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Cat Forum / General Topics / September 2006Stray cats?
We found two little kittens roaming outside our place tonight. We aren't sure what to do with them. We already have a wonderful little kitten, and we can't really afford to take care of three cats (vet, immunizations, etc.). However, they are currently outside on our doorstep. Tonight we considered taking them to shelter, but nothing is open at the moment. So my question is, should we keep them as outdoor cats (feed them and give them water) and let them come and go as they please, or should we take them to a shelter. I'm leaning towards the shelter because we live on a busy road but I would like a second opinion... because some of my family members just want to let them roam around... opinions? thanks a bunch!  Signaturehttp://i7.tinypic.com/24g0snn.jpg my baby. I think you should check with the shelter to make sure they have room, and to make sure the kittens would not be put down under any circumstance. Cute young kittens are typically snapped up by those looking to adopt. The sooner you get them used to being indoors and around people, the sooner they will adjust to the good life. > We found two little kittens roaming outside our place tonight. > We aren't sure what to do with them. We already have a wonderful little [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > members > just want to let them roam around... opinions? thanks a bunch! I would take them to a shelter but until then if you have a room that you could keep them confined to indoors would be good just to make sure they stay and not wander off. If you do decide to keep them as outdoors cat or just leave them go it would be nice if you could fine your way to having them spayed / neutered and possibly getting at least their first shots. My furbabies http://members.aol.com/larrystark/ >I think you should check with the shelter to make sure they have room, and >to make sure the kittens would not be put down under any circumstance. Cute >young kittens are typically snapped up by those looking to adopt. The >sooner you get them used to being indoors and around people, the sooner they >will adjust to the good life. >> We found two little kittens roaming outside our place tonight. >> We aren't sure what to do with them. We already have a wonderful little [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] >> members >> just want to let them roam around... opinions? thanks a bunch! I can understand your reluctance to bring to a shelter that might put them down, however with the billions of cats running loose, and knowing the fate that will await them if they are free roaming stray cats, bringing to a shelter that might put them down is not that bad of an alternative. Don't think I hate cats, I don't. I do a lot of rescue work, but if the only options are a regular shelter or a life on the street, I vote shelter. Ideally, it would be a no kill shelter. If that isn't an option, then second ideal would be the OP bring them inside and feed them and find homes - but then you usually don't know what kind of homes they are going to go in to, and if they will neuter the cats and not add to the over population issue. >I think you should check with the shelter to make sure they have room, and >to make sure the kittens would not be put down under any circumstance. [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] >> members >> just want to let them roam around... opinions? thanks a bunch! I agree with "~*Connie*~" <no@spam.com> about life on the street or shelters. If it is an adult cat that knows it way around and in good health then I will feed it and provide a place for it to get out of the elements if I can but for a kitten I have said all along (And taken a lot of flack for my opinion) that I would rather take it to a shelter (Preferrably no kill) and at least let it have a chance to find a home. Kittens have a better chance then adults to get adopted. With an adult stray the chance of getting adopted are really slim so I will try to find them a home if I came or if not feed and provide some kind of shelter for it. My furbabies http://members.aol.com/larrystark/ >I can understand your reluctance to bring to a shelter that might put them >down, however with the billions of cats running loose, and knowing the fate [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >go in to, and if they will neuter the cats and not add to the over >population issue. >>I think you should check with the shelter to make sure they have room, and >>to make sure the kittens would not be put down under any circumstance. >>Cute young kittens are typically snapped up by those looking to adopt. The >>sooner you get them used to being indoors and around people, the sooner >>they will adjust to the good life. >>> We found two little kittens roaming outside our place tonight. >>> We aren't sure what to do with them. We already have a wonderful little [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >>> members >>> just want to let them roam around... opinions? thanks a bunch! > I agree with "~*Connie*~" <no@spam.com> about life on the street or > shelters. If it is an adult cat that knows it way around and in good > health then I will feed it and provide a place for it to get out of > the elements if I can... The average live span of a street cat is 5 years. The average life span of a well-cared-for housecat is at least 3 times that. > > I agree with "~*Connie*~" <no@spam.com> about life on the street or > > shelters. If it is an adult cat that knows it way around and in good [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > The average live span of a street cat is 5 years. The average life span > of a well-cared-for housecat is at least 3 times that. Unless its a nonadopted cat in a shelter that euthaniases. Then its 1% of that. Strictly outside cats don't live too long, and you would at least need them vaccinated and spayed/neutered as the other poster said -- even if they are outside. Is there any way you could put them in a room, like your bathroom, until you decide? Be careful not to let them mingle with your current kitty until you know if they are healthy. I don't know what I'd do -- hope to have the money to get them fixed and vaccinated and them find homes for them myself. If not, probably finding homes for them with promises from the new owners that they immediately take them to the vet. Last would be a no-kill shelter (with leaving them outside not on the list.) Good luck! Rhonda > We found two little kittens roaming outside our place tonight. > We aren't sure what to do with them. We already have a wonderful little [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > road but I would like a second opinion... because some of my family members > just want to let them roam around... opinions? thanks a bunch! thanks everyone. unfortuantely, the cats DID wander off. i hope someone is able to find them or that they come back because we still have food out on our doorstep... if they return, we'll put them in the bathroom and take them to the humane society ASAP. thank god i haven't seen any remnants of the cats on the street.. *sigh* :( Signaturehttp://i7.tinypic.com/24g0snn.jpg my baby. > thanks everyone. > unfortuantely, the cats DID wander off. i hope someone is able to find [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > thank god i haven't seen any remnants of the cats on the street.. *sigh* > :( If there is food outside and they don't find a better place I believe they will come back to eat. (If the food sits too long watch out for rats etc...) > We found two little kittens roaming outside our place tonight. > We aren't sure what to do with them. We already have a wonderful little [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > road but I would like a second opinion... because some of my family members > just want to let them roam around... opinions? thanks a bunch! Well, I would probably adopt them, even though I've said before that I wouldn't want more than the one cat I have, but I adopted her under similar circumstances. Barring that, you either have to abandon them to the risks of the wild (even the urban wild if that's the case) or take them to a shelter where they might be put down. As another poster stated, there are too many cats and it's sad, but life is harsh. As for not being able to afford them, I think that's a cop out. I'm not rich by any means, but I am not hurting for money. The biggest expense for my cat was having her spayed. Food, litter and even amenities like scratching posts and toys amount to little more (maybe less) than I might spend on a 3-day vacation, even considering the 2 years she's been my companion I never hesitate to donate a dollar when I buy anything at the local pet store, and I have not been diligent enough to assure myself that it really does go to a good cause, but it's only a dollar. I would be willing to donate to charities that provided assistance to pet rescuers within reason - I don't want to fund the crazy old lady with 37 cats in her house, but it would be nice if shelters could place pets in GOOD homes rather than killing them if were funded by private citizens (DEFINITELY NOT THE GOV'T - we don't need to extend welfare to our 4-legged friends no matter how much we love them). > As for not being able to afford them, I think that's a cop out. I'm not > rich by any means, but I am not hurting for money. The biggest expense > for my cat was having her spayed. Food, litter and even amenities like > scratching posts and toys amount to little more (maybe less) than I > might spend on a 3-day vacation, even considering the 2 years she's been > my companion I don't think it's a cop-out at all, I think it's being responsible and knowing your limits. How much is a new kitten package at the vet's now -- the worming, the Felv/FIV tests, all the vaccines? I think it's something like $150. She would have this cost times two. That's even before the spay/neuter, which is probably over $100 per cat. You have a two-year-old cat, wait until she is older and say that she is not expensive. Younger cats, once you're past the the vaccines, tests, and spays, are usually just the food and litter most of the time (which can cost enough in itself...) After they add a few years, some things can start to pop up -- we've had diabetes, CRF, and now a cat we just spent thousands on for two surgeries on her colon. Not all have huge vet bills, and many pet owners don't notice the illnesses until the cat is dead and then there is no big vet bill to worry about. In all, I would say each cat you take in is going to cost you at least $5,000 by the end of their lives, and that would be with routine illness, maybe a URI or UTI here and there, but not including any big surgeries. Judging on the cats we've had over our lives, I'd say our BIG, expensive illnesses/surgeries would be about 1 out of every 3 cats over age 10. Rhonda >> As for not being able to afford them, I think that's a cop out. I'm >> not rich by any means, but I am not hurting for money. The biggest [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > I don't think it's a cop-out at all, I think it's being responsible and > knowing your limits. Well, I agree that there is certainly something to be said for that. OTOH, cat food and litter costs next to nothing. > How much is a new kitten package at the vet's now -- the worming, the > Felv/FIV tests, all the vaccines? I took my cat to a vet in a ritzy part of town 2 years ago when I adopted her. He did say he was giving me a break on the anti-biotic he prescribed since he appreciated the fact that I rescued her from certain death, but I got out of there for about $20. As I said, my biggest expense was getting her spayed. Ah, I just found the bill. $224, but it included 5 nights boarding and all the usual tests. (Leukemia, blood, "health exam with vaccines, RNCP (whatever that is), "In heat fee", "pain relief", et al.) I really wonder about that "in heat fee" - she was only a few months old at the time - that amounted to $14. I do know there are programs in most places to help people with such expenses. What's really f.cked up is people who say they can't afford this or that, but they spend upwards of $200 a month on cell phones and cable alone. > I think it's something like $150. She > would have this cost times two. That's even before the spay/neuter, > which is probably over $100 per cat. It was itemized on my bill - $68 for the spaying. I'm sure if I tried hard to work the system it would have been less. > You have a two-year-old cat, wait until she is older and say that she is > not expensive. Younger cats, once you're past the the vaccines, tests, [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > illnesses until the cat is dead and then there is no big vet bill to > worry about. We'll see - I'm not a believer in feeding tubes and such. She'll die when it's her time to go, and saying that doesn't mean I don't care. When it's her time - or my time, for that matter - we will both pass, hopefully gently into that good nite. > In all, I would say each cat you take in is going to cost you at least > $5,000 by the end of their lives, I think that's quite an overestimate, but I'll leave it to later to work out what I feel is a reasonable one. Nonetheless, spread over 15-20 years, I'd still say it's nothing especially compared to what you and the cat is getting. Just doing some quick calculations in my head, that actually seems about right - a smidgen over $20 a month for 20 years - works out to about $5000. So maybe $5K is not an overestimate - it's simply not that expensive if you're living above the poverty line. > and that would be with routine > illness, maybe a URI or UTI here and there, but not including any big [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Rhonda > I think that's quite an overestimate, but I'll leave it to later to work > out what I feel is a reasonable one. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > So maybe $5K is not an overestimate - it's simply not that expensive if > you're living above the poverty line. She's already has one cat -- so if you were lucky enough to be able to even out all expenses over the life of the cat (instead of the "she needs x-rays right now and that will be $185 at the counter...") she's already at $20/month. I don't think it's fair to be nonchalant about the cost to someone whose situation you do not even know and tell her she can easily afford the $60/month by adding two cats, because you would be able to do it. My point is -- it's not a trivial expense and it is a decision that should be made with responsibility and honesty about your circumstances. Rhonda >> I think that's quite an overestimate, but I'll leave it to later to >> work out what I feel is a reasonable one. [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > My point is -- it's not a trivial expense and it is a decision that > should be made with responsibility and honesty about your circumstances. While I agree that it is a decision that should be made with responsibility and honesty, I also belive that if someone can afford internet access, the cost of taking in an additional cat (or even 2) is trivial. Now maybe she's posting from her local library, but I doubt it. Granted, offering a home to a starving kitten isn't a necessity, but call it what it is - making choices. Now, I don't know what kind of choices the other poster is making other than that they seem to have time to post on the internet, but I am sick of people saying they can't afford simple inexpensive things while they bitch about the 5-year lease they signed for their BMW SUV (and I do know someone like that). And it doesn't have to be a BMW lease - I went for years without cable because I didn't WANT to pay for it, not because I couldn't afford it. Just be honest about your priorities. It's possible that they really can't afford to take in a couple of cats, but I suspect it is more likely that driving their SUV is more important to them. > Rhonda > While I agree that it is a decision that should be made with > responsibility and honesty, I also belive that if someone can afford [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > but I suspect it is more likely that driving their SUV is more important > to them. Well, BP, I hear you only have one cat but can afford more (you have internet access, right?) The best thing for you to do tomorrow would be to go to your local shelter and adopt at least 2 more cats. Ask for the cats that are ready to be euthanized -- believe me, there will be some on the line. You will be saving at least 2 lives. Good luck! Rhonda I am feeding and caring for 6 indoors cats that I took in as strays. 4 at my place (Which is already 1 above local codes) and 2 at my ex's that she took in for me as well as 5 outdoors cats. I really do not know if they all are strays or just nieghborhood cats that realized they could get a hand-out at my daughter's when I feed the actual strays. Point is that I am 62 and retired and live on a limited fixed income and can not afford to keep adding to what I am feeding now. Sure I could give up my internet access and probably feed 2 or 3 more cats then be right back where I am now - at my limit. Also lets face the fact that I am getting up there so what will happen to these cats when something happens to me ?? Chances are they will go to shelter anyways. I have conned just about everyone that I know into taking a cats in already. The ones that haven't are not cat people or can not afford one. On top of that it is kind of like people that foster pets. If they kept every pets they fostered eventually what would happen when more pets came along that needed fostering?!?! They would most likely stay in a shelter as long as they had room then be put down if a friendlier / cuter / younger one came along which had a better chance of being adopted. Sad fact of life is that a person can only do so much and help so many. Just have to do the best they can with what is available to them. My furbabies http://members.aol.com/larrystark/ > While I agree that it is a decision that should be made with > responsibility and honesty, I also belive that if someone can afford [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > but I suspect it is more likely that driving their SUV is more important > to them. > Well, BP, I hear you only have one cat but can afford more (you have > internet access, right?) > > The best thing for you to do tomorrow would be to go to your local > shelter and adopt at least 2 more cats. The thing is, if I come across a homeless cat, I will take it in and care for it. There's a big difference in what you and I are suggesting. I could donate all my "disposable" income towards rescuing cats, but it would be pointless as long as there are idiots who do not take proper care of theirs. Some of them must die - it's not nice, but neither is making excuses for why you can't take care of the ones that show up at your doorstep. Ask for the cats that are ready > to be euthanized -- believe me, there will be some on the line. You will > be saving at least 2 lives. > > Good luck! > > Rhonda >> Well, BP, I hear you only have one cat but can afford more (you have >> internet access, right?) [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > The thing is, if I come across a homeless cat, I will take it in and > care for it. Shelter cats are not homeless? > There's a big difference in what you and I are suggesting. I don't see a big difference at all. > I could > donate all my "disposable" income towards rescuing cats, but it would be > pointless as long as there are idiots who do not take proper care of > theirs. It is not pointless to the ones you rescue. Ever hear of the starfish story? There will always be people dumping their cats in shelters and always be people dumping their cats in the streets (or moving and leaving them to fend for themselves.) The people problem is the same in either situation. It doesn't matter where you find the cat, the shelter or your yard, it needs a home. > Some of them must die - it's not nice, but neither is making excuses for > why you can't take care of the ones that show up at your doorstep. I think your sore spot is you don't believe the original poster and you think she's making excuses. Someone in your own life makes excuses about not being able to afford things when you think they can -- and you've transferred your feelings to this situation. You wanted to chastise her for that -- it's not about the cats at all. Although, I really think it would be a good idea for you to go rescue some more cats. They are being euthanized daily and you have the money to save a starfish or two. Why wait for one to land in your lap? Rhonda >It's possible that they really can't afford to take in a couple of cats, >but I suspect it is more likely that driving their SUV is more important >to them. actually, we don't have an suv. we don't even like them. gas is too expensive even with the little car we have now... and we would have taken them in if A)we could afford to take them to the vet, B)if the landlord would allow us to have more than one in the house, C)and if our current one did not have a URI, a cold, and an eye infection. i love how people say "well, if you can afford to pay for interent and cable you can afford two more cats." that isn't the case at all. our bill isn't THAT high, but the money we don't spend on bills, we spend on food, clothes, school supplies and our current cat. we are a single-parent family so money is tight enough as it is. i hope that everyone who says that we should have taken them in because we can afford it has 5 or more cats. we would have taken them in if at all possible. Signaturehttp://i7.tinypic.com/24g0snn.jpg my baby. > i hope that everyone who says that we should have taken them in because we > can afford it has 5 or more cats. we would have taken them in if at all > possible. Elizabeth, I think only one person said that. Don't worry about it, we all do what we can. There are lots of different opinions on usenet, I was kinda interested in the reasoning behind his opinion. Rhonda |
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