Community Chat

[Kachina624]

I don't read to my dogs but I do talk to them.  They love it and stare at me intently like they understand every word.

[Noel7]

My husband was doing a lot of yard work a couple of years ago and was befriended by a cat who jumped the fence and shined up to him.  She stayed and stayed and seemed to love him.  Finally I gave her food because she was losing weight, and we finally caught her and took her to the ASPCA which has a no-kill policy.

I could not take her in because my cat was under treatment for cancer and our vet said it would be too much stress for her.

We put up notices around the neighborhood and through the ASPCA, thinking she might be lost or abandoned.  No response.

Then I got a call from the ASPCA that they had found a heart murmur and killed her.  That beautiful little loving calico.  I never give them money again, I give it to rescue groups.

It broke my heart and years later I have still not gotten over it, I still cry when reminded.  Like now.

[croemer]

Sad story Noel.

[Cakers3]

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@Kachina624 wrote:

I don't read to my dogs but I do talk to them.  They love it and stare at me intently like they understand every word.

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@Kachina624 I'll bet they do.  I have an old soft slipper that our granddog loves to grab and shake around. No matter where that slipper is out of sight once he hears 'Go get slipper!' he gets up to find it.  lol

[YorkieonmyPillow]

@Noel7 Oh that's so sad! But you were trying to do the right thing for her!

[croemer]

Mine stares at me while I shower...now THAT makes me feel strange. She also can not stand a closed door between us.

[Tinkrbl44]

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@occasionalrain wrote:

There are three feral cats I feed. Sometimes I read out on my patio, when I do, these cats show up and lounge about. So, when they do, I read aloud to them and they seem to enjoy it.

Well, this morning I was out there reading to them and my neighbor appeared, gave me this odd look then hurried away.

What I want to know is, do you find my behavior strange?

The other thing I want to know is, do you read to cats or dogs?

By tonight my patio behavior will be known throughout the neighborhood. I wonder how my other neighbors will react. Any gesses?

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@occasionalrain

Well, anyone who knows anything about cats should know that is just one of many ways to socialize feral cats .... and get a good conversation going.  Or perhaps you were actually discussing the debate and the upcoming election.    I have heard that cats enjoy discussing politics, lol.    

[Bird mama]

@occasionalrain

Okay, I am fluent in sparrow, pigeon and squirrel so I'm not the person to ask about weird.  I learned the sorrowful whiny vocalization of squirrels from the young ones born in my yard this year.

In the morning, before I go to work, I step outside and started calling for the sparrows and pigeons/mourning doves in their native tongue.  I then do the squirrel thing with the ch ch ch ch followed by wee wee wee wee (in their native tongue).

Right hand to (you know who - can't name him on these forums anymore), the birds flock to me and the squirrels come running out of trees, along the privacy fence, etc.

When the ducks stop by in the spring, we talk and they hang around while I cut the grass, no kidding, they just move outta the way of the lawnmower.

I'm sure my next door neighbor figured out I was different years ago, lol.

[itiswhatitis]

@Tinkrbl44

Socializing (Taming) Feral Kittens

Kittens born to community cats — whether the mother is feral or friendly — need to be socialized (tamed) by humans in order to be suitable for adoption. The socialization of feral kittens requires a daily commitment of time, the duration of which depends on the age of the kittens and the amount and consistency of the time you spend working with them. Community kittens can be socialized fairly easily if they’re handled at an early age — 8 weeks or under.

Feral kittens over 8 weeks of age can be safely spayed or neutered as long as they weigh at least 2 pounds. We recommend that unsocialized kittens over 8 weeks of age be trapped, neutered, vaccinated and returned to the colony.

Typically, the older kittens are, the longer it will take to socialize them, and it is intensive work requiring proper time and space. Depending on a kitten’s age and temperament, he or she may never become a good candidate for adoption. In attempting to socialize an older kitten who seems borderline feral, we recommend giving it 2 weeks maximum. If the kitten isn’t making progress by then, it’s best to spay/neuter, eartip, vaccinate, and return the kitten to his or her colony before it becomes unfamiliar territory.

If you cannot commit to working with the kittens according to our recommended guidelines — or adopting them yourself — please leave them outside. Semi-socialized cats and kittens are not good candidates for adoption or for shelter placement, and they may be at increased risk of abuse by humans if returned outside.

Following are some tools to help you get started:

http://animalalliancenyc.org/feralcats/tnr-colony-care-resources/managing-kittens/socializing-taming...

[Noel7]

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@YorkieonmyPillow wrote:

@Noel7 Oh that's so sad! But you were trying to do the right thing for her!

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Thank you @YorkieonmyPillow !

When we saw feathers and bones near our lilac tree we knew she wasn't going to a home for food and care, and she was getting thin.  I would have taken her in and paid all her vet bills in a minute if it hadn't been for my own cat struggling to beat cancer.

I had no idea they would kill that little kitty.  DH is still heartbroken, too.