TNR Texas

20/08/2024

19/08/2024

I think this may also apply to being loved and appreciated. When I see videos of a goose, or pig or cow, or squirrel, etc. responding so positively to being loved, either by another animal or a human, it becomes so clear that ❤️ is not limited to humans. I just wish more people realized this.

17/08/2024

Shadow Cats has done so much to help community cats since it began over 20 years ago. And they have been very busy lately making a HUGE impact with their support of TNR. Read below to get a glimpse of what they have been up to. Plus, I know many of us have received help from them over the years with spay/neuter or medical expenses and so much more.

Shadow Cats is a non profit organization that offers sanctuary and helps to improve the quality of life for feral, abused or abandoned cats in the Austin area.

15/08/2024

Warm weather? No... this is HOT 💥🔥 weather. If you provide food and water for outside cats, be aware that if you are putting out wet food during the day, add water to it and pick it up within 45 minutes to avoid bacterial growth/going rancid. It may be best to just provide dry when the temps are crazy high. Plus, the dry is less likely to attach insects. Raising the bowl off the ground, placing it in a larger plate/bowl with water in it to create a moat, or sprinkling FOOD-GRADE Diatomaceous Earth will help with keeping bugs out. However, wet food can be a good source of hydration for cats in hot weather if you feed early in the morning or in the evening or they eat it all right away.

Deep bowls for water help to keep it from getting too warm and placed in the shade is ideal. You can also add some ice cubes or bring refrigerated water. Some cats like to play with the ice cubes which helps to cool off their foot pads. You can also freeze water bottles and place one in the bowl. If frozen bottles are left on the ground, some cats will lay on them to cool off.

If you can, provide some shade even if it is just a piece of plywood leaning against a wall.

If you are doing TNR in very hot weather, be aware that cats can suffer heatstroke. Place the trap covered with a lightweight cover in the shade or where there is some AC. Placing a trap on asphalt can heat up the metal making it even hotter for the cat and can even burn it's paws.

Let's do what we can to keep our furry friends cool! Please share any other suggestions you have.

14/08/2024

Received an email from someone in an area with a lot of cats in the neighborhood that need to be spayed/neutered. She wrote "Unfortunately some people are feeding them and they are a nuisance. They come around and p*e everywhere and p**p in the flower beds."

My response: "I am so sorry that you have found the kind people feeding the cats to be a nuisance. And I agree, people should not be p*eing and p**ping in your gardens."

OK... so that is not exactly how I responded... but I REALLY wanted to write that! 🤣

12/08/2024

We are all somebody 😺

11/08/2024

For those of you who feed outside cats, in our efforts to protect them, we sometimes have to help neighbors find ways to keep them out of their gardens and yards. If we don't, sometimes cats are harmed, killed, or trapped by them and relocated. This page on our website lists deterrents that can help keep peace between community cats and their neighbors.

And if you are concerned about coyotes, skunks, or possums, there are some tips about them on that page also. And spoiler... consider yourself lucky if you have possums coming around.

When Neighbors do not want the community cats in their yard, you can help them find solutions: Steps for Humanely Deterring Cats (aka Neighbor Relations)

09/08/2024

It is not just about dogs. It is the cat in the carrier on the return visit from the vet when you just needed to run into the grocery store for 1 thing (the thing that turns into a 45 min stop)... or the cats in traps in the back of your SUV...or the hamster you just picked up to surprise your child. Don't risk the life of the animal that depends on you to protect it.

07/08/2024

Some of you may not know who this is 😁 but I am sure you are familiar with the message.

06/08/2024

What do you suggest using when one of your outside cats shows up with minor to moderate skin issues if they are totally untouchable, slightly touchable (maybe allows a quick pet), or friendly enough for a topical to be easily applied? We know that the ideal solution is to re-trap the cat and get them in for treatment, but due to cost and available resources as well as other factors, this is not always an option.

The image below is not a current cat needing assistance (and it did get in for treatment). We are asking just for the purposes of sharing knowledge and experience with others.

04/08/2024

Hoping each of your are getting some quality time with some kitties today. They feed your soul, heal your heart when it feels like it is breaking, and lift you up when life seems particularly heavy. And if nothing else, they make you smile. Photos of the cats you are hanging with today are welcomed!

03/08/2024

You too?

31/07/2024

Technology is making trapping more efficient and effective. Below is the Drone Clip Remote Control, a simple device available on Amazon for $30 (though right now it appears to not be available) that can be very helpful. A downside is that the charge only lasts 2 hours.

What technology support devices are you using and how do they help with your trapping efforts?

Using a drone object dropper to create a remote controlled cat trap. Could be useful in scenarios where you are trying to get specific cat when doing Trap-Ne...

31/07/2024

Technology is making trapping more efficient and effective. Below is the Drone Clip Remote Control, a simple device available on Amazon for $30 (though right now it appears to not be available) that can be very helpful. A downside is that the charge only lasts 2 hours.

What technology support devices are you using and how do they help with your trapping efforts?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6EIZRYOkuk
Oh how weird... the actual video showed up in a duplicate post.

29/07/2024

Did you know?

26/07/2024

Trying to catch the mom cat after getting the kittens? Read below for some "how to" info!

If you have found and rescued kittens, you may be wondering how to catch the mom cat. 🤔

It is super important to make that effort! Do not just scoop up kittens and move on! 🚫 Leaving the mother cat behind leads her to the exact same fate in just a couple of months.

If kittens are around, it’s very likely the mama is around, even if you haven’t physically seen her. It is not typical for a whole litter of kittens to be abandoned.

So how do you go about finding her❓Place the kittens in a trap or carrier at the location you found them. Place a set trap in front of the carrier or trap the kittens are in and bait it with food as normal. Placing a sheet over the traps/carrier creates a little “tunnel” straight to her babies!

And here’s the important part - go away. 😂 Mama cat is not coming back with a scary human lurking around. Let the kittens and the trap do the work for you. If you are able to go inside and monitor from a window or get in your car, that would be best.

Good luck and happy trapping!

Edit for clarification: Going away doesn’t mean leaving the area and the trap unattended. NEVER leave a trap unattended. It means don’t stand there expecting mom to walk in the trap with you watching. Go inside. Monitor from a window. If you are at a public location, park somewhere you can still see the trap and wait in your car.

25/07/2024

I once had a person say to me, "I don't know why anyone would come and pay $100 for a cat when I can go to my neighbors farm and he'll fill my car with them for free." Well, here's the full breakdown folks! (Not to mention sick visits)

~Faith Ann~

24/07/2024

A little humor to hopefully brighten your day a bit.

22/07/2024

Copied from another page. Could not have said it better.

22/07/2024

San Antonio cat rescuers - your help is needed! We have been contacted by a woman who said her neighbor was evicted early this month and abandoned about 10 young cats. The house is being cleaned out now and the cats are running around seeking food. She described it as not being a cat-friendly neighborhood and people try to run them over and there are dogs that go after cats. She is putting out a few jars of baby food every now and then and water but has no cat food.

These cats are in desperate need of food. I am waiting to hear back from her with some more information. The location is near Glasgow/SE Military. I am assuming that their best option is for the City of San Antonio Animal Care Series to be contacted or perhaps some can be taken to the San Antonio Humane Society.

If any of you are near that area and could check it out and take some bowls and dry cat food that would be very helpful. And if you know of any other options for these cats, please post in comments or send a message to us. I am guessing that the cats are probably friendly but not vetted.

Thank you! It takes a village...

21/07/2024

And would you like to share what is going on today that influenced your choice? For me, #8! I get to work on a special project AND spend almost all day with my cats plus 2 foster kittens!

19/07/2024

Do not forget the males. Neutering can save their life as they will no longer roam long distances looking for females in heat and perhaps getting run over or suffering serious injuries.

18/07/2024

From the Texas Coalition for Animal Protection and DFW Feral Caregivers
Announcing the 7th Free Fix Day of 2024!

TCAP will offer FREE sterilizations & rabies vaccines for feral/community cats on Wednesday, July 31. This event is held at six TCAP clinics: Allen, Arlington, Burleson, Denton, Garland & Ft Worth.

This is our biggest event yet and we want to make a huge impact! 450 cats will be accepted across six locations.

TCAP supports the Feral and Community Cat caregiver community. This is our way of giving back. We recognize the important role you play in animal advocacy in North Texas. For July, there is no limit on the number of cats per caregiver and no appointment is required! We will accept the first 75 cats presented at each location. Cats must be presented in a live trap or pet carrier. All cats will receive an ear tip.

Notes: Additional fees (such as in-heat, crypt, or pregnancy), will be covered by TCAP. Caretakers will be responsible for additional services they elect at the time of service: additional vaccinations, pain medications, viral testing, etc. Cats must be presented in either live traps or pet carriers.

16/07/2024

Re-posting from a few years ago. Seems appropriate. Read the text below for lots of tips for keeping those outdoor cats cool.

Cats are smart and will usually find ways to stay cool in the summer heat. But, sometimes they can use a bit of help. Here are some tips for helping them to stay cool:
• Make sure there is plenty of fresh, cool water (add ice cubes or chill it in advance); if you only go out one time per day, also put out a bowl of frozen water for later
• You can give them chicken or beef broth ice cubes
• Make sure there is access to shade even if just leaning a board against a tree or putting some cardboard boxes on their sides angled away from the sun
• If you can touch them, dampen their fur with a wet towel
• Place frozen water bottles wrapped in a towel where they like to lay; don’t use cooling gel packs as they can be toxic
• Turn on a fan if it is an option where the cats hang out
• Provide wet food (watered down a bit is good) but not if it might go rancid in the heat before being eaten
• Matted fur traps heat so brush them if you can
• Put out cooling mats
• Provide elevated places to lie to be off of extra hot surfaces

Symptoms of Overheating in Outdoor Cats:
• Rapid breathing or panting
• Rapid heart rate
• Dehydration
• Sunken eyes
• Sweaty feet (cats sweat through glands in their paws; however, they do NOT sweat to cool themselves!)
• Disorientation
• Vomiting
• Restlessness
• Lethargy
• Drooling or sticky/thick saliva
• Bright red tongue/mouth
• Yowling
• Seizures