Susan's blog - February '09 entries
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Rescue or Return?
February 4, 2009 : 9:15 PM
We've needed to get 3 of the kittens and the female, that we picked up
while filming, spayed. Finally found a new clinic (recommended by a
volunteer), that was an hour and a 1/2 away. We rode there Tuesday, and
after dropping the kitties off, we went to immigration to file papers
requesting permanent visas. I was really impressed by the vet, and wish
the clinic was closer. It's unreasonable to use it regularly, as it
meant our volunteer spent over 6 hours on the road Tuesday, between
drop off and pick up. I have to say that the cats were very well
behaved for the long trek, with almost no crying. They all came back
wearing little "sweaters" as bandages. See more photos here...
It's a relief to get everyone done, as at least one of them will join
the 4 going out to new homes this Saturday. We named the cat that we
picked up while filming, Mika. It's not an area that we are doing TNR
in, and we can't get back there to do maintenance care. But, she was
easy to catch, and we had an extra cage, so it just seemed like the
kind thing to do to pick her up and get her spayed. It's clear that
someone is feeding her, and the vet says her health is fine--she was
not thin, but her coat shows that she's obviously been living outside.
We know that if we don't put her back, whoever was feeding her will
find another unaltered cat to feed--she's a friendly cat, and I feel
sure someone is missing her. Now a couple of days after her operation,
she seems anxious to get outside, and if we do put her back, she'll
hold the place without giving birth to more kittens. We've decided to
put her back with a safety collar, stating that she's been spayed and
giving our phone number. I'd like to think we could just start a new
project out in that area, but the problems here are so widespread, and
there are several low income areas that we've had requests from and
can't get to, due to a shortage of funds/lack of volunteers. Given
that, it doesn't make sense to start a new project in an area where
nobody has asked for our help. Maybe someone will see the phone number
and call, and that could change things. I can at least stop by once a
week, when I'm driven out that way for English classes.
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Jane's getting seriously settled
February 6, 2009 : 6:05 AM
Great news about Jane, who found a good home at the PAWS Yokosuka Naval
Station shelter. It really sounds fantastic, and I'm so pleased with
all that the staff there has done for these kitties. I can't believe
that we will probably rehome all of the kittens that came in last
year--we're down to our last three at the shelter, and are now
processing several requests. We're actually reaching out to a few of
the smaller rescue groups that we work with, to see if they need help
rehoming any kittens. Hopefully we'll get some interest in the adult
cats, and we're sending out several to foster care over the next two
weeks, to better ready them for new homes. See our kittens at PAWS...
Janey's new family...
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Birdie flys to Tokyo
February 7, 2009 : 11:54 AM
Decided to check out Mika's situation more thoroughly before returning
her, and went to the place to ask around about who might be feeding
her. Mika was really excited to be back--she kept pulling at the door
to the carrier and crying to get out. We talked with several nice
people but nobody there knew who might be feeding her, so we left our
telephone number and brought Mika back to the shelter. Got a phone call
this evening from the woman who is feeding cats there. She seemed nice
enough, and said that she's feeding several cats, along with Mika, that
live outside. We talked about spaying an neutering them, and she
agreed, but I doubt she has any strong intention to follow through.
We'll try to arrange a meeting with her there, and check up on the rest
of the cats. If Mika could return, and the rest of the cats could be
spayed/neutered, that may be the best thing for everyone involved. We
can provide ongoing support, and it will mean a better life for more
cats.
My monster cold is still hanging in there. It's been a couple of busy
weeks, since we finished the filming, and it isn't slowing down anytime
soon. With plans for handing out fliers, promoting Spay Day
International, as well as some upcoming TNR projects, this is our last
big push to spay and neuter before the spring births begin. We've been
working this week, on getting 4 cats ready for Margaret to take to
placements in Tokyo. Birdie is finally going back to foster care, with
a goal to eventually move her into a permanent home in Tokyo. She's
been in foster care before, but the person's living situation changed,
and she ended up back here. She's one of the favorites around the
shelter, and it won't be quite the same around here without her. She
greets everyone by climbing into a pocket in the mesh above the garden
enclosure door, just big enough for her to fit into, where she says
hello in her high pitched squeak. This would be enough to give her the
name, but she actually got it because of the way she looked as a baby.
Abandoned at about 4 weeks old, she arrived with a tiny head, skinny
neck, and a belly like a baseball. She looked very baby bird-like.
She's a friendly little thing, and I know that she will adore having
all the attention that she wants.
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Travel ready
February 13, 2009 : 5:37 AM
One of those busy weeks, starting with getting 4 to Tokyo for fostering
or adoption there. Margaret made the long journey out and we bungeed
the carriers a luggage cart again. Margaret usually stands with the
cats, in the area between cars on the Shinkansen (Bullet Train), in
case the cats cry and disturb the other passengers on their very
expensive journeys. She's a trouper to make these long hauls, not to
mention having to work out the inevitable problems on the other end.
Mickey and Birdie seem to be making themselves comfortable in their
respective homes, but Davy had some kind of stress attack and refused
to settle, crying loudly and constantly. Luckily, her brother Mickey's
adoptive family offered to take her there temporarily, and being with
her brother seemed to calm her down. We'd never seen behavior like this
from her before, but we don't always know what they'll be like once
they leave the shelter environment. Now, Genie has escaped from her
foster home last night, and has made an appearance at the window, but
is yet to be caught. She's nervous in new environments, though very
friendly once she feels comfortable. We're hoping that she's already
adjusted enough to want to come back inside and will be caught soon, as
otherwise, one of us will have to go out there. Kathryn is leaving her
window open to make it easy for Genie to get in on her own, so that may
help.
Fantasia is now staying at Aya's place, so that she can bathe her
regularly to help improve her skin conditions. Aya has had some
experience with tough to clear up skin problems, and we had become
concerned that even with the improvements, Fantasia's fur was still on
the sparse side. Aya and her husband say that they enjoy having
Fantasia around their place, and it's nice for her to get a little more
attention.
Comments
February 14, 2009 at 4:40 AM
posted by: catmominme
That is so wonderful of Aya to help Fantasia like that! It's also great
that Fantasia is "letting herself be babied" like that for her own good!
Hopefully her beautiful fur will grow back!
February 13, 2009 at 10:08 PM
posted by: japancatnet
It's been suggested that we fly the cats out, in which case they go
with cargo on their own, and we did that in one previous case. But, we
much prefer the ability to keep an eye on them during travel, and It's
actually shorter travel time from where we are, to go by train. It
works out to be a little more expensive than flying. The cats' train
ticket cost is only about $3, but the accompanying human ticket cost is
a little over $200 round trip. We try to make the best use by taking a
group, and 4 is pretty much the limit that one person can handle.
We are missing Fantasia, but Aya says she's improving with the daily
medicated baths. She's also seeing Aya's vet for some of her other
issues, and Aya has great confidence that she'll make a complete
recovery.
February 13, 2009 at 7:00 PM
posted by: catmominme
Thanks for the update on Fantasia! I was wondering how she was doing!
I know all about cats and trains. I took a train while moving from New
Jersey to Pennsylvania and had a crying cat the whole way. No one dared
say anything though...but that is the way it is in the cities in the
Northeast.
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Biscuit joins the club
February 13, 2009 : 10:18 PM
Genie came back! Kathryn left the window open through the night and she
came back in the morning. David had suggested putting a little of her
cat litter outside the window to help Genie find her way back from the
familiar smell, and Kathryn thinks that may have helped. We're really
glad that she's back safe and sound.
Was finally able to trap a new ginger tabby that had started showing up
outside the English class building. He was really suspicious of the
trap, and I've tried unsuccessfully to get him on several other
occasions. Now that he's been neutered, he can join Callie (a spayed
feral female) for food everyday, and he should be OK living around
there. His new name is Biscuit, and he really is gorgeous, but
completely unapproachable. He cries for food from under a truck or car
in the nearby parking lot, and I put it down, but he won't come out
until I stand back 5 or 6 meters. It doesn't seem likely that someone
could catch him to abandon him outside my building, so I imagine he's
just wandered there from somewhere else. Though we've Trapped Neutered
and Returned all of the cats in the center of town, there are still
unaltered strays in outlying areas.
Comments
February 22, 2009 at 11:03 PM
posted by: japancatnet
That can be tricky...it's best to first find out if there is anyone who
is managing ferals nearby, and see if they would mind taking over your
feeding location. It's possible to slowly move a feeding location in a
direction closer to the new feeder's various locations--though not too
near to threaten the other cats' territories. People managing ferals
often do so under the radar, but local animal control centers may be
willing to pass on a message to those they have on record as having
done TNR. This is especially true in areas where the local government
offers subsidies for TNR, as is the case in almost all of Tokyo. Just
call animal control and say that you are hoping to get in touch with
anyone doing TNR near your area, and leave your name/contact info.
If you can't find anyone who you feel you can trust to take over the
feeding, and you can't periodically go back to the old location to
feed/check-up yourself, you can try to move the cats to the new
location. This is a last resort, since it is very difficult to do
successfully. Cats are very territorial, particularly ferals, and they
do not settle well in new locations. For this plan to have it's best
chance, you'll need to trap the cats again (having been trapped
previously for spay/neuter, it can be difficult to trap them a second
time), and keep them outside in protected cages, in the new location.
This gives them a chance to get used to the new smells and sights of
the new location, and hopefully establish their place there. They
should be kept in cages for at least a week, but 2 or 3 weeks is
probably safer, and they should be fed at regular times. After that,
release them, and continue to put out food in the location where they
were caged, at the regular feeding times. You may not see them for a
few days, but continue feeding, as they will be fearful at first and
may not show themselves. Since you're setting out food, you'll need to
be sure that you aren't feeding unaltered cats in your new location,
which will land you with a troupe of unwanted offspring. So, find out
as much as you can about the new neighborhood cat situation, and keep a
good lookout for any unfamiliar faces...in which case, we begin again!
February 21, 2009 at 11:28 PM
posted by: traceytanaka
The biggest problem when taking care of ferals is what to do when you
move away from the area... I cant take him with me (I suppose) and
no-one in the area seems to care about him... Any ideas?
February 14, 2009 at 10:36 AM
posted by: japancatnet
I do feel much better about releasing unfriendly cats, that nobody
would be able to pick up easily. However, what I find most interesting
about working with ferals, is that no matter how wild they are, they
still want a connection to their feeders. I often see them roll on
their backs, showing me their belly, from several meters away. Of
course there's no way that I could get close enough to give them a
scratch, but it's their way of showing me some affection. I have to say
that one of the most touching incidents that I've experienced doing
rescue work was having a feral that we had neutered, and were feeding,
find his way to our door when he became deathly ill. He had never come
anywhere near the door before, but there he was, sitting right next to
the door when we opened it in the morning. We could tell that he was
very unwell, and we knew that he had aids. We kept him inside until he
died not long after. It was clear that, though we had never touched him
before or gotten anywhere near him while putting food down, he came to
us for the help that he knew we would give him. I think that those who
care for ferals know that however independent they may be, they belong
to the people who care for them.
February 14, 2009 at 4:43 AM
posted by: catmominme
Well, "talk does travel" even among cats and he probably heard about
the great deli for cats that you have and wants to be a regular
customer :)
I just love orange cats! He looks like a beauty! I'm glad he paid his
"membership dues" and is now going to be a happy neutered feral.
I know its difficult to NOT be able to interact closely with cats, but
for the ferals in your area, it may be to their benefit so they don't
get hurt by interacting with someone who may intend them harm....
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Bobbing and weaving
February 15, 2009 : 4:13 AM
Nice weather today, which had the cats out and enjoying their
enclosures. We're trying to allow the bobtails some time out to run
around on their own, and it's become easier to stagger occupants, since
we now have so few other kittens left. Recently, when we let the
bobtails out, Rose hangs back for cuddles. She's always been the shyest
of the four, so it's surprising but endearing behavior. They are all
such beautiful kittens, and we have high hopes for their re-testing
negative. Not sure when it's best to re-test, but they seem in perfect
health, now. We've just started making plans to tear down the old
garden enclosure and rebuild before kitten season gets into full swing,
but that will mean temporarily moving the adult cats into the almost
empty kitten area full time. We're still looking at the option of
foster care for the bobtails, and we'll have to talk with the vet about
a time-line for testing.
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Cold cats, warm heart
February 21, 2009 : 10:36 AM
It's suddenly very cold. We've had ongoing snow, icy rain, and strong
winds, which all make the cats want to come back in, almost as soon as
they've gone out. Then of course they forget about the miserable
weather and want back out. No problem for the adults, as they can go in
and out of their enclosures and inside space at will, but the kittens
and newbies have to go back to cages. We will soon be sending the
remaining 3 kittens to Tokyo, which will only leave Michael, Mika
(still with us!), and Louise, in the kitten room. Michael still has eye
issues, we've been unable to work out Mika's return, and Louise is too
feral to adopt out. These three will probably need to join one of the
adult crews, perhaps long-term. Michael is the lovingest cat, and would
adore a home, but he may end up needing eye surgery, so we need to keep
him close. We're trying some drops, after his recent vet check--he's
hoping that solves the problem with Michael's eyelid. The vet said it's
hard to check Michael's heart, because he purrs so loudly! Michael is
happy to meet anyone who shows an interest, and immediately throws his
paws around their neck!
Going out tomorrow to pass out fliers for Spay Day International. It's
a great day to wear the cat suit, as it's cold enough outside to
actually be comfortable!
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Nyan, nyan, nyan
February 23, 2009 : 10:39 AM
Out with volunteers yesterday, passing out fliers in front of train
stations. February 22 is 2/22 or ni ni ni, which slips easily into nyan
nyan nyan, an endearing term for "cat" in Japanese. So, an appropriate
day for the Cat Network to be out and about. Our flier reminds/informs
people about the benefits of spaying or neutering their pets, but we
also mention our ability to help anyone concerned about strays in their
communities. The cat suit was a nice addition, making the atmosphere a
little more festive, and one newspaper came out for a photo for today's
article. All in all, a successful effort at getting the word out about
spay/neuter and we are already thinking about how we might be able to
expand the effort next year. Still trying to raise money for some local
low income areas that have colonies of strays...we know that we should
be getting out there and trapping before spring is in full swing, but
without the funds, it just isn't possible. We're trying to target the
areas with people able to pay for spay/neuter, or areas with 4 or less
cats, since David and I can probably manage to fit that amount into our
personal budget. Hopefully we can come up with some good ideas for
raising money for spay/neuter in the future. We're also writing a
proposal for the regional animal control, recommending that they start
a TNR registration which would allow registered project areas to bring
cats to the animal control center for free spay/neuter. One of the
roadblocks to low cost or free spay/neuter is that vets are worried
about it cutting into their income. However, if projects must be
registered, it's unlikely that someone would go to that trouble to take
advantage of the deal for one pet, and ferals are unlikely to make it
into their clinics, anyway. So hopefully we won't see any resistance
from vets. Animal control employs enough vets to do the operations, but
they have yet to be convinced that it would save them any money, even
in the long run. We can only hope they see the light shining from
Tokyo, which has had subsidies in place for long enough to demonstrate
a clear and dramatic savings.
International Spay Day event
English spay/neuter flier
Japanese spay/neuter flier
Article about our in event in the newspaper
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Roly Poly Moses!
February 28, 2009 : 12:31 PM
Is this not the cutest thing? I cannot look at this picture without
smiling. This is little Moses, found in a river by our good friend Amy,
who gladly nursed her back to health and adopted her. We got a lovely
mail from her (Amy, not Moses, clever moppet that she is) tonight, and
I couldn't help searching out Moses' picture. For such a little thing,
SHE has some big presence. This is her sporting her newly well fed
belly and gunk free eyes/nose. Of course she is quite a bit bigger now,
and living as a happily resettled expat, all memories of rivers and
rescues long behind her.
Mails, classes, mails, and finally ready to almost call it a night. We
got the fantastic news that the builder who built the kitten enclosure
for us is going to also rebuild one of the adult enclosures. I really
can't believe what a help this will be--how much nicer for the cats,
for visitors, and for cleanup. We are really blessed to get such an
amazing gift! Now comes the work of moving cats around and tearing the
old enclosure down. The wood is old and weak, so it should come down
fairly easily, but the ground is elevated in parts, and will have to be
smoothed. There is also the old stone wall to deal with, along the
bottom front. Nobody wants these really big stones anymore, and we
won't have the space to keep them. We're meeting with volunteers
tomorrow to talk about the plan, and dates. Hopefully we can finish
before we start taking in any new kittens, as some of the adult cats
will be using the kitten enclosure during building time. We'll be
sending out the last three adoptable kittens next weekend, with only
the bobtails remaining, while waiting for their retest. Still working
on the rescue list, but here's what we have so far...
Comments
March 5, 2009 at 9:47 AM
posted by: japancatnet
Sorry to be away so long--preparing to make a trip to Tokyo with cats,
this weekend, and to meet with volunteers about opening our new
rehoming center there.
Ewok is doing very well, and still at the vet's clinic. He has been
very positive about her outlook, but wants to wait a few weeks more,
before testing. We all think that keeping her away from any exposure to
the kind of sniffles that crop up around the shelter from time to time,
is best for now.
I'm really proud of our rescue list! All of the long nights with the
little bitty ones, the trips to the vet, the love and care...to have it
culminate in so many good homes. We're thrilled! I remember at some
point in the early summer, I found myself in the pet food isle, and I
just dumped every packet or can of kitten food they had into my cart.
We were taking care of 30 or so kittens at one time, which put our
shelter count up to 80 or so. To be honest, I was terrified! But those
kittens are now almost all in homes. It gives me so much hope to think
about how much more we will be able to accomplish with more volunteers,
and the better facility that we are currently building.
Finally...oh the kitten bellies! I have no idea why I started this, but
I give the kittens each a smooch on their round bellies before they
leave for their new homes, and I say "Belly kiss for luck!" It's my
little ritual for sending them on their way, with my best wishes for a
happy future.
February 28, 2009 at 8:01 PM
posted by: missydog
There is nothing cuter than a kitten and this photo proves it. I
enjoyed reading your impressive rescue list and remembering the cats
you have written about. Is Ewok still at the vet's or is she back at
the shelter? I am always hoping to hear her health is improving.
February 28, 2009 at 7:19 PM
posted by: catmominme
Wow! Good job on the rescue list! With pictures and all....you should
be very proud of yourselves! What a joy to read....keep up the good
work! (even though it must seem never-ending)
February 28, 2009 at 7:15 PM
posted by: catmominme
What a cute little belly! :) I love round kitty bellies!
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