Releasing the feral kitties...

I released the boy feral last night.  I wasn't sure what would happen.  I have trapped cats before but I have always kept them.  This one was the first one I actually re-released.

I opened the carrier door and after about 15 seconds, he bolted.  He went so fast, the picture was blurry! He just ran and never looked back.  Poor boy!  I am releasing the girl tonight...she can't wait! haha

One Boy and One Pregnant Kitty...and My Feral Cat Dilemma

I took two kitties to get fixed at No More Homeless Pets today.  I trapped them on Friday night and attempted to trap more last night but it started to rain shortly after I set up the traps.  *sigh*

I left the traps out for about 30 minutes just in case, but I didn't think any cats would be out in the rain.  At least I got two!  One is a boy (the bottom picture) and the other is a girl kitty who was pregnant!  The vet estimated that she was about 3-4 weeks into the pregnancy.  (The gestational period for a cat is approximately 63 days)

I looked at both of these cats, without knowing if they were boys or girls or not, and tried to see if they looked pregnant.  I didn't see any big bellies.  If I did see that one or both were pregnant, I would have had a tough decision to make.  

The first time this happened, with Daisy, I cried and cried!  I felt so badly that I had "killed" her kittens.  I didn't know she was pregnant either (but we suspected it) but it still upset me to know that she was pregnant and her kittens were aborted.  

With so many cats and kittens already alive and the pet overpopulation problem, I don't feel right about having new ones being born--especially to a feral cat.  It can get really tricky with a feral mother.  If a kitty is pregnant and she is tame, I feel differently about aborting a pregnancy.  If the cat is feral, I believe it is in the cat's best interest and my best interest to have the kittens aborted.  

If a feral kitty has kittens (assuming she does not reject them), she would have to be in a cage for at least 12 weeks after their birth.  How could I release her outside after being inside for so long?  It would not be humane.  So, then I am stuck with a feral cat-yes, stuck.  A feral cat is fearful of humans and does not want to be near us.  It is a bad situation for me and for them. A feral cat is happier outside but I would be forced, sort of, to keep her inside.  I say sort of because, yes, I could release her but I do not think it is humane after 3 months or more of being inside.

The stress in a ferals' life is also a factor.  When cats are outside, they may not receive the nutrition that a house cat gets and may be malnutritioned. Being pregnant causes great stress on their bodies and being caged and surrounded by humans, causes even more stress.  An already weakened kitty who becomes pregnant, gives birth to kittens more susceptible to illness.  

If she is pregnant, it may be her first pregnancy or her 5th.  Pregnancies take it's toll on a cat. Also, there is a lot of inbreeding within colonies which cause kittens to have sometimes severe health problems.

So, for ferals, I will always have their pregnancies aborted.  

Fixing my ferals

Here are three of my seven ferals that I feed.  April 5, I am taking them to get fixed at No More Homeless Pets KC .  Click here to be taken to their website for more information.

There are four more out there that didn't want their pictures taken.  They live in the sewer and drainage pipes and in some heavy brush near a creek.

I don't know how many I will be able to trap for the 5th but those I miss will get trapped for May 17th.  I am a college student and I am worried about the cost coming out of my budget.  I have 7 cats at $15 (for spay/neuter and vaccinations) each which equals $105.  Even if you could give $5, it would help me out.  I am probably going to get 3 or 4 (depending on how many I can catch) done this month and 3 or 4 done next month.

If you would like to donate to help me with the cost, please click the donate button below.  Thanks in advance!  I really appreciate it!

No More Homeless Pets Spay/Neuter Clinic March 22

The NMHP FixKC clinics are offered for people who are financially disadvantaged and/or individuals who are dealing with feral or stray cats, or large populations of cats. Individuals must qualify for the FixKC Cat Clinics and appointments are required.

The clinics are in high demand and our appointment books fill quickly. In 2007 we fixed close to 2000 cats!

Interested in learning more? Watch our FixKC Clinic video!
(Please note, there are some graphic images in our video)

Please call for more information at 816.333.PETS or email us at info@nmhpkc.org
(Appointments are required.)

KITTENS? Yes, kittens weighing at least 2 pounds, and in-heat or pregnant females, are welcome!

DOGS? Call us. We offer low cost dog spay/neuter programs, too.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE? Yes, financial assistance programs are available. Contact us for more info.

VOLUNTEER? Volunteer Veterinarians, Vet Techs, and clinic helpers needed...it's gratifying, interesting, and fun! Email us at info@nmhpkc.org to sign up.

DONATE? If you'd like to offer financial support and help those who cannot afford to have their pets fixed, please Sponsor a Spay.

**If you read this after the date listed, contact the organization/clinic.  Often times, they offer these services on a regular basis.  If not, these clinics may offer the low cost clinics once a month.  You can use the same contact information listed above.**

No More Homeless Pets Spay/Neuter Clinic February 15

The NMHP FixKC clinics are offered for people who are financially disadvantaged and/or individuals who are dealing with feral or stray cats, or large populations of cats. Individuals must qualify for the FixKC Cat Clinics and appointments are required.

The clinics are in high demand and our appointment books fill quickly. In 2007 we fixed close to 2000 cats!

Interested in learning more? Watch our FixKC Clinic video!
(Please note, there are some graphic images in our video)

Please call for more information at 816.333.PETS or email us at info@nmhpkc.org
(Appointments are required.)

KITTENS? Yes, kittens weighing at least 2 pounds, and in-heat or pregnant females, are welcome!

DOGS? Call us. We offer low cost dog spay/neuter programs, too.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE? Yes, financial assistance programs are available. Contact us for more info.

VOLUNTEER? Volunteer Veterinarians, Vet Techs, and clinic helpers needed...it's gratifying, interesting, and fun! Email us at info@nmhpkc.org to sign up.

DONATE? If you'd like to offer financial support and help those who cannot afford to have their pets fixed, please Sponsor a Spay.

Where to get your pet fixed in Kansas City

There are several places where you can get your pet fixed for a small fee and sometimes for free.


Humane Society of KC 5445 Parallel Pkwy KCK 66104 (913) 596-1000


Pet Connection 5918 Broadmoor, Mission, KS 66202 (913) 671-PETS


No More Homeless Pets KC 5428 Antioch Drive Merriam, KS 66202 816.333.PETS


Spay Neuter Kansas City 816-353-0940

Ideas for names?

This is the kitty I trapped and had fixed through No More Homeless Pets Kansas City. I have had her for a week today and I still have not named her. Any suggestions? I think she is just gorgeous! She is very sweet and loving.

My pregnant feral cat dilemma Pt. 2

My true feelings came out this morning. I no longer have to wonder what I think about the situation. I am not sure if I was in shock or what last night but I wasn't thinking clearly.

I was talking to my boyfriend about this in the car this morning. After about 5 minutes of him telling me how sad he was about the kittens, I started to cry. I saw it so clearly.

I cannot believe that I did not go with my initial instinct of keeping the cat here to have her kittens. I knew the "ethical" answer at the very beginning but I was persuaded by different outside sources.

I feel deeply saddened that this happened and I will never do it again.

I believe in not killing any living being unless they are sick to the point of no return. There was nothing wrong with this kittens, that I know of. They had every right to a chance in life as any other animal...these kittens just weren't born yet.

I read and read online last night to get different perspectives on this issue. There are many perspectives. None of them really helped me.

This morning I made up my mind about it and I do not believe in killing any animal unless they are sick. That includes, not killing kittens, in utero.

Of course there is a pet overpopulation problem. That is evident. It does not mean we should go around killing innocent unborn kittens. They are already here. All we can do is prevent new births.

I deeply regret what I did. In humans, I believe life begins at conception. I do not agree with abortions at any time during the pregnancy. Why didn't I think about that when I was contemplating what to do with these kittens? I think everyone has a right to life. I was influenced by outside sources and didn't listen to my instincts. Next time, I will trust myself and only myself.

I made the decision but I will never make that decision again. Ever.


This is her this morning:

My pregnant feral cat dilemma

I have been helping a woman trap some semi-tame ferals in her neighborhood. We put out the traps this morning. Out of a possible 8 cats, we caught 1.

She was pregnant.

I had a really hard time deciding what to do. I talked to the people at No More Homeless Pets Kansas City and they told me there was not a way to tell how far along she was without a sonogram. I felt pressured to have the kittens aborted...but I am still the one that made the decision. So, I said to spay her.

I am still not sure if I did the right thing. During her surgery, they found out that she was really far along in her pregnancy and her kittens were aborted. I didn't ask how far along she was (but I assume she was close to giving birth) or how many kittens there were.

I don't want to know.

The woman at No More Homeless Pets told me how there are already too many kittens out there...blah blah blah. I know all of that. These are kittens that were already created...they are already here-just not born yet. I believe in spaying and neutering to prevent kittens, not kill ones that are here or in the womb.

Did I indirectly kill these sweet kittens?

Should I have done it differently? I already have 5 cats here and that is about my limit in terms of my energy level. All of these cats need food, water, a clean litter box and love and attention. I asked around at the shelter I volunteer at and every else has a lot of cats too. It's kitten season and lots of people are fostering kittens or cats. There was nobody available to take the kittens.

I was told over the phone by someone at NMHPKC who said if the cat is put under anesthetic and she is pregnant that it would cause problems for the kittens.

After doing some research, I am not sure that is the truth. It might depend on what type of anesthetic they use. I haven't found a clear answer.

All I know is that I have been thrown into a moral dilemma that I can't undo. All I can do is decide what to do the next time this happens.

:(
This is her after I got her home:

This is her later in the evening:

On Thursday, January 8, the Alliance will be holding a "Beyond Oprah: Missouri's Puppy Mills" educational event in Kansas City.

The event will include a viewing of a portion of the Oprah show exposing the problems with the puppy mill industry in Pennsylvania.  Additionally, there will be a panel discussion of the puppy mill problem in Missouri and how interested persons can help. 

The panel will feature Alliance director, Julie Leicht, Alliance legislative director, John Coffman, and Bob Baker, Investigator with the ASPCA. 

Bob Baker has been active in animal welfare since 1977, and is a nationally recognized authority on animal cruelty investigations.  During his extensive career, he has served as Chief Investigator for the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and, most recently, as Field Investigator for the Humane Farming Association. Bob joined the ASPCA in January 2007 as Investigator, Anti-Cruelty Initiatives, where he will be a key player in the ASPCA's ongoing efforts to combat the cruelties of puppy mills and large-scale commercial breeding operations.

This special event will be held at the Ron Berg Gallery and Event Space, Crossroads District, 1525 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, Mo 64108 beginning at 7PM (Jan 8).  Parking is available behind the gallery for this event.

This educational presentation is co-sponsored by No More Homeless Pets KC and is presented with the gracious support of the Ron Berg Gallery.