UPDATE September 6th,2010:

SOPHIA HAS BEEN ADOPTED!

Thanks to everyone who helped save her….

——————————————————————-

Many of you might remember my rescue trip to the San Francisco Bay Area in July.

leaving Portland for San Francisco

I was able to bring back ten dogs of which we kept two with Let’s Adopt! in Portland to re-home locally.

The lucky two were Sophia, a 2-year old Chi-Rat X, who found the greatest foster home in the city, Our very own Donde.

The other is Esperrranza “Espie”, a 1-year old Chi-Pin X, who is rooming with my little tribe.

Both have been vetted, spayed, and well socialized. They’ll have a play date with potential adopters over the weekend.

Let’s recap real quick why we had to rescue these dogs…

They were on death-row – on the kill list of the shelter for the very day I got my hands on them.

Espie wasn’t even available for adoption to the public. Her crime? She was “Timid”…TIMID! After 2-3 weeks in the madhouse, all that noise day in, day out, in a cold kennel, on concrete, did I mention the noise? I WOULD BE TIMID.

The instant she was out of the building and in the parking lot with us, she gave kisses…something she’s now famous for. In fact, she chases Ouzo down on the sofa and basically gives him a complete dental at least twice a day. Very sweet girl. After weeks at the pound she needed a refresher on the house training, which she is doing well with.

Sophia is a little speed devil. She’s proud to walk on leash and can’t wait to get to the dog park to play with the other dogs and meet all the people…oh and treats of course.

I don’t even remember why she was on death row, but it strikes me as hideous that perfectly healthy animals are being killed in our municipal shelters.

With OUR tax dollars.

Can’t we do better than that?

I think we can.

Please read this week’s blog on how to become a *gulp* community organizer. To bring true change in your own community. It is time that YOU and I step up to the plate. Are you ready?

Meanwhile…sign up as a foster for us, rescue a dog or cat from your local kill pound this week, and foster it for a few days or weeks….we’ll assist you in re-homing it through our network…surprise me…

BE THE CHANGE

-Misha

Dearest Friends + Supporters of Let’s Adopt!

I would like to thank you for your tireless support and votes in the Pepsi Refresh Challenge.
We have come to the realization, that we now have a zero chance to come close of making it into the top 2 of the $250k – grant category.
For that reason, we have decided to move on to focus on the urgent cases waiting for us to be handled.
We have numerous special needs dogs and cats in great need of new homes and/or vet care.
We’re also looking for volunteers in many areas.

So, I’d like to invite you to become permanent tribe members of our wonderful family, by joining your closest Let’s Adopt! network.
I have listed a few of them below:

LA! Global:
http://www.facebook.com/LetsAdoptGlobal

LA! USA:
http://www.facebook.com/LetsAdoptUSA

LA! Canada:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=101251555667

LA! Germany/Austria:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=99371202835

LA! Turkey:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=223594502500

visit http://myletsadopt.com/
to find a network near you!
I hope to see you on the other side…

Please continue to support our work.
We are not only looking for contributions,but are also in desperate need of VOLUNTEERS!

Flight Escorts
-
are you traveling a lot? Especially to/from Europe? – You can be a
lifesaver! At no extra cost to you. Just donate a little extra time at
the check-in/out and customs

Foster Volunteers
-
we need you in all countries!!
We’re desperate in Turkey.
TRULY desperate for foster homes. There are too many animals we can’t take in
because no one will step up and make a little space in their homes to
them….
We also need your help in Germany, France, USA, Canada, Bulgaria…everywhere

Activists
- you know who you are.
Annoyed by PETA, and a little scared of ALF?
We might just be the right place for you to land…

Contributors - our silent supporters who make so much of our work possible…
The Simba Fund:
http://bethechange.chipin.com/

Please download and add our foster flyer as your profile picture on FB for the next few weeks to raise awareness of the importance of fostering.

BE The Change

-Misha
contact me:
misha@myletsadopt.com

We’re doing well!

KEEP VOTING!

This race is about endurance, and we’re in for a virtual “Ironman”.

http://www.refresheverything.com/letsadopt

I believe this little video will “speak” to each and everyone of those who watch it…

We are in a long distance run…

Come run with us…

Please vote for Let’s Adopt at the Pepsi Project… and SHARE…

Dear Friends,
last month I asked whether, we as a community could save 100 animals this summer.

What has happened since…

I’ve met Mary Ann, a wonderful lady from NC.She saved several cats from a property, who’s owner threatened repeatedly

Using cats for target practice for procreating? An oxymoronic situation considering who's doing the shootin'

to just use the cats  for target practice.
Mary Ann and her patient husband set up traps, and over the course of a week were able to catch all of them.

trapped kitty - ready to be spayed

All have been altered, vaccinated and an older kitty is being treated for a couple of fighting wounds.
Stay tuned for Mary Ann’s story…..

a new lease on life instead of a never ending cycle of kittens

Then there is Daniela, who literally took us up on our challenge the very next day. She lives in Atlanta, went to a high kill shelter in Rome, GA and saved a beautiful English shepherd mix from death row.

Daniela named him Borgo, after a district in Rome.

Borgo on Death Row at the Rome, GA animal pound

Within days Borgo came down with the kennel cough. Daniela spent hours taking him to the vet, treating him, comforting him.

After several baths, a trip to the groomer, lots of love, vaccinations and finally getting neutered – Borgo is ready to move to his new home, which is already waiting for him in Indiana.
Unfortunately, Daniela is a poor student, with a minimum wage job on the side and has exhausted her resources.

She needs help with transport and/or shipping Borgo to Indiana. Please contact Daniela if you can help. dragomirovad@yahoo.com

What about the challenge?

We are a community of over 2000 members in the US. I think we can do better. Daniela, a student, with a minimum wage job, living in a small apartment has proven that there’s always a way to save a life.

Borgo and his personal angel, Daniela

Every life is worth saving. No matter how old or broken an animal is. We owe it to them to make things right.
If we don’t intervene, who will?
What can WE – as a community, as individuals do this coming month?

Step ONE: sign up as a volunteer with us.
if you can’t volunteer please consider supporting us via the Simba Fund.
100 cents of each dollar go to the care of our animals, and funding of special rescue operations. Let’s Adopt! does not have any overhead, because we are ALL volunteers.
This sets us apart from any other big organization.

• Send me your stories and pictures of the animals you saved.
• Sign up to volunteer for us. We are looking for volunteers in ALL 50 States and also in Canada RIGHT NOW.

Shoot me an email with your information:

• Name
• Location
• Volunteer Interest

Let’s make this summer one to remember…

Let's Adopt! Summer Of Luuuuv 2010

The summer we saved 100 animals - TOGETHER!

BE The Change
~Misha

You’re reading this because you’re probably a member of Let’s Adopt!
I applaud you for joining our networks.

Now I want to ask you to join our tribe, by becoming an active member of our operations, to join our tribe!
We are of course animal lovers, but we are activists first. Which means, that we love all the cute pictures of pups and kitties. However, there are too many cute pups and kitties dying in our so-called shelters and by the hands of abusers and breeders every single day.
We must act – NOW!

I am often disillusioned by what I see, especially on the web.
Horrendous abuse, crush videos, starved animals, scared animals going crazy in their kennels at the pound.
I have seen many of these cases in my work as an activist and rescuer. The 1-day-old kittens I raised with an eyedropper or feeding tube, just to see them succumb to a simple upper respiratory infection. The kittens that were exposed to FIP, and ultimately died because their intestines and organs literally liquefied inside of them.

However there were hundreds that were a joy to foster and raised to be strong enough to be adopted. There are many, many success stories, which by far outweigh the bad experiences.
Now I want YOU to experience the feeling of saving a life and what an impact you alone can make in your community.
I want YOU to reach out to your local pound and rescue a dog or a cat.

Rescue an animal from death row - TODAY!

Become its caretaker and angel.
We will then rally as a network to adopt the animal into a new home.

adopting an animal will complete any family

Our adoption criteria are strict, yet very simple.

• the adopter has at least one other animal

• the animal will live indoors only! Not in the yard, not on a tie-out, not in a garage, or a barn. It will live indoors as part of the adopters family.

• the animal will be fed a raw diet only. Your animal will be healthier, you will be happier, and you’ll save money in the long run, on cost of food and vet bills. More info can be found at http://rawlearning.com

• We do not apply an adoption fee. One can’t buy any Let’s Adopt! dog or cat.

• We believe that adopting an animal is a privilege, not mercy.

• The adopter will create a Facebook album with photos of the animal with its new family and updates.

These are our adoption rules in a nutshell.
Do you think you can handle it?
Have you been thinking of how in the world can you make a difference at these overcrowded pounds? Well, here is your chance to put your action where your heart is.

• Pull an animal.

• Then take it home, let it settle in,

let the dog or cat settle down for a few days

• take pictures and post it on the Let’s Adopt! USA page,

• Include all details you have about the animal:
• Age, temper, likes, dislikes, history (stray, dumped by owner, etc)

• We’ll campaign to get the animals adopted.

Do you realize that you will be saving TWO lives at once.
Not only will you be taking the one dog off death row, but another one will have a better chance, because there’s new cage space. And hopefully, you’ll inspire friends and family to do the same all over the country.
Perhaps concentrate on high kill facilities such as many municipal facilities in the South, from Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas – some pounds have a 90 (that’s NINETY) % kill rate.
Here’s where you can make a big difference.
There are many small groups that are willing to help you pull an animal and organize transport.
I will be listing some of these groups and links soon.
For now – please search your heart and decide whether you can open your home to a rescue this summer. I know you can and want to.

Let us help you figure out how and make it a reality. For the animals and for you.

We can potentially save hundreds of animals this summer. Are you with us?

Got Foster Dog?

Let’s start saving lives – one dog, one cat at the time.

BE The Change
Misha Dee

According to the Robesonian Online, the Robeson Board of Commissioners and animal advocates have come to an agreement that Robeson County will no longer use the heart stick as a method of euthanasia, but switch to the more humane intravenous method of murdering perfectly healthy animals.

Perfectly healthy animals - murdered

Let’s Adopt! USA applauds the first step in the right direction as a interim solution.

However, we would like to see Robeson County working closer with the local Humane Society and the community to create the first NC NO-KILL municipal animal shelter.

This can be achieved by educating the public and holding free spay/neuter clinics at least twice a year.

We strongly recommend that the Robesonian Newspaper will use its resources to be a main supporter of such events, by offering free advertising space for sponsoring businesses and participating Veterinarians.

Veterinarians should also be offered a local tax incentive for every animal they altered under a county wide spay/neuter voucher system.

See Portland, Oregon based POPPA as a wonderful example on how it can work.

Please spread the word and help Robeson to become a truly humane county!

BE The Change!

Misha

The following is a compilation of advice from Alley Cat Alliance, and my own experience as an active rescuer and “kitten wrangler” for over 16 years.
My specialty is neonatal orphans, who are THE most fragile, require the most care, but getting them through the first 14 days is also incredibly rewarding.

I have fostered over 700 kittens/cats,a few dogs & pups over the years – most of them were tiny orphans, special needs, geriatric or hospice cases.. Not all babies survived, due to either disease, injuries, or were eaten alive by parasites, and it was too late by the time they came to me.
Those were the toughest cases, and losing any of these babies is never easy – I won’t lie.
I’ve said many times I can’t do it anymore – yet when the call comes in about another baby with eyes still closed…. I’m the first to say YES.
So, here are some important tips on what to do when you find kittens.

First things first.
When you find a litter of kittens or an orphan, make sure to check whether there’s a mother around. Assess the situation and see whether the kittens are in distress. If they are exposed to heat, rain or wind then they have likely been abandoned. However, if they seem content, watch the area for a while from the distance to see whether the mother has only left to hunt for food. She should return as soon as she feels it’s safe to approach. Therefore it’s important that you keep a good distance from the “nest”.
If the mother hasn’t shown up after a few hours, it is probably a good idea to take the kitten(s) inside.

Now What?

Don’t panic!

· Determine The Kitten’s Age:

- Under one week: (3-8 oz) Eyes are shut, ears are folded down, and kittens are unable to walk. They can purr and make tiny noises. The umbilical cord may still be visible.

kitten less than one week old

1- 2 weeks old

- Three weeks: (7.5-14.5 oz) Eyes fully open and ears are open and standing up. Kittens will start to respond to noises and movement. The first wobbly steps are taken and baby teeth start to come in.

2 - 3 weeks old

- Four-five weeks: (8-16.75 oz) Running, playing, digging, and pouncing occur often. Kittens will start to wean and will be able to lap up formula, eat soft food, and use the litter box by themselves. Eyes have fully changed from blue to their adult color.

5 -6 week old "trinity of trouble"

- Eight weeks: (2 lbs) Kittens look like little versions of full grown cats.
This is the best age at which to begin the socialization process.

Matangi - with Uma, one of my special needs kittens. She had a hole in her diaphragm with her intestines growing through it. She passed away the day after her surgery.

· Ask for Help:
Depending on the kitten’s age: If you have a neonatal, contact local veterinary clinics and no-kill shelters to ask if they have a nursing mother cat or experienced volunteers available to bottle-feed the kittens. People have had a lot of success having mother cats “adopt” more kittens. This can go either way, as some shelters are more concerned about passing diseases by mixing litters. I personally see the survival of the kittens as most important, and will take orphans at any time.
· Foster:
There’s a good chance you will have to foster the kitten(s) for some time, before you can get them into a no-kill shelter/rescue.
Please do NOT surrender them to a city shelter OR the Humane Society, as they will be euthanized.

Most larger shelters will not accept kittens that are not eating on their own. The municipal shelters (a.k.a. city pound) will, because they HAVE to by law, however THEY WILL KILL THEM!!

orphaned kittens under 3 weeks are routinely killed at our city shelters. Organizations such as the HS or SPCA refuse to take them.

We will talk about the numbers games of so-called no kill shelters at another time.
· Heat and Bedding: Kittens can easily become chilled and can actually die from chilling within a short time frame. Be sure that from the moment you find them, the kittens are kept constantly warm. Continually keep an eye out for signs of chilling (i.e., kittens are listless and feel cool to the touch). If you have nothing else on hand, use your own body heat to warm up a cold kitten, and rub gently to aide circulation. It is important to note that kittens cannot control their own body temperature until they are at least three-weeks-old. Do not bottle feed until kittens have warmed up completely.

At home, provide kittens with a soft nest (like a box or kitty bed) with a heating pad or other warming device. Completely cover it with a blanket or towel, and make sure that kittens can move away from the heat if they want. Change the bedding daily or as needed when accidents occur.

Chilling can occur after a kitten becomes wet.Never submerge kittens in water. If you need to wash them, wash only certain parts or use a moist wash cloth. Be sure to always fully dry them with a hair dryer (on low) and towel.

· Food: Never feed kittens cow’s milk—this causes diarrhea. Feed only kitten formula, such as KMR, which can be purchased at most pet supply stores. Use kitten bottles to feed, as they are designed specifically with a kitten in mind.If you have an option for nipples, the elongated nipples are easier to use. Follow the directions of the bottle manufacturer for bottle preparation. You may have to make your own holes in the nipple with a sterilized pin or razor; be sure you do this correctly so that the kitten replacement milk drips out slowly when the bottle is turned upside down. I found the elongated nipples the easiest to use for the smaller kittens.  If you can’t find those, then use a pin to puncture a hole AND then use a razor or pair of small scissors to cut an X into the top. Do NOT cut off the top – just slice it. If you have a very young kitten, stop by your vet, and ask them for a couple of 3cc/ml or 5cc/ml syringes. They will work as very well for those tiny kittens.

bottle feeder

Sterilize the bottles before using. Wash your hands before and after each feeding.

This Emergency Kitten Formula can be made at home:
It should only be used in emergencies, and should not replace kitten formula completely.
8 oz. can (unsweetened) regular evaporated milk
1 beaten egg yolk
2 TB Karo syrup
Mix all ingredients well and strain. Warm before serving. Keep refrigerated.

·Proper Feeding: Hold or place kittens on their stomachs and arch the bottle so less air gets in (do not feed kittens on their backs). Always warm the kitten replacement milk and test it on your wrist to be sure it is warm but not hot.
Remember, do not feed chilled kittens.

· Feeding Schedule: Feeding should occur every two hours around the clock for kittens one week or younger.
You can reduce feeding to every three to four hours at two weeks and from then on, most kittens can be fed about two to three times daily with a wet food/formula mixture. Follow the guidelines on the formula label for how much to feed. Kittens will usually stop nursing when full.

If you are having trouble getting a kitten to “latch” onto the bottle, try pulling on the nipple when they start to suck, this will encourage her to suck harder and latch on. You can also try moving the nipple back and forth in the kitten’s mouth.

If your kitten is too ill to suck on a bottle, you may have to use other methods such as tube feeding. Consult a veterinarian before attempting this yourself, as you might cause serious harm to the kitten if the tube is not inserted properly.

Weaning occurs around four to five weeks of age. Mix formula with wet food so kittens can begin to lap it up, or put the mixture in a bottle. Then mix with dry food and begin providing water.

· After feeding: As long as kittens are eating formula, you must burp them. Put them on your shoulder or on their stomachs and pat them gently until you feel them burp. Kitten formula is sticky, so be sure to clean kittens after feeding with a warm, damp washcloth.
· Elimination: Kittens under four weeks must be stimulated in order to go to the bathroom after each feeding. Usually a mother cat would lick her kittens, but you can use a warm, moist cotton ball to gently rub the kittens’ anal area to stimulate urination and defecation. Completely solid feces usually will not form while kittens are drinking formula. Start litter training at four weeks. Use a small litter box with non-clumping litter. Show kittens the litter box and put in a used cotton ball, and this should do the trick.
· Weight: Kittens should double their weight each week of their life. It’s a good idea to weigh the kitten and record its progress daily. Alley Cat Allies offers a wonderful PDF for download, which I highly recommend to print out, as it includes additional vital information on caring for your kittens, as well as feeding schedules, weight/health charts to keep track of any changes.
· Health Concerns:
Upper Respiratory Infection (URI) – Though this is common in kittens, you should not ignore it. If heavy yellow discharge develops or the kitten has trouble breathing or eating, see a veterinarian immediately. A mild URI can be cleared up by simply wiping away discharge with a warm, wet cloth and keeping kittens in a warm, damp environment.

Fleas – Fleas on a very small kitten can cause anemia. First, pick fleas off with a flea comb. For a bad infestation, you can bathe the kitten in warm water to get rid of fleas, since using topical flea treatment can make small kittens ill. Remember, never submerge kittens fully in water. If giving a bath be careful of chilling – dry kittens thoroughly with a warm towel or hair dryer on low, then place on a heating pad. No shampoos or topical treatment should be used in kittens six weeks or younger.

Parasites/Diarrhea – Any drastic change in stool consistency can mean trouble. Parasites can often cause diarrhea, strange looking stool, and dehydration. If you notice any unusual signs, your kittens should be seen by a veterinarian.
Intestinal parasites are normal in kittens and therefore they  should be wormed with at the age of 4 weeks and again at 6 weeks. First FVRCP vaccine should be administered at the age of 6 weeks, with 2 more boosters every 3-4 weeks after that. If you’re lucky your kittens will be accepted by a no-kill shelter by this time.
· Rehoming: If you decide to re-home the kitten(s) yourself, please screen the homes carefully, ask for an adoption fee (can be a donation to a rescue of your choice), and supply the adopter with a spay/neuter voucher, to be used within 4 weeks of adopting the kitten. Contact your local no-kill or feral cat organization for low/no cost spay/neuter clinics in your area and have the kittens fixed before you adopt them out.



Resources:

Alley Cat Allies Neo Natal Handbook (PDF)(right click to save link): Must Have for any new foster of neo natals. Lots of wonderful tips, forms, schedules, etc.

Kittens For Dummies byDusty Rainbolt: Great Beginner’s Book. The author spends great detail on examining kitten poop, which may sound excessive, but trust me, this information will come in handy.

The Cornell Book of Cats: The Comprehensive and Authoritative Medical Reference for Every Cat and Kitten – for the advanced and brave foster

The Pill Book Guide to Medication for Your Dog and Cat by Kate Roby and Lenny Southam: essential for any rescuer.

Feel free to post any questions or suggestions.

Join our Facebook network and share pictures.

What? WHAT?? We weren't doing nuffin'

Post your questions to this blog or mail me at misha@myletsadopt.com

BE The Change

Misha

]]> http://us.myletsadopt.com/2010/04/20/so-you-found-a-kitten-or-two-three-four/feed/ 4 http://us.myletsadopt.com/2010/03/18/a-purebred-really/ http://us.myletsadopt.com/2010/03/18/a-purebred-really/#comments Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:43:59 +0000 Misha http://us.myletsadopt.com/?p=463

I stopped by a pet supply store the other day to fit “Ouzo” for a harness.

Ouzo fka “Zunkito”, My Chilean volcano survivor

As we were browsing the store, tackling all the junk food barrels, which are strategically placed on snout level….all over sudden, in an otherwise fairly quiet store, a  big ruckus errupted…

..“ohhhhh” and “aaaah” *pupppppy!!!!…

Not just a puppy – it was a purebred chocolate Labrador Retriever pup, fresh from the breeder.

I just stood there for a moment, in disbelief – numb – thinking of all the cute puppies that were being murdered today in death camps around the country.
And here was this guy standing in front of me…beaming like a young father holding his first born.

We made eye contact – he smiled – waiting for me to chime into the “ohhhh & aaaahhhh” choir.

obsessed with cookies

Instead I asked him: “Did you get him from a breeder?”

He blushed, looked at me like a young boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar…. “yeeeaah”

I just rolled my eyes, turned around and walked away with my GORGEOUS, PERFECT THREE-LEGGED UNIQUE Chilean Lava Hound.…..

talented mixed breed, knows to make the bed…sort of

It would have been pointless trying to educate him about the importance of spaying and neutering, why we should adopt and not buy from breeders..

he KNEW…and did it anyway.

That evening, I went online to check out Petfinder, and there are over 1000 chocolate labs waiting for a home RIGHT NOW…..

This is Zeke, one of over a thousand chocolate labs currently waiting to be adopted

Granted, not all of them are purebred labs, but the point is that there are rescues for every single breed out there, and that each and everyone of us has a responsibility to stop this insanity of breeding pets for profit. It begins with the hamster for your kids, the cute little baby bunnies you give your children on Easter and to the shelter by Whitsun.

BE The Change…

~Misha & Ouzo

]]> http://us.myletsadopt.com/2010/03/18/a-purebred-really/feed/ 18 http://us.myletsadopt.com/2010/02/24/happy-spay-day-2010/ http://us.myletsadopt.com/2010/02/24/happy-spay-day-2010/#comments Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:26:34 +0000 Misha http://us.myletsadopt.com/?p=397

Happy Spay Day From Let's Adopt! USA

Today is Spay Day…

and I would like to remind you about the importance of fixing your pets.

Here are some quick facts to remember:

One unfixed tom cat can produce THOUSANDS of kittens.

One unfixed cat can (and will) have two litters per year.

Kittens reach sexual maturity as early as at the age of 5 months.

Once a cat has given birth, she can go back into heat within 48 HOURS! As a foster volunteer veteran I have watched this happen (in disbelief) many, many times.

Contact your local animal services or do a quick online search for low cost spay/neuter in your metro area, and do the responsible thing.

Fix your animals. Do YOUR part to end the suffering of thousands of animals born each year, just to rot in pounds, being abused or starve to death before they can even open their eyes.

Thanks, and remember….

Spread The Word!

…Be The Change

~Misha

]]> http://us.myletsadopt.com/2010/02/24/happy-spay-day-2010/feed/ 0 http://us.myletsadopt.com/2010/02/15/remembering-our-feral-cats/ http://us.myletsadopt.com/2010/02/15/remembering-our-feral-cats/#comments Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:50:25 +0000 viktor http://us.myletsadopt.com/?p=312

This two-level feral cat house was built by a volunteer at Ohio Alleycat Resource. We purchased it to support OAR and to give our feral cats a warm, safe place to enjoy their cat naps.

I heard over the weekend that there was snow on the ground in 49 out of 50 states, and this made me think about the feral cats who are outside trying to stay warm and find food.

I’m sure you don’t need the reminder, but you might find this list of 20 reasons to keep your cats indoors useful in educating others about why it’s irresponsible to allow their cats to roam outdoors.

Feral cats are the offspring of domestic cats and are primarily the result of pet owners’ abandonment or failure to spay and neuter their animals. Feral cat colonies can be found behind shopping areas or businesses, in alleys, parks, abandoned buildings, and rural areas.

We found a feral cat colony living under our house a few months ago, and that’s how we met Charlotte, Frida, and a few other cats who are still feral. Charlotte was still a kitten when we caught her, so we moved her inside immediately after spaying her. Frida was quite fierce with us before we trapped and spayed her, but after we did that, she changed her personality completely and decided she wanted to be an indoor lap cat. So that she is! We believe Frida and Charlotte are mother and daughter, so we are pleased that they can remain together.

Charlotte stayed in our bathroom for a couple of weeks after she was spayed so that we could socialize her and allow her to adjust to her new home.

So what’s the difference between a stray cat and a feral cat?

A stray cat:

• may be vocal
• may approach you and may approach food as soon as you put it down
• may look unkempt or poorly groomed
• may be seen at all hours of the day

A feral cat:

• will be silent
• will not approach you and will wait for you to move away before approaching food
• will appear groomed
• is generally nocturnal

Caring for a feral cat colony begins with spaying and neutering all the members of the colony. It works!

One pair of breeding cats, which can have two or more litters per year, can produce 420,000 offspring over a seven-year period.

Always seek the advice of your local cat rescue. They often will lend you humane box traps and offer low-cost or free spay/neuter surgeries for feral cats, and many of them also maintain feral cat food banks to help you offset the costs of caring for feral cats.

Here are some instructions for trapping feral cats.

These companies sell humane box traps:

Tomahawk Live Trap Co.
PO Box 323
Tomahawk, Wisconsin 54487
800.272.8727
http://www.livetrap.com/

ACES (Animal Care Equipment & Services, Inc.)
P.O. Box 3275
Crestline, California 92325
800.338.ACES
http://www.animal-care.com/

Heart of the Earth Marketing
205 High Street
Fruitdale, South Dakota 57742
P: 800.526.1644
F: 605.892.0154
http://www.animal-traps.com/

Lucy came from the streets of Turkey to join Frida and Charlotte.

Once your colony is spayed and neutered, there is still much more you can do!

Ally Cat Allies, the nation’s feral cat advocacy organization, provides some great tips on how to care for feral cat colonies.

You can also provide a feral cat shelter.

If you have a feral cat organization near you, they might have feral cat houses for sale. But you can also make them yourself with a few inexpensive supplies. You can even search Craig’s List, FreeCycle, and your local junkyards for free materials to use.

This multi-part video gives instructions for how to make very inexpensive cat shelters.

Here’s a print-out which explains how to make a feral cat shelter, and here’s another set of plans for an inexpensive feral cat shelter.

Alley Cat Allies offers instructions on how to construct an array of wonderful shelters for feral cats. You can use styrofoam boxes, plastic tubs, an old garden shed, or even old truck camper covers.

Fresh, dry straw (not hay) is the best lining material for your feral cat shelter. Don’t put blankets or towels inside because they can freeze and will not keep the cats nearly as warm.

Feral cats also need food and water.

Providing a feeding station for them is a very kind thing to do, and Alley Cat Allies provides a great set of instructions for how to build one.

I’m not an engineer and am pretty hopeless when it comes to construction. Some of you might be the same way. But that’s no reason to be deterred from helping cats. Gather some friends together, and help each other build feral cat houses and feeding stations. Or contact your local feral cat organization to see if they can help you or put you in touch with others interested in doing the same thing.

Bella is a stray cat we met while trapping the feral colony we found. She lived with us until she found her forever home with two other cats and a wonderful couple who are both nurses at our local children's hospital.

It can be tricky to provide fresh water for cats during the winter, but here are some tips to help prevent the water from freezing:

• Use deep, narrow bowls.
• Keep the bowls in a sunny place.
• Refill the bowls with hot water.
• Add a small pinch of sugar to each bowl when you refill it.
• Purchase heated electric bowls.

If you keep your colony on a regular feeding schedule, they will be ready to eat and drink when you bring out their food and water which means that the water will be consumed before it has time to freeze.

National Feral Cat Day is October 16, but we must care for our feral cats every single day of the year.

Thank you for doing your part.

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