Caturday: To rescue or not to rescue should never be the question

 

 I was looking for something where I could actually make a difference. I was also dealing with the recent loss of a beloved cat that was poisoned, a bad experience with the local spca and had gotten to the point of looking to adopt again.

I came across a cat rescue group, it's board members mostly retired women, many had done well in the finance sector and were running it as a non profit.

I am hesitant and cynical about charities; I've read and knew too many stories of yet another one embezzling donations and turning my heroes into the opposite.

Jane who runs the group, is the Jane Goodall of the cat world. Pragmatic, intelligent, empathetic, level-headed, reasonable balancing politics and solutions in an admirable way. I'm honored to count her as my friend.

After the loss of buddy, I looked for a cat that didn't resemble him. I had decided on a purebred, found a breeder and waited for the litter. The litter came but two had not made it. "I just buried thousands of dollars," said the breeder to me. Disgusted by the comment, I went to local animal shelters. I looked at cage after cage of despondent cats, no magical moment of a paw choosing me. 

I contacted the rescue group, told them what I was looking for and drove to the appointment in someone's home. A cat with the most unusual markings I'd ever seen and striped whiskers zipped by me. I sat on the floor for two hours, but Stripes was not interested.

Based on the conversation with the cat foster parent, I suddenly got a call from Jane. This is how we met. She wanted me to take him. He was problematic, skittish and the alternative was a wealthy woman who had started to offer amounts beyond the adoption fee, because she had to have this decorative cat.

The group's mandate is simple; there is no cattery. All cats are fostered. It reduces cost and gets them used to being in a home, learn their individual behavior and match them accordingly. They rescue from shelters who euthanize because they run out of space and everyone wants kittens. The group has no staff everyone is a volunteer. Volunteers, mostly students feed the feral communities. Along with a male volunteer who constructs cat boxes for the ferals out of his own pocket. I learned a lot, my own preconceptions were set aside. And Jane knows how to use everyone's skill set.

The board members, primarily driven by Jane, copied the San Francisco model of TNR (trap neuter release) for the unadoptables and convinced politicians to fund it. Jane's motto: to prevent suffering, we have to prevent them from being born. Donations meant that the guy with the printshop produced the flyers. Another person with contacts procured petfood to give to grad students who were fostering. People who couldn't afford spay/neuter could take their cats to the vet college for free. No cats were adopted without being vaccinated and fixed.

On one occasion Jane called me. Would I be willing to talk to a senior unhappy with her adoption? What do you want me to say, I asked. Just talk to her. So I spent a few hours chatting with a senior, who missed her previous cat and was lonely. What's the problem? asked Jane. This one doesn't want to be petted. She needs a companion commented Jane. Yes. But mostly she needs an affectionate cuddler. Jane found her an older cat, left behind by another senior. The match was made.

Jane is also globally connected. She knows about shelters in Europe keeping multiple cats in a room rather than cages and that Europeans believe that they are nocturnal(they're not) and that it's cruel not to let them roam. They do just fine indoors.

They also run awareness campaigns. Cats are not problematic for the bird population. They barely get them. They're much more interested in small rodents. They should be kept indoors; from cars to kids to being stolen, the dangers are numerous. Most plants are toxic, they still chew them. As the wildlife population is migrating into cities, coyotes do hunt cats. Foxes usually go for kittens, but can spread disease. Cats, especially males will get into fights and FIV is as contagious as a sneeze. Prior to Halloween black cats are not adopted out. That has to be a myth. Jane corrected me; mostly teens who dabble with the occult. OMG.

I helped out with their newsletter researching and writing about cat physiology behavior treatment. Everything backed up by science and statistics. Cat grass doesn't help their digestion, it helps long haired cats who groom themselves a lot get rid of hairballs. Its about the only thing I can successfully grow from seed. I usually plant a few pots every week. Jane taught me that cats are not as independent as we think. They can be trained to fetch, walk on a leash, know a few words, recognize their name. It's just that most people don't know how and can't be bothered. 

One of mine loved joining us for dinner and wouldn't eat in the evening unless I sat with him. Constantly bringing me to his dish until I got it and pulled up a kitchen chair. I would sit and talk to him until he finished his meal. Another would wait by her brush to be brushed. When I heard that any cat can be trained, I taught one of my older cats to sit, give paw and alternate paw. It took half an hour and treats. I had done the same with my dog, it just never occurred to me to try it with a cat. All of them play hide and seek with me. Running up and down the stairs is great exercise for both of us.

We just need to pay attention.

 It's another myth by people who do not know how to communicate with a cat. As mentioned in a previous post they are non verbal, by the time they vocalize we have missed their subtle body language entirely. All of our cats stay off the counter, but not the office desk. Positive reinforcement and a firm "No! Down. Good boy" eventually works. Owners have the patience to train dogs, but not cats.

I found the video of very typical cat behavior not only breaking up a fight but calming the agitated cat.

https://www.reddit.com/r/AnimalsBeingBros/comments/17g4c6a/cat_playing_peacemaker_between_two_cats_that_are/

Not only does she intervene, but she ensures the aggressor is comforted. Another behavior that cats do not forgive is being mistreated. If you're chronically hissed at you're doing something wrong.

While I didn't adopt Stripes, I did adopt others. Mostly "problem cats". I get to make a difference; four paws at a time.