Comments on: In Los Angeles, even our feral cats work http://hackenblog.hackenbush.org/2007/12/31/in-los-angeles-even-our-feral-cats-work/ The New Hackenblog Sun, 12 Oct 2008 05:30:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: archcrone http://hackenblog.hackenbush.org/2007/12/31/in-los-angeles-even-our-feral-cats-work/#comment-11972 archcrone Thu, 03 Jan 2008 02:41:26 +0000 http://hackenblog.hackenbush.org/2007/12/31/in-los-angeles-even-our-feral-cats-work/#comment-11972 Ahh, Ginger, I didn't remember reading that part. Perhaps I was blinded by the part of the kitters not making it out of shelters. I just hate the thought of these kitters being put to sleep. HOnestly, though, I was surprised at how long it took for Kasumi (our feral cat) to get used to human company, and the other cooks that took in kitties had the same long road. There is a group in the area that try to catch as many feral cats as possible and spay/neuter them, and then release them back into the same area where they were caught. Ahh, Ginger, I didn’t remember reading that part. Perhaps I was blinded by the part of the kitters not making it out of shelters. I just hate the thought of these kitters being put to sleep.
HOnestly, though, I was surprised at how long it took for Kasumi (our feral cat) to get used to human company, and the other cooks that took in kitties had the same long road.
There is a group in the area that try to catch as many feral cats as possible and spay/neuter them, and then release them back into the same area where they were caught.

]]> By: Ginger Mayerson http://hackenblog.hackenbush.org/2007/12/31/in-los-angeles-even-our-feral-cats-work/#comment-11968 Ginger Mayerson Tue, 01 Jan 2008 04:43:40 +0000 http://hackenblog.hackenbush.org/2007/12/31/in-los-angeles-even-our-feral-cats-work/#comment-11968 Hi A! There was this in the article: "Garrison worked with two shelters to select the most feral cats possible. (If a cat suddenly gets friendly, the animal is pulled from the pool and, with any luck, is adopted.)" So if they think they can rehabilitate one of these feral kitties into a housecat, they give it their best shot. But even the ones that stay on the rat patrol get some perks in addition to being allowed to live: "The cats were then spayed or neutered, vaccinated, micro-chipped and ear-tipped (under anesthesia while the cats are being altered, vets notch an ear tip, the widely recognized sign that a cat is altered)." This is such a great idea, I can hardly believe it's happening in LA. One small problem with the program is that there are no funds to feed the kitties once the relocation and acclimation (acclimatization?) process is over. The cops are shelling out of their own pockets, which ain't right and can't go on forever. So I hope the LAPD, the City, Working Cats, whoever can get that detail covered sooner than later. There were some nice cop quotes in the article, showing that they're not all nut cases in the LAPD, in case anyone was wondering. I, on the other hand, never realized LA had such a serious rodent problem, but it's a city so, even though I've seen the occasional rodent here in LA, I don't know why I thought all the four-legged kind of rats lived east of the Rockies. Hi A! There was this in the article:

“Garrison worked with two shelters to select the most feral cats possible. (If a cat suddenly gets friendly, the animal is pulled from the pool and, with any luck, is adopted.)”

So if they think they can rehabilitate one of these feral kitties into a housecat, they give it their best shot. But even the ones that stay on the rat patrol get some perks in addition to being allowed to live:

“The cats were then spayed or neutered, vaccinated, micro-chipped and ear-tipped (under anesthesia while the cats are being altered, vets notch an ear tip, the widely recognized sign that a cat is altered).”

This is such a great idea, I can hardly believe it’s happening in LA. One small problem with the program is that there are no funds to feed the kitties once the relocation and acclimation (acclimatization?) process is over. The cops are shelling out of their own pockets, which ain’t right and can’t go on forever. So I hope the LAPD, the City, Working Cats, whoever can get that detail covered sooner than later.

There were some nice cop quotes in the article, showing that they’re not all nut cases in the LAPD, in case anyone was wondering. I, on the other hand, never realized LA had such a serious rodent problem, but it’s a city so, even though I’ve seen the occasional rodent here in LA, I don’t know why I thought all the four-legged kind of rats lived east of the Rockies.

]]> By: archcrone http://hackenblog.hackenbush.org/2007/12/31/in-los-angeles-even-our-feral-cats-work/#comment-11967 archcrone Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:21:29 +0000 http://hackenblog.hackenbush.org/2007/12/31/in-los-angeles-even-our-feral-cats-work/#comment-11967 This is a wonderful idea. My only disagreement is that feral cats can be tamed to be house pets. I have one, and several of my friends have feral cats. Actually all of these cats were from behind a restaurant. My son's and several of the cooks took months taming several of the kittens that were born in the springtime. Ours has been one of the most wonderful cats I've ever had the pleasure of sharing my home (after my last cat of 19.5 years -- none will ever be like Cassie). Thing is, taming a feral cat takes a lot of time and a huge amount of patience. Months just to be able to pick up the young cat, and several more months adjusting to human contact. This is a wonderful idea.

My only disagreement is that feral cats can be tamed to be house pets. I have one, and several of my friends have feral cats.

Actually all of these cats were from behind a restaurant. My son’s and several of the cooks took months taming several of the kittens that were born in the springtime. Ours has been one of the most wonderful cats I’ve ever had the pleasure of sharing my home (after my last cat of 19.5 years — none will ever be like Cassie).

Thing is, taming a feral cat takes a lot of time and a huge amount of patience. Months just to be able to pick up the young cat, and several more months adjusting to human contact.

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