July 22, 2004
My Fucked Up Kat Krazy Neighbors
or my annual PSA:
SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR FRICKIN' ANIMALS!
And you all thought I was the crazy cat lady...
I'm so pissed off I could spit nails. Okay not pissed off, but ... well, yeah okay pissed OFF.
As I was driving home tonight I turned the corner and right there in my neighbors driveway is Star, their female cat.. and TWO MORE F'N KITTENS! They couldn't be more than 7 weeks old.
For those of you new to the class The Missus and I care for a feral (wild) colony of 32 cats that we have trapped, altered and released. We have 7 cats that we consider ourselves to be medically responsible for, 6 of which were feral kittens that we rescued from our backyard, AND we've trapped and adopted out 14 kittens in the last 2 years... That's at least 51 cats... 51 CATS!!
And they all stem from this one family. Many of them are dead now because they have been hit by cars, eaten by coyotes, or trapped and killed by Animal Control.
The problem is my neighbors. They do not spay and neuter their cats. Their cats make kittens. They do not find homes for these kittens... They just let them go. Where do they end up? Vanished (read: eaten) or dead in the street or AT MY FUCKING HOUSE! They just had two other kittens about 4 months ago who are now roaming the neighborhood (including our back yard) and they are just waiting to be some coyotes dinner or get hit by a car.
I am at my wits end. Talking with these people goes nowhere. Their explanation is a simple shrug and just that their daughter LOVES kittens. Awww, well, isn't that just precious. What they don't seem to get no matter what we say is that kittens GROW UP!
We've tried trapping their cats but can't catch the female. We trapped and fixed 2 of their males a few years ago and not surprisingly enough, they never noticed. What happened to them? Oh, one got hit by a car. And they never noticed. We had to tell them about it 5 weeks after it happened. The other male joined the feral colony.
At least the colony isn't breeding any more thanks to me and The Missus and the wonderful folks who run the free feral spay and neuter program at Animal Samaritans (the local SPCA). We've worked with the organization to trap the entire colony and get them all fixed. ::pats back:: That's all fine and good if only my neighbors would stop making kittens!
They are so irresponsible it just breaks my heart!!
I don't know if reporting them would do any good (for the animals). I have zero faith or trust in P.S./Riverside Co. Animal Control. They are not known for their humanity towards animals. They are a "kill first, ask questions later" facility. But I fear they are our only recourse in trying to get this family to understand. I really like my neighbors. They are nice people at heart but they have NO common sense when it comes to animals.
Fuck. Two more kittens. I just can't deal with this anymore. I really can't.
/ rant
Posted by MJ at July 22, 2004 10:17 PMMy father is in the same boat.. he has like a billion cats he feeds and such because of his neighbors (and he dosen't even like cats).. He spays/neuters every cat that ends up on his doorstep but it doesn't seem to stop the kitten parade that is always running through.. It's sad thing people don't step up and take care of their pets and/or pet offspring..
Posted by: Kim at July 22, 2004 10:32 PMThat would annoy the hell out of me. Maybe you can distract them with a kitten, steal the mom cat, have her spayed and returned before they notice? *grin*
Posted by: mac at July 23, 2004 06:47 AMI have to give you and the missus props for what you have done...
Keep up the good work, even though this may make it feel like it was all in vain, it has, I'm sure, undoubtedly made a difference!
Cheers,
Carrie
It just makes me sick, and angry, that there are so many people out there who are such terribly irresponsible pet owners. It's a form of animal abuse, really . . . clearly, not the worst kind of animal abuse by a long shot, but still an obvious form of neglect, I think. Sounds like you and the Missus have done some amazing work with the feral cat population over there. Good on you!!!!
Posted by: Artichoke Heart at July 23, 2004 08:50 AMhmmmm. Send pictures of roadkill cats to them - perhaps addressed to their daughter?
Posted by: Keith at July 23, 2004 09:53 AMHope the daughter doesn't turn out like the cat in the future! (ewww that was mean). Isn't this cruelty to the animals knowing their fate isn't in good hands?
Posted by: Susan at July 23, 2004 11:21 AMNever mind the felines...sounds like y'all need to neuter the humans.
Posted by: Cyndi at July 23, 2004 12:59 PMI am in the same boat. I live in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood and I have been doing the same thing. I have been trapping kittens and either taking them in or bringing them to the Animal Welfare League. (my brother used to volunteer there and I know they're more compassionate than animal control or anti-cruelty)
I started working on a campaign to educate people of all different walks of life on the benefits of spaying/neutering but it didn't take long for me to feel like any attempt would be futile. Many people don't value animals the way you or I do. I must say that you've inspired me. You've made me feel like I'm not alone. I appreciate that. MAJOR PROPS to you, though, because I haven't helped nearly as many cats as you have. (fortunately I don't have neighbors like yours...)
You two are an INSPIRATION! God Bless You!
