July 01, 2005
What do I do?
So normally, on Fridays, I'll Friday Cat Blog about Blur. However, about 5 minutes ago, my neighbor nearly beat my door down. He knows that I have a cat, and this kitty had been coming around my house. However, the gray kitty was pregnant a few months ago, and now there are stray kittens roaming around.
Anyway, back to my neighbor. I finally get the door, and he hands me a tiny tiny kitten (seen below). I have to take him (or her, I haven't checked) to the shelter tomorrow. I think it may be the runt of the litter, and I don't know what I'd do if this kitten died in my house. So, if you know of someone in the DC metro area that wants a runt, or if you have suggestions for me to take care of this precious little kitten, please email me. I'll throw in a pet carrier and some food, some litter, and a few toys. I'm not going to name it, since if I name it, I'd feel more attachment to it than I already do. Please please, help.
Here is another picture of the kitten drinking out of a tiny bowl. That is my hand next to it. My hands are not that big. This kitten is TINY. You can see from the first picture how small it really is. That's a standard roll of toilet paper next to it.
Advertise the kitten on craigslist. I was able to place one there last year when I found myself w/five kittens.
Posted by: Chris Casey at July 1, 2005 11:43 PMIt sure does like going to the bathroom! Pew!
Posted by: yakuza at July 2, 2005 01:03 PMHello, I live in Europe, but I read US-based cat newsgroups. A few tips I got from them, I hope I'm not repeating the obvious:
-- KMR (Kitten Milk formula) is better than cow's milk;
-- you can usually advertise at vet's offices;
-- I'd recommend posting about the kitty at rec.pets.cats.anecdotes and rec.pets.cats.health+behavior (and other rec.pets.cats. ... groups), accessible through Google Newsgroups; if I remember correctly, there is also a rec.pets.cats.rescue group.
-- a clearing house on cat info: LisaViolet's Cathouse (this IS the site name), at http://www.lisaviolet.com There's TONS of useful info there.
Diane, the site owner, can offer you some good advice herself.
-- PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not take the kitty to a shelter that does not have a no-kill policy! PLEASE get the necessary information about shelters in your area!
I've read MANY stories on these newsgroups about Animal Control simply euthanising animals left in their care, not bothering AT ALL to find the owner, put up the animal for adoption, and so on. Kill shelters often euthanise new arrivals if they are just a little bit ill, or look too feral to be easily adoptable.
I wish you good luck!
Agnes (who, if she didn't live in Germany, would adopt the kitty right away)
P.s. Please keep your readers posted!
Posted by: Agnes at July 4, 2005 11:14 AMThanks for your pointers Agnes. I'm going to take the kitty to the vet tomorrow and get it checked out, de-flead, and vaccinated. If I do decide not to keep it, I'll make sure the shelter has a no-kill policy. I wasn't aware that there were places like that. Thank you especially for that though. I'll definitely keep my readers posted.
Posted by: yakuza at July 4, 2005 05:42 PMGood luck with the vet visit, let us know how it has gone!
I learned from the newsgroups that shelters in crowded areas are usually "kill" shelters. Unfortunately, the SCPA, the biggest of all, does not have a no-kill policy. What it means is that animals have a waiting period, usually 7 days, and if they are not adopted after this period, they are euthanised en masse.
I read many heartbreaking stories, how no-kill shelters regularly adopt and save the death-row animals from kill shelters. Yes, death row...
Good luck with the kitty! -A.
P.s. Just remembered another site: http://www.maxshouse.com It is an animal rescue team and no-kill shelter in Ridgewood, N.J.
Posted by: Agnes at July 5, 2005 09:46 AM