Feral Cats

There was an article in the local newspaper recently about a guy who takes in stray cats, provides medical care for them (many are in need of it) and gives them food and a place to stay. He doesn't try to make them all his pets, but does care for them. There are about 30 or so that come and go from his property. He also discovered that local shelters and other programs often offer financial assistance, something i have firsthand experience with, to people who capture feral cats and pay to have them spayed or neutered. Often people will Catch-Neuter-Release (CNR, in case you ever hear this term). This kind soul is doing this but also providing other medical care for the animals. And food. He lets them go but if they come back he feeds them.

What amazes me is the number of letters to the editor in subsequent days complaining about there being no regulations for this type of situation, and that he has basically opened an illegal shelter. I think neighbors complained as well.

I don't know what to say about this. Just give the friggin guy a break. He is a single, aging man, who is spending his limited money to help animals. People seriously do not have enough going on in their lives if they have time to write a letter to the editor just to complain about someone doing something so kind.

On a related note, a relatively inexpensive and quick way to spay/neuter a cat is T.E.A.M.. This is a traveling clinic and all they do is spay/neuter. You have to find out when they will be in your area, and I know they often set up shop in the PetCo. parking lot in Waterford, CT. You drop the animal off in the morning and pick him/her up in the afternoon. I forget if you need an appointment, but they love animals and have done an outstanding job on one of my cats and three feral cats I have caught and either released or found homes for.

World's Best Cat Litter, literally

We have cats. Four of them actually. Some go outside, some don't. It's a zoo. Anyway, with that many cats, one goes through a fair share of litter. We used to get Fresh Step litter ($11.99 for 30 pounds I think at BJs). The stuff is so dusty though and it stinks up the basement, leaving a film of dust on everything.

One of my new favorite products in the world is called World's Best Cat Litter. It's amazing. It is litter made from corn. It clumps just like regular cat litter but smells SO much better and has NO dust! The first time Sage went in to take a tinkle, she even thought about eating the litter. And the best part (aside from the dust elimination) is that it is completely biodegradeable.

This litter costs a little more than the Fresh Step, but for the dustlessness alone it is totally worth the extra few dollars. And this is coming from someone on a limited budget and a lot of felines.