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What To Do If You Find A Stray Kitten

What To Do If You Find A Stray Kitten If you find a stray kitten, you should first scan the area for others and its mother. Kittens under five weeks of age should be reunited with their family. Catching the mother and all her kittens is the best course of action so they can receive care and she can raise them safely indoors. In this article, we’ll talk you through the process of raising a stray kitten, from bottle feeding to how to litter train! Here are some tips to help you if you find an older stray cat. when can you take a kitten from its mom? The earliest a kitten should be taken from its mother is at five weeks of age. However, they should stay with their siblings until they’re at least eight weeks old. Most cat families remain together until this age, but when the mother cat is feral, she is often returned outdoors once the kittens are weaned. The kittens then continue to be raised together until they’re old enough to be adopted. If you find a kitten that’s too young to be away from its mother, the very best thing is to find her and reunite them. Also, check the surrounding area for other kittens nearby—where you find one, there are almost bound to be others. Even if the mother is feral, it’s best for her and her kittens to be brought indoors until they’re weaned. This provides her with a safe place to raise her babies—even if she doesn’t seem to appreciate it due to her own fear. Keep them in a room separate from your other pets, especially household cats, until they’ve been vetted and you’re sure they’re free of parasites and contagious illnesses. Mother cats enjoy a quiet, secluded place to feed and care for their offspring. A large dog crate or a covered table is excellent. You can also use playpens and baby gates to keep the kittens from wandering as they age. how to catch a stray kitten Stray kittens are unlikely to be socialized with humans. Many of them are feral. The age you find the kitten will change how fast they warm up to you. Younger kittens may warm up in days, while adolescents have a more ingrained fear that takes longer to overcome. If you’ve found a kitten under five weeks old, handle them 1-2 times a day. During this time, you can weigh them to ensure they’re gaining weight and give them attention briefly before returning them to their mother. Of course, orphaned kittens will be handled much more frequently out of necessity. You’ll have to take over mama cat’s responsibilities of bottle feeding and helping the kittens go potty. If the kitten is over five weeks old, bond with them by: How can you tell if a kitten is male or female? You can determine the sex of a kitten as early as five weeks of age. Simply take the kitten into your hands and gently lift their tail to look at their genitals. Directly beneath the tail, you’ll see the kitten’s anus. Below the anus are the kitten’s genitals. At this age, you might see a vertical slit if the kitten is female or a round opening if the kitten is male. Over time, males will develop testicles, making it much easier to tell the difference. Kittens can breed as early as four months of age. Siblings will mate with each other, and male kittens may even mate with their mother. It’s important to have them spayed and neutered before this happens. If you can’t spay or neuter the kitten before four months or about 2lbs body weight (source), separate males and females from one another so you don’t end up with even more kittens. How to tell the age of a stray kitten A kitten younger than four weeks old won’t be able to survive on its own and will need to be bottle-fed around the clock. Kittens of age 0-2 weeks still have their eyes and ears closed. They are helpless at this age and will need to be bottle-fed. Kittens of age 2-4 weeks old are more responsive and may begin to eat solid food. Once kittens are a few weeks old, they may also begin to play with toys. For more information, please check out our full article about How To Tell How Old A Cat or Kitten Is. how to raise a stray kitten Congratulations on your new kittens! Taming and raising stray kittens and feral cats is noble and definitely worth the effort. If you need help with kitten care, you can usually contact your local animal shelter for advice or support. How to bottle feed a kitten If you’ve found feral kittens that need to be bottle-fed, first take into account their temperature and health. Kittens shouldn’t be fed if they’re too hot or cold but instead brought to the right body temperature first (source). When ready, put one drop of formula in the kitten’s mouth to ensure they can swallow. Always feed kitten formula, not any kind of milk or dairy product. Once you know the kitten can eat, hold them in your lap feet-down and lift their head gently with your hand. Never feed a young kitten on their back. Bring the bottle to the kitten’s mouth and allow them to control the flow. Don’t squeeze the bottle to force more formula out, as this can injure the kitten. Alongside bottle feeding, you’ll also need to stimulate the kitten’s backside so that they pee and poop. Kittens don’t always potty on their own at this age. Mother cats lick their kittens to stimulate them to potty, which we can replicate by rubbing the area with a paper towel. When can kittens eat adult cat food? Different people have different opinions about this. We recommend speaking to your veterinarian to see what’s right for the kitten or kittens you’re raising. Most cat food companies recommend switching to adult food at around one

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Feral Cat Facts

Feral Cat Facts Feral cats are stray cats who were never socialized to humans. Populations can quickly get out of hand because a single female cat can birth about 24 kittens each year—and those kittens will go on to have kittens of their own. TNR (or trap, neuter, return) is the best way to help feral cats. In this article, we’ll talk about the problems feral cats face and how you can help the cats in your community. Problems feral cats face Cats allowed outdoors live shorter lifespans than indoor-only cats. This is especially true of feral cats who don’t receive help from a human caretaker. These cats have a life expectancy of just 2-5 years. Many problems contribute to this, but the most common causes of death in outdoor cats are disease and cat fights (source). Below are some common problems feral cats face and how you can help! Overpopulation Overpopulation is bad for cats, humans, and the environment. Outdoor cats have led to countless animal extinctions. Fights can occur when there are too many cats and not enough resources. Many consider stray cats a nuisance, but it’s humans who introduced them to the local environment! It’s our responsibility to manage their populations and, when we can, get them off the streets. The most efficient and humane way of doing this is with TNR or Trap, Neuter, Return. First, use a humane live trap to catch the cat. Then, have them neutered or spayed by a local veterinarian. Lastly, return them to their territory. A colony caretaker can then monitor the cats, providing them with assistance to live healthier, happier, and longer lives. Disease Diseases like Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) are contagious and deadly. They can take out entire colonies of cats. If you’re caring for a colony, consider getting them vaccinated yearly. This will reduce, not eliminate, their chances of catching FIV or FeLV. Parasites Fleas and ear mites are very common in outdoor cats. They may also be bitten by ticks or develop heartworm after a mosquito bite. All of these parasites are preventable using parasite prevention medications. Speak with a veterinarian in your area to see what the cats are most at risk for. A veterinarian can also advise you on the best plan for keeping a feral colony treated. For instance, they may suggest a yearly heartworm vaccine rather than monthly medication if the cats are feral. Catfights Not only can cats kill one another, but they can also spread disease through fighting or cause wounds that become infected. Cat bites and scratches become infected so commonly that there’s a name for it—cat scratch fever. Cats fight less when they have ample resources. Feeding a colony can help to prevent infighting. TNR can also help to reduce the population, thus allowing the existing cats more resources. Intact cats tend to be more territorial as well, especially males who will fight for a female’s attention. Predators Predators of cats include: Humans As we discussed above, some people view stray cats as a nuisance. These people may go so far as to leave out poison to kill them. Killing feral cats is illegal, but unfortunately, it is all too common. Traffic and automobiles Lastly, cats don’t know not to wander into the street. Their chances of being hit by oncoming traffic increase if they’re near main roads, but even on a less-traveled road, there’s still a chance. What should I do with a stray cat? Is it feral or tame? If you find a stray cat, first determine if it is feral or tame. Tame cats may let you approach (though not always). They’ve been socialized to humans and thus trust us more than feral cats. I’ve also had experience with tame cats meowing at me repetitively like a cry. Once, my own housecat escaped home by tearing through a window screen, then proceeded to hide behind the garage, crying for me but not letting me close enough to retrieve him! A neighbor’s cat once yelled in the same way after running across the yard, too nervous to come to me but still apparently wanting to talk. Feral cats don’t really interact with humans in this way. They’ll be very flighty, won’t let you come near, and may hiss or resort to violence if backed into a corner. Because they’re unsocialized, feral cats are incredibly afraid of people. In a live trap, feral cats are also less likely to stay calm than strays. Tame cats can be rehomed Try contacting your local rescue or even bringing the cat into your own home if you’d like! Tame cats may complain about being kept indoors at first, but they do well after an adjustment period. If you cannot find a rescue to help and cannot foster the cat yourself, the best thing to do is to leave the cat outdoors. Shelters are overrun with cats, and euthanasia rates are high—you don’t want to do more harm than good! TNR can help all strays—especially ferals TNR is the best thing to do for feral cats or tame strays who must stay outdoors. It lengthens their lifespan, reduces some behavioral issues like catfighting, and controls the population so it doesn’t get out of hand. If you’re struggling to TNR your local cats, contact a rescue or local organization that specializes in TNR. Also, look into low-cost spay and neuter programs. Monitoring the cats after TNR is also crucial to the feral cats’ well-being. Consider becoming a caretaker who feeds your local colony and brings them to the veterinarian as needed. (Check with your veterinarian for discounts or contact rescue organizations to see if they’ll help with funding!) Feral cats can also be brought indoors if you’d like, though it will be stressful for them. Most rescues won’t accept feral cats due to their abundance and the resources it takes to rehabilitate them. Help—there are too many strays! Has your neighborhood gone from a few stray

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What To Do If You Find A Stray Cat

What To Do If You Find A Stray Cat If you find a stray cat, you should determine if it is feral or tame. Tame cats can be adopted into families and kept inside, which will give them a longer, less stressful life. Feral cats can be trapped, neutered, and returned to their environment to control the local cat population. In this article, we’ll discuss what to do with stray cats, and how you can take them in, rehome them, or care for them outdoors. What is a stray cat? A stray cat is a pet that has been abandoned or lost and is now living on the streets. They are usually scared, hungry, and in need of assistance. The best thing you can do for them is to provide food, water, shelter, and care until you can find them a safe forever home to live in. If the cat has a collar, then it may be a lost cat, and you should try to find the owner’s contact information. A veterinarian would be able to scan the cat’s microchip if it has one to find the cat’s owner. Stray cats are typically found in areas where food and shelter are easily accessible, such as an alleyway, behind a store, or near a dumpster. In addition, feral cats often find their way into abandoned buildings and garages. Stray cats also tend to seek refuge near human dwellings. If the cat has an ear tip or ear clip, it is likely a feral cat. However, that doesn’t mean it can’t be tamed and become friendly. Feral cats also need love and support, just like other stray animals. What Should I Do If I Find A Stray Cat? The first step when you find a stray cat is to ensure that it is not injured or ill. If the cat does appear to be unhealthy, limping, or injured, try to get it into a cat carrier and take it to your nearest veterinarian for an examination and appropriate medical care. If the cat appears healthy but seems frightened or scared, try to make sure it has a place to find shelter and something to eat. Finally, if you find a stray cat that appears feral and is not suitable for rehoming, contact your local humane society to find out what resources and local animal shelters may be available for the cat. You can also contact animal control, private shelters, or sanctuaries in your area to find out if they take cats. The local police department does not help with cats unless it involves an animal cruelty or abuse case. It’s important to make sure only to use no-kill shelters because many shelters are overwhelmed with cats. A local animal shelter may also provide you with supplies and support if you are able to foster the cat until it can find an adopter. Should feral or stray cats be left alone? No. If everyone left ferals and stray cats alone, their population would grow out of control. A single mother cat can produce over one hundred kittens in a single year! In addition, cats aren’t wild animals. They’ve been domesticated by humans since ancient times, and they rely on us for survival. Our local ecosystems also rely on us to reduce the cat population. Outdoor cats kill native wildlife at rapid rates and have led to the extinction of several species. Even if the cat cannot be brought indoors, neutering or spaying them means they’ll no longer contribute to overpopulation by reproducing. Getting A Stray Cat To Trust You The first step to getting to know a stray cat is to gain their trust. Some strays will walk right up to you for attention—these cats have likely been dumped by a former owner or cared for by others in your community. Others will take more time to warm up to you but will approach you if you feed them regularly while sitting passively nearby. Speak calmly and in a gentle voice until you can visibly see them lower their guard. Then there are feral cats. These cats are too afraid of humans to eat in our presence or approach us. For instance, a feral I feed will stand at the edge of the yard and wait until I’ve come inside to eat the food I leave out for him. By taking the time to observe a cat, you’ll learn a lot about them! You might also get close enough to notice new medical issues such as limping, poor teeth, or parasites. How to care for a stray cat Whether you’re bringing a stray cat indoors or monitoring them outside, a trip to the veterinarian is an excellent place to start. Vaccinations and spay or neuter surgery should be done as soon as possible. Your vet should also conduct a thorough checkup to ensure the cat is healthy and has no contagious ailments. The cat is unlikely to pass on any diseases to you but may get your pets sick. Dogs can catch pests like fleas and ear mites from cats, while other cats can catch parasites or illnesses. You’ll also want to provide the kitty with shelter and plenty of food and water. Cats should typically be fed 2-3 meals a day and given constant access to clean, fresh water. Lastly, if you’re bringing an outdoor cat indoors, provide enrichment! This will keep the cat entertained and make the transition less stressful. Wand toys are the best for hands-on play. You can also provide catnip kicker toys, small balls for them to bat around, and even toilet paper rolls—cats can find fun in the most mundane household items! Here are some of our favorite cat products your kitty will love. How to tell how old a stray cat is When it comes to cats, their age can be hard to tell. However, there are a few signs you can look out for: – Kittens typically have larger ears and heads relative to their body size. – Adult cats tend to have smaller eyes than kittens, as well

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Is TNR Ethical

Is TNR Ethical? Cats have multiple kittens in one litter and can get pregnant up to three times per year, which means stray cats can overpopulate quickly and significantly impact themselves and their surroundings. Many shelters are at capacity and unable to effectively intake stray or feral cats, which puts them at high risk of euthanasia. TNR is the ethical choice to reduce and manage populations of outdoor cats without euthanizing innocent cats and kittens. How TNR Helps Cats and The Community TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) is the process of trapping a feral cat, having it spayed or neutered, and releasing it back to its original environment. The cats also have a veterinarian check-up and receive vaccinations during this procedure. While the cat is under anesthesia during the spay, the cat’s right ear is tipped to indicate that they have been fixed and vaccinated. The cats are then returned quickly, sometimes within 24 hours, to their original cat colony. TNR cats are known as Community Cats! Trap, neuter, return (TNR) is used to manage the population of free-roaming cats because it is currently very difficult to shelter, foster, or adopt out all the stray cats due to their staggering numbers. It is estimated that there are between 30 – 40 million stray cats in the United States. Female cats can reproduce as soon as they hit five months old, and they can carry multiple litters per year. Even with a widescale trap and euthanize movement, which would be highly unethical, it would hardly dent overall feral cat populations. It is estimated that 50% of unowned stray cats would have to be removed annually to decrease the overall feral cat population (source). Feral domestic cats, on average, live approximately seven years outdoors. A cat occupying a territory will prevent other cats from moving in. Sterilizing the local cat community will prevent new litters of kittens for at least 5 – 7 years until the sterilized cats pass away and new cats move in to assume the territory. With widescale TNR efforts for stray cat management, animal control and cat advocates have been effectively managing feral cat populations, wild cats, and urban stray cats have declined over time. Why TNR Is Controversial Opponents of TNR state that it is unethical to release cats back to the environment they were found because they may not have adequate access to food and shelter and are at greater risk of infectious diseases. People are also opposed to TNR due to outdoor cats’ destruction of birds. It is estimated that cats kill approximately 1 – 4 billion birds annually in the United States (source). Of these bird deaths, two-thirds are caused by stray cats, and domestic cats cause one-third. Bird deaths attributed to stray cats accounted for more than any other unnatural source, such as collisions with vehicles, buildings, windmills, etc. However, TNR is the most humane option for stray cats when the alternative is euthanasia at an animal shelter. Approximately 3.2 million cats are abandoned at animal shelters annually in the United States (source). Of these, 520,000 are euthanized due to a lack of available homes. Some people also say TNR and ear-tipping cats are cruel. However, the intention is not cruel, and the Community Cat programs also care for the cats once released. The ear-tip procedure is conducted while the cat is under anesthesia during the spay or neuter, and it’s a quick and easy recovery. While no one likes ear-tipping a cat, the alternatives simply aren’t there. When the alternative to feral cat management is to kill feral cats, then TNR is the ethical choice. The Impact Of Feral Cat Overpopulation The most dreaded time of the year for animal shelters and humane societies is kitten season. Kitten season is usually from April to October and can be the hardest time of the year for rescue personnel. Animal shelters become overrun by kittens and are forced to make very difficult decisions. With insufficient fosters and forever homes available, the only thing left to do is start euthanizing kittens as fast as they are coming in. Unfortunately, this is a grim reality every season for animal shelters. A cat’s gestation period is two months, and she will have an average of four kittens per pregnancy. Each female cat could produce as many as 20 kittens per kitten season. It breaks the heart of every humane society and shelter employee to euthanize litters of kittens simply because there are too many feral or stray cats and not enough resources. Cats coming from a feral cat colony are not always friendly and well-socialized pet cats. It takes time to tame feral cats and train them to be domestic animals. The easiest way to prevent this tragedy is with responsible pet ownership and to spay and neuter outdoor cats through TNR programs. Alternatives To TNR When it comes to feral and stray cats that don’t appear friendly, sending them to a shelter is near certain death. So what are the alternatives to the TNR method for feral cat control? Here are a few alternatives to TNR that we do not recommend. Controlling Feral Cat Populations Here are the most effective ways to control stray cat populations. These solutions account for other animals, animal shelter challenges, and community cat populations and still effectively reduce feral cat populations. Conclusion TNR has a significant positive impact on outdoor cat populations, and it is the most humane way of dealing with the overpopulation of outdoor or feral cats. Nobody wants to be the one euthanizing countless litters of kittens or entire feral cat colonies. Modern cats belong indoors, but there aren’t enough cat sanctuaries for feral cats. If enough communities support TNR programs, the free-roaming cat population will decline over time to manageable numbers.

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Cat Colonies

Cat colonies and community cats Outdoor cat colonies can contain anywhere from two stray cats to over thirty. Stray cats depend on humans for survival and often hover close to human populations, even when they’re feral. The best ways to help outdoor cat colonies are to donate either time or money to local organizations, participate in TNR programs, or become a colony caretaker for the strays in your neighborhood. In this article, we’ll talk all about cat colonies, how rapidly they grow, how large their territory ranges, and how you can get involved to help the cats in your area. What is a group of cats called? A group of cats is known as a Clowder. You need three or more cats to have a clowder of them! If you have a group of kittens born to the same mother, they’re known as a litter. A group of cats living as strays outdoors is called a colony. There are actually many more names for a group of cats, including a Destruction and a Glaring. What is a cat colony? A cat colony is a group of stray cats living in the same territory outdoors. They can live anywhere from rural farmland to city streets but are typically located close to humans due to their dependency on us. It’s important that a cat colony has a human caretaker. This lengthens the lifespan of the cats and controls the population. When outdoor cats have a caretaker, we usually call them community cats! A good caretaker will ensure all cats receive veterinary care, including a spay or neuter surgery, vaccinations, and parasite prevention medication. They also typically feed the cats and help provide safe shelters. How many cats are in a colony? Cat colonies can begin with just two cats, but they usually multiply. Unless all of the cats are neutered or spayed, they’ll continue having kittens. Female cats can birth up to three litters each year. An average litter has 3-5 kittens, though some are much larger. One mother cat can produce over fifteen kittens each year—potentially many more if her litters are large. About half of these kittens will be female, and they’ll go on to have their own litters once they reach four months of age. By the time a mother cat births her third litter of five kittens each, the females from the first two litters—approximately five of them—will birth their own first or second litters. This adds over 35 more kittens to our count, all stemming from that first female cat within one year. This is how quickly a colony of two could turn into a colony of over 50 cats! Population control is our responsibility as humans because we’re the ones who domesticated cats and brought them into so many environments where they now live as invasive species. We promote TNR, or trap, neuter, return, as an ethical way to control stray and feral cat populations. How large is a feral cat’s territory? A feral cat’s territory can exceed 1300 acres, or about half a mile (source). Unaltered cats have more tendency to roam, as do those without a human caretaker to provide food. Unneutered male cats with no caretaker have the largest range. This is a far distance for a cat to travel, especially when you remember how much of their lives are spent sleeping! It’s also hazardous for the cat, as the study linked above shows them crossing roads and dying of disease. Do feral cats leave the colony? The closest members of the colony are the females. They will share food and even nurse each other’s kittens. Female cats interact within the colony regularly. Unneutered male cats have more tendency to wander and aren’t as interactive—at least, not until mating time rolls around. Cats don’t tend to leave their territory but instead linger near human dwellings as they get hungry. Remember, they’re domesticated animals—they rely on us for food, even if it’s via digging through our trash or eating the mice our garbage attracts. Male cats may wander away from the colony but typically remain in their territory and return as they please. How can I help a feral cat colony? There are many ways to help feral cat colonies. Here are some to consider:

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Outdoor Cat Terms and Definitions

Outdoor Cat Terms and Definitions If you’re new to cat rescue or advocacy, you might see many terms thrown around that you don’t understand! What is TNR, and how can you tell the difference between a stray and a feral cat? Stray cats are cats without owners, while feral cats are strays that aren’t human-friendly. TNR, or trap, neuter, return, is used to control the population growth of cat colonies (groups of cats who share territory). Cat colonies benefit from having a caretaker to feed them and bring them to the veterinarian when needed. In this article, we’ll talk more about these outdoor cat terms and definitions, what they mean, and how you can help stray cats in your area. What is a stray cat? A stray cat is a homeless outdoor cat with no owner. Stray cats may be feral or tame, depending on their upbringing and history. For instance, housecats are often dumped in rural areas. These cats have lived with humans their entire lives and are likely tame. They enjoy human contact and are used to living in a home. These cats are contenders for adoption. Often, they’re brought indoors by someone who’s fallen in love. (Ever heard the phrase, “we don’t choose cats, they choose us”?) Tame strays can also be fostered until a suitable home is found. Feral strays, on the other hand, aren’t used to living with humans and aren’t friendly. What is a feral cat? Feral cats avoid and fear humans. They grew up with minimal human contact and might even show fear or aggression when handled. It’s important to note that feral cats aren’t wild. All cats are domesticated animals and depend on humans to survive. This is why feral cats live just 2-5 years on average, compared to an indoor-only cat at 13-17 years (source). Many indoor cats these days are even living well into their twenties! Cats are also invasive species, not naturally occurring. They can decimate local ecosystems (source), and it’s our collective responsibility to control their population. Cat litter, on average, consists of 3-5 kittens. Female cats can have up to three litters per year. That can add up to over 100 kittens in her lifetime! The most humane way to manage this is TNR, or trap, neuter, return. Check out our other resources on Feral Cat Facts here. Stray cats vs feral cats All feral cats are stray cats—but not all strays are feral. As we discussed above, a feral cat is not human-friendly. They can sometimes be worked with to overcome their fear of humans and live successfully indoors. However, this takes a lot of effort. Stray cats are simply cats without owners. They may be feral or tame. Can feral cats be adopted? You may wonder, why not just tame feral cats and adopt them out instead? Unfortunately, it’s not so easy. The realistic answer is that there are simply too many cats in need of saving. Removing cats from the streets is a long process in overcrowded areas, and taming ferals takes up much more time and energy from the wonderful people doing this work. Sometimes the choice is, do we save and adopt out several litters of kittens or take the same amount of time to rehabilitate one feral cat? That one life is worthwhile—but you have to think of all the stress that a cat will go through in a human home and how many others will be born while cat rescuers focus on that work! Some people are passionate about taking in feral cats, and it’s not a bad thing at all. Just resource-intensive. Lastly, we’ll note that feral cats brought to shelters are euthanized as they’re considered unadoptable. This is why it’s better to leave them on the streets if you cannot take them in yourself. Here are some tips about caring for an outdoor cat. What are Community Cats? Community cats are stray cats. There is no difference! Like strays, community cats can be tame or feral. What is a cat colony? A cat colony is a group of cats that live together. They can consist of feral and tame cats. Often, they’re a group of related female cats and their kittens. Colonies share resources such as space and food. They’re cooperative, and female cats might even nurse another’s babies! What is a colony caretaker? Some colonies receive help from a human who cares for them. This person is known as a colony caretaker. They usually live nearby and provide food and medical care to the colony. If you’re interested in being a caretaker for your local cats, we highly recommend it! It can lengthen their lifespan considerably and keep the cats healthier and happier overall. For those short on funds, try reaching out to your local rescue and TNR groups. They may be able to help with expenses like veterinary care. Low-cost programs also exist for neutering and spaying cats. They often charge even lower for stray cats and will ear-tip them. What are domestic cats? Domestic cats are the species of cat domesticated by humans thousands of years ago. Some people falsely believe that a “domestic cat” refers to a housecat—but this isn’t true. Strays and pets are both domestic cats. Non-domestic cats are wild cats, such as tigers, lions, or bobcats. What is a cat foster? Earlier, we mentioned that tame strays can be fostered until a “forever home” is found. But you may be wondering, what is a cat foster? If you’re familiar with human foster homes, it’s the same concept. A volunteer brings the cat into their home until a more permanent solution is found. This helps keep cats out of shelter environments, whether to prevent overcrowding or because the cat isn’t suitable to live in a shelter. For instance, maybe they’re incredibly shy and need help coming out of their shell before adoption. Or, they may have a medical issue requiring more hands-on care than shelter workers can provide. Kittens without mothers

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Declawing Cats

The Truth About Declawing Cats One of the most frequent complaints from cat owners about their indoor cats is them using the furniture as a scratching post. Unfortunately, some pet owners turn towards declawing as the solution to this problem. Cat declawing is a procedure that should only be performed under rare conditions to improve the well-being of your cat. Declawing causes both harm and long-term pain to cats and should not be performed to prevent scratching. Why Do People Declaw Cats? People declaw cats for all the wrong reasons. Cats are declawed because pet owners worry about furniture being destroyed or becoming scratched themselves. However, the medical risk from cat scratches is lower than a cat bite. Cats scratching behavior can be improved through training and positive reinforcement. Is It Cruel To Declaw A Cat? It may be difficult to understand why declawing a cat is cruel without understanding the anatomy of a cat. Declawing is not like trimming your fingernails. Instead, declawing a cat is the equivalent of amputating your fingers at the knuckle. The entire knuckle bone must be removed so that the nail does not grow back in a cat. The cat declawing surgery causes a great deal of pain and long-term side effects to the cat and their normal cat behavior. Declawing must be performed under anesthesia and carries a risk of postoperative complications. Once your cat has healed, its posture is forever changed by the procedure. Without their nails, the cat’s feet do not sit properly on the ground, and this causes difficulty while walking. Not only this, but your cat also risks developing bone spurs or nerve damage (source). Is Declawing A Cat Illegal? While declawing a cat is not illegal at the federal level in the United States, it is unlawful in several states and cities. New York first banned declawing cats in 2019 (source), and other states have legislature currently under review. Cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, and St. Louis have also outlawed declawing. Declawing cats has even been banned worldwide in over 23 countries. Declawing a cat is illegal because it is considered an elective surgery that does more harm than good to a cat and can cause long-lasting pain to the animal. Aside from rare situations, there are no medical benefits from declawing a cat. Cats may suffer long-term consequences from being declawed, such as nerve damage and walking pain. Declawing Cats Pros And Cons Unfortunately, there are some cat owners who would rather put their cats down than find alternatives to declawing. If the cat’s behavioral issues are not corrected properly, the cat may become too much for the owner to handle. Even though animal shelters and humane societies are often overflowing with cats, rather than declawing your cat, you should consider finding it another home. However, declawed cats have several significant cons. Declawing causes immediate pain and discomfort to your cat, as well as future issues, such as back or walking pain. Declawing also prevents a cat from properly stretching their muscles and scratching. A cat’s paw pads also contain scent glands, and scratching is a cat’s way of marking its territory. One-third of all cats who are declawed develop behavioral issues down the line (source). This stems from not being able to perform a behavior that a cat’s claws are designed to do. Is There A Humane Way To Declaw Cats? Unfortunately, there is no humane way to declaw cats. Declawing is a barbaric and outdated procedure. Under rare conditions, your vet may recommend declawing if it improves the well-being of your cat. Cats may develop cancerous nail bed tumors, requiring a declaw surgery to be performed on a cat’s paw. Unless deemed medically necessary by your vet, there is no humane way to declaw a cat. Here is the current policy from the American Veterinary Medical Association. The humane alternative to declawing is to encourage cats scratching behavior on the appropriate surfaces. Alternatives To Cat Declawing Rather than declawing the front paws, it would be helpful to focus on behavioral modification, which can make a significant difference. Encouraging your cat to scratch on a scratching post will save your furniture and keep you from wanting to pull out your hair. Make available vertical surfaces, corrugated cardboard, and scratching posts as other alternatives. Reward your cat with a special treat anytime they use the scratching post. Scratching should be discouraged on furniture by using double-sided tape or aluminum foil. Cats can be trained just as quickly as other animals if you use positive reinforcement. Some cats may stubbornly resist, but that does not mean you have to turn to a declaw procedure. Cat vinyl nail caps are a safe and harmless alternative to declawing, and they are definitely worth a shot! You can use a surgical glue to glue the nail caps on, and they will last about 4 – 8 weeks as your cat’s nails grow. They even come in all sorts of fabulous colors to let your cat’s inner diva shine! Some pet owners are worried about scratches on their arms, especially if they are on immunosuppressants or blood thinners. Rather than declawing, you could use a pet nail trimmer to keep your cat’s nails short. Soft paws and short cat claws will not harm you as severely a cat’s scratch from untrimmed nails. Conclusion There is only one legitimate reason for the declawing surgical procedure, and that’s in rare cases of medical issues to protect the life of your feline friend. Humane alternatives to declawing should be considered, and we should work to ban declawing cats altogether. Most cats will prefer dedicated scratching surfaces and will avoid deterrants like double-sided sticky tape, which makes fixing scratching behavioral problems simply a practice in patience. Scratching is a natural behavior, and your pet deserves to scratch things. Just make sure it’s scratching posts, cat trees, and sisal rope. These will help avoid destructive behavior because they have the proper scratching surface

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What To Know About Fostering Cats

What To Know About Fostering Cats Fostering cats is a noble quest for any cat or animal lover. Many cat lovers become cat fosters through relationships with their local shelters or rescue groups. Being an animal lover and having space in your home is a great start to considering fostering, but here are a few other things you should know about fostering cats. • Ensure your current cats are up to date on their healthcare – before you bring in any fosters, ensure the cats in your home are up to date on their vaccinations. • Understand what the rescuer expects because they are all different. While some pay for medical care and food, others only cater to vetting. Getting such details can help you understand the entire fostering process. • Know your limits and express your concerns – if you do not want bottle-fed kittens, you should let the rescue group know. Giving the kittens or cats the best foster home is the primary objective. How to gain trust with a foster cat When you foster a cat, the first challenge is to gain its trust. Remember, most rescues are anxious and stressed at the time, making it hard to gain their affection. First, create a safe place to make your cat comfortable and feel safe. Cats love to hide to help them feel safe, so be sure their room has safe hiding places like boxes, cat beds, and forts. Some cats prefer to stay in their carrier to until they feel comfortable enough to come out. Be patient and let the cat acclimate at their own pace. Appealing to the cat’s appetite can also help. Typically, cats are interested in becoming friends with people who feed them. Try setting up a routine for your cat and stick to it to gain their trust. In a short time, the feeding routine will become the best part of their day! Cats can sense the emotion in the room, so remember to always stay calm and use positive reinforcement to encourage correct behavior. Here are a few of our favorite cat snacks and stress relief products to help you bond. How to make a foster cat happy Making a cat you don’t know yet happy might be challenging. However, here are some general tips that might prove helpful. How to foster multiple cats If you are considering fostering multiple cats, ensure you have ample space for each cat to feel comfortable. Multiple cats need a lot of space to roam, play, rest, and feed. It is also essential for foster parents to be able to provide for the cats in every aspect, ranging from food to medical care. Foster parents should understand that nursing mothers, kittens, and adults have different needs. How to foster a cat with special needs Fostering a cat with special needs is challenging but extremely important and rewarding. Cats with special needs are usually overlooked during the adoption process. However, if you are passionate about animals and are able to handle the extra responsibilities, fostering a special needs cat is one of the noblest things you can do as a cat lover. Cat with special needs may have physical or mental limitations. Some suffer from emotional needs after surviving traumatic and abusive environments. It is crucial to be patient because rescue cats take time to adjust and trust people trying to help them. You can easily establish a rapport with the cat and eventually a long-lasting relationship with time. Finally, researching online or seeking help from an expert can help you become a better foster. If you want to foster a special needs cat, take time to evaluate its environmental requirements, emotional needs, and commitment to the animal.

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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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