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Help!  Tiny Tabby

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jmcquown - 24 Aug 2004 18:50 GMT
I stepped out on my patio this morning to dump the dregs of the parrot seed
for the birds and there was a tiny grey tabby sitting there.  I'm no good at
guessing the age of kittens but it's smaller than Tallulah's little Hubert!
Obviously a stray, possibly abandoned by mama-cat (or mama was killed or
trapped or something).  Poor little baby was extremely afraid of me.  When I
tried to slowly approach, it ran into my shamefully overgrown monkey-grass
and hid.  I parted the monkey grass and it was shaking like crazy at my
approach and slunk further back away.  It won't let me get near it.

Here's the deal (and it breaks my heart to say so).  I can't start feeding
this kitten.  The apartment manager just graciously removed my monthly pet
fee for Persia because I'm unemployed, to help with my rent.  No way can I
take in another.  Also, I cannot afford more vet bills at this time.

I *did* think about putting food out to try to trap the kitten so I could
take him/her to a no-kill shelter.  But the woman across the street & down a
ways feeds ferals.  Per that other neighbor down the street (the one who
scared the crap out of me by leaning over the fence to tell me about a dead
cat), she's got 12-14 of them hanging around and does nothing else for them,
I might add.  I can't afford to attract her bunch over here.  I'm pretty
sure that's where this one came from since the woman doesn't attempt to have
the ones she feeds spayed or neutered.

Lastly, even if I could afford and take this sweet little darlin' in, Persia
is a one-cat cat.  She freaks if she sees another one through the window.  I
simply can't disrupt her life that way.

If I could figure a way to trap this little one and take it to a rescue
place to be cared for, I would.  Maybe you have some suggestions that won't
attract every feral cat in the neighborhood?

Jill
Signature

I used to have a handle on life...but it broke off.

Christina Websell - 24 Aug 2004 19:26 GMT
> I stepped out on my patio this morning to dump the dregs of the parrot seed
> for the birds and there was a tiny grey tabby sitting there.  I'm no good at
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
>
> Jill

Here in UK there are cat charities that will lend you a trap, which does not
guarantee that you won't catch someone you don't want.
It ain't easy and you can only try your best.

How do you know Persia wouldn't like a little pal?  Eventually, of course,
at first she would go ape-sh.t (hope I can use this phrase here)  Might be
worth trying for a few weeks.
How lovely for her to have a friend, if at all possible.

Tweed
jmcquown - 24 Aug 2004 20:09 GMT
>> Lastly, even if I could afford and take this sweet little darlin'
>> in, Persia is a one-cat cat.  She freaks if she sees another one
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> does not guarantee that you won't catch someone you don't want.
> It ain't easy and you can only try your best.

I have a trap.  I bought it a year or so ago when there was a cat coming
around constantly annoying Persia through the windows.  Persia even crashed
through the screen on my sliding patio doors to try to get "at" this cat.
After that I invested in a baby-gate to put between the screen and the
sliding glass door.

> How do you know Persia wouldn't like a little pal?  Eventually, of
> course, at first she would go ape-sh.t (hope I can use this phrase
> here)  Might be worth trying for a few weeks.
> How lovely for her to have a friend, if at all possible.
>
> Tweed

Persia goes ape-sh.t LOL just seeing another cat.  Besides, I can't afford
the vet bills to make sure this little guy/gal doesn't have something that
would pass on to Persia if I got it in the house.  I have only the bathroom
where I could keep the kitten until I could be sure.  But having just
shelled out $900 for Persia's surgery plus special food, I just can't afford
it.  And I'm pretty sure my apartment manager would be none-too-thrilled to
find I'd negotiated a lesser rent by her waiving the pet fee for Persia only
to find I took in another cat.  The maintenance man reports things like that
to her.  I can't step on her good graces that way.

It's a dilemma.  I went out a minute ago to see if I could snap a photo of
the kitten.  It's started to rain.  I can't find the kitten, but it could be
well hidden as it is so afraid of me.  (sigh)

Jill
Pat - 24 Aug 2004 19:28 GMT
> snip <
> If I could figure a way to trap this little one and take it to a rescue
> place to be cared for, I would.  Maybe you have some suggestions that won't
> attract every feral cat in the neighborhood?

Get out there and catch that baby somehow, bring it in your house and start
feeding it in a closed room away from Persia, and don't tell your landlord!
Then get on the phone. Aren't you in Memphis? If so, call the House of Mews,
for starters.
jmcquown - 24 Aug 2004 20:17 GMT
>> snip <
>> If I could figure a way to trap this little one and take it to a
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> your landlord! Then get on the phone. Aren't you in Memphis? If so,
> call the House of Mews, for starters.

I know all about the House of Mews.  They do good work and in fact I should
contact the founder, Elaine Harvey.  (Persia was featured in a newsletter
they published late last year as a taken-in abandoned cat.)

I'll bet Elaine would be horrified to hear about the neighbor lady who
simply feeds ferals and does nothing more to try help (home/spay/neuter).  I
don't know why I didn't think of that before.  Thank you!

It started to rain and when I just checked, I can't find the little guy/gal
now.  For all I know it could be just hiding from me (perhaps somewhere in
my pile of firewood).

I'm going to fire off an email to Elaine.  I already have a trap but didn't
want to put food out for fear of attracting all those other cats.  Might
have to, though.  I'll send email to her and see what suggestions she has to
offer not only about this darling little kitten but also what to do about
this woman who is apparently feeding 12-14 cats and thinking she's "doing
good" but obviously isn't.

Thanks, Pat!

Jill
CATherine - 25 Aug 2004 01:19 GMT
>>> snip <

I hope you get the kitten rescued quickly. And much help and education
for the neighbor feeding the ferals. Purrs...

--
CATherine
Cheryl - 25 Aug 2004 02:12 GMT
In the fine newsgroup "rec.pets.cats.anecdotes", CATherine
<pepsicola5cents@drop.me.bigsandytelco.com> artfully composed this
message within <news:09lni0tmi4q6q8n0in3ajj3ho6d7m0dtb7@4ax.com>
on 24 Aug 2004:

>>>> snip <
>>>>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> --
> CATherine

Purrs from here too that House of Mews (love that name!) can be
some help for the poor baby.

Signature

Cheryl

jmcquown - 25 Aug 2004 10:18 GMT
> In the fine newsgroup "rec.pets.cats.anecdotes", CATherine
> <pepsicola5cents@drop.me.bigsandytelco.com> artfully composed this
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> Purrs from here too that House of Mews (love that name!) can be
> some help for the poor baby.

The music on the web site gets really annoying but once you get to the cat
adoption page

http://www.houseofmews.com/adopt.html#

you can turn it off.

They do good work.  Iit's a 501(c)3 organization, non-profit.  None of these
cats is ever forced to leave.  If they can't be adopted they live out their
lives in this old refurbished storefront in Midtown Memphis.  If they are
sociable or have been socialized, the cats are allowed to roam free all over
the place.  Walk by any day and you'll find any number of cats sunning
themselves in what used to be display windows.  The House of Mews is staffed
by volunteers (which include vets) and is supported by donations and some
slight sales from their "store".  They care for these cats and adopt them
out to good homes.  Unfortunately, they have a limited capacity and can't
take in every cat that comes along.

I did write to the founder to see if she has any suggestions about what to
do about this fool woman who allegedly keeps feeding ferals without doing
anything further to help them.  And if I can trap the kitten (not sure if I
can), I'll see if they will take it in.  They have people who specially work
with ferals, and there is a separate "kitten room" too.  It's a really cool
place, but walking in the door makes you want to take all of them home!

Jill
mlbriggs - 24 Aug 2004 20:10 GMT
> I stepped out on my patio this morning to dump the dregs of the parrot seed
> for the birds and there was a tiny grey tabby sitting there.  I'm no good at
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
>
> Jill

Perhaps if you throw a bath towel over it, you might be able to catch it.
Just a suggestion.  When I play with my cat, she will stop still if I
cover her with something.

Best of luck for you and the kitten.  MLB
polonca12000 - 24 Aug 2004 22:26 GMT
Lots of purrs and best wishes for a happy ending for Tiny Tabby,
Signature

Polonca & Soncek

<snip>> If I could figure a way to trap this little one and take it to a
rescue
> place to be cared for, I would.  Maybe you have some suggestions that won't
> attract every feral cat in the neighborhood?
>
> Jill
jmcquown - 24 Aug 2004 23:57 GMT
> I stepped out on my patio this morning to dump the dregs of the
> parrot seed for the birds and there was a tiny grey tabby
> Jill

I managed to snag a photo of it after the rain stopped.  It was running from
me and huddled between my fence and my garbage can.  I don't feel like
starting an album for this little critter so if you want to see it, please
email me.

Note: it was older than I thought, just scrawny as can be.  Once I snapped
the pic it managed to scrabble up over the short fence and run off.  Don't
know if it will be back or not.

Jill
Sherry - 25 Aug 2004 03:01 GMT
Jill, this cat really needs to be caught. If you'd feed it a couple of times,
then set your trap in the spot you've previously fed it, you'd probably catch
it. He needs someone to intervene.
If you're not comfortable trapping it yourself, many rescue org.'s will trap
for you. If the House of Mews doesn't trap, maybe at least they can tell you
someone who does. I hope you can find someone to get him/her.

Sherry
O J - 25 Aug 2004 13:02 GMT
Jill wrote in alt.binaries.pictures.animals

>Subject: Terrified Feral Grey Tabby Kitten

>This little cat is afraid of me.  I found it on my patio yesterday morning.
>I'm trying to figure out how to trap it and get it to a no-kill shelter.  In
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
>Jill

What a sweet little face!  Hope you have good luck with finding it a
forever home.

Regards and Purrs,
O J
jmcquown - 25 Aug 2004 13:20 GMT
> Jill wrote in alt.binaries.pictures.animals
>
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> Regards and Purrs,
> O J

Didn't occur to me until early this morning to post the photo on
alt.binaries.pictures.animals!  Thanks for pointing that out here :)

And yes, such a sweet little face. BIG eyes and fuzzy ears.  Poor little
thing.  I hope I can trap it and find it a good place to be socialized and
given a good home.  I haven't seen it again today (and I did go out and comb
through my overgrown wet monkey-grass) looking for it.

Elain from the House of Mews thinks it's maybe 6 months old.  That seems a
bit extreme to me since it doesn't look nearly as big as Tallulah's kitten
Hubert to me.

Jill
Magic Mood Jeep? - 25 Aug 2004 14:21 GMT
Gotta remember that Tallulah's kitten has been pampered, while this guy has
had it very rough.  When we adopted Lizzie from the local shelter, they said
she was 7-8 months old.  After giving her a good once over, I think she was
closer to 1-1.5 years.  She had been a stray and was very skinny (had almost
no fat pocket on her belly).  One month here and she filled out very nicely.

Weeble was HUGE at 4 weeks (vet tech said that he was the size of most
8-week-olds she'd seen), but the FF were tiny (by comparison) when I got
them at 6 weeks.  Still healthy, but much smaller than the Weebster.
Signature

The ONE and ONLY
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>> Jill wrote in alt.binaries.pictures.animals
>>
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
>
> Jill
jmcquown - 25 Aug 2004 15:47 GMT
> Gotta remember that Tallulah's kitten has been pampered, while this
> guy has had it very rough.  When we adopted Lizzie from the local
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> got them at 6 weeks.  Still healthy, but much smaller than the
> Weebster.

True; this little one is scrawny.  A major cutey, but still scrawny.  I
never said I was a good judge of kitten age; I never had a kitten!  Was just
looking at it being oh, 5 inches long in body and with a really big looking
head for the body and thinking this must be a really young'un :)  Still
young, even if he/she is 6 months old.

Jill

>>> Jill wrote in alt.binaries.pictures.animals
>>>
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
>>
>> Jill
LOL - 27 Aug 2004 03:22 GMT
> > Jill wrote in alt.binaries.pictures.animals
> >
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
>
> Jill

I finally was able to find the pic using the usenet replayer thingy (I
don't get binary groups).  It looks awfully sweet, but awfully pitiful
- those eyes are heartbreaking.  Actually, it looks like this kitten
may be a little bigger than Hubert; Hube's a big kitten, but in most
of his pics he's next to Tallulah, and she's on the smallish side.

I do hope you can trap the little thing, and we are purring very, very
hard for this.  Maybe you could put the trap out just for very short
times, when you've seen the kitten, so that maybe it could attract a
kitten close by but not the cats across the street?  Please do keep us
updated about this baby!

------
Krista
Mary - 26 Aug 2004 02:07 GMT
> > I stepped out on my patio this morning to dump the dregs of the
> > parrot seed for the birds and there was a tiny grey tabby
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> Jill

Where is the photo?
hpickering@austin.rr.com - 26 Aug 2004 03:03 GMT
>> > I stepped out on my patio this morning to dump the dregs of the
>> > parrot seed for the birds and there was a tiny grey tabby
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
>Where is the photo?

alt.binaries.pictures.animals
under the heading
Terrified Feral Grey Tabby Kitten
Mary - 26 Aug 2004 05:54 GMT
> alt.binaries.pictures.animals
> under the heading
> Terrified Feral Grey Tabby Kitten

Ahh, bummer. I deleted all the messages there due
to a flood. I'll try Google after a while. Thanks.
Sherry - 26 Aug 2004 13:44 GMT
>> alt.binaries.pictures.animals
>> under the heading
>> Terrified Feral Grey Tabby Kitten
>
>Ahh, bummer. I deleted all the messages there due
>to a flood. I'll try Google after a while. Thanks.

Poor little thing. He looks awfully thin. And he's got "that look" in his
pretty eyes.

Sherry
CatNipped - 27 Aug 2004 01:26 GMT
Jill have you seen him/her again since s/he ran away from you?  I can't help
it, I can't get that picture out of my head, I'm haunted by those sad eyes!

Hugs,

CatNipped

> I stepped out on my patio this morning to dump the dregs of the parrot seed
> for the birds and there was a tiny grey tabby sitting there.  I'm no good at
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
> --
> I used to have a handle on life...but it broke off.
jmcquown - 27 Aug 2004 08:25 GMT
> Jill have you seen him/her again since s/he ran away from you?  I
> can't help it, I can't get that picture out of my head, I'm haunted
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> CatNipped

I have not seen the kitten again.  I've been looking!  Those eyes are
haunting.  Poor thing :(

Jill

>> I stepped out on my patio this morning to dump the dregs of the
>> parrot seed for the birds and there was a tiny grey tabby sitting
[quoted text clipped - 33 lines]
>> --
>> I used to have a handle on life...but it broke off.
mlbriggs - 28 Aug 2004 05:48 GMT
>> [quoted text muted]
> I have not seen the kitten again.  I've been looking!  Those eyes are
> haunting.  Poor thing :(
>
> Jill
>> [quoted text muted]
Purrs for tiny cat -- let's hope another cat lover was able to rescue it.
 LBM
 
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