Conference misery::feline_v1

    Capture the cats, (which doesn't seem like it would be hard to do),
    bring them to the vets before you bring them in the house, have
    them de-flead and have their ear mites taken care of, and then take
    them as your own.  People like you neighbors across the street don't
    deserve to have the affection of one of our beloved feline friends.
    
    Holly
    
    

    This happened to my mom many years ago.  Her neighbors across the
    street had two cats, a male and a female who kept mating and having
    litters of kittens.  All of these poor kitties were neglected by
    the owners.  Finally fed up, my mom took both cats to the vet and
    had them neutered and spayed (she wrote to Friends of Animals for
    certificates first).  She told the vet the story and he found a
    home for the female.  My mom kept Flufffy, the male.  Before she
    captured them, they were doing the same thing your neighbors cats
    were doing - trying to get into the house.  My mom, who already
    had four cats, took a box and filled it with and old blanket and
    pillows and let the cats sleep in the garage on the really cold
    nights.
    
    Would you possibly have room in your heart to let them into the
    garage (if you have one) and  take them to the vet for treatment?
    I realize it isn't fair for you to have to take on the
    added expense of treating cats that aren't yours - perhaps you can
    explain the situation to your vet or local animal shelter and work
    something out with them.
    

    Well, if you WANT them, then do as Holly suggested in .1, but that
    may not be what you want.  You could run into some trouble with
    the neighbor too - he just may want them around to beat up on! (I
    could KILL!)  The other problem you will wrestle with is whether
    or not they will be happy being strictly indoors.  Most cats do
    adjust especially if they have friends to play with.
    
    Anyway, are you feeding them?  That will do the trick and keep them
    coming around.  I know, a stray turned up on my backdoor porch one
    day and I started to feed it - there it stayed.  
    
    If you want to get really mean, call MSPCA (a recent note was entered
    with their telephone #).  Hopefully, they will call on your neighbor.
    
    Then again, you may want to scoop them up and give them to a nearby
    animal shelter for a cleaning up and a better home placement. 
    
    Good luck!  You should do what is in your heart - it's rewarding!
    
    Pam
     
    
    

    
    Could the original noter say where she is located out of curiousity
    :^)   The local shelter may be more then happy to "pick" up the
    cats.  I only advise this if the local shelter or society is a no-kill
    shelter that's why I'd like to know what locality you live in.
    
    kim

    Re. 3
        None of them look underfed so we haven't fed them yet.  We do
        give them some attention when we are outside - I can't resist
        a friendly fur face.
    
    Re. 4 
    
        I live in Merrimack, New Hampshire.
    
    Re. all
    
        Thanks for all of the suggestions so far...please keep them coming!
    
                                         
    Does anyone think I should try talking to them first before doing
    anything?  I do not know them at all so I am a little wary of it.
    However, it has only been the husband that we have seen abusing the
    cats.  Perhaps his wife would be sympathetic to our concerns.
    
    Still torn on what to do,
    
       Suzanne
    

    You can TRY talking to these people, but don't expect much.  People
    don't take kindly to criticism and there's just not an easy way
    to tell someone that they are abusing a cat [or a wife or a child
    or a dog...] and you feel obliged to try to end it. [My one experience
    was not cat-related, but rather child-related: the neighbor knocked
    his 5 year old son down on the sidewalk for speaking to me before
    being spoken to and the child broke a tooth.  I felt obliged to
    protest and the the man yanked the boy up and slapped him again
    just to prove he was 'master of his own house']
    
    My first inclination would be to 'disappear' the cats one at a time
    to a new home.  Keeping them there with you, even if the owners
    don't want them could be very tense in the neighborhood.

    I just talked to the woman that lives next door to him - she says he
    has three white cats. She also has the problem of the cats being on her
    door step trying to get in - we both thought we were unique with the
    problem. 
    
    Since she knows him, sort of, she will talk to him and ask him if he
    wants the cats - she does want to get a cat and will suggest that she take
    care of them.
    
    I promise to keep you up to date.  Thanks again for the suggestions. 
    
    Things are looking a little bit better,
    
       Suzanne

    How many cats does this person have anyway?  Why does he only abuse
    certain ones?  Actually I would like to give him the same treatment.
    How would he like hanging by the legs, being hit by a LARGE broom,
    staying out in all sorts of weather?
    
    I hope the nice lady can have them.  Otherwise, go ahead and cat-nap
    them and take them to the Pepperell Animal Shelter.
    
    Sandi (Lightning's & DejaVu's mom)
    
    

    I am also a kitty lover. I was faced with a similar situation in
    October of last year. Three abandon kitties were dumped underneath
    a tree, they were about ten weeks old. My boyfriend brought them
    home for us to care for. We were not allowed to keep uncaged animals
    in our apartment, so we had to find good homes for them. In the
    process of looking for homes a fourth kitty (a morris look-alike)
    about the same age was left at our doorstep. I did find homes for
    two of them and the other two I took to buddy dog (they don't kill
    them, they find good homes) and it only cost me $15 to bring them
    there. It breaks my heart to see people treat animals that way.
    I suggest that you call the MSPCA. I'm going to add an article that
    I got out of the newspaper regarding this (and similar) subjects.
    
    It's titled  "Law says pets require shelter".
    
    Question: My neighbor keeps her dog tied up in her backyard al winter.
    There is no doghouse for the animal. Is there a law requiring pet
    owners to keep their dogs (pets) indoors or to provide a dog house?
    
    Answer:  The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
    to Animals (MSPCA) says pet owners MUST protect their animals from
    the extremely cold weather during winter, pointing out the
    Massachusetts law requires proper shelter.
    The law, chapter 272, section 77 states that failure to provide
    an animal with proper shelter or protection from the weather is
    punishable by a fine of up to $500, imprisonment for up to one year
    or both. Steve Torre, director of the MSPCA's law enforcement division,
    said today that his team of officers - located throughout the state
    - is prepared to investigate every alleged violation. Torre urges
    pet owners to provide waterproof, draftproof and comfortable shelter
    facilities for outdoor pets. the shelter should be large enough
    for the animal to comfortably stand, turn around and lie down. "A
    secure, non-leaking roof with an elevated floor (2-4 inches) is
    best," he said. "Straw, shavings, blankets or mats for bedding also
    should be provided. Its critically important to change the bedding
    frequently to rid the area of dirt and dampness. Pet owners also
    should secure a flap on the entrance to the shelter and position
    the door to the south or west to block out New Englands fierce
    northeast winds. No dog or cat should be left outdoors during extremely
    cold weather. Free roaming cats face an additional winter hazard.
    The warm wheel wells and engines in recently parked cars attract
    cats seeking relief from the cold. Cats are house pets and belong
    indoors, according to Torre. If you suspect tht an animal is not
    provided with adequate shelter, food or water this winter, OR if
    you believe an animal is the victim of any type of abuse or neglect,
    call the MSPCA's toll-free hotline: 1-800-628-5808.
    
    I suggest to anyone who is aware of people abusing animals, PLEASE
    contact your local MSPCA, and lets put an end to this..
    
    -Sandy-

    
    I read a story in one of those rag mags about a cat that was frozen
    under a wheel well.  If I remeber correctly, the women who owned
    the car heard meowing, searched for the cat, and when she couldn't
    find him she drove to work.  When she got back home she heard the
    meowing again and located the cat frozen to the underside of the
    wheel well.  They had to pour warm water over it until they could
    unfreeze it from the car.  The cat had to have part of its tail
    amputated, but other than that he's healthy and has a new owner.
    
    Sharon
    
    

    
    Well I'm glad I asked!!!  We live in the same town....  I read the
    last message about the other concerned neighbor and that sounds
    like a promising possibility.  Let us know what type of reaction
    is given when the subject is brought up with the jerk......
    
                                                           kim

    Find some loving homes through the notesfile, and then check with
    your neighbor.  Are you sure they are his cats?  They may be doing
    the same thing to him that they are doing to you.
    
    

    Yes they are definitely his cats.  His neighbor said that he had
    three of them but she hasn't seen one of them lately so he may have
    passed away.  
    
    After discussing with my husband about what to do, my husband mentioned
    that he saw him literally kicking another cat out of his garage
    this weekend.  This cat is not his - I just don't understand this
    kind of behavior.
    
    I will be keeping you up to date - if in fact he still has three
    cats and his neighbor will only take one or two I will try to find
    him a home through notes.  Until I get more information though,
    thanks to everyone who has given suggestions and help.
    
    Suzanne

    Please say something to this man.  Finding homes for the cats is
    a very noble thing to do, but what is going to stop this jerk from
    acquiring more cats once these three (if there still are three)
    are gone.  He needs to know that his neighbors are fully aware of
    what he is doing, have witnessed his actions on several occasions,
    and are prepared to TAKE ACTION against him if history repeats itself.
    
    These people do not deserve to have pets of any kind.  I give you
    credit for not losing your cool.  I would probably be arrested for
    assault and battery if I were in your shoes.
    

    Ok, what are we waiting for?  If one of the cats is missing, then
    we've waited too long.
    
    This note is going back and forth without anything being done. 
    Let's either try the MSPCA or take the kitties ourselves.  The poor
    babies need help.
    
    If calling the MSPCA or taking kitties by ourselves is too chancy
    then let's talk to the (maybe) owners.
    
    As the saying goes - Tempis Fugis - .
    
    Sandi  (Lightning's and DejaVu's mom)
    
    

    The woman that lives next door to him is going to talk to him this
    weekend.  Somehow she is going to casually mention that she has
    a friend that wants a full grown white cat and she wants one too!
    Don't ask me how but she said she will do it as tactfully as possible
    and if he refuses she'll hang him upside down by his legs and yell
    at him :-).  Well the problem is, she has no friend that wants a full
    gorwn white cat - I told her I would try to find some one through
    this notes file.  If he agrees is there anyone out there who wants
    one of these cats?  You can respond to me by mail or my dtn is
    264-2951.
    
    I don't have any details on age name or the sex of both of the kitties
    yet.  I will let you know as I get more information.
    
    Thank you,
    
    Suzanne
                                                                          

    I agree with .14 - we should stop this person from ever getting
    a kitty again (or any animanl for that matter).  He should be aware
    that there are organizations out there that protect animals and
    you can't go around abusing them.  I wish I could take another cat,
    but I am living at my mother's and two are enough.  I love white
    cats.
    
    I sounds to me that Suzanne does not want to "rock the boat" with
    her neighbor.  That is a tuff decision, but I am the type of person
    that would have to say something sooner or later.  I just couldn't
    sleep.  
    
    anna/zildjian/spunky
    

    Some one sent me mail saying that if the next door neighbor takes one
    of the cats - the cat would still wander back to its original home -
    she is right.  It is best that we find a home for both of these cats as
    soon as possible.  With out going into further details this person has
    advertised that they are up for adoption - I have called him and left a
    message that I know some one who is interested in these two cats.
    Please help me with this - I need to find some one fast. 
    
    Thank you in advance!  Now is the time to use our feline resources.
    If you are interested I will send you all the details - sex, age,
    etc.  They are both fixed.
    
    Thankyou,
    
    Suzanne

    I think we should all help Suzanne find someone.  I would love to
    take them, but I already have two and live with my mother - she
    said absolutely *NO*.  My sister lives in an apartment with a no
    pet law.  My brother's wife is alergic.
    
    These poor babies have to find a good home.  If this guy has them
    up for adoption, then he probably does not care for them (as we
    all know).
    
    What about a no kill shelter?  I am not very familiar with these
    places.  Suzanne, where are these cats located?????  You have probably
    told me before, but I forgot.  Maybe we should add a separate note
    on adoption, listing all details about the pusses??
    
    Anna
    

    About the problem of wandering back next door if one of them is
    adopted by the lady next door -- would she consider keeping that
    one as an indoor cat?  
    

    I still have not received any responses for these two wonderful
    kitties.  They need a home with people that love them - Time is
    of the essence.
    
    Could some one give me the directions to the nearest no  kill shelter
    - I live in Southern NH.  I would much rather find them a home but
    the shelter will be the last resort.
    
    Thank you,
    
    Suzanne

    
    Suzanne,
            I'm going to give you the number of the Derry Humane Society.
    They service southern N.H. and do not have a typical shelter but
    a network of foster homes.  The woman's name is Barbara McCarthy.
    Her number is 432-5548.  If you do not get an answer their answering
    machine is 644-2449.  Explain the situation to them.....  I can't
    gaurantee that they can take the cats as their foster homes are
    limited and right now they do have lots of cats but it's worth a
    shot.  Nashua Humane is not a no-kill so I'd call Derry.  O.K. I'll
    keep my fingers crossed that they can help.......  :^)
    
                                                                KIM

    Suzanne,
    
    Aw go ahead.  Send me the info.  I'm not promising anything.  Lightning
    was such a SNIT with Star.
    
    Sandi
    
    Lightning's & DejaVu's mom
    

    Hi---
    
    Suzanne and I have spoken about this situation in a couple of mail
    messages.  I know that a lot of us are in the same boat as far as
    taking in a couple more cats.  I can't.  
    
    Suzanne is waiting on someone to call her back who has shown an
    interest;  but to date there is *no* answer.  I, too, would support
    sending them to a "no-kill"--I'd rather see them go to a loving
    and appreciative home (we ALL would!!).
    
    If no one can take them in, how about this--the shelters I know
    of that take in "fosters" always need $$.  I'd be very willing to
    give money towards the cats' support, upkeep, shots, feeding,
    whatever--maybe that would be a good temporary solution for now.
    If anyone else wants to do that, too, please send mail to Suzanne.
    
    Let's pray they get what they need SOON.
    
    Jane

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    I have left a message with the owner to call me stating that I know someone
    interested in his cats.  He has never called me back - I am leaving
    the situation as is until a better alternative can be found.  Right
    now his next door neighbor is feeding the cats and letting them
    in her house - I have been letting them sleep in my garage on really
    cold nights.  The situation is the same!
    
    As far as the misunderstanding Sandy - I am truly sorry.  I sent
    you the original description of the cats and when I didn't hear
    from you I sent a follow up note saying if you were not interested
    that I would leave things as is until we could find the cats a home.
    I never heard from you until this very note!
    
    Please call me if we can straighten out this misunderstanding any
    further.  Sometimes it is difficult just to communicate through
    mail and notes.
    
    Suzanne (dtn 264-2951)
    

    The lack of communication has been solved!  YAY!  I never got the
    mail from Sandi saying that she would take one of the cats - It
    must lost out in E-net land somewhere.  
    
    Anyway Sandi will be contacting the owner soon - and will keep us up to
    date on the happenings!  Things are certainly looking up!   Still
    looking for a home for the other cat if anyone is interested.
    
    Suzanne

    Re. .14 & .17
    
    Sinc I also agree that placing these present cats with new homes
    won't really keep the previous owner(s) from getting replacement
    "kick-arounds", did anyone report the abuse to their local SPCA?
    
    From past experience in reporting a neighbor who was known for cruelty
    to animals (let a dog starve, a puppy die of illness rather than
    bring it to Vet, and when I lived there, was starving his cat),
    I contacted the MSPCA and reported what was happening to the cat.
    I also told the SPCA officer I had overheard my neighbor say he was
    planning  "put the needle to the cat as soon as he got hold of
    one" (he could get access to these at the hospital he was interning
    in).  
    
    The officer did pay a call to the neighbor and his family (he had
    kids - or should I say brats).  The officer did not use my name
    but I really didn't care if he did.  That former neighbor and his
    family would be watched in the future as to how the cat was treated
    I was reassured.  I can only hope that is true as I've since moved
    from that Amityville Horror of an apt.
    
    Please report the cruelty to the authorities; it might discourage him
    from getting more cats (or pets in general) if he felt he was being
    watched by the SPCA.
    
    in the cat himself the end of that week

    Re: .28 "the hospital he was interning in?!!!!!"
    
    So much for the medical profession.