Hollister was adopted out last week and she was returned yesterday. Apparently, she bit one of the older kids in the chin and drew blood. I told the new adopters that her trust meter was fairly low and they said they understood having “rescued” another cat years ago with trust issues. But they aren’t willing to just let her figure out things for herself and although I saw the wound- it was nothing really. Not even that deep- but they tossed her back.
I suspect she will just stay here for awhile until the memory of all she endured before coming here has faded away. I never noticed before, but she has a mark on her back and the pattern looks somewhat like a heart. She has our hearts and that’s all that matters.
We are still turning down cats right-and-left and it makes us sad, because there is no place really for these cats to go. But with a nine-hundred dollar vet debt and the food supply tenuous at best-there are no other options available to us at this time. When you throw the word feral into the midst talking about placing cats somewhere safe- it narrows the field.
The weather here has been frigid especially at night. Yesterday, it warmed up enough to snow and more snow is in the forecast for tomorrow through Thursday. Kota doesn’t quite know what to make of all this white stuff falling from the sky. He started barking at the snowflakes yesterday which we thought was pretty funny. I would love it to just dump on us heavy and stick- I think he would be one of those dogs who would just dive into a snowbank and love it.
This morning, I left my flashlight outside when I was feeding. I went out to get it (this is about 4:00 in the morning) I heard this skunk making noises of distress under the shop- of course the flashlight was sitting on the feeding table out there. I went to reach for it- and turned it on and that’s when I saw the skunk. She was under the feeding table surrounded by the baby nutrias. They were growling and gnashing their teeth at her. I am not sure what set all that up- but I didn’t stick around to find out. By the time Kota and I made it to the house, the skunk smell had followed us inside. Yuck- thank God for Vicks Vapo Rub under the nose- overpowers everything.
When it got lighter, I went back outside to see how things were going and noticed the fresh hole dug down under the shop. I don’t think the new tenants are going to get along very well. I don’t really know how fierce Nutrias are in the wild, but they come from South America and they are rodents so I imagine even the babies can hold their own in a battle.
Tripp is doing so much better on the CBD oil. He is no longer fixated on his tail- eating the carpet or trying to suck down socks in his spare time. What I like about this treatment is it doesn’t turn him into a drooling zombie cat. I am noticing he is gaining weight now- I think the oil gives him the munchies.
I smelled skunk when I was out feeding my ferals yesterday, but didn’t see it anywhere. The PO’M has a HUGE hank of fur missing from his cheek, but I didn’t see any evidence of a bite or claw mark. Almost like he’d gotten himself stuck to something. I purchased Vetericyn to spray on the area, and of course we’ve had 24 hours straight of rain. If that would looks like it’s getting infected, then I’ll set up the drop trap over the feeding station, and get him in to the vet. Whenever someone asks me about finding a home for a stray, or feral cat issues, I tell them to call and offer MONEY to help; expecting folks like you (and me!) to do stuff on our own time and dime just cannot work. I know you feel sad about turning folks away, but you’ve made promises to the ones that you have. Your heart is in a good place.
Would referring to the feral cats as ‘unsocialised’ help at all? There are those of course who are definitely feral, but many are just shy and can adjust – given time. Too many people want an instant pet. It’s good to read about Tripp’s progress. And gaining weight is good too, isn’t it? I don’t think he needed to lose any.
I had no idea nutrias were in your part of the country. I suspect many up here have never heard of them, any more than they might have a tapir!
And I understand about turning people down. Our rescue depends on foster-homes and we don’t have any available most of the time. No one is offering, either. It’s always a case of someone finding a cat and then hoping someone else will take responsibility for it. Often people are resentful that we don’t help. It never occurs to them to do the helping themselves, and we can’t afford the public relations problem by suggesting it to them!
Oh, and… I hope you don’t mind but I have given you the Supawstars Spotlight Pet Blogger Award. This was given to me by Eastside Cats, with the stipulation that I pass it on to five blogs which I read and admire. Please don’t feel obligated to do the same. I have, however, mentioned my award to you on my blog, so you may receive a few more readers as a result. I hope so.