Member

Posts: 24
From:San Antonio
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 12-03-2003 12:15 PM         

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When I moved there I had two ferrets and a cat named Mojo who's now about 5 yrs old. Since I've been there I have seen so many strays... I have fed several of them (large tom cats) who are very gentle but who disappear for months at a time. In the last six months I have taken in two kittens who I tried through various rescue orgs to place in homes but had no luck. They are now a member of our home and my limits have been reached. I am scraping to make their shots, spays, neuters, and exams. I arrived home yesterday and found yet another kitten in my yard. (adorable little thing but sick) I fed her some kitten food (she was starving) and put her in the garage for the night. She definately needs some medical attention... I think shes got a bacterial infection. I just cant afford to take on another when I am trying to get the two I've already adopted healthy. I spent 2 hours on the phone trying to find a place for her with no luck. Everyone is so overrun with kittens right now its impossible to place her. SPCA, Humane Society, Animal shelter and even local independant services like S.C.A.T. cant help. What do I do?

[This message has been edited by Mojo (edited 12-03-2003).]

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Member

Posts: 996
From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 12-03-2003 12:55 PM         

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Your best bet is independent rescue groups. In Dallas there were a lot of those. Check with your local petsmart store, the animals in there are usually placed there by a local rescue group. Contact them, maybe they can help or tell you about other local groups that could help.

I ran into the same problem in Dallas, which is why I have so many cats. I finally found a group to help me get them spayed and neutered so they wouldn't reproduce and I feed them. If you can get them as kittens, you can sometimes adopt them out, but after they are older the best you can do is spay or neuter them and feed them.

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Posts: 24
From:San Antonio
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 12-03-2003 01:13 PM         

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I found SCAT through Petsmart... she has no foster homes availible. Thats what I'm talking about, I made phone calls for at least a couple of hours last night. I even called area vets... Alot of them are boarding adoption cats right now that have been left on their front door step. One vet said she ended up with a total of 9 cats and kittens just last week that were abandoned at her office. So sad but I guess people do what they can. I will continue to feed the little guy and hope something opens up.

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Posts: 260
From:MO, USA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 12-03-2003 03:07 PM         

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Can you offer to foster the kitten for them? Thats one of the problems that I run into with running our cat program. We get so many phone calls for people requesting our help but no one is ever willing to foster them for us until we can find a permanent foster home or a permenant home. They have to get the cats out NOW!
Please if you can ask them if you can foster the kitten for them. I know that in my own program each cat foster home I have has atleast 10 foster cats in it. Having just one can be stressful enough.
Ask them if they can atleast allow you to help place this kitten. Ask for a listing on petfinder, to attend adoption events, and then if he is adopted than they can neuter, chip, and get him up to date on his shots.
Maybe offer to help scoop and feed the cats at petsmart in exchange for assistance.
I offer this to everyone who calls needing to place a cat. Sadly Ive only had one person EVER take me up on that offer.
The rest of the people opt to be put on a waiting list that I hate to admit, never get in.
If you are willing to help them it shows dedication and they might be more willing to help you.

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Posts: 996
From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 12-03-2003 05:34 PM         

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Those are very good suggestions. Some people just aren't cut out for fostering. If I take an animal in I can not get rid of it. I did adopt two kittens out that I hadn't had very long. I cried when they left even though they went to a great home.

I definately think volunteering to clean cages and attending the adoption events are great ideas. Maybe you can find him a good family at an adoption event.

Whenever I had kittens I would put fliers up at school, work, and pet stores. That's how I found my kittens a good home. You have to be discriminating though. I adopted two out to people I thought were nice and it turned out to be a nightmare.

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Posts: 260
From:MO, USA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 12-03-2003 09:25 PM         

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I definately agree that some people arnt cut out to foster. I dont even know how I do it.
However I think she might have luck offering to foster the kitten that is in her care that needs medical attention and to be placed. Then once the kitten is placed she can get out before she gets sucked in.

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Posts: 260
From:MO, USA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 12-03-2003 09:29 PM         

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Mojo, if you would like to do the adoption yourself, I can send you my adoption application via email. You can get some good info on potential adopters that way. Also if they have kids make sure to ask them questions. Kids bare their souls and will tell you the truth on things.
Such as, is this your first kitty? oh no we've had lots of kitties, we just got rid of one so we could get a kitten.
So on and so on.

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Posts: 24
From:San Antonio
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 12-04-2003 08:23 AM         

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If I had the resources I would definately consider fostering. Not just in this case but regularly. I just got married and my husband and I are trying to get on our feet so money is very tight. But... considering your suggestions I wouldn't mind volunteering my time and effort if that would help. I work full time and go to school full time so hours are limited but I usually have the weekend. I will call S.C.A.T. again and see what other options there are since she can't take him immediately. I would never turn the little guy out on his own. I will do my best to care for him until I can find a place for him. Still, I am concerned about him being a little sick. If it is parasites... causing the diarhea, amoxicilin won't help will it?

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Posts: 24
From:San Antonio
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 12-04-2003 08:27 AM         

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MaydaysMom, I would appreciate the app if it could be emailed. It will at least give me an idea of how the process works. Thanks so much for your help.

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Posts: 260
From:MO, USA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 12-04-2003 10:07 AM         

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Sure just send me a line and I will forward it to you
apluspetsitters@sbcglobal.net

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Posts: 996
From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 12-04-2003 10:15 AM         

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No amoxicillin wont help if it is worms. If you can get together with the rescue group they might be able to hook you up with their vet. Maybe the vet would sell you the de-wormer at cost without charging a pet exam. It would probably be around 10.00.

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Posts: 25
From:United States
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 12-07-2003 05:42 PM         

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I know that young but i'm old enuf to know that these are problems. Too many people are not getting there cats neutered or spayed and this leads to chaos. Too may stray kittens. I hope people neuter and spay there cats. Mojo, my prayers are with you.

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DaKoTa

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