Posts Tagged ‘feral cats’

I hear about the freezing storms in the east.  And I live in the wet storms in the west. 

It’s been wet and soggy for what seems like forever to this former Texas girl.  And what that means in our neck of the woods (literally) is that a tree is likely to fall into or blow on to the power lines/transformer/whatever and then suddenly that’s it.  Everything shuts down.

Last night I woke up to the sound of my husband snoring.

I lay there for a while getting a little miffed that the fan was not on.  (We’ve been over this before.)  I finally got up to turn it on myself, and noticed that the switch wasn’t working.  THEN…. I noticed the house was completely still and quiet.  No “hum” in the background that we don’t even hear most of the time.

Heavy sigh.  The power is out.  Again. 

I look outside from the second story and see our largest  Redwood (90 foot) swaying down toward the window…and I am fully awake. There are 3 of them…but  it’s the tallest one that makes me back away.  The wind is really loud and I’m reminded of Peter and the wind and waves.   Back away, be calm,  have faith.  

 Extremely loud winds.  Wondering if  Northen CA ever has tornados, I’m having trouble with the calm part.    

From another window I look out over the farm, and the country side…it is pitch black.

Trying to remember that God is in control of those winds, and those trees,  I focus on the dark countryside. 

We get so used to neighbors lights, guard lights, traffic lights, etc, that when it’s all turned off, it is very, very dark and strange, and, I have to say, a little scary.  I think about what the pioneers went through as they cleared the land, and started a new life…before Thomas Edison came along. 

I also think about the people in Japan.   The news is back to normal, but their lives are still ripped apart…  and no hope of the electricity being turned on soon.

Speaking of earthquakes,   Gary continues to snore…earplugs in.   He will sleep through tremors and then tell me “Go back to sleep. It’s just a little quake.”  (!)  Of course, he was raised in Northern California and stood between beams on a job site when the ‘89 one hit… he doesn’t worry about the Redwoods. 

But the (also) 90 foot Doug Fir that was three feet away from our house did worry him,  every winter.  So, he had a crew come and  take it down.  “Felled.”   But that’s another story.  And video.

And yes, we do know these things are always possible.  We try to prepare.  Flashlights, of course, (where are those darn things?)  Candles, large and small,  ready everywhere, with matches hidden behind.  Most of the time gallon jugs full of water are stashed under sinks in kitchen and bathrooms.  Most of the time.

The worst thing for me is not the lack of light.  For us and most who live out here, (in any rural area for that matter)  it also means NO Water.   

It’s not just coffee (priority in this house) …although we have a gas stove and a French Press, which we prefer anyway.   But I find out just how often I go to the sink to wash my hands, without thinking. 

So it’s dark or dull (on a cloudy day) and hand sanitizer just doesn’t always do it for me.  Plus we have an animal rescue, and that means we need water for various things.  (Thank goodness for the unsightly 5 gallon rain catchers Gary keeps behind the small barn.)  

Years ago my grandfather would smile and shake his head.  “You’ve got to get rid of some of those ole cats Diane…”     And I would smile back.  And shake my head the other way.

Meanwhile, back at the no- power ranch, wonder if this will last 5 days like it did one year?  

The refrigerator… mercy!

As I mentally go over the contents of the frig. and freezer,  I’m remembering that  I did not turn on the dishwasher last night, OR get the coffee water ready, OR dry the last batch of  towels needed for the cats.  

It’s then that I think again about the folks in Japan. 

Incredible, the people there.  The news on the TV is back to normal;  their lives, however, are not.  My inconvenience,  is just an inconvenience,  for a time.   How quickly we forget. 

So, this morning as my battery dies,  I will end this, and just say… I’m so grateful right now that our power is out. 

 Because I need to be grateful to even have it at all.  And, because I know it will come back on.  And I don’t take that for granted….not for one minute.

I’d love to know what you are grateful for today.

For Every Person that is born, fifteen dogs and forty-five cats are also born.

That’s 15 dogs.

 

That’s 45 cats. Out in the world.  Cold, hungry, unwanted and unloved.
 
What can you do?  Education is the key. 

 

 Pet overpopulation is EVERYBODY’s problem:
 
Only 1 out of every 10 dogs born EVER finds a permanent home.

 

Only 1 out of every 12 cats born EVER finds a permanent home. 

 

In Sonoma county alone, where I live, scores of kittens are “dumped” on the steps of shelters every spring…sometimes with the mom, sometimes not.  If no one claims them, they are all euthanized; the mom too.

 

Then, there the kittens you chance to hear in the bushes, without food for days because the mom was run over or shot by some uneducated person. (See my photo above…it happens.)
They are so starving, they will come right up to you in most cases.

 

And if you’ve ever looked into those tiny, pleading eyes, you’ll never be the same.

 

You may be wondering “There are so many, where do you even start, and what do you do?”

 

That’s exactly what I thought 16 years ago when I first stumbled on this “problem” after getting married and first coming to the tree farm.  They were everywhere.
 
The first step is education.   I had never seen so many kittens and cats in my life, many of them sick.
 
The first thing that went through my mind was “where did they all come from?”  

 

I would later learn that 2 adult cats can create 2 to 3 litters a year.  Not all survive, but in a young cat, that’s 8 to 12 kittens a year.  These grow up and reproduce, and year 2 is around 66 cats.  The third year is 2,201 cats.  Now we’re talking.  By the fourth year, the number goes up to 3,822. 

 

Then year five is the big jump:   12,680 cats. 

 

I could hardly believe it!    This all started with 2 cats that were left alone and forgotten.

 

You don’t know what you don’t know, and sometimes you’d rather not know.  But the problem doesn’t go away.  (More on what I did in a future post.)

Just by reading this, you are becoming aware, or being reminded to think about it again. 

 

That’s the beginning.
 
Second, start with your own pet, and pets of people you know.

 

Make absolutely sure that your pet, or one that “shows up” occasionally that you feed, is spayed or neutered.  (I’m basically talking about cats here, but dogs too.)
 
Letting your pet have a litter so your children can “experience” the miracle of birth is a poor reason.  After the amazing moment is over, then what?  Some people tire of it, and then the kittens get pulled away and “dumped.” 

 

If you want your child to be around baby animals, take her/him and go visit the local shelter, or look in the paper…you’ll have lots of choices.
 
Mention it to your neighbor.  Most people don’t mean to be thoughtless, they just have no idea of the suffering that goes on because of ignorance.  
 
One common mistake that many people make (and yes, I did this too)  is thinking your pet isn’t old enough to be “thinking about that”….it happens.  According to Best Friends Animal Society, “Female cats can become pregnant at the age of four months. People don’t know that cats can get pregnant so young.”

 

Another thing to do is call your local animal shelter.  There are never enough hands/ laps to go around, they all desperately need volunteers, and will be very grateful for even an hour or two a week from you. 

 

That’s one wonderful thing about having a home business; you have the time freedom to be a volunteer.  If you’re unable to right now, however,  donations are always needed, and it doesn’t have to be money. 

 

 You might have things on hand such as old towels and blankets you no longer use…these would be much appreciated, and needed now.   February is National Spay/Neuter Month.   

 

As the operator of a small animal rescue myself, and “mom” to many fostered litters over the years, (currently managing a colony of 15 regulars,)  I have seen first hand the needless sufferering that goes on, apparently unnoticed.  Animals have no choice.  But we do.
 
Do you have a cat/dog story to share?  Although I’ve written primarily about cats, I love dogs too… please share!    Love to hear other’s pet stories!

 

Thanks for listening, and
Have a great day everyone!

 

              

 

                   

 

             PS.  A great site to take a look at….  “Don’t make more, fix by four!”