Pet Lovers

[timeless]

Am I the only one that has noticed an uptick in kitties just showing up?

We live in a rural area with some mid-size towns in the out-skirts.  

I would say most living here are of modest means and love animals.  

So in the last 60 days, three new kitties have shown up at my back deck where I currently feed four others.

Two of which have shown up in the last two weeks!

I put out enough for every kitty, but...******!  I just had an increase of $60 a month just for these newbies.

What is going on?

I told my husband I was hoping the local shelters aren't dropping kittens (weaned) in the area.  It seems like sacriledge to even suggest such a thing and he said the backlash from a discovery like that would be huge., but I know the economy is really tough right now and maybe shelters are letting the littlest go into the "wild".  

Have you noticed an increase of kitties showing at your home?

[Kachina624]

Pet food and vet services have become so expensive, owning a pet is a real luxury.  It's possible people are realizing this and arre dumping them.

[timeless]

@Kachina624 

Breaks my heart.  

[Kitty Galore]

I truly hope this is not true because it would be so disturbing to think those that shelter these innocent unwanted pets and claim to be animal lovers would throw them out in the cold literally 😡

Bless you for feeding these kittens I realize it's not easy buying all the extra cat food ,  your doing Gods work truly .

[Marp]

I sincerely doubt the shelter is dropping off kittens. 

More likely the shelter is full and not accepting any new animals so people that didn't have their pets spayed or neutered are dropping off the results of their negligence.

[BlueFinch]

I also doubt that any shelters would release cats, or kittens. What happens is, when they're full, they stop accepting. Often people are placed on a wait list to place their animal and feel they can't wait. This leads to dumping.

Our largest shelter is begging for fosters, to open up beds when possible. I was viewing dogs in foster care and many may go months, to a year, with no adoption, or inquiry.

Fosters help the shelters, but once the dog/cat is in the care of another, they tend to become lost in the system. Those in shelters that aren't adopted, at a certain point, are at risk for being euthanized. The numbers are staggering. At least that's how our major city shelter works. They're not happy about it, but they have no choice. 

It's a sad situation and worsening. Cost is adding to the problem. Vet care has become beyond many folks budgets. Then there's often owner lack of pet education, but I won't go into that, sigh.  

[timeless]

I was laying in bed thinking about the kitties and wondering why I'm not seeing any dogs.

Not that I wish that on any pooch, but really, if it's just a matter of vet bills and food costs, why not dogs showing up as well?

What country is it I'm thinking of, India maybe?, that has a homeless dog problem.  I've seen videos of many of them roaming the streets, obviously starving, and it hurts my heart to think that may be coming to America if things don't straighten up with the economy soon!

[We rescue cats]

It tears at my heart to see homeless kitties, this is how we have ended up with so many over the years.  I feed them and several friends of mine do the same, they do not adoppt them but they feed and neuter or spay.....they care for over 20.  People just don't seem to worry about it, after all cats can take care of themselves. . . so sad and so very wrong.

[Estellee]

There are some strays in my development, I feel sorry for them. They are just waiting for someone to feed them.

[Bonkers1]

@Kachina624 

So true but also so sad.