ADOPTION
Advised Procedures to Spay/Neuter Ferals
Collar Your Cat but Make It Safe!
Explanation of why cats die in our shelter.
A Cat's First Month in Our Program
by Kathy Williams, President
January 22, 2008
One of our goals is to encourage the public to understand how shelters operate because we believe an informed public is invaluable to the welfare of cats in shelters.
Our shelter operates at two different locations: (1) first, cats are treated for illnesses, given health care, and allowed time needed to become ready for adoption in my 2400 sq. ft rural home; and (2) after attaining good emotional and physical health, cats arrive at our free-roaming Adoption Center in Klamath Falls.
At home in the rural setting:
Our framework is that felines are prone to illnesses when stressed from abandonment and commonly need three weeks to resolve health issues that develop. Evaluation of adoptability, based on personality and behavior, is conducted during this period.
Advantages for new arrivals in my home include a longer time span for treatment each day, a more quiet environment, and development of trust by the cat. Since I arise at 5:00 a.m., medications can easily be given twice daily, such as 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. I can also detect and treat illnesses more easily because time at home is focused. Our Adoption Center hours of 9:00 to 4:00 prevent twice daily medications and much of the day is consumed with maintenance and interacting with the public. Very little time is available to resolve health problems of our cats at the Center. So they come home with me for needed treatment.
At home, each feline is confined to a cage for ten days (preferably 14 days) which allows 360-degree observation. This period helps me detect illnesses that may develop and enables prompt beginnings of treatment. The maximum number of young kittens sharing a cage is two. All other cats are caged individually. Since felines are easily stressed by change, this confinement gives time for adjustment to the new environment. Unfortunately, and to the disadvantage of young kittens, the goal of 10 days confinement is often lost when overwhelming numbers of new arrivals occur "kitten season."
On the second day and after passing stool, the first Ivomec de-worming occurs to treat roundworms and earmites. The dose is repeated two more times at 10 day intervals.
On the third day, or soon thereafter, the de-wormer Drontal is given for tapeworms to all felines six months of age or older, and to younger felines passing tapeworms or infested with fleas.
For kittens, after 10 days of confinement has passed each is set free to roam and play until strong enough to be altered and placed up for adoption. To prevent marking and other territorial behaviors, adults are caged until they arrive at the Adoption Center.
Dependent upon the health of the feline, vaccines are not given earlier than two weeks after induction and not before the kitten is 8 weeks of age. We have had cases of vaccinating healthy-looking kittens only for them to die from apparent stress paced on the immune system by the vaccine. We have reduced deaths by witholding vaccines until a kitten has been in our program for a minimum of two weeks and all health issues resolved.
Felines are tested for FeLv/FIV at a local veterinary clinic, commonly 14 days after induction and past the period of health problems.
Spaying or neutering occurs only when the feline has substantial good health to easily withstand the procedure, commonly two to four weeks after induction.
Arriving at the Adoption Center:
To allow time to adjust to the new environment, all cats are placed in cages giving 360 degrees observation of activity around them. We give each feline the time needed to adjust before opening the door and allowing exploration in the Center. Some felines need three days of adjustment; some need seven days; others simply need one day. To release too soon only causes stress, resulting in further illness, fear and possible failure.
Since life in our shelter is group living, we constantly monitor behavior and illnesses. Diarrhea and upper respiratory infections occasionally occur, requiring temporary confinement until clear. Those unable to live in a group return to the rural setting and are set free.
Life at the Adoption Center:
We know our felines would rather live in smaller numbrs, but we give priority to their needs of freedom, play, and interaction. We wish our shelter had no homeless cats but until that day arrives we truly believe cats must have stimulation to be happy and feelings of security to be adoptable. Isolating them in cages enclosed on three sides is, to us, inhumane and unreasonable.
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