 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
| HomeDiscussion GroupsGeneral TopicsCat AnecdotesHealth and BehaviorRescue CatKB.com Contact UsLink To UsSearch & Site Map |
Cat Forum / General Topics / July 2006People who leave pets when moving.
I just got back from visiting my daughter in Davenport, Iowa and while there rescued a long haired female Calico kitten that I would say was less then a year old. Her neighbors had moved out a month ealier and left it behind. Every morning I would get up and see it playing out back chasing bugs and things. It would sleep under the back porch at night. It broke my heart to see the poor thing. I started feeding it table scraps and just setting and talking to it and finally it warmed up to us and let us get a hold of him. Once it came to know us it was the most lovable and friendly kitten I ever seen. My daughter and grandkids wanted it but they can barely support themselves so luckily the Humane Society of Scott County - http://www.hssc.us/ - took it in. Everyone there took an instant likeing to it. I would like to get my hands on the people who left her behind and make them live like they forced that kitten to live. I am glad that we happened to visit and get it before it got injured or worse and was tame enough yet to find a good home. The thing that worries me is that my daughter said they had 2 kittens. I wonder what happened to the other one. They were both the same age from what my daughter said.  Signature***************************************************** E-mail address altered to foil spam. Reply to news groups for all to see please. ***************************************************** I've read that a major problem at college campuses involves students who abandon pets, mainly dogs and cats, when they leave for vacations and such. SignatureJames Leo Ryan ..... Austin, Texas ..... taliesinsoft@mac.com > I've read that a major problem at college campuses involves students who > abandon pets, mainly dogs and cats, when they leave for vacations and > such. Yes, unfortunately that's true. I live in a college town, and we have a big increase in abandoned pets at the beginning of every vacation or college "break." There was one particularly bad instance where 2 boys left town and abaondoned their 3 dogs *inside* the apartment *without any food or water.* By the time the landlord checked the apartment several days later, the poor dogs were desperate for food (and you can probably imagine the condition of the apartment). That's the reason our local animal shelter will not adopt to college students. That is often unfair because many students are wonderful with pets (I had a cat when I was in graduate school, and he was as pampered as you can get), but it is particularly difficult to maintain any control over situations where the "owner" can so easily simply pack up and leave town. Some people treat animals like disposable objects. MaryL Two years ago our neighbors left leaving their three cats. Two adopted homes in the area very quickly but one was very aloof. After a very long time of feeding and waiting she finally let us pet her. We had her fixed and shots updated. As long as she is by herself she is the most loving little girl. But bring her in with our other cats and it is did not go well. Although we would love to have her inside she is our outside cat along with a cat we think was one of her kittens before we got her fixed. I know that some college students do leave pets but when I was in college my roomie and I had a cat and when school was out for breaks and at the end of the year she always went home with me. I had her for 15 years. > > I've read that a major problem at college campuses involves students who > > abandon pets, mainly dogs and cats, when they leave for vacations and [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > MaryL Abandon pets are a big problem in the military too. Not to stereotype *all* military families, and I am retired military as well, but military families in base family housing have a terrible record of abadoning family pets at transfer time. FWIW, I have always believed that such behavior should reflect on the military person's evaluation/appraisal as a failure in military bearing & leadership, as well as being a violation of military regulations and local civilian law. On the brighter side, when we were stationed in Hawaii, a family on our block abandon a half-grown male domestic short-hair. We had recently lost our cat due to old age, so we adopted this cat and had him for the next 13 years. He was a joy to us. Chuck > FWIW, I > have always believed that such behavior should reflect on > the military person's evaluation/appraisal as a failure in > military bearing & leadership, as well as being a violation of > military regulations and local civilian law. I would agree. It's a deraliction of responsibility. > I would like to get my hands on the people who left her behind and > make them live like they forced that kitten to live.... We are a strange species. Some of us can leave a small creature to fend for itself without a second thought while others will spend weeks breaking down walls or digging up storm drains to save one trapped kitten. I wonder which of these two images our own judges will resemble. Andy > I would like to get my hands on the people who left her behind and > make them [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > the same > age from what my daughter said. They should make give heavy fines to people who abandon pets if they can be tracked down. Furthermore, instead of wasting money on wars for Israel and hospital care for illegal aliens we should do more to protect pets and sterilizing them. I think it should be law that new pets are required to be sterilized. A couple of the cats I care for, I know for a fact, their "owners" desserted them :( If I ever meet up with one of the cats' "owners", I may initiate a conversation regarding this fact and see what they have to say for themselves. SignatureWhere will you spend eternity? In the Smoking or Non-Smoking Section? > >> I would like to get my hands on the people who left her behind and make [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > sterilizing them. I think it should be law that new pets are required to > be sterilized. >I think it should be law that new pets are >required to be sterilized. Soon there would be no new pets, except for purebreds (expensive). Then there would be a proliferation of clandestine catteries and puppy mills. Bad idea. Signature-john wide-open at throttle dot info I would like to comment on a couple things said here. First of all both the comments raised in regards to students and the military are sadly true. This does however make it very difficult for those of us in either situation to prove that we are different. You can imagine when I walked into the local Humane Society how difficult it was for me, a University Student and also involved with the Canadian Armed Forces, to adopt my kitten. She was also abandonned, but in a different way. Apparantly when the people decided that they no longer wanted pets and left town (because they do believe they know who had originally owned my baby girl, her littermates and her mother), they dropped all four cats in a plastic garbage bag at the side of the road by a nearby neighbours driveway. Luckily the people who lived there left to go to work and noticed that the bag was moving, opened it and found all four kittens still alive. She is now one of the most spoiled and pampered kittens I know. I love my Marziale, she's like a daughter to my boyfriend and I, a part of the family, and I can't imagine what life would be like now if we hadn't adopted her, much less eventful I'm sure :) Britt > >I think it should be law that new pets are > >required to be sterilized. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Bad idea. I live in an "affordable" townhouse neighborhood . Lots of singles, couples and very young families and a lot of turnover. Cats are left behind and then have litters that go feral. I feed these cats and put out a shelter for them in the winter. I don't want them to suffer. If I caught them and took them to the SPCA I think they would be considered non adoptable. I wish that I could afford to trap, neuter and return.It is beyond my understanding how someone could just abandon an animal. I don't know how this could ever be stopped. > I would like to comment on a couple things said here. > [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > > > > Bad idea. I totally agree with you,Grawun! SignatureWhere will you spend eternity? In the Smoking or Non-Smoking Section? >I live in an "affordable" townhouse neighborhood . Lots of singles, > couples and very young families and a lot of turnover. Cats are left [quoted text clipped - 38 lines] >> > >> > Bad idea. > Furthermore, instead of wasting money on wars for > Israel and hospital care for illegal aliens we should do more to protect > pets and sterilizing them. Don't be ridicules. You shouldn't even think about diverting fund from aid to humans. Both humans and pets are animals. Withholding aid to illegal aliens would make you the same monster that withholds comfort to a cat. BTW Just because my cat is allowed to roam outdoors doesn't make him feral. I wonder how many "rescued" cats is actually someone's pet. People should let their neighbors know their pets so some kid won't say, "he followed me home, and can I keep him." I just hope my cat don't get friendly just because someone offers him chicken and cream. : BTW Just because my cat is allowed to roam outdoors doesn't make him : feral. I wonder how many "rescued" cats is actually someone's pet. : People should let their neighbors know their pets so some kid won't : say, "he followed me home, and can I keep him." I just hope my cat : don't get friendly just because someone offers him chicken and cream. Is that not precisely why collars were invented? > : BTW Just because my cat is allowed to roam outdoors doesn't make him > : feral. I wonder how many "rescued" cats is actually someone's pet. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Is that not precisely why collars were invented? The first time I put a collar on pussy he bounced around like psycho cat trying to get it off. Micro chips are better but much more expensive. >> BTW Just because my cat is allowed to roam outdoors doesn't make him >> feral. I wonder how many "rescued" cats is actually someone's pet. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Is that not precisely why collars were invented? Collars can be very dangerous. They can cause severe wounds and a cat can hang itself with it. In our country (The Netherlands) hundreds if not thousands of cats per year end their lives as victims of the traffic. And this is just a very small West-European country. I think it is better not to let your cat room outdoors. If it is not the traffic that will kill it, it will be the cathaters or other dangers. SignatureGaznapiro http://orphanedkittens.kruimelhuis.nl/ Oh pshaw, on Mon 03 Jul 2006 05:04:16p, Gaznapiro meant to say... >>> BTW Just because my cat is allowed to roam outdoors doesn't make him >>> feral. I wonder how many "rescued" cats is actually someone's pet. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > the traffic that will kill it, it will be the cathaters or other > dangers. Precisely why my cats live indoors and are only allowed out when we go with them. SignatureWayne Boatwright @¿@¬ _____________________ > Oh pshaw, on Mon 03 Jul 2006 05:04:16p, Gaznapiro meant to say... > [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > Precisely why my cats live indoors and are only allowed out when we go with > them. Exactly my idea ;-) SignatureGaznapiro http://orphanedkittens.kruimelhuis.nl/ > Collars can be very dangerous. They can cause severe wounds and a cat > can hang itself with it. That's why they make break away collar that break when caught on something. [snip] > Collars can be very dangerous. They can cause severe > wounds and a cat can hang itself with it. Indeed. > In our country (The Netherlands) hundreds if not > thousands of cats per year end their lives as victims of [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > If it is not the traffic that will kill it, it will be > the cathaters or other dangers. Oh no not the indoor/outdoor argument again. Here in the UK we have had cats in this house for over 30 years. All have been allowed out and not one has had a shorter life because of it, they have all lived to 16+ (with the current one approaching 12). For my part, cats are naturally outdoor creatures, I would not have any if it were not possible to let them out. Ivor >> In our country (The Netherlands) hundreds if not >> thousands of cats per year end their lives as victims of [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Oh no not the indoor/outdoor argument again. I'm sorry, I had no idea this item has passed here for so many times. > Here in the UK we have had cats > in this house for over 30 years. All have been allowed out and not one has [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > For my part, cats are naturally outdoor creatures, I would not have any if it > were not possible to let them out. All creatures great and small are naturally outdoor creatures. However, your cats, so your responsibility. In my opinion you are very lucky, you never waited in fear for a cat that never returned. I'm not going to argue about it, you are entitled to your opinion, they are or were your cats, it is your life and your responsibility. Everybody does his best to give their cat(s) a pleasant life. You do it your way, and I'll do it my way. But I see no harm in warning people for the dangers cats encounter while they are outside. SignatureGaznapiro http://orphanedkittens.kruimelhuis.nl/ >>> In our country (The Netherlands) hundreds if not >>> thousands of cats per year end their lives as victims of [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >>> If it is not the traffic that will kill it, it will be >>> the cathaters or other dangers. >> Oh no not the indoor/outdoor argument again. >I'm sorry, I had no idea this item has passed here for so many times. When I originally posted this it was about someone that moved and left behind their adorable 1 old long haired calico to fend for itself. Funny how far from an original post a thing can get under the same subject heading!! >>>> In our country (The Netherlands) hundreds if not >>>> thousands of cats per year end their lives as victims of [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > Funny how far from an original post a thing can get under the same > subject heading!! Back to the original topic then! Several years ago our lovely neighbors decided to stop feeding the cats that they'd fed for years. Of course none of these cats were neutered or spayed and most of them were semi-feral. The neighbors didn't move, they just got tired of feeding the cats. So we had probably 10 or 15 cats hungry, wandering around. We started feeding them ourselves, caught the ones we could that were tamer, ended up with I think four of the original cats (two were small kittens). We went from 1 cat to 6 or 7 in 1 year! We ended up trapping four or five and spaying/neuturing and releasing them. Several of them were too wild to rescue and there were a couple of batches of kittens that we'd see from a distance. Some of them disappeared. We are still feeding one or two outside eight years later. Every cat that we have now were either from that incident or are from cats that have been dumped. I don't understand how people can do this. For the most part these neighbors seemed like decent people but to just stop feeding a living creature just for your inconveniece doesn't make sense to me. As far as inside vs outside, I learned the hard way that inside is best, at least for me. Two cats hit by cars, one died, one with massive trauma that survived but had major surgery to repair a badly shattered leg. This same kitty contracted feline leukemia that he wouldn't have gotten had he been inside and we had to have him euthanized after three years. (This was over twenty years ago and I don't remember if there was a vaccine at that time for leukemia.) I live in a rural area and there are a lot of predators around--bobcats, mountain lions, coyotes, feral dogs, rattlesnakes, hawks (one killed a neighbors cat). I have seven inside cats and they are happy and well adjusted. Most of them seem to be afraid of the big outside world. Just my experience. Bonnie |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.