Save a Paw!

 March 29 is Declaw Awareness Day

Don't do it!

A topic that I fiercely believe in; leave those paws alone.

Organizations that are working tirelessly to educate the public and veterinarians about the pain and danger that this procedure does to cats, and others who support making it illegal:

City the Kitty

Alley Cat Allies

The Paw Project

Declawing is a surgical procedure, sometimes inaccurately termed “onychectomy,” which means “removal of the nail.” In reality, more than just the nail is removed. The animal’s toes are amputated at the last joint, which is the only way to remove the nail (claw) that grows from deep within the toe bone. Most people do not realize that bone—not only the nail—is removed.  The cat ends up walking on stumps, can have difficulty digging in cat litter, and the pain will cause behavioral issues.

Most countries never adopted this practice, and those who still allow the surgery are changing their minds.

Why won't a cat lover like Taylor Swift speak up?

More veterinary offices are removing the procedure from their services voluntarily, but this needs to happen sooner rather than later.

Henry Update:

He's not eating, and backs away from food bowls.

He's been hiding underneath a table in the spare bedroom, because he knows I cannot get to him there.

Saturday morning, I managed to corner him long enough to smear some food on his face.

Oh, you should have seen the look he gave me, but at least he had to lick it off!

However, at night, he jumps onto the bed and allows pets and belly rubs.

The Hubby and I are making plans, and I've already volunteered to be the one who gets bitten, as that's what happened when we cornered Henry last October for his dental.

Thanks for the caring words, and I'll keep y'all updated.

TNR the SFC*!

National Feral Cat Day® is October 16!

Alley Cat Allies created National Feral Cat Day in 2001 as a call to action to raise awareness about community cats (also called feral or stray cats), promote Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), and empower the millions of compassionate people around the United States who care about cats and kittens to drive change on their behalf.

*Stray or Feral or Community cats

We ❤️ feral cats!

Just Tip It

National Feral Cat Day® is 16 October

Alley Cat Allies created National Feral Cat Day in 2001 as a call to action to raise awareness about community cats (also called feral or stray cats), promote Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), and empower the millions of compassionate people around the United States who care about cats and kittens to drive change on their behalf.

We cannot adopt our way out of the cat overpopulation; sterilizing community cats is the only choice we have to save their lives.

Veterinary and scientific professionals are at work to find a non-surgical procedure to sterilize cats: read about it here.

Huge thanks to the low-cost spay/neuter clinics, local rescue and foster groups; the public who've attended TNR classes and care for their own clowders; the relentless advocacy of national groups like Alley Cat Allies and Best Friends, plus the countless TNR groups in every city, and every state.

We love our cats, so why not love ALL cats?

❤️ 

Be Humane to Community Cats

Global Cat Day is an international day of action, and a time to dig deep in the fight to end cruelty worldwide. Because though love for cats knows no borders, cruel and harmful acts against them are still far too common.

Alley Cat Allies confronts cruelty to cats everywhere and in any form, whether individual acts of cruelty or deeply-entrenched institutional cruelty by shelters, parks, and local governments. We need compassionate people like you to stand with us and take the fight against cruelty to your communities.

All of us, united, can change the world to save cats’ lives.

Learn more: https://globalcatday.org/

May, 2013

Sweetie WAS feral, or at least eeking out a living on the streets.

We TNR'd her in 2009, and fed, watered, and sheltered her until March, 2020, when we brought her inside.

Sweetie took to indoor living quickly, meaning that she'd been someone's cat once.

Many community cats aren't socialized to humans, but they are just as deserving of our love and care.

Support your local TNR group and attend a class to learn how to care for a feral community.

Remember:

IF YOU FEED THEM, FIX THEM

💕😻💕

Woot! Maryland!

The Governor signs Maryland’s Anti-Declaw Bills, SB67 and HB22 into law today!

New York State banned declawing in 2019.

The first hearing for California Anti-Declaw Bill AB 2606 will be Tuesday, April 26.

It's happening, folks!

At least 42 countries have made declawing illegal, including England, France, Wales, New Zealand, Germany, Switzerland, and Israel. In Canada, declawing is outlawed in eight provinces—Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Alberta, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

In the U.S., the cities of Austin TX, Denver CO, the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County MO, Pittsburgh PA, and Madison WI. It is also outlawed eight California cities: West Hollywood, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berkeley, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Santa Monica, and Burbank.

Look up upcoming legislation to end declawing here.

Sweetie's Murder Mitts

Aww!!!

Paws Need Claws!

For more information, here are a few websites:

The Paw Project

City the Kitty

Alley Cat Allies

We are thankful for those who are working tirelessly to have this grisly surgery banned!

Let's Hop!

Click on the badge above to visit Brian's Home Blog!

National Feral Cat Day: October 16

From Alley Cat Allies website:

In a Trap-Neuter-Return program, community cats are humanely trapped (with box traps), brought to a veterinarian to be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, eartipped (the universal sign that a community cat has been neutered and vaccinated), and then returned to their outdoor home. 

Community Cats are at Home Outdoors

Cats living outdoors is nothing new. For most of their natural history, cats have lived outside alongside people. Evidence shows cats began living near people over 10,000 years ago, before the pyramids were built! It wasn’t until very recently, with the invention of kitty litter in the 1940s, that so many cats began living indoors only. Community cats are truly at home outdoors, just as countless cats have been for thousands of years.

It's hip to be tipped!

Paddy O'Malley, TNR'd in 2011

Sweetie, TNR'd in 2009

Alley Cat Allies Global Cat Day® is October 16

"Alley Cat Allies and its supporters around the world will observe Global Cat Day® on Wednesday, October 16, with a commitment to save cats from being killed.

Becky Robinson, the president and founder of Alley Cat Allies, is asking everyone who values the lives of cats to sign the Alley Cat Allies’ Global Cat Day Pledge online.

“The Global Cat Day Pledge includes the fundamental principle that all cats have the right to live their lives, and it guides everything we do to protect cats,” Robinson said. “We stand for humane, non-lethal programs for cats, and those who join us can take action to stop cats from being killed.”

Millions of cats and kittens are in life-threatening danger because felines are killed more than any other animal in shelters across the nation. Global Cat Day demands that community leaders abolish policies that result in the killing of cats; equip communities with lifesaving, humane policies like Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR); and change any policies that threaten cats’ health and safety.

TNR is the mainstream approach in which cats are humanely trapped, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, eartipped and returned to the outdoor homes where they live and thrive. As sound public policy, TNR reduces shelter intake, “euthanasia” and calls to animal services, which saves taxpayer dollars.

About Alley Cat Allies

Alley Cat Allies, headquartered in Bethesda, Md., is the global engine of change for cats. Alley Cat Allies is the leading advocacy organization dedicated to protecting and improving the lives of all cats through its innovative, cutting-edge programs. Founded in 1990, today Alley Cat Allies has grown into a powerful force with over half a million supporters. The organization has helped and inspired countless individuals, communities and other organizations to save and improve the lives of cats and kittens worldwide. Alley Cat Allies works with lawmakers, animal shelters and advocates to change attitudes and advance lifesaving policies that best serve the interests of cats. Alley Cat Allies’ website is www.alleycat.org/, and the organization is active on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube."

Please lend your support for Community Cats!

My Feral Colony

Sweetie, TNR'd in 2009

Paddy O'Malley, TNR'd in 2014

***

National Feral Cat Day: October 16, 2016

FERAL

adjective

1.

existing in a natural state, as animals or plants; not domesticated orcultivated; wild.

2.

having reverted to the wild state, as from domestication:

a pack of feral dogs roaming the woods.

3.

of or characteristic of wild animals; ferocious; brutal.

From Dictionary.com

I am a strong proponent of TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return).  If you are going to feed the cats that live in your condo complex, or under the porch, or behind your office, GET THEM FIXED!  If I can trap a community cat, then anyone can.

Visit National Feral Cat Day and Alley Cat Allies to learn how YOU can make a difference in the lives of community cats.

Time To Change The Straw

While The Hubby was cutting up the fallen Maple branch in the backyard the weekend, I decided it was a great time to replace the straw in The Cat Hotel and Mama's Place.  I swept everything out, made repairs where needed, added the warming pad to the bottom floor of The Cat Hotel, and tidied everything up again.  I also sprinkle a small amount of diatomaceous earth in the corners, to eliminate any insects that want to set up house too.

I do this twice a year, spring and fall.  In past years, I've worried myself sick, thinking the 'O' Cats might run away or refuse to use the shelters because I've messed with them, but so far, they've come right back.  You see, when Mama's House was built in 2009, no cat used it for years!  It wasn't until I was volunteering at a TNR class, when it finally dawned on me that straw was the reason; The Hubby had talked me out of putting straw in!  That day, I filled Mama's House with straw, and BOOM...cats inside that night. That'll teach me...

Mama's House, with fresh straw.
Notice the insulation sandwiched on all four walls.

Originally built in 2009, Mama's House was designed from
Alley Cat Allies instructions.  

Last year, one corner of Mama's House roof was broken;
Looks like a feral cat ear tip!

The Cat Hotel, with the second floor pulled out.
We originally designed this for three friendly ferals, but after
Sammy's passing, we cut a piece of insulation board to cover the
extra second floor entrance and removed the divider.
Usually, Patty takes the second floor,
while Sweetie uses the first, which is where the warming pad is.

Warming pad, with protective leg-o-jeans covering.
Always remember to make sure it's working BEFORE
filling The Cat Hotel with straw...just sayin'