Oxford Feline Friends, Inc.

18/07/2024

I am currently fostering 3 kittens via Kearney Rescue Cats. 1 has been spoken for… I’d like to share them below. Adoption applications can be found on KRC’s site.

Finn- Orange- he is a sweet, active boy who loves to wrestle his sisters, play with my 3 small dogs and he really enjoys his naps to happen on my lap OR curled up with our dogs OR inside my puppy’s little kennel. He has a loud happy purr and likes to talk to you. For a long while he’d follow me around the house and “help” me load the dishwasher, curl my hair, make the bed and do laundry. Where I went… he wanted to be also. He enjoys toys, ponytail holders to carry around, and playing in the wet shower after a bath. He’s a hoot!! He literally is a sweet boy… and gorgeous. That beautiful red stripe of an orange cat!

Phyllis- Tiger with orange spot on forehead
oh my!!! She has the cutest orange “dot” on the top of her forehead!! She is very athletic!! She’s a leaper, sprinter, adventurer… she has no fear factor! She loves to sit in the windows and watch what goes on outside. She wrestles her siblings, loves to jump on them and she wrestles my 7lb 1yr old puppy. It’s so funny. The puppy is really good with her… Phyllis loves high places to just sit and observe-window sills, the back of the recliners, top of the cat tree and even the top shelf in our closet. She’s so animated!! But.. when she’s ready to nap… she too is either on my lap or curled up with her siblings and the dogs. It’s one big cuddle puddle!! She has a sweet purr and loves her face and ears rubbed! Before her day she LOVED long tummy strokes getting pet. I’d imagine once her incision fully heals she will enjoy them again! She’d stretch out long as she could to get tummy rubs.

Phoebe- black calico
she’s a beautiful unique black calico. She enjoys carrying things around the house. lol. The lid to the milk jug, a sock, and the small soft dog toys. It’s so funny. She takes them wherever and then plays with them… maybe so she can have the stuff to herself. Haa haa! She runs and wrestles too but is often NOT the instigator like the other 2 and the first to stop the wrestle fest! She loves to sleep in our puppy’s kennel as well. The puppy has one of those “pocket beds” and the kittens crawl inside the pocket to sleep. Phoebe loves to sit at my feet if I’m sitting down and then play with toys there.

All 3 LOVE their toy- long stick with a string hanging down with bright feathers on it, laser light and tennis balls I’ve rubbed a touch of cat nip
On.

These 3 are raised with 3 smaller dogs and other cats.. both house cats and they’ve played and interacted with our spoiled farm cats. All 3 are respectful of the other cats when the adult cat corrects their behavior which is essential! They know to be submissive and then walk away… which will help in any transition to a new home with other animals!! I handle the kids everyday.. often not getting my tasks done because they are just so much fun!! Every evening as we watch tv I put a lap blanket on and wind up with 3 kittens and 3 dogs and maybe a house cat as well. I firmly believe they will be happy in any home. I would definitely say… Phyllis needs playmates… another cat or dog she can wrestle and play with as she has a lot of energy. Finn will do great with other animals.. he isn’t quite the firecracker Phyllis is and as long as his humans interact with him daily to play.. he’ll be great. Phoebe could do well as a single cat or with another playmate.

01/07/2024

Thanks for sharing everyone. The kitten went to a home today. So glad when everything works out and people take care of the cats in their own neighborhood.

There‘a obviously kittens out there, please reach out to us if you know where the momma to these kittens is! She needs spayed now and we will help!

This kitten needs a home asap. Found in the rain, and no owners have been found. Likely a street or feral offspring kitten. If you would like to foster or adopt it please contact us. We do not take intakes! The finder can’t take into their house due to allergies. Located in Oxford, NE

25/06/2024

Has anyone seen this cat in Oxford. Has been missing 3 or 4 days and is greatly missed. One of our TNR cats who found his own home by sitting in front of it for months. Has tipped ear. Let us know because we are sad too, not many find loving homes.

14/06/2024

If you are trying to communicate with us through Facebook messenger you are going to have to use Facebook chat. I have no clue exactly what that means but I can’t see your messages. A notification come up and I can see the jest of the message but it brings me to a page that says I must use chat not messages. So anyway I’m not ignoring you, there are technically issues that I can’t cure right away. I’m assuming it could work on my desktop but Century Link internet is again out of service today. If anybody would like to explain this transition to chat please fill me in! They are always changing these non profit pages and evidently we get special confusing service. 😂

12/05/2024

Happy Mothers Day!

29/04/2024

On one of the farm shows this weekend it was mentioned that a large number of cats are dying at the Dairy farms infected with bird flu. It was confirmed that all the dead cats did have the bird flu on one farm. So it could be possible that we might start seeing some death in the feral cat populations. They often pray on sick and injured birds. Plus It’s getting to be that time of year when birds start stealing food and water from feeding stations. Not a lot we can do about this but try to keep their feeding area clean and washing bowls often if not everyday. Our main bird problem is with sparrows and not sure they are a main carrier bird flu or not.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/04/08/can-cats-get-bird-flu-what-to-know/73250075007/ #

While it is uncommon for the virus to spread to mammals, a recently confirmed case of bird flu in a human has officials advising caution.

11/04/2024

We have been asked to show and demonstrate the trapping system we use. It is a Tomahawk Live Trap 308NC 36" trap connected to a 306NCC transfer cage with 2 doors. I definitely am not a content creator so bear with me on this video. lol I made several mistakes on this I wouldn't make with a cat in the trap. I started like most people with a cheap one door havahart type trap. Don't know how I ever got those cats feed and the cage cleaned. Tip: use two trap dividers just in case the cat lunges and it comes loose. When you have cardboard, towels, etc in the bottom the divider can't fully engage at the bottom. The cats catch on pretty quick and when they see the divider coming down, they move to the other side right away for you! Works well with most cats, but once got a giant Tom cat that had to go to the transfer cage to turn around. The transfer cages are a dream to transport to the vet, and the vets like them too.

09/04/2024

The noise you hear on this video is the cat breathing. It has a bad infected eye and is blind in that eye, the infection and swelling often affect their breathing. Unfortunately we can’t afford the cost of eye removal nor do we have anywhere for this cat to recover. If you would like to take this on or can suggest what to do with it please contact us. Time is of essence as the cats spay appt is 4/10/24. We honestly have never put a cat down at a spay appt but I’m afraid this may be the first. We don’t have the luxury to spend any extra money on expensive medical care. We are not even close to getting enough donations to pay for the s/n and vaccinations for this colony. If you feel like saving a life here is your chance. Please share!

To donate please go to our page, and read the pinned post about where we are located, and how to help our cause.

09/04/2024

It’s trapping week. When its a hard or unknown trapping situation we start early. The cats may have to be held in the traps 4 or 5 nights including pre and post op. We spent the extra money and only purchased 36” traps and connect them to 24” transfer cages to hold a litter box. In traps we only use pellet litter. We have only received $90 towards this bunch so we have a long way to cover even half the cost. So if you would like to help there are a number of ways to donate. It takes a village to do this so please help out. If you can’t help with money we are desperately looking for volunteers to feed and trap. Just message us!

30/03/2024

I know we have been quiet on social media but we are still out there doing TNR. Unfortunately, too much of our budget is now going to food. It was never our intention to be caretakers of colonies, but through death, moving to different housing, or mobility issues we have inherited quite a few groups to manage, monitor, and feed.

We want everyone to know we do not feed unfixed cats, we only feed cats we have fixed or cats we are feeding in a place so they can be trapped.

This is a new colony that will be trapped in April, fixed and vaccinated. There are a few more not in the video. Locals may recognize the B&W Tom on the left. Everyone seems to have a name for him, but we call him Gimpy. He was trapped last fall, and this spring he is living a much different life, no more fighting, spraying, and roaming the town. He stays pretty much put in this location now. I'm sure some are wondering what happened to him, as you see he is fine and happy. Though we wish he wasn't such a pig and hogging food. Aside from Gimpy we never see these cats, they stay very well hidden and will start trap training this coming week. They are going to be difficult trap as they never come out for food if a person is within 100 feet.

We need to raise about $2500 to vet the cats on our list. If you can spare any money at this time of need we would greatly appreciate it. This should be a community project and need more volunteer help to continue this project.

Information on how to donate or volunteer will come on a later post. We can always use cash, dry food, volunteers to feed colonies and trappers.

18/03/2024

Had no idea! Sorry always a day late! But it’s great to know cat lovers have their own saint because they sure deserve it.

17/02/2024

Tame stray kitten posted on Facebook sale page. PM the original poster. We do not have the cat.

14/02/2024

Can’t you find farm homes for the cats instead of returning them? Here is one answer to that question. I always ask myself what will give the cat the best chance of survival. Most often I do not feel they will survive if moved to a farm. While there has been some success there has been much disappointment and sorrow. It is always best to leave them where they were born and have learned to survive. Even trying to move them a block or two is difficult as cats don’t accept newcomers well. This also answers the question of won’t feeding them just attract more cats. Generally no as cats are very territorial and chase off the new cats.

The worst mistake in a relocation

Everyone who is involved in TNR knows relocating cats is a last resort; we all know cats do best if they can stay in their home territory. But if you find the cats have absolutely no option of staying where they have been living, are you prepared to relocate them?

Recently I saw a post by someone who already had barn cats but wanted some more. And the group responding to this person said oh yes we can give you a really nice pair. 😔 My heart sank when I saw that because the number one problem I ever had -when I used to do relocations -was having a resident cat on site who chased the newcomers away.

We all know cats are territorial, and while that doesn't mean they will never accept a new one, it is incredibly difficult to bring in new cats and properly introduce them while they are in confinement during their acclimation process. I always followed up on my relocations - day 1 in confinement, 1 week later, day before release, one to two days after release, one week later, 3-6-12 months later. I found that while sometimes the cats did OK immediately on release it was very common that within one to two months they had disappeared - and it was due to the fact that the resident cats did not accept them.

Some people are able to be fairly cavalier about this; they feel they've given them a chance and that the cats may have moved on and found another home. Personally I find it devastating to take a cat from their home territory, put them somewhere new and have them disappear. Because that chance is so high, if I do a relocation now I will not place a cat in a barn where there is a resident cat.

Relocating cats is not a simple process - it is fraught with easy to make mistakes. Over the next few weeks we will share other experiences with suggestions of what to avoid. And remember the best suggestion of all is whenever possible, leave them in their own territory.

24/01/2024

The time to spay/neuter your cats is NOW to ensure that there are fewer kittens born in the spring during kitten season!

If you need more information on TNR (trap, neuter, return) for community cats, please send an email to [email protected] 🐾



Friends of Feral Felines

24/01/2024

Declawing, also known as onychectomy, is the surgical removal of the last joint of a cat's toes, including the claw and bone. While it was once a common practice, particularly among indoor cats, declawing is now widely considered to be an unnecessary and harmful procedure.

Here are some of the reasons why declawing is considered to be cruel and harmful to cats:

1. Pain and discomfort: Declawing is a painful procedure, and cats can experience significant discomfort and pain both during and after the surgery. The severed nerves in the toes can continue to cause pain and sensitivity for weeks or even months following the procedure.

2.Physical complications: Declawing can lead to a variety of physical complications, including infection, tissue necrosis (death of tissue), and lameness. The removal of the last joint of the toe can also disrupt the natural balance and weight distribution of the cat's paw, leading to joint pain and arthritis

3. Psychological and behavioral problems: Declawing can have a profound impact on a cat's emotional well-being and behavior. Cats use their claws for various purposes, including climbing, hunting, and defense. Removing their claws can make them feel insecure and defenseless, leading to increased stress, anxiety, and aggression. Declawed cats may also resort to biting as a defense mechanism, as they no longer have their claws for protection.

4. Litter box aversion: Declawing can disrupt a cat's natural instinct to bury its waste, leading to litter box aversion and inappropriate elimination. The discomfort and pain associated with declawing can make it difficult for cats to walk on litter, and they may associate the litter box with pain, causing them to avoid it altogether.

5. Inability to engage in natural behaviors: Declawing deprives cats of the ability to engage in natural behaviors such as scratching, climbing, and playing. Scratching is an essential part of a cat's grooming routine and helps to maintain the health of their claws. It also provides a means of marking their territory and expressing their emotions. Climbing is another important behavior for cats, as it allows them to exercise, explore their environment, and feel secure. Declawing can make it difficult or impossible for cats to engage in these essential behaviors, leading to boredom, frustration, and stress.

6. Unnecessary and inhumane procedure: In most cases, declawing is not necessary to prevent cats from scratching furniture or other objects. There are many humane alternatives to declawing, such as providing scratching posts, trimming claws regularly, and using double-sided tape or deterrent sprays on areas you want to protect from scratching.

In conclusion, declawing is a cruel and unnecessary procedure that can cause significant pain, discomfort, and behavioral problems for cats. There are many humane alternatives to declawing that can effectively prevent cats from scratching destructive objects. If you are considering declawing your cat, please reconsider and explore alternative options that will allow your cat to live a healthy and happy life.

20/01/2024

This is good post about the spay/Nueter part of TNR. We now use local vets but used to drive them 400 miles round trip to get affordable vet care. Now that we have TNR’d so many we typically don’t have enough to make those long trips. In addition, the weather has to be just perfect to make those trips work, not to hot or cold. Those long trips were hard on us and the cats but we sure got a lot done for the money. We now pay 2x-3x more, and typically don’t do a snap test for FIV unless we are suspicious or the cat appears to be in poor condition.

23/12/2023

Oxford Peeps: If you ever have a concern or question about what we are doing or a feeding station in your area, please contact us!

We can't do much about anonymous notes left for us! This week a note was left telling us to quit feeding the cats because we are feeding skunks and possums too!

We have permission to feed where we are feeding, and in most cases we have spent many thousands of $$$ fixing and vaccinating those cats. We are not going to just let them fend on their own after this investment. We monitor each location periodically with cameras to watch for new cats and wildlife. Very little of our food is getting ate by wildlife, but loose dogs are a big problem.

We have spent hours watching videos. We are feeding a winter schedule, where all food should be eaten by dusk hours. We don't think the food is attracting any new wildlife, its been there the whole time. The racoons, possums, and skunks are however
thirsty and looking for water. Its really dry out there. Typically the water bowls would be froze at night, but that's not the case right now. Hopefully the dry conditions will improve. We will continue to monitoring the stations to see if there is unusual activity. But if you have a specific issue, you must address it directly to us, not through anonymous notes. We will do whatever is possible to help solve any concerns. We want happy neighbors.

However, we can't just stop feeding colonies of cats that depend on us, because a skunk or two was in your neighborhood. That would cause many more complaints, and nobody wants starving and sick cats in their backyard. All areas of Oxford have skunks, possums and an occasional raccoon. For the last 40 years we have had a skunk spray somewhere around our block almost every week and nobody is feeding them. Its the joy of living in a small town, where the Country and wildlife is just around the corner from almost everywhere in town.

Call or message us please!

04/12/2023

Can anyone donate a sack or container of kitty litter. Our foster who has 4 teenagers is out of litter. Thats not something we usually keep on hand. Just returning from a month trip and arrived home sick with a virus. I can't run to another town and get any now. Even the cheap all clay is fine. Message us and I will tell you where to drop it off. Thanks It is for these 4.

28/11/2023

Your donation will go to projects like this A homeless cat with an eartip surprising gave birth to 7 kittens OFF found temporary placement for the expectant Mom with the promise to pay the first $50 of each spay/Nueter costs. Who would have thought such a skinny cat would give birth to 7. In addition there were 2 other kittens with the Mom.

They are in process of trying to get a rescue to do an intake on all 8, but they must be completely vetted and fixed first. For $500 we are helping to prevent hundreds of future suffering homeless cats. Help us get all 10 fixed and vetted.
The story and more pictures are in the comments.