diana Dyer
Friends of Campus Cats
Seattle
"A warm lap is a terrible thing to waste." - Shira the Wonder Cat
"A cat is a cat is a cat." Tipsy the Terrible (who is brain-damaged and
repeats herself)