Thought I'd share what I do
By feralcat
@feralcat (426)
Canada
December 29, 2006 8:14am CST
As some have read in my previous posts I care for a feral cat colony, foster orphans, adoptions, rescue and take a very pro-active stance in the ethical and humane treatment of feral cats.
I have been doing this for a decade or so now and it has become such an integrated part of my being that there are times I am not certain where I ed and where they begin.
My involvement with feral cats is not only concerning the ones I care for but spans beyond my own life. I try to help people givig them advice, I help people with TNR and at the beginning of this year I wrote and self-published a book entitled Loving the Feral Soul which at first was to be my personal view of caring for a feral cat colony but in the end became a collection of poetry and prose I wrote. Some of them are from my point of view such as Katherine but these are a collection of pieces I wrote from teh cats' view of the world ad the lives they live.
I also wrote a Christmas story which I am reworking to submit to companies such as Pixar and Disney (this would make a wonderful animal movie where the cats do speak and features Santa Claus). There is a story of Sasha, a once owned female who was suddenly ditched along the highway and tells her story of survival and adaption in the wild.
I am currently working on a 2nd book that deals with feral cats but this one is from my point of view and experience on life, loss, adoption, socialization and other topics.
So this sums me, a feral cat caregiver in a nutshell.:)
8 people like this
23 responses
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
29 Dec 06
I admire what you do, I love cats and the feral cats get a bad rap especially here in Australia as they seem to be the ones they blame for the destruction of out native wildlife, which I guess they do a bit but it makes me angry because lets face it its the people who take away the wildlife's habitat that do most of the damage anyway...goodluck to you, you are doing a wonderful thing.
@feralcat (426)
• Canada
29 Dec 06
I agree., much of the destruction is caused by humans. I have been keeping up with the sausage bait issue that Australian scientists have been designing which they say causes no pain to the feral cat and that it takes about an hour for it to die. I think the chemical used was used in WW1 but I am not 100% certain of this.
@vipul20044 (5794)
• India
29 Dec 06
Wow
Its good to see people still care for animals and its nice to see animal lovers like you
really great to hear about your books and thats superb wow you working for pixar and disney! amazing
@feralcat (426)
• Canada
29 Dec 06
Thank you. Although I take no credit for what I do; the credit goes to the cats and the inspiration they offer my life. I always tell people the day I take credit for my work is the day I turn away from it all :)
I am hoping that Pixar or Disney will look at this Christmas story has I think it would make a wonderful movie.
@mansha (6298)
• India
29 Dec 06
I have grown up with animals but now dont have any as its lot of work and I dont get time even for myself these days. My aunt still keeps pets and she has two cats rescued from dtreets and atwo dogs one of which is streeet dog and other is a lab. plus she has six parrots too. Its fun watching them. The cats and the lab are great friends while freaky( the street dog keep getting annoyed by them, now he really doesn't bother and has resigned himself to the fact of tolerating them somehow.In fact we say lab is real brother to both the cats. I am glad to know you and your experience with feral cats. Its a great art to write book about the animals. can I tell you my cats story when she gave birth to her kittens she only allowed lab to come near them and noone else not even us. he even helped her carry them everywhere. It was really funny dog caring for the kittens. I hope you can use it soewhere in your story.
@feelinggood (217)
• Canada
29 Dec 06
I think it is a wonderful thing you do. I love cats also and have taken inmany strays in my time. I was wondering if you have a way to have them neutered so they don't continue to breed? I live in the country, and there are many barn cats that live in this area. They are always in danger from other wildlife, such as coyotes, foxes etc. They just seem to disappear, so I know they must have been killed by something. Good luck to you.
@feralcat (426)
• Canada
29 Dec 06
I am very vigilant in practicing TNR (Trap, neuter, return) of feral cats and also have them tattooed and vaccinated. I have a great vet I work close with that gives me a great deal on the spay/neuter and vaccination of these cats. I try to get the young ones done at about 3 1/2 months old as the chance of socialization and adoption is greater at this age.
@minsmins (162)
• Philippines
29 Dec 06
WOW! It's really good to know that still, there's a man like you who is very much concerned bout animals, cats specifically. Keep On Man! I also love and care for animals but not able to do what you do ΓΌ , is your book available abroad or can order thru the net? Thanks!
@feralcat (426)
• Canada
29 Dec 06
Thank you. I've always had a very weak spot for animals and especially cats for some reason. To do the kind of work I do with these cats can take a load on you in every way possible but especialyl emotional and mental. I have had to witness some cats that were killed by coyotes, Adahy that was hit by a speed freak on the road here (hit and run) and so on. It can be very draining and at times there is a sense of hopelessness when you know that there are so many more out there.
The book can actually be purchased through my website http://www.lovingtheferalsoul.com/order_book.html if anyone is interested. :)
@StarSpottedHorse (48)
• United States
29 Dec 06
You are doing a wonderful thing. But I do have a problem with some people's attitudes about feeding feral cats. I have seen some sick and injured cats that people throw food out to saying "we are being HUMANE, we feed them, not kill them. These cats are dying slowly, painfully, and injuring and spreading disease in the process.
An area in eastern NC has a wonderful program where the Humane Society? will loan you a cage if you catch a feral cat and help pay cost of spay/neutering and clip the ear of the cat so as to prove it has been fixed. They return the cat to you so it be returned to live a feral life, but not continue to breed. I wish they had that everywhere.
PS. Good luck on your other book and movie
@totolotto (711)
• Singapore
30 Dec 06
wow, you are doing a truly wonderful thing. if there were more people like you, the world will be a much more beautiful place.
@margieanneart (26423)
• United States
5 Jan 07
I have given you another + rating for your post. You are remarkable, and God is using you in such a special way. Thank you for sharing this with us. Good luck on your books.
I love cats. I adopted two. They are my babies.
@samsonskola (3357)
• United States
30 Dec 06
Bless you for all you do. I, too, am very passionate about all animals and their welfare. It is my goal to one day have a shelter area where I can care for any creature that is unable to live in the wild, and to rehabilitate those who can. I applaud people such as yourself in this world where so many do not care for animals. I would love someday to read your book, and I hope your movie idea comes to fruition quickly. Those cats have a friend in you, and I know they are grateful and blessed because of it.
@akosi63 (331)
• Philippines
30 Dec 06
Huh! Soul as yours is such a blessing especially to those cats. It gives me goose pimples whenever I hear or see a human-cat(any animal) story. I will pray for your story to be approved by Disney or Pixar. Thanks for sharing a very good post. Few people can appreciate non-humane response that we can get from animals. They are sometimes better than people to be with. Thanks for doing a GREAT task that you, yourself chose to do.
@shirbump (84)
• Ireland
30 Dec 06
Hi fellow rescuer here! *L* I think what you have done is amazing, more power to you! I'd be interested in getting your book, I really think you should try and make a web page or something for it because people from all over the world would genuinly be interested in it, I would! ;0)
@Geminigirl (1909)
• United States
7 Jan 07
That is so great! Thank you for doing what you do. I have four indoor cats, two were street cats I rescued. I have also rescued about 8 cats/kittens in the past year, using the humane traps and got them spayed/neutered. I have found homes for all of them but one. Two kittens went to my mother's house, so they and she both are very lucky. It is great to see it when you know that cat has a better life. I'm so glad that there are people like you who care. Sometimes I think the whole world is all messed up and that animals are the only creatures who really make sense to me!
@momiecat (997)
• United States
14 Jul 08
Hi "feralcat", I have a colony of ferals that I feed and in Feb. 2008 an employee of the store where I feed told me, with much anger in his voice, that he was going to kill all the cats in the colony because I would not move them to a spot across some railroad tracks to what I felt was an unsafe area. He was reported to the store manager and counseled. One by one the cats have disappeared. I estimate at least 7-8 cats so far. I am fairly certain this guy is the cause of their disappearance but I need to know what I can do to prove it. I don't have money to hire a private detective. I think this guy goes early in the morning and harms the cats in some way. There has been a report that he has been seen kicking one of the cats. I would like to have him arrested but I have to have solid proof.
@Krisss (1231)
• Australia
30 Dec 06
That is very cool. I think anyone that cares for animals is a good soul. I am a dog lover, Ive never had a cat because my daughter is allergic to them. I dont dislike cats, I just do not understand them.
Thanks for caring for the cats that no one else wants :)
@harsh1985 (593)
• India
30 Dec 06
you are doing great thing of helping the cats. i also love animals but can't help them too much...but i want to take a look of your book shall it available on net?? because it is easiest way to see contents of the book..
i an sure that this book will become give inspiration and correct path to do something for animals.
do you working for the animals and birds which are very rarely seen?
i think the attitude of society about animals must be changed..person kiling the animal without any satisfactory reason must send under the prison by tightening the laws!!
@ajstyless (43)
• India
30 Dec 06
Yoy are doing a great work. plz inform me if i wld be helpful to u anyways.
@fayzah (253)
• United States
30 Dec 06
I am proud to have such a wonderful person like yourself here, would love to hear more stories like yours, it really makes me glow when others get involved in society and try to help out, I belong to a rebate board where some ladies volunteer at the shelters, they get coupond for free from the group to help them out for food, if u are interested in this lmk.
mazashatat@hotmail.com
keep doing a wonderful job!!!
