Just a reminder – the Forgotten Felines of Huntsville auction is starting TOMORROW. It begins at 9 AM (Central Time), and I’m sure I mentioned earlier this week that there’s some REALLY neat stuff. Don’t miss out – go like and follow the page here!
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If you are in the Houston, Texas area, Jim is looking for help/advice!
My name is Jim and I’ve been watching you and your kitties since…uh…I don’t even know how long now. Years. You’ve been someone I’ve adored watching forever, it seems. You’ve turned me into a “boop”er, and I fear my kitties may yet take a hit out on you for it.
I live in a very nice area in Southeast Texas (basically I live in suburban NASA with a bunch of astronauts and engineers). We have inside cats that we take care of, but recently we’ve been feeding strays because…well, they’re in a city and kitties can’t eat concrete. So we let them live in the attic in the garage and I feed and worry over them and pet them. Because no one else will. When my last inside kitties (foster fails) pass, I will probably take these kitties inside.
But there are a lot of them now: At first it was three beautiful young white girl kittens, but now it’s regularly over half a dozen young cats now, half boys, half girls. The problem is obvious: we have too many of them, and they need to be Trapped, Neutered and Returned. They’re already in heat.
The problem is where I live doesn’t seem to have any TNR people, and I’ve been searching: even the Houston TNR (which is pretty far away) doesn’t even have a way to even ask questions. Not even an email. The ONLY thing I can do on their web page is volunteer.
These young animals need to be kept from making more babies, and we just don’t have the cash to catch, medicate and cope with up the first three cats, much less the 8 cats I should be neutering (and possibly up to 11! considering part-time residents). Do you know who I could contact to possibly get help?
I’m just looking for advice. These cats are young and ready for babies, and it seems I’m the only one taking any care of them at all. Babies are the last thing these babies need, and I can’t trust our city pound (they not only kill, they do sweeps: no freaking way. Not on my watch).
I should have started asking people questions a month ago and I’m worried they will all be pregnant soon. I’d appreciate any advice you have to give. Sorry for whining.
Cynthia gave Jim a good starting point in the comments, but if anyone out there is in the Houston area (or knows someone in the area) and knows of a rescue that could give Jim advice and help, please leave a comment.
(And Jim, please let us know how things are going!)
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That belly looks like it’s a half-done JiffyPop. Any guesses when she’ll fully ‘pop?’
and
Look at that tummy!!! Have you felt any movement yet?
Not a clue when we’ll see kittens. I still think we’ve got a little while, but whether that’s a day or a week, I really couldn’t tell you. I’m not seeing the crazy alien belly movement I usually see in the days before kittens are born BUT with a couple of previous mothers, I only saw subtle movement and never saw the alien belly, so I’m thinking it depends on the mama. Her appetite remains good (there’s generally appetite dropoff in the days before kittens are born BUT NOT ALWAYS), she’s getting much snugglier, she’s sleeping a lot BUT also playing a lot, so who knows?
As for movement, I have seen some subtle movement, but like I said it’s not obvious, and it’s not the crazy alien belly. I would love to just sit with my hand on her belly all the time, and she’ll let me do it for short (VERY short) periods of time, but then she gets bitey (I can’t blame her, I’d get bitey too if someone kept trying to touch my stomach.)
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So, does Canasta have a crush on Charlie?
I don’t think she does, but maybe smacking and hissing is her love language! (She’s gotten less hissy and smack-y in the past week or so, but she still likes to give him the ol’ smackeroo sometimes, just ’cause.)
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“He’s in here again, isn’t he?”
“No, SMACK. You need a SMACK, not a SNACK.”
“If I don’t look at him, he isn’t there,” she said smugly.
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From last summer, when the catnip (and Dewey!) were happy and the grass was green. Is it time for spring yet?
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Previously
2020: Spring’s coming!
2019: I canNOT get these two to pose next to each other nicely.
2018: Hanging out behind the sink, as you do.
2017: No entry.
2016: “Are you pregnant TOO? Get in here, let’s form a mother’s club!”
2015: “Don’t be stingy, lady. Gimme more.”
2014: I love how tossing a toy into a basket makes even skittish kittens come running over to see what’s going on.
2013: Mercury’s Glamour Shots pose.
2012: No entry.
2011: Updates on adopted kittens.
2010: Kara, keeping an eye on YOU.
2009: No entry.
2008: Spot.
2007: Obviously he just doesn’t love Joe Bob enough.
2006: No entry.
2005: No entry.
Jim – the least expensive place for spaying/neutering is SNAP in Houston but that’s going to be a drive and, if I remember correctly, was first come and first served. Friends 4 Life is an awesome resource and lent trap cages but, again, is a drive. I’m no longer in Houston but I’d be happy to contribute some funds: lori.trautwein@gmail.com.
Hey Jim,
If you are able to make a plan with a rescue, please update here so that we can donate to that rescue. If you end up going at it alone, try to find a vet that will work with you, and again let us know here, maybe set up a “Go Fund Me” account so we can all help. The “Love and Hisses” community is amazing, we will help!!
Jim – I agree, keep us posted. I’m happy to donate to assist!
I just put Houston TNR into Google and got several hits. You can search low cost step & neuter and usually pops up clinics that can handle ferals
Step & neuter…don’t you just hate autocorrect!
Excellent suggestion!
Haha — “No, SMACK. You need a SMACK, not a SNACK.” That Canasta is such a witty girl!!! 🙂
Spring yet?!! Ha, two words: Polar. Vortex.
Aw, sure looks to me like our girl has a crush on Charlie (can you blame her?)…
A rescue called Shadow Cats in Round Rock is quite knowledgable about TNR around TX.
They are on Facebook, IG, and their website is shadowcats.net