www.Straydog.org UPDATE posted FRIDAY 12/19/03 at ~9:47 p.m. CT usa

Bill Arnold's Daily Straydog Log

FRIDAY DECEMBER 19 2003

Mary Anne came to volunteer today; she got the tour and spent time with a caregiver doing her rounds

     Thanks a lot Mary Anne!

Ojay with Juany and Mary Anne

Nikki allows Mary Anne to touch her.

 

Erin's report on the feral cat one of our caregivers trapped at Straydog

     Dad called me this morning and said, "Michael trapped a cat. Now what do we do?" "Pop," I said, "we don't have a vet appointment made with a vet who will neuter ferals yet, and it's Friday. If we turn the cat loose, it won't be caught in the trap again. We've got the large kennel/cage that I tamed my little feral kittens down in. Just leave the cat in the trap for now in the bathroom, and I'll gather the supplies for his care. Is it okay to keep him inside till we can get him neutered? Maybe we can see if he can be tamed a little bit." Dad, of course said, yes.

     When Dana, my husband, and I got to Straydog, we set up the large cage and put the cubby hole bed and kitty box inside. We then put the cat in the trap inside the large cage, and fixed it so the door of the trap would stay open. The large black and white cat (maybe a relative of Star Kitty) slowly crept out of the trap and hid in the carpeted little cubby hole. No one has been able to tell whether kitty is a boy or a girl, but he's got huge jaws, so we're betting he's a tom cat, and we've named him Tom. Tom doesn't seem too wild, though we aren't trying to pet him at all yet.

Erin's husband, Dana, opens the trap gate letting the cat into the big cage.

Tom, the feral cat, in a corner of his new cage

     He used the litter box as soon as we left the room, and curled back up in the cubby hole, not coming out even to eat.

     Juana put a sheet over the large cage to keep him as comfortable as possible.

     Ojay and Jeannie came in for the evening and sniffed the cat out. Ojay began barking at him, so Randy let Ojay in the kitchen. Jeannie then barked a little at Tom, but I moved Tom's cage a little so Jeannie couldn't see Tom as well. Jeannie settled down on her pillows and left Tom alone then.

     I hope that this fellow can get a little comfortable with humans. It'll make it easier if we have to treat the fellow for any sickness. Star Kitty's wound, by the way, is healing up quite well. (Wonder if he got his wound from Tom ...) [Star Kitty came with the property back in 1994, and Pat was lucky enough to trap him and get him neutered back then.]