Furballs

Darby coughed up some phlegm and foam and did not eat breakfast. I treated her with the homeopathic remedy Nux Vomica 6c. She does not get her furballs up easily and this always helps. Later she was hunting a mouse (that was stupid enough to come out in the open with all the cats!!!!)

Spay Day USA Feb. 24, 2009

This is an annual campaign of The Humane Society of the United States to inspire people to save animal lives by spaying or neutering pets and feral cats.

This event is officially the last Tuesday of February, with events and activities taking place throughout the month of February. The 15th annual Spay Day USA is Feb. 24, 2009.

Why: Four million cats and dogs—about one every eight seconds—are put down in U.S. shelters each year. Often these animals are the offspring of cherished family pets, even purebreds. Maybe someone's cat or dog got out just that one time or maybe the litter was intentional, but efforts to find enough good homes failed. Spay/neuter is the only permanent, 100-percent effective method of birth control for dogs and cats and a proven way to reduce the vast numbers of animals who are born only to die prematurely and without a family who loves them. Learn more about why you should spay or neuter your pet.

Enter the Spay Day Online Pet Photo Contest! Visit photocontest.humanesociety.org between Jan. 19 and Feb. 27 to enter.


The above article courtesy of Humane Society of USA.

Good News for Ferals in Vegas!

Best Friends Feral Cat Program
Everyone’s a Winner in Vegas

February 13, 2009 : 3:37 PM
Especially the community cats, thanks to implementation of new Clark County ordinance

By Cathy Scott, Best Friends staff writer

The recent return of two feral cats from the Clark County shelter to their original colonies was a historic occasion. It marked the first community cats to be released under the county’s new ordinance, which now makes it legal in the Las Vegas valley to trap, neuter and return – or TNR – feral cats.

It also makes Nevada one of the nearly 40 states that include TNR language in laws intended to protect community cats.

The young shelter cats were handed over to representatives with Spay Our Strays, or S.O.S. - an animal rescue association - who, in turn, after they were neutered, returned the cats to their communities.

It was such a momentous occasion that those who returned the cats marked the exact time – 1:32 p.m. on January 15 – the cats were back living in their respective colonies.

According to the county’s website, the program’s goal is to “reduce the number of feral, abandoned and unwanted cats” through the management of feral cat colonies. Officials estimate more than 200,000 cats roam free in Clark County.

The measure, passed by county commissioners in October 2008, paved the way for protecting homeless cats who would otherwise have been put down – a true testament to the goal of No More Homeless Pets.

Those who helped from the sidelines to make this happen could not be happier.

“Cases like this one help other government agencies see the benefit of working with non-profit to make a difference for the big picture,” says Shelly Kotter, Best Friends’ feral cat program manager. “This is big for the TNR movement.”

Gregory Castle, a Best Friends co-founder who was in contact with county officials as the measure’s language was being drawn up, agreed.

“It feels great that this ordinance passed,” he says. “It is certainly good to see municipalities acknowledging the viability of TNR as a way of controlling their community cat colonies.”

Moreover, Castle says, the ordinance carves out a way for community cat caregivers to register colonies while at the same time working hand-in-hand with animal control agencies to save the cats.

In other words, he says, it’s a win-win situation for all – especially the cats.

► To register your colony online, go to the Clark County Feral Cats website.
Any questions, e-mail info@clarkcountyferalcats.org or call 702-400-6390

► Join the Feral Cat Campaign on the Best Friends Network for more about how you can help in your own community.

Posted by Jennifer Hayes, Best Friends staff
Photo credit: taken by Clay Myers, Best Friends photographer

Cold Blustery Day

Ivy is sitting right in front of the space heater and not budging. The wind is howling, blowing leaves by the windows. The cats are fiesty and running around fussing with each other. At least we didn't get any snow, just a few flurries.