Paradox Spay Neuter

01/18/2025

Please get your pets indoors, help the community cats, help a neighbor who needs (or doesn't want help) help with making sure their pets and outdoor pets are properly prepared. Be persistent with the neighbors who may need an extra push for their innocent pets.

Dangerously cold and a long-duration freeze.

An Extreme Cold Watch has been issued for Sunday night-Monday AM. Lows in the teens with gusty wind means wind chill will be -5 to 5°.

Temperatures will remain below freezing for about 3 days. Protect people, pets, and pipes.

Note, although the south metro is excluded from this watch, it will still be very cold and the freeze will have significant impacts there as well.

01/17/2025

The first two weeks of 2025 came in at 236 spay & neuter surgeries! Thank you for spaying & neutering your pets & community cats!

01/17/2025

It can be complicated. Ignorance, cultural/religious prohibitions, poverty, lack of affordable veterinary support, caregiver's physical/cognitive disabilities. I've heard & seen it all. It's not the cats' fault. Help if you're able. Thank you. 🐈‍⬛️💜

01/17/2025

🌟 Expecting a New Baby Soon? 🌟

Are you excited about your growing family but feeling a bit anxious about introducing your fur baby to the new arrival? 🍼🐶🐱 Don’t worry—here are a few tips to help make the transition smooth for everyone!

Learn more here: https://aercmn.com/how-to-introduce-your-pet-to-your-new-baby

01/16/2025

With all of the cats in our community being trapped and relocated, whether they are community cats or owned cats, the vacuum effect need to be discussed and understood.

Me personally will not put cats back if there is no caretaker. I will not randomly trap cats anD place them back without knowing all the facts.
Who is feeding them? Who will continue to monitor them? Do they have a home? Yes even community cats deserve a home and a warm bed.

Here is the guidelines to TNR.

The Vacuum Effect
When cats are removed from an area, it creates a temporary reduction in the population. However, new cats quickly move in, leading to a repetitive and counterproductive cycle that can be both ineffective and cruel.

Common Approaches to Feral Cat Management

1. Catch and Kill
The traditional animal control method involves capturing and euthanizing cats. This approach is not only costly but perpetuates a deadly and ineffective cycle.

2. Trap and Relocate
Relocating cats is illegal, inhumane, and fosters a "Not In My Backyard" mindset. This often results in cats being abandoned in unfamiliar areas where they struggle to survive.

3. Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR)
TNR is a compassionate and proven solution. Cats are humanely trapped, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and returned to their original outdoor HOMES.

Why TNR Works

Prevents reproduction, stabilizing cat populations.

Provides a humane alternative to lethal methods.

Respects cats' natural instincts and their role in the ecosystem.

Many people fail to take the necessary steps to truly understand what’s best for a colony of cats. We do. Our rescue is committed to always acting in the best interest of the cats, considering the bigger picture and approaching every situation with an open mind.

The cat overpopulation problem exists because humans have made it one—placing selfish priorities above compassion and blaming those who cannot defend themselves, those without a voice.

We are the voice for the cats at risk, advocating for their safety, care, and right to live without fear.

01/12/2025

Is that chew toy safe for your dog? In this new & improved chew toys guide, Dr. Brine, our retired board-certified veterinary dentist, shares her recommendations for safe chew toys & which “chew toys” should be off limits! Read on here: https://aercmn.com/chew-toys-guide-for-dogs/

01/12/2025

Thanks to ALL of you who are helping to give female felines a MUCH better life through TNR... and also preventing kittens from being born into a world that will likely be tough for them. If living outside, most will not even make it to their first birthday. And yes, Texas does have a Kitten Season. It is January through December.

01/10/2025

Cats' hearing is approximately four times more sensitive than humans' and they can detect higher frequencies, including ultrasound. However, they struggle with localizing sounds and can be startled by loud noises. To help keep your cat calm, maintain low noise levels, especially in new environments. You can also play soothing music if your cat seems agitated AND speak in a soft, calming voice. For more calming tips, visit https://bit.ly/3dPXKYx.

01/10/2025

We have some very cold temps in GA. This is a friendly reminder to tap tap tap on your hoods & wheels and blow your horn.

PLEASE PLEASE take that extra minute before starting your cars. SAVE A LIFE.

01/10/2025

Sundowners in dogs that are aging can be hard for their owners to deal with. Fortunately, you can help your dog slow the progression of the disease.

01/10/2025

There are at least 2 schools of thought about doing TNR in extremely cold temperatures. Some TNR groups (or individuals) so do not trap. Focus on ensuring the cats get through the frigid temps, ice & snow. Shelters, plenty if food & water. The other side is represented here. I'm sharing this in case anyone (experienced TNRers or those new to trapping or only doing so randomly, on occasion as needed) is trapping and may not be aware. 😸

Image & content from Friends of Feral Felines
🐈💕🐈💕🐈‍⬛️💕🐈
Can you conduct Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) during the winter season?

Yes, in fact, it’s one of the most important times of year to do so because females are getting pregnant NOW!

❗️However, please use your best judgment when temperatures are extremely low or during snow storms when trapping and returning community cats.

⚠️Remember, during extreme cold (and hot weather) that community cats MUST recover in a climate controlled area for at least 24 hours.

Here is WHY!!! --

1. Anesthesia prevents cats from being able to regulate their body temperature, which can prove to be fatal, especially in extreme cold or heat.

2. Pain medication disables a cat's natural reflexes/ability to defend themselves.

✅️ Please see this link from Alley Cat Allies for more important information about trapping in the cold weather ...
https://www.alleycat.org/community-cat-care/tips-for-cold-weather-trap-neuter-return-tnr/

#

01/10/2025

01/06/2025

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Changing a rescued dogs name can be a good thing.

If a dog has come from an unpleasant or abusive background, or even an unknown background, they may associate their name with negative experiences.

A previous owner may have shouted their name when doing something unpleasant to them.

Changing a dog’s name can be a fresh, new beginning and can provide an opportunity to rebuild broken trust and build new bonds.

There may be concern that changing a dog’s name will confuse them or may cause some form of emotional distress, but dogs really don’t see their names in the same way that we do.

Dogs really don’t care what we call them, as long as that name is associated with positive experiences it will be a good name.

A dog’s name is more important to us than it is to a dog. A name is really just a cue to get your dog’s attention so they respond.

The way a new name is introduced and taught is important. Care should be taken not to attach any negative associations with the new name.

The new name should always be paired with something positive whenever your dog hears the sound.
Call the new name and every time your dog reacts, responds or looks at you, reward this with a treat, lots of praise, a game or a toy.

Keep repeating this and dogs will quickly begin to associate their new name with something good about to happen and will start responding to the new sound in a positive way.

“It ain't what they call you, it's what you answer to.” - W.C. Fields. This quote sums up the importance of pairing a name with something positive so that it will always be what a dog wants to answer to.

A previous name may always be linked to a traumatic past, but a new name can be the beginning of a happy ever after and forever home.

01/06/2025

Research shows a cat's purr can heal bones and promote tissue repair:

Cats may purr when snuggled in your lap, but the soothing rumble isn’t just a signal of happiness.

Research suggests that the vibration is produced by muscles within the larynx, which dilate and constrict the glottis as the cat breathes. This results in a sound with frequencies ranging from 20Hz to 150Hz — known to correspond with therapeutic healing frequencies for bones and tissues in humans. Studies find that bones respond to the pressure of a cat's purr by hardening.

In fact, cats often purr in stressful situations, during recovery, or even when facing death, hinting that the purr may function as a form of self-soothing or physical rejuvenation.

Behavioral experts, such as Marjan Debevere and Gary Weitzman, highlight the varied meanings behind a purr. Cats might purr to express nervousness, communicate with other cats, or simply as a way to encourage humans to feed them.

As researchers continue to study feline communication, one thing is clear: the purr is more than just a simple expression — it’s a biological marvel that deepens our understanding of the bond between cats and their humans.

01/06/2025

Great info.

As winter weather moved across a lot of the country yesterday, here's a reminder of smart steps to take if you find an animal in need.

Thank you for watching out for community cats and their welfare. We're all they have! 😻