| Author |
Message |
    
Krista
Citizen
Username: Shortgrrrl
Post Number: 98
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 10:21 am: | 
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hello all:
we recently found and rescued a litter of kittens living in the roof of our garage...we are still in the process of trying to catch mom, but she seems to smart for the trap...
anyway, we are hoping to socialize these kittens and get them adopted. they are terrified and not friendly right now, as would be expected after their recent trauma.
the problem is we have 2 cats, 2 dogs, and a baby...socializing 5 kittens is quite a bit of work, not to mention we have to keep them quarentined from our other cats until they are old enough to test for feline HIV. does anyone know of a good cat rescue organization that may have others like us willing to take in a kitten or 2 and help get them socialized? we are not looking to pass on the responsibility of finding these guys homes, just for help loving them and calming them down until they are adoptable...
thanks!
krista |
Shanabana
Citizen
Username: Shanabana
Post Number: 407
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 12:11 pm: |
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Were the kittens weaned? Are you sure you shouldn't make them available to the mom just in case? On the other hand, if they're hard to socialize, maybe they're older already.
Jersey Animal Coalition in South Orange might take them; they do have voulenteers who socialize, though I'm not sure how much people time they actually get. |
Krista
Citizen
Username: Shortgrrrl
Post Number: 99
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 12:43 pm: |
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the kittens are definately weaned...in fact, they are eating up a storm, so that's good. we didnt want to take them...but their home in the roof is getting torn down, so they were about to be evicted...we were worried what might become of them at that point...
already called the JAC...completely unhelpful...oh well. anyone else have thoughts or ideas? these cats need to be in a foster home with alot of one-on-one attention...we are doing it, it is just slow going since there are so many of them and we have to keep them apart from our other cats... |
Ima Perplecks
Citizen
Username: Victor
Post Number: 30
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 1:53 pm: |
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I'm not surprised about JAC. I think I heard they do not accept
feral animals. (I thought the whole purpose was to save animals.)
And I believe they charge you to drop off "lost" animals.
Most important would be to neuter/spay, if possible, so
there is not another litter. Good luck to you. |
John
Citizen
Username: Jdm
Post Number: 53
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 2:06 pm: |
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Keep trying to catch the mom, especially this early in the year, when she could have another litter again before winter.
I just PL'ed you too. My wife can help out, I think, with contacts. |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 3093
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 2:08 pm: |
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Ima, feel free to send the JAC a huge check so they can accept all of the animals they wish they could take AND continue their "no-kill" policy.
Find me a shelter that takes all animals that need homes and doesn't have to euthenize any of them.
Krista I wish I could help. Check on www.petfinder.org, there may be some cat rescue organizations that can. Also I've heard that Hillside has a clinic for inexpensive spaying/neutering, and I think some of the vets in the area do it at reduced cost for rescued animals as well.
Good luck! |
Krista
Citizen
Username: Shortgrrrl
Post Number: 100
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 2:39 pm: |
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Thanks, everyone.
We are going to continue to try and catch Mama Cat...But with the construction about to happen, I fear she may take off. I hope we can get her so we can at least spay and re-release...
As for the kittens: they are in good hands for now, but if anyone knows of anyone who may be interested in lending some additional hands for the purposes of socializing these little guys and gals, please let me know... |
mrs_mooch
Citizen
Username: Mrs_mooch
Post Number: 2
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 2:41 pm: |
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Krista,
When we moved to Maplewood 3 years ago, the backyard came with a colony of 27 ++ moms, dads and kittens. It was a total nightmare. I spent weeks trying to find someone to help (and I hear you about the JAC, they wouldn't even return my phone calls when I was desperate to find information and help). At one point I had 9 kittens in the house in various boxes and crates. It was quite the scene (and I'm allergic to cats!)
Wendyn, I hear you about the money and the JAC, but come on. They are supposed to be a resource for people and if they can take dogs from New Orleans, they most certainly could figure out a way to help people with the ENORMOUS stray cat population of Maplewood-South Orange.
I know about this because after I took care of the colony in my backyard, I kept finding more kittens and colonies! I've spent the last 3 years using my own money and resources to spay colonies and tame the feral kittens and find them homes. It's really overwhelming, especially when you don't have a non-profit to help and if you have a "crazy cat lady" in the neighborhood (which I do) it's even worse because you end up dealing with all her cats too! (I've rescued and TNR (trap-neuter-return) over 50 cats and kittens in the last 3 years!)
Krista, I finally found a group that would help me. They are called Summit Animal Rescue Association, (SARA for short). They were the only ones that helped me out. I still use their resources when I come across kittens (like I did the day after xmas this year. Still have the mom cat, anyone looking for a beautiful, playful tuxedo cat around a year old to adopt?).
This group is amazing. Call them, I hope they can be of some assistance. I usually work with Nancy @ 908.272.5381. She doesn't have an answering machine, but is home most of the day. Keep trying her if you can't get her. It's kitten season right now, so it might be hard to find people who can take them, but give her a try. She'll also give you some helpful hints on trapping the elusive Mom cat.
The other option is the NJARA. While they can't take the kittens, they can put out an APB email asking for help or give you some other organizations that might be willing to help. Their number is : 732.446.6808, ask for the feral cat person, Lisa.
I could lend you a large dog crate for the kittens if you need one. I usually set it up in my "sunroom" and put a box with a blanket and a kitty litter in there, hang a mousey toy from the top. Sorry I can't take them (I've gotten out of the cat rescuing business for now).
Good luck and keep me posted!
Mrs Mooch
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Camnol
Citizen
Username: Camnol
Post Number: 343
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 2:53 pm: |
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Are you in Maplewood/South Orange? Strays are supposed to go to the JAC through animal control. Call animal control and they will take the kittens to the shelter.
I had a similar situation years ago and since no shelter would take the kittens (this includes St. Huberts and Summit Animal Rescue) I ended up having to care for them myself. Give animal control a call. |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 3094
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 2:55 pm: |
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Mrs. Mooch, you are truly a great person for all of the work you did for those cats! Wow! |
mrs_mooch
Citizen
Username: Mrs_mooch
Post Number: 3
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 4:42 pm: |
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Camnol,
It's good that St Hubert's wouldn't take them. I've been told by a few reliable animal rescue people that if the kittens are at all feral (which most are in the beginning, not to mentioned starving and scared) they will kill them. Unfortunately it seems like that is the last place you want to try. When I called them 3 years ago, they were VERY negative about feral cats and kittens.
And Summit Animal Rescue is different from Summit Animal Rescue Association (SARA) (the group that helped me). A few members had a falling out with the president of the Summit Animal Rescue and left. They then started SARA.
While they (SARA) couldn't take the kittens at the time (they were swamped with kitten season), they gave me food, traps, free vet care, advice and even found some money to help me with the spay/neuter costs. In exchange I fostered the kittens and when they were ready I was able to bring them to their adoption day (every Saturday at Petco in Watchung). Almost all of the kittens I've fostered over the last 3 years have been adopted through them.
Unfortunately, due to the high number of kittens born every year from cats being abandoned or let out unneutered, without a tenacious TNR program, the problem just continues to grow.
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mrs_mooch
Citizen
Username: Mrs_mooch
Post Number: 4
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 4:44 pm: |
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Oh, and thanks Wendyn! It can be very rewarding (and heartbreaking and frustrating.... :-) |
Krista
Citizen
Username: Shortgrrrl
Post Number: 101
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 5:17 pm: |
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thanks, mrs. mooch, i pl'd you...
i don't want to call animal control. these cats are not ready for adoption as they are, and even if that is the only way the JAC can accept them, that is not an optimal solition...they need to be socialized first!
thanks for the suggestion anyway...
krista |
Oblio
Citizen
Username: Makers
Post Number: 5
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 7:00 pm: |
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Ok, I have one of those one in a million stories.
Be careful, my wife rescued a litter of kittens where she worked, also caught the mom with a "have a heart trap". Being as adorable as kittens are, naturally everyone played with them. Some were taken but the employees & the last two were taken by a lady in Essex Fells who would look for homes for them. A day later the two died and cause - rabies. They were all to be taken and put down. However everyone had already fallen in love and agreed to quarantine the rest of the litter and mother to keep an eye on them, if they were rabid they would have had the same fate. Now the clincher, everyone that handled any of the litter had to get vaccinated and treated for rabies, big needles and a very large amount of stuff pumped through them. It was a series of shots over a few weeks (four in the first day) OUCH !!!!
Not that your litter would be infected-probably is not but after the experience, be careful !!!
I can't remember the name of the woman but she was in Essex Fells. With a little searching you may find her. |
mrs_mooch
Citizen
Username: Mrs_mooch
Post Number: 5
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 7:30 pm: |
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Just a quick note about rabies from cats:
from : http://www.alleycat.org/pdf/fca_winter03.pdf
"Rabies—A virus that affects the
central nervous system of mammals,
causing first encephalopathy
and ultimately death. Rabies
is a lethal disease to be treated
with utmost caution, but rabies
control is a major public health
victory in the U.S. In this country,
rabies is overwhelmingly a
disease of wildlife. The primary vector species
are raccoons, bats, skunks, and foxes. Cats
consistently account for only three to four
percent of rabies cases. Pre-exposure rabies
vaccine is available for domestic and some
wild animals and for humans. Post-exposure
treatment for humans is completely effective
if it is administered before onset of symptoms.
A feral cat vaccinated for rabies is protected
against contracting rabies from wildlife and
from transmitting rabies to humans. In the
U.S., human rabies deaths from all sources
average fewer than three per year. There has
been no human death from rabies attributed
to transmission from a cat recorded in the
U.S. since 1975. |
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