FERAL FANCIERS Cat Tails Stories, Articles And Information About Cats |
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Articles are welcome for submission to Feral Fanciers web site’s Cat Tails page. It can be stories or
informational articles or simply a few photos with captions, No fancy article formatting is necessary.
A simple email text with photo attachments is fine. Email your submission to Feral Fanciers.
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Janie is the caretaker of several black feral cats. She faithfully feeds them on her fenced property. She and her
daughter knew they needed to get all the cats spayed and neutered so they could keep a stable group. They
contacted Feral Fanciers for assistance. On Sunday, Jan. 17, Leslie went to their place to pick up one of the smaller
cats that had been trapped in the garage in a laundry hamper. She also took some live traps to set out for the other
outside cats and a larger cage trap to try to catch the other 3 little cats in the garage. Within an hour Janie called
Leslie to say that 2 other outdoor cats had been trapped and one more in the garage who was transferred into a live
trap. On Mon. these 4 cats were taken to Tampa Bay, sterilized, and set up in Leslie’s garage for recovery. Then on
Tues. Janie caught 2 more outside cats and one more in the garage. Leslie took them to Bonnie so they could go to
SPCA the following day. Things were going well! Then Wed. morning Leslie went to her garage to feed all the
recovering ferals in their traps. All seemed to be eating and doing well until she came to the last trap. All she could
see was tore up newspaper and turned over food dishes but no black cat. She searched throughout the garage but
there was no sight or sound of the missing cat. Janie was upset when she heard the news of the missing cat but
didn’t give up hope. That evening Janie trapped another big black male who Bonnie took to SPCA the next day. But
still no sign of the missing cat. On Thurs. Janie caught the last little black cat in the laundry hamper. Leslie brought
him to her garage to transfer into a trap. He was howling loudly and meows came from up high in response to this.
The missing black cat was in the eves on the side of the garage. The only way to see her was by sticking a mirror
into the corner in just the right position. There she was in the eves in the very peak of the roof. She would have to
be lured out of there. Two traps were set in the rafters and water was put in the eves. Surely the cat was getting
hungry and would go into the traps at night. But the traps were avoided and by Fri. all the cats had been returned to
Janie except for the missing one. On Sat. Janie came to Leslie’s garage and called her. She meowed but wouldn’t
budge from her eve position even when we banged on them with a pole. We knew she must be getting very hungry,
so a little food was set in the entrance to the side eves and lots of food was put in the traps. On Sunday morning no
food had been touched. Leslie was becoming worried about the cat. She must be getting very weak. Leslie thought
she heard a faint meow in the eves on the other side of the garage, but when she looked in the eves on both sides
with a mirror there was no sight of the cat. Leslie’s husband was in MI on business and the fire department would
not come to help when called. So Janie came back with her son-in-law James. There was no response from the cat
when Janie called. We had to attack the eves from the outside. So James climbed up a ladder and pulled out a
piece of eve on the side where the cat had been the day before. He looked in with a flashlight and saw nothing. The
same approach was taken on the eves on the other side of the garage but no cat was seen. All eves were then
blocked with blankets. Then a faint cry was heard. It was coming from a cupboard which contained several
drawers. The back of the cupboard was blocked with boards and blankets. A drawer was pulled slightly open and
we saw big eyes looking at us. Each drawer was carefully pulled out with a board in its place until the cat was sitting
on the floor of the cupboard. A crate was brought up to the bottom drawer and made to look like a tunnel out. Then
James poked at the cat from behind until she ran into the crate and the door was slammed. Success was achieved
after a 3 hour battle! Leslie immediately put the crate with the cat into her station wagon and drove her to her own
property. Janie gave her lots of water and food, and she was kept in the crate overnight to make sure she was doing
alright. She was then released to join her other black friends on her own property. Leslie took a couple hours to put
her garage back in order. Leslie again examined the trap from which the cat escaped. In order to do so she would
have had to lift both rings at the same time to open the door wide enough for her head to go through and then slip
out. Cats are probably much smarter than we think, but you can be sure Leslie will be wiring the trap door shut on
these kind of traps from now on!!
THE GREAT ESCAPE
by Leslie
by Leslie
This is truly a happy ending...KiKi , a 2 year old female cat, found with scabies and her front pads declawed, was
rescued by Bonnie about 6 months ago....KiKi spent about a month recovering from this health set back, she was
spayed and taken to the Vet for check ups. KiKi has been frequenting the adoptions held at Petco for quite
awhile...many people would see her and say that she was loving and friendly, as soon as KiKi was petted, she would
start to Purr loudly in pure enjoyment, she was a lap kitty from the start, but no one offered to give KiKi a new
home...after some time, KiKi was not taken to Petco, as Bonnie thought that she would not be adopted. KiKi still
needed her own home and Bonnie let her stay at her home, but KiKi was not getting along with her other cats and
started going outside. This was a concern since KiKi did not have front claws. Then on 12/20/09, a lady said that she
was interested in adopting an older cat. Again, KiKi was taken to Petco, in hopes of finding her own forever home. But
that lady, after spending time with her simply said, "I will think about it." The next weekend, I was determine to bring
KiKi to Petco and find her the special person to adopt her. At first, it was slow, then Judith and her husband, Frank,
disabled in a wheel chair, came by to meet KiKi. They had a black pug and a special needs dog born with deformed
back legs, thus not able to walk normally, only by dragging its rear legs with the front legs. Judith and Frank also had
another dog at the house, an 11 yr old shepherd that they rescued from the SPCA on the day that the dog was on its
way to be euthanized. That dogged loved and cared for their cat at the house. After spending quality time with KiKi,
they considered adopting her, their dogs also seemed to get along with KiKi. I provided Judith and Frank the story of
KiKi and it stole their hearts. I just wanted cry as I knew that finally KiKi would get the loving home that she deserved
on 12/27/09. I called Judith and Frank on 12/29/09, and they said that KiKi was getting along with the rest of the 4
legged family members. They are very happy with KiKi as the latest addition to their family.
Then about 1 month, later, Judith called to state that they no longer wanted KiKi for some reason or another
because of a health issue. We took KiKi back and made a call to their Vet, only to find out that KiKi had gingivitis. That
was another set back for poor KiKi. Another period of time for KiKi to wait for her REAL forever home. In the
meantime, KiKi was treated for her gingivitis and was doing fine. About 3 weeks after her return, a couple came into
Petco to state interest in adopting a declawed cat, since they recently had their beloved cat die of cancer. On 1/31/10,
Yolie decided to bring KiKi to Merve & Pat's home. KiKi jumped out of her carrier to inspect the house and hid for
awhile. After 2 hours of talking with Pat and Merve, it became obvious that KiKi did arrive to her forever home. Kiki
demonstrated her love to them by sitting in their laps and just being herself. Pat and Merve are the real heroes. God
works in mysterious ways to find good homes for his cats.
rescued by Bonnie about 6 months ago....KiKi spent about a month recovering from this health set back, she was
spayed and taken to the Vet for check ups. KiKi has been frequenting the adoptions held at Petco for quite
awhile...many people would see her and say that she was loving and friendly, as soon as KiKi was petted, she would
start to Purr loudly in pure enjoyment, she was a lap kitty from the start, but no one offered to give KiKi a new
home...after some time, KiKi was not taken to Petco, as Bonnie thought that she would not be adopted. KiKi still
needed her own home and Bonnie let her stay at her home, but KiKi was not getting along with her other cats and
started going outside. This was a concern since KiKi did not have front claws. Then on 12/20/09, a lady said that she
was interested in adopting an older cat. Again, KiKi was taken to Petco, in hopes of finding her own forever home. But
that lady, after spending time with her simply said, "I will think about it." The next weekend, I was determine to bring
KiKi to Petco and find her the special person to adopt her. At first, it was slow, then Judith and her husband, Frank,
disabled in a wheel chair, came by to meet KiKi. They had a black pug and a special needs dog born with deformed
back legs, thus not able to walk normally, only by dragging its rear legs with the front legs. Judith and Frank also had
another dog at the house, an 11 yr old shepherd that they rescued from the SPCA on the day that the dog was on its
way to be euthanized. That dogged loved and cared for their cat at the house. After spending quality time with KiKi,
they considered adopting her, their dogs also seemed to get along with KiKi. I provided Judith and Frank the story of
KiKi and it stole their hearts. I just wanted cry as I knew that finally KiKi would get the loving home that she deserved
on 12/27/09. I called Judith and Frank on 12/29/09, and they said that KiKi was getting along with the rest of the 4
legged family members. They are very happy with KiKi as the latest addition to their family.
Then about 1 month, later, Judith called to state that they no longer wanted KiKi for some reason or another
because of a health issue. We took KiKi back and made a call to their Vet, only to find out that KiKi had gingivitis. That
was another set back for poor KiKi. Another period of time for KiKi to wait for her REAL forever home. In the
meantime, KiKi was treated for her gingivitis and was doing fine. About 3 weeks after her return, a couple came into
Petco to state interest in adopting a declawed cat, since they recently had their beloved cat die of cancer. On 1/31/10,
Yolie decided to bring KiKi to Merve & Pat's home. KiKi jumped out of her carrier to inspect the house and hid for
awhile. After 2 hours of talking with Pat and Merve, it became obvious that KiKi did arrive to her forever home. Kiki
demonstrated her love to them by sitting in their laps and just being herself. Pat and Merve are the real heroes. God
works in mysterious ways to find good homes for his cats.
this is another adoption success story
Buddy was adopted to on 12/30/09 by a couple. Since Buddy had a cough the couple gave him some meds during
that first week. but was returned on 1/9/10, stating the meds did not work. The couple really loved Buddy and would
be interested in getting him back when he improved. In the meantime, the couple adopted Sammie in exchange. He
was taken to the Vet's again and was given allergy meds for a 3 week period. Buddy was fine and in good health.
Then the couple was contacted to see if they were still interested in Buddy. Their response was No, they were
content with just having Sammie. On 2/7/10, a mother with her 3 children came into Petco stating an interest in an
older cat that was fixed. Yolie offered to bring Buddy to their home later on that day. It was meant to be. The children
all loved Buddy, stating that he was a "really cute big cat. " The Mom stated that her Dad was also called Buddy. Yolie
left Buddy with his REAL forever home. A week later, Yolie contacted them to obtain this update, "Buddy is an official
member of their family." After keeping Buddy in her room while fostering him for several months, Bonnie now has her
room to herself.
Buddy was adopted to on 12/30/09 by a couple. Since Buddy had a cough the couple gave him some meds during
that first week. but was returned on 1/9/10, stating the meds did not work. The couple really loved Buddy and would
be interested in getting him back when he improved. In the meantime, the couple adopted Sammie in exchange. He
was taken to the Vet's again and was given allergy meds for a 3 week period. Buddy was fine and in good health.
Then the couple was contacted to see if they were still interested in Buddy. Their response was No, they were
content with just having Sammie. On 2/7/10, a mother with her 3 children came into Petco stating an interest in an
older cat that was fixed. Yolie offered to bring Buddy to their home later on that day. It was meant to be. The children
all loved Buddy, stating that he was a "really cute big cat. " The Mom stated that her Dad was also called Buddy. Yolie
left Buddy with his REAL forever home. A week later, Yolie contacted them to obtain this update, "Buddy is an official
member of their family." After keeping Buddy in her room while fostering him for several months, Bonnie now has her
room to herself.
Cat named Maybe
by Yolie
2 years since I first saw a grey cat wondering around the parking lot
Wanted to set up a feeding station but failed attempts to find the spot
Then one day I did see Maybe with my other 3
I thought at last I could feed you there with Abby, Sunrise, and Ripley
My ultimate goal was TNR
Then recently I spied you by my car with left paw raised no weight to bare
Limping around on 3 paws your face grimaced in pain
With great difficulty you hobbled back into the wooded area of the parking lot
A trap was set in that path
I prayed to God to lead you there
Sat and Sunday…no success
Then Monday AM I did spy Abby had gone in by mistake
Set her free, as I apologized
Then later that morning luck did prevail… Maybe trapped without fail
To Bonnie’s I did bring to be taken for SPCA care
Maybe neutered and paw was seen …a puncture bandaged soon to heal
4 days of TLC did Bonnie provide, love of cats, she can not hide
Then on Saturday I set him free
He raced back to home unseen
But for a moment he did slow down
To look back and say,” thanks for now”
by Yolie
2 years since I first saw a grey cat wondering around the parking lot
Wanted to set up a feeding station but failed attempts to find the spot
Then one day I did see Maybe with my other 3
I thought at last I could feed you there with Abby, Sunrise, and Ripley
My ultimate goal was TNR
Then recently I spied you by my car with left paw raised no weight to bare
Limping around on 3 paws your face grimaced in pain
With great difficulty you hobbled back into the wooded area of the parking lot
A trap was set in that path
I prayed to God to lead you there
Sat and Sunday…no success
Then Monday AM I did spy Abby had gone in by mistake
Set her free, as I apologized
Then later that morning luck did prevail… Maybe trapped without fail
To Bonnie’s I did bring to be taken for SPCA care
Maybe neutered and paw was seen …a puncture bandaged soon to heal
4 days of TLC did Bonnie provide, love of cats, she can not hide
Then on Saturday I set him free
He raced back to home unseen
But for a moment he did slow down
To look back and say,” thanks for now”
| KIKI By Yolie |
| BUDDY By Yolie |