Conference misery::feline

    Sarah,
    
    You are doing the right thing by leaving her a note and then contact
    the SPCA if no response.  If she cares that little about the poor thing
    she shouldn't have a cat (or in my opinion, any pet).  I know how
    frustrating it can be to a responsible pet owner like yourself.
    
    I live in an apt. complex too but fortunately our bldg. mgr. requires
    anyone who has a cat(s) to keep them indoors only.  Folks with dogs
    take them outside for exercise and then bring them back in; no dogs are
    left outside without owner w/them.  He feels if they want to have pets
    it's okay as long as they are responsible owners.  Actually, from all
    the dogs and cats (see kitties in windows) I've seen there, they're
    much better behaved than some of the adults and children.
    
    BTW - where are you located - city, state?
    
    Pat
    

    I live in Ithaca, NY.  I suspect you are asking this because you are
    thinking about leash laws: there may be one for dogs, but there is not
    one for cats.  In any case, the dog leash law is not being adhered to,
    at least not where I live.  There's a woman with a Pit Bull that lives
    a few doors down, and when I first moved in, the dog was often outside
    by itself.  Then you'd hear "Too Mean!  Too Mean!  Come in here!"  I
    haven't seen the dog in a while - think it went with her boyfriend.
    
    I agree with your statement that even if the cat belongs to this woman,
    she shouldn't have a pet anyway.  That's exactly how I feel.  I almost
    don't want to ask her if the cat is hers.  Anyone who leaves a cat
    outside 24 hours a day, in below-freezing weather, with no place to
    rest safely, shouldn't be allowed to have that pet, in my opinion.
    
    Thanks,
    Sarah

    Sarah..
    
    Sigh...I feel for you because I go through this all the time especially
    when it starts getting colder.   Let's face it...some people are jerks
    and shouldn't ever own a pet...but how do you stop it?  If you take
    this one kitty away...she will probably just pick up another one
    from someone who has a FREE KITTEN sign.   I would suggest atleast
    talking to her and try to educate her a bit.   Ask if she plans on
    bringing the cat in for the winter (at night atleast)...ask her if
    she plans on getting the cat fixed/shots and does she realize what will
    happen if she don't (pregnant, rabies)....invite her to a shelter for a 
    lesson on how bad the overpopulation of unwanted animals really is.   All 
    you can do is try and educate her.  Don't attack her at first...just
    try to reason with her.  But if she won't listen...just make a
    statement that if you see the cat out all winter...you will contact
    the SPCA...and will continue to do this for every animal she brings
    home.  It's a sad world out there for our 4 legged creatures!
    
    You did ask a question about cats living outside all winter long.  I
    do know my two formal strays spent three winters outside.....but they
    were older cats and their immune system was really good.   I know I
    continued to feed them through the winter...but I have no idea where
    they slept.   I did make a bed on my porch...but they never used it.
    They can survive...they can find shelter...but some aren't that lucky!
    
    Keep us posted...
    
    Sandy

    I went home for lunch and luckily, some of the downstairs neighbors
    were home, so I asked them about the cat, and they said that no, it
    isn't theirs, and they are friends with the woman next to me, and it's
    not hers either.  
    
    I just called the SPCA, and either I need to bring the cat in to them,
    or else I need to confine it and they'll come pick it up.  I'll be out
    of town for the next two days, so either Saturday or Monday will be the
    day.  Is there a way that if no one takes the kitty home, the SPCA can
    let me know before they euthenize it?  I may break down and take her
    in... IF no one else will, and IF I can afford it.
    
    Oh, sigh...
    
    Sarah

    Sarah...I would talk directly with the SPCA about your request to
    see if you could be informed before if it will be euthanized.   Many 
    times if there are alot of cats...I have heard that some aren't even 
    given a chance to be adopted.   sad...but sometimes true!!
    
    Have you tried any no kill shelter in your area.   I know No-kill
    shelters are normally full....but maybe there will be an opening.
                                                              
    Good luck....

    I'd be very careful about depending on the SPCA's contacting you
    before they euthanased the cat.  It would be very easy for someone from
    another shift etc. to not know about this.
    

      The SPCA will NOT contact you before they kill.  They just do it.
    If there is no room when you bring the cat in, it will killed the
    minute you leave the place.
      FACT.

    Why don't you try posting a complete description of this kitty in the
    note about cats up for adoption?  You never know - someone reading this
    file might suffer from "a weak moment" and take the cat home with them.

    Hello everyone,
    
    Like Sarah i have found a stray cat sunday night, i did see him 
    last week in my street wondering around looking for attention where
    ever he could get some by the poeple passing by, i thought he was just
    a friendly cat until that sunday night when i went out for a walk to
    the bank when i saw him again at the intersection of my street by the
    electric post trying to keep warm as well crying for attention by the 
    who ever was passing by, so i picked him up and brought him home and
    put him in the hallway where it was warm and feed him ( i live in a
    house where there is 3 apartements and one of the door goes in the a
    staircase it share by me and my neighbor thought i should mention that)
    i can bring him inn my appartement because i have two cats and i know
    it can be dangerous to introduce a new cat you would hate if cats got
    sick. i put the cat on my balcony where i put a box with old sweaters
    inside to keep him warm at night , i put an add in the newspaper and
    put posters around our area and call the shelter to see if the owner
    notified them, so far no luck i ask people around if they would be 
    interrested to adopte a cat no luck there also.
    
    I need advise about what to do, i have his life in my hand unfortunatly
    there no no kill shelter in my area and saturday i have to bring him
    there and don't have much of a choice can't keep him on my balcony all
    winter and can't have him in my apartement in case that my cat get sick
    and i cannot afford to bring him the vet.
    
    I have thought to release him on the street rather then have him put to
    sleep by the shelter but i'm from Canada and our winter are real cold
    so you see i have no choices and any suggestion will be greatly
    appreciated.
    
    Jean.
    ^ ^
    o o
    >^<
    
    at 
    
    
     

Well, I think you might take the poor thing to the vet to make sure he or she
is healthy and then perhaps introduce him to your cats.  It might work out.
Usually, a cat that is on the street and is that friendly is also very friendly
to other cats.  That might give you some extra time to find a new home for him
if no one answers your ads.  Poor little thing....I think he'll be warm enough
with a nice box and some sweaters or towels.  It's not real cold out just yet
and hopefully he can move in someplace warm soon.

Poor baby!

Mary

    Jean,
    
    Since you say you're in Canada and the winters are very bad to leave
    this poor homeless kitty outside on it's own, it would be the best
    thing to bring him/her to the shelter.  You said you can't afford
    another kitty yourself but maybe someone in the file could help you at
    least get the kitty checked by a vet and perhaps you could take him in
    your apt. for awhile until a home might be found.  He/she sounds like a
    nice cat (in my opinion they all are).  He/she also seems from your
    description to be the type of cat that will get along well with other
    cats and is just looking for a warm and loving home.  
    
    I have eight of my own (indoor only) and they all get along fine.  I
    made sure each one was vet checked before introducing them to the
    others though.
    
    Good luck and thank you for caring.
    Pat & Clan
    

    Hi.  I take care of 2-3 strays.  One has been wild all his life, the
    other one the owner moved and left him.  He's my favorite.  Anyway, I
    leave water and dry food outside my door all the time, and put wet food
    out at night.  When the cold whether comes I put a moving box outside
    the door at night with a big scrunched up blanket.
    
    The cats get used to being outdoors, and don't want to come in except
    when its cold.  I usually don't let them come in unless Pumpkin is
    locked away in the bedroom.
    
    Good luck
    
    
    Donna

    I have good news i found the owner's cat, it's funny how it happen 
    yesterday after work i decided to bring kitty to the shelter after i
    fed him.I was starting to get attache to him too much for my own good
    so after he had finish eating i snuggled him for a while and put him 
    in the cage i had problem putting him inside i think he knew what was
    going to happen, i felt so bad , once i arrived to the shelter i waited
    at least 45 minutes but i was patient i know how busy they are at
    times, anyway while i was standing around there was an old lady who
    came in and came to the desk and i told her it would be a little while 
    since all the staffs were busy she notice my cage and ask me if was
    getting a cat i told her no! that i was here to bring
    him in because i could not keep him any longer at my appartement 
    so she bend down to look at the cat saying my poor little baby and
    suddenly look shock and said teddy boy softly with joy so i look at the
    old lady and ask her if she knew this cat she YES! that's Teddy boy i
    found it strange that she thought that was her cat because this cat was
    one of the most command color you could find on a cat so i ask her
    what part of the city she was from she told me she was from centertown 
    living on Cartier street which is a street behing mine so i ask her one 	
    more question to make sure she was the owner...what sex is he ? she
    replied : he's a neuter male. She explained to me that she was leaving 
    with her sister who died 3 weeks ago and since then she could not find
    her sister's cat she told me that he vanished right after her sister
    died, she did call the shelter and had a report done so did i on monday
    we wondered why there had not no match in the reports i ask the girl at
    the counter about the report i had done on  SHE DID NOT FIND IT!! 
    i was not to impressed with that, anyway i gave the cat to the old lady 
    and told her to put a collar on the cat she told be he was a inside cat
    and had escape when people from morgue came to get her sister ,i guest
    the cat got upset when she died and decide to leave the house, anyway
    i told her to put a collar on the cat for a while in case he decide
    to leave the house again.
    
    FINALLY A GOOD ENDING STORY =8-)
    
    
    Jean.
     
    
    
    
    

    YEEHAW!!!!! I love great news on a Friday afternoon! That plus my
    FELINER's shirts being here makes it doubly grand!
    
    What are the chances of that lady being there just when you
    arrived to turn the cat in? Thank you kitty God!! ;-) Someone was
    watching out for that little guy, for sure!
    
    Love,
    
    Yonee

    
    Great news to start the weekend, Jean. :-)
    
    I hope when she puts a collar on him, there's an ID tag too.
    
    Pat
    

     That's an awesome thing to have happen!  What a way to find your
    kitty!
     Great story!
    
    

    YIPEEE  Teddy Boy is home!!  And thanks to you, Jean, for sharing
    this story with us.  It's so good to see a happy ending!
    
    Mary