The Rescue Ranger

My journey with TNR began in the canyon behind my house. A few kittens were playing in the dandelions, and I began to name them. Then, one day, they showed up with ear tips. I wasn’t sure what to think, so I began researching. I learned that TNR was about helping community cats, and I began to find ways to help others in my community. I’m a cat advocate, marketer, and fundraising specialist, and I want to help all outdoor cats find safe indoor homes or have safe outdoor communities.

Bonded outdoor cats

What Are Bonded Cats?

What Are Bonded Cats? Bonded cats or a “bonded pair” are cats that have a deep emotional attachment to each other. Litter mates, related cats, or cats who become very close may be bonded cats. If you are adopting a cat who is bonded, you should definitely adopt both cats. Separating bonded cats can be very traumatic for both cats. There are a lot of cute kitties peering out of their kennels at cat adoption facilities. During your walk down the aisle, they may give you a playful purr or extend their paw to greet you. In some cases, two cats will share the same cage, which may be marked “Bonded pair” on the kennel door. It is suggested (in some cases mandatory) that a bonded pair of cats be adopted together.  The innate urge of felines to create a pack is reflected in bonded pairings. Despite their reputation for being solo animals, cats are actually very social creatures. This deep emotional connection doesn’t only happen with the cat’s immediate family. Two cats from the same litter, adult cats, young cats, and even other animals can become bonded to cats. Siblings or best friends can form strong bonds in as little as a year when they feel safe together.  How do cats come to be so close? Shelter workers and fosters who pay close attention to the cat’s behavior and body language say they can tell the difference between a cat’s personality, likes and dislikes, and how well it gets along with other cats. As soon as they see a strong attachment between two kitties, the people in charge of their care strive hard to keep them together in the same forever home. In fact, bonded pairings are generally stressed out when they are separated.  How to tell if cats are bonded If you are wondering whether your cats are bonded with a special relationship, there are a few things to look for. Bonded cats show undeniable signs of physical affection.  Here are a few ways you know your cats or kittens are pair-bonded: How Do Cats Become Bonded? Bonding between cats is a feline behavior similar to humans forming close ties with friends and family. When cats are a young age, they frequently form strong ties with their furry friends. When littermates or even kittens from different litters are raised together, they also often develop strong bonds when they are young. Cats build these strong relationships by sharing their own space, sleeping in the same bed, using the same litter boxes, and often sharing smells through marking scent glands from bunting or making biscuits. What Happens If You Separate Bonded Cats? Cats are extremely traumatized when they are separated from their connected mate. They will grieve the loss of their buddy, and they may become melancholy or even develop behavioral problems as a result of the loss.  Bonded cats will argue like any other siblings from time to time, but they are inseparable and fiercely protective of one another.  Because of this, it is extremely crucial for shelters to foster and adopt bonded cats together (source), regardless of how long they have to wait for a new home. If you must separate bonded cats, make sure to do so gradually and in a way that minimizes their stress. When separating bonded cats, make sure to provide them with plenty of opportunities to socialize with new cats or humans to help them acclimate to the change. Can Bonded Cats Become Unbonded? Yes, it is possible for bonded cats to become unbonded. This can happen if one of the bonded cats passes away or is separated from the other cat for an extended period of time. If you have two bonded cats and the pair is separated, it can cause the other cat to become depressed and mourn the loss of its friend. Cats will go through a grieving process for their feline friend. Additionally, bonded cats may become unbonded if they do not have enough social interaction with each other. Cats have individual personalities, and sometimes, two lives grow apart, especially if they enter new surroundings with other animals and a different pecking order. Finally, bonded cats may become unbonded if placed in a stressful environment that conflicts with their relationship or behaviors. If you see your cats begin to feel anxious often, it could be a sure sign one cat or both are unhappy with their space. adopting bonded cats If you’re getting a new cat that has a friend, it is always best to adopt a bonded pair of cats or kittens together. This helps to ensure that their companionship can continue, especially during a stressful transition from a shelter or pet store. If they are separated, the cats may become stressed and grieve the loss of their bonded partner, making the transition even more difficult. There will be enough new challenges with bringing your kitty home, so adding the loss of their best friend will contribute to their anxiety and impact the cats health. Contact your vet if you notice a significant change in their personality or behaviors. Are Cats Bonded To Their Owners? Cats can form very strong bonds with their owners. Cats depend on their owners for food, shelter, care, and love. Cats bonded to their cat owner typically trust and respect them and enjoy spending time with them. If you are looking to bond with your cat, make sure to spend plenty of time with your feline friends and provide them with the care they need.  It’s also important to be patient as bonding can take some time to earn their deep-seated trust. Conclusion If you’re lucky enough to have a bonded pair of cats, you know just how rewarding the experience and twice the love can be. These loving animals share a strong emotional connection and trust each other completely. This healthy bond can provide them with comfort and support during difficult times. Bonded pairs often enjoy spending time together and may even

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How To Foster a Cat

How To Foster A Cat Welcoming a foster cat into your home is a heartwarming and fulfilling experience that provides much-needed love and care to a cat in need. Fostering a cat requires patience, compassion, and dedication, but the rewards are immeasurable. This guide will walk you through the entire process of how to foster a cat to help make your cat fostering experience a success. Whether you’re a seasoned cat owner or new to cats, you’ll pick up a few tips for which your cat will thank you. How to become a cat foster The first step in fostering a cat is to contact your local shelter, humane society, or animal rescue organization and learn about their cat foster program. You can fill out a foster pet application, which usually includes your contact information and details about your current pets and living circumstances. Many animal rescues will contact you once your foster application is reviewed and help you get started with their program. It is up to the shelter to assist you in selecting the perfect cat for your care and provide you with all the details of your fostering duty. You will also be made aware of any special needs the cat may have, if any are known. Shelters want to know that you are committed to the cats and the program, so it’s important to take the application and foster parent responsibilities seriously. How Long Do You Foster A Cat? Fostering a cat usually lasts a few weeks to a few months, but on average, about two months. Some foster cats will even be permanently adopted by their foster parents, which is commonly called “foster failing.” Most cats will be acclimated within a few weeks and be ready for adoption, which may also take a few weeks to find the right new family. The length of the foster will depend on a few factors. The cat’s health, attitude, temperament, general adaptability, and availability of adopters, to name a few. It usually takes about two weeks for a foster cat to acclimate to the foster environment, so be prepared to foster the cat for at least a few weeks. Foster kittens may acclimate faster than adult cats and senior cats, but it’s on a cat-by-cat basis. How Much Does It Cost To Foster A Cat? Fostering a cat is usually free. However, you may want to provide a few additional creature comforts for your new kitty. You’ll need to equip your home with essentials like a litter box, cat litter, food and water dishes, and cat food. Many shelters will provide food and litter. However, smaller shelters may also ask that the foster contribute the supplies as a donation. Food and litter, on average, can cost $100 a month per cat. In addition to these basic supplies, consider having cat toys, scratching posts, and comfortable beds for them. In case your foster cat has any specific needs or health issues, you might also need additional supplies such as special dietary food, medication, or grooming tools. Remember to consult with the animal rescue organization or shelter for any specific recommendations they have for your foster cat. How to prepare a cat foster room There are a few things you should do to prepare for the arrival of your new foster cat. It’s always a good idea to place any new cat into a bedroom all by themselves. Some shy cats will take two weeks to feel comfortable free walking around the house. You should make sure that your room is free from any hazards or items that could harm the cat. Remove cords, small objects, hazardous plants, and anything else that could be dangerous for a curious kitty. Don’t forget to block off windows and screens to prevent your cat from clawing their way out the window. In addition to all the essentials such as bedding, toys, litter boxes, and food, all the best cat rooms are a quiet place that have accessible hiding places, scratchers, boxes, toys, cat trees, a good scratching post, and sunshine. A good home environment will contain all the creature comforts a kitty wants, which also makes playing and training sessions more effective. Many cats will hide under the bed or in a closet, so it’s important to block off unders and deep hiding spots so you can socialize the cat. Cats like hiding spots, so the ideal spots are accessible to you but in the corner and hidden enough for the cat to feel comfortable and safe. I like a screen room separator that allows the foster room to remain open while still separated from other cats. How To Get Your Foster Cat Adopted The shelter you are fostering from will usually provide adopters through their network and Petfinder accounts. However, sometimes shelters don’t have a large audience reach, and it can help to promote the cat yourself. The good news is that you can take pictures and catalog your journey as you play and socialize with your cat. After all, happy cats and funny cat pictures will definitely help your foster cat get adopted. Socializing your foster cats Once you have welcomed a foster cat into your home, the next step is to prepare them and promote them for adoption. Your foster kitty must be ready for adoption before they can find their forever homes! The key to a successful fostering experience is socialization, even with an adult cat. You should spend time with your foster pets daily in order to get them used to being around people and other animals. Playing with the cats and giving them lots of positive reinforcement will help build their confidence. It’s also important to make sure they are healthy, flea and worm-free, and have vaccinations done before they can go up for adoption to their permanent home. The rescue or shelter you are working with should provide these services for their foster homes. Promoting your foster cat for adoption Promoting your foster cat or

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How To Surrender a Pet

How To Surrender A Pet Rehoming a pet or animal is never an easy decision for pet owners and should only considered as a last resort. Many people may choose to surrender or give away an animal due to unfit living situations, animal behavior, expenses of pet ownership, or even several animal-related allergies. The most common reasons people surrender pets is due to cost and housing situations.  What To Do Before You Surrender A Pet Before you make the difficult decision to give a pet away, please review this helpful resource guide before surrendering your pet, and exhaust all alternatives to surrendering. What NOT To Do When Giving Away A Pet When it comes to the difficult decision of giving a pet away, there are several things you should avoid to give your animal a chance at finding a new pet owner. Additional Resources For Rehoming A Pet Surrendering a beloved pet to another owner or animal shelter is never an easy decision. The best outcome is to keep your pet, and there are usually alternative options and assistance available for small animals. Especially if your pet has some behavioral issues, surrendering your pet should be a last resort. Here are a few resources that can provide recommendations for your specific situation. Contact local animal shelters, city animal control services, humane societies, known pet owners, neighbors, friends, family, co-workers, and make posts online to groups that work with pets.

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lost cat

What To Do If Your Cat Goes Missing

What To Do If Your Cat Goes Missing First, there are two things you should not do if your cat is missing. Don’t assume your cat knows how to get home, and don’t stop looking for them! Cats can be gone for weeks or months before finding their way home without help.  If your cat runs away or goes missing, start by walking around the house, calling their name, and looking for them. Most indoor-only cats won’t stray more than two houses away, so you can hopefully find them close by and quickly. Cats that are indoor/outdoor are more likely to stray up to one block in either direction, which means you’ll have to expand your search radius. Look under bushes, decks, under cars, and up in trees. The cat may be scared, so it may not come out or make any noise when called.  Cats are diurnal, so searching at night, dusk, and dawn is a good idea, and the light from a flashlight can reflect off the cat’s eyes in the dark, making them easier to see.  Before you start a serious search, make sure your silly furry friend hasn’t found a new hiding place in your closet. It happens to the best of us.   Cats can be gone for 18-24 hours before you need to worry. At this time, you can begin to take flyers around to all your neighbors and ask if you can look around their yards or an open garage. Keep your search up, and don’t get discouraged if it takes weeks. In some cases, the longer they are gone, the greater chance they have of being found again.  A lost indoor cat is probably scared and hiding. If the cat has been gone for a few weeks, it may have found a new human that is feeding them. Once the human gets to know the cat, they may search shelters and online for a missing cat.  That’s why it’s important to keep up your search for your furry friend! Will A Lost Cat Come Back Home On Its Own? The first thing to consider for what to do if your cat goes missing is if they will come home on their own. A cat has a home instinct that helps them find its way back home, sometimes. However, if your cat is lost during or after moving into a new house, or if the cat is spooked and runs to an unknown location, it may have a hard time finding its way home. Do not assume the cat will find its way home on their own. Many cats are skittish and get very scared when they go missing. That means that even if they do come home, getting them into the house might be a challenge. If you find your cat but can’t get them into the house or the cat’s carrier, you might need to set up a cat trap. If your cat is nearby, they are likely in a hiding spot by your house. Setting some food bait and a cat trap might be the easier way to catch most cats. How To Help Your Cat Find Its Way Home Usually, if a cat has gone missing, they won’t go far, and they will return on their own because of their homing instinct. Other times, the cat may be scared, cornered, or lost and unable to easily find their way home. Here are a few ways you can help your cat find its way home. Where Do Lost Cats Hide? You may be able to find your missing cat in one of the usual cat hiding places, such as a neighbor’s garage, underneath a car, behind a garbage can, or even up a tree. Missing cats are usually scared because they are away from their home territory. Be aware of very faint meows or paw prints, and call out to your kitty multiple times before checking a new location and conducting a thorough search. How To Catch A Scared Cat If your lost feline friend is frightened, and it probably is, then you’ll want to try some of these techniques to help your kitty stay calm and let you catch them. It’s a good idea to bring a cat carrier when you look for a lost pet. You can also bring their favorite food and treats to lure them into their carrier. When approaching a scared cat, always keep your movements slow and speak in a soft, calm voice as you attempt to approach them. Try to get them to come to you first, and only approach patiently not to startle them further. It’s ok to sit there for several minutes while your cat calms down. Here are a few tips for catching a scared cat with a trap. How To Do Community Outreach For A Missing Pet Community outreach is one of the best ways for cat owners to find missing cats and get their cat quickly home. Print lost cat posters and place them at popular locations like gates, signposts, and fences or walls. Sometimes, you can slip a note with your contact details in mailboxes or on a neighbor’s door if you think the cat may be on their property. The posters should include your name, contact information, a current picture of your cat, and a brief pet description, including your cat’s personality. You can also expand beyond your local area and post flyers or send emails to animal shelters, local vets, animal control, or even local police. You can even contact your local newspaper about your cat’s disappearance. Those are all places where a pet owner may call for found animals. Don’t forget to post your lost cat on Craigslist, Nextdoor, Whisker Tracker, and PawBoost.com. Social Media For Missing Pets In addition to community outreach and posting on Nextdoor, social media is a great way to get the word out about missing pets. Every area usually has several Facebook Groups that can help you find missing

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