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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO
Created:Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5089
Total number of notes:60366

1066.0. "Alice, the KILLER cat!" by NETMAN::SEGER (this space intentionally left blank) Wed Jan 27 1988 08:12

I've got a problem.  We've had Alice now ever since she stood outside our door
for an entire winter (3 years ago) and we finally decided she didn't have a
home.  

She's affectionate and a great hunter (I'm sure it came from living on her own
for so long).  One summer she even bagged a rabbit (even though it was a small
one).  I'm sure she'd make a great barn cat.  As for feeding, she'll only eat
cheap dry cat food.  She doesn't even like fresh fish! 

BUT -- she will randomly stick out a claw and grab a piece of someone's flesh! 
My kids hate her, my wife isn't very fond of her and I'm getting quite upset by
the whole thing myself.  Three days ago she took a bit out of my wife's hand
while sitting on here lap. 

SO -- goodbye cat!  The problem is what to do with her. I called the local
humane society and they're going to make some inquiries and see if there are
any people who have barns in need of cats.  However, I am not going to wait
more than a few more days - Saturday is the deadline (pun intende).  If she's
not claimed by then I'm afraid I'll have to have her put to sleep and that
bothers me a lot. 

Any suggestions?  Any and all are welcome as long as the suggestion gets her out
of my house by Saturday.

Gee, this sounds like a note to Ann Landers!

-mark
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
1066.1Where are you?FIDDLE::HTAYLORCat lovers are a special breedWed Jan 27 1988 08:565
    mark,
    
    Where are you located?  I know of a barn that may need another cat.
    
    Holly
1066.3Shelter in FraminghamMANANA::FISCHERWed Jan 27 1988 12:2315
    Mark,
    
    According to your ELF registration, you work in Littleton.  If you
    don't live too far from Framingham, you could take Alice there,
    where there is a no-kill shelter.  There is some information about
    this shelter in FELINE, and I am sure someone could point you to
    the notes.
    
    I don't know of any other no-kill shelters in our area.  Could some-
    one enter a reply indicating whether and where there are any?
    
    Thank you.
    
    Cindy
         
1066.4SterlingDISSRV::HTAYLORCat lovers are a special breedWed Jan 27 1988 12:524
    the Sterling Animal shelter is also a no kill shelter.  I would
    rather see Alice go to a shelter than to a Barn, anyway.
    
    Holly
1066.5Sterling Animal Shelter - Just off Rt 190DISSRV::GERRYGo ahead, make me PURRR...Wed Jan 27 1988 13:0216
    I second the Sterling Animal Shelter.  
    
    They do charge you a small fee to leave the cat, $30. more or less
    I think dependent on if the cat is fixed or not.
    
    The cats there are treated wonderfully.  They are clean and well
    cared for.  They are kept in cages for a couple of days while they
    acclimate themselves, then are free to roam around a large room
    filled with toys, sleeping spaces etc.  The dogs and other animals
    are kept separately.
    
    Please take the cat to the shelter.....PLEASE!!!
    
    purrs
    cin
    
1066.6Pepperel Animal ShelterHPSCAD::KNEWTONWed Jan 27 1988 13:096
    The Pepperal Animal Shelter is also a no-kill shelter.  When I had
    to leave my kitty there it cost $25.00.  The $25.00, I believe is
    a donation which you're required to pay.  I am sure, though, that
    you could write it off on your taxes as a donation.
    
    Kathy
1066.7NO,NOAIMHI::OFFENWed Jan 27 1988 15:057
    Please don't just take her in to have her put to sleep.  You have
    had Alice for a while and if she has been taking pieces out of you
    humans this long, you must have patience and tolerance.  Just have
    a little more and bring her to a no-kill shelter.
    
    Sandi
    
1066.8Alice will be spared!NETMAN::SEGERthis space intentionally left blankWed Jan 27 1988 15:5315
Thanks for all the replies.  I will be more than happy to take Alice to a 
no-kill shelter.  I had no idea they even existed!  Just out of curiosity,
if Alice is not suitable for a pet (which believe me, she isn't), does that
mean they'll simply keep here forever?

an earlier note asked my where I live - I'm in Harvard, Mass.

re: her better off in a shelter than a barn - I think she'd be thrilled to be
in a barn and have fresh meat every day.  in the summers she spends HOURS just
waiting for a mouse, mole, squirrel, etc.

I'm really glad I put this note in here so that I can at least find a home for
her.

-mark
1066.9CIRCUS::KOLLINGKaren, Sweetie, Holly; in Calif.Wed Jan 27 1988 16:109
    Re: .8
    
    A no-kill shelter I know about (in Chicago) will keep an "unadoptable"
    cat forever.  It isn't clear Alice is unsuitable as a pet, however.
    She might have some medical problem that's making her irritable,
    and so forth, and she's probably very insecure given the current
    state of things.  Somewhere back in this file is a note full of stories
    about "unadoptable" cats who turned into wonderful pusses.
    
1066.10barns29067::M_HOEPNERWed Jan 27 1988 17:066
    Being a barn cat is not the worst thing that can happen to a cat.
    Over the years I've had MANY barn cats.  They were cared for better
    than a lot of children.  I know many people with barn cats that
    are vaccinated, fed well, cared for ...
    
    Mary Jo and Sarah-barn-cat-every-chance-she-gets
1066.11there is no such thing as a NOKILL shelter!NETMAN::SEGERthis space intentionally left blankThu Jan 28 1988 12:1119
I hate to burst any one's bubbles, but I just called the Sterling Shelter and
was told there is no such thing as a no kill shelter!  Quite frankly I wasn't
surprises.

What they told me is that for a $35 donation there will at least try to place
Alice and will use that money to feed and care for her BUT when the money runs
out (which only takes 2-3 weeks), they will call me and see if I want to donate
some more to keep her fed, kind of like a nursing home.  If not, they'll have 
her put to sleep.

I was also told that they will not take pets that they don't feel are adoptable.
Although Alice can be quite ferocious, she can also be quite gentle when SHE
wants to be.

So, my plans are to keep looking over the next couple of days and I will at 
least send her to such a shelter to at least give her a chance, but I'm not
about to spend an average of $15/week forever...

-mark
1066.12Happy barn catsROLL::PARSONSThu Jan 28 1988 12:2821
    
    	re.10
    
    	I agree, we have 2 barn cats and 8 house cats. The barn cats
    seem to be very happy one is an excellent hunter. During this cold
    weather we have a heat lamp on with a wooden box with hay in it
    under the lamp and they curl up in there and feel nice and warm.
    I have to admit though that I enjoy the house cats better, because
    I can be with them more, but I don't think the barn cats would like
    it in the house.
    	
    	A word of caution on the shelters, I believe it is the Pepperal
    one that I went to once we had a stray cat that was fighting with
    our barn cats. So we took him to the shelter in Pepperal, they said
    that they didn't keep older cats very long and did put them to sleep
    We left the cat and got half-way home and went back to get him,
    as we didn't feel anyone would want an older male cat that looked
    like he'd been quite a few fights. Good luck I hope Alice finds
    a home!
    
    	Becky
1066.13CIRCUS::KOLLINGKaren, Sweetie, Holly; in Calif.Thu Jan 28 1988 14:367
    Re: .11
    
    There _are_ no-kill shelters.  The Tree House Animal Shelter in
    Chicago is one such.  Once they accept a cat, it is guaranteed care
    unless it is beyond help medically.
    
1066.14Can you wait till Monday for an Answer?AIMHI::UPTONThu Jan 28 1988 15:3515
    
    
    	Can you keep Alice till Monday?  I might have someone who offered
    to take a friends cat to use as a Barn Cat, but the particular cat
    I wanted to give away was a indoor only cat.  The problem is the
    folks who might take the cat are away till Monday and I can't contact
    them.  Please give us time to find Alice a home.  These folks live
    in Fitchburg so it might work out for you both.
    
    	Will reply Monday wih a definie yes or no.....
    
    	Until then
    
    	Dee
    
1066.15spayed?AIMHI::UPTONThu Jan 28 1988 15:559
    
    	RE: 14
    
    	I DID contact the people who are interested in Alice, they
    have one question - has she been spayed?  If NOT they are not
    interested if YES - she's got a home.  Please reply....
    
    	-dee
    
1066.17NETMAN::SEGERthis space intentionally left blankFri Jan 29 1988 08:2015
Alice is indeed spayed, or at least that's what we think.  When we first got her
several years ago we talked to our neighbor (who runs the animal shelter in
Harvard and no, she can't take Alice due to overcrowding).  She kept Alice for 
a couple of weeks when we went away on vacation and she felt that since none of
her cats showed any interest that she MUST be spayed.  She also felt that 
although we could get her spayed again (sort of), it wasn't fair to the car to
go through the unnecessary surgery, so we left her as is.  She hasn't gotten
pregnant in the last 2-1/2 years, so I assume all is kosher.

Re: -2

I'll be glad to keep her a little longer and I'll send you some mail to work out
the logistics..

-mark
1066.18HORRAY!!DISSRV::HTAYLORCat lovers are a special breedFri Jan 29 1988 08:244
    HORRAY!!!!!  It looks like Alice may have a home because of her
    wonderful feline friends!!
    
    Holly
1066.19It's a GO!AIMHI::UPTONFri Jan 29 1988 09:4014
    
    
    	Well Feline Friends - we got Alice a home.  Mark will take
    her tomorrow to her new home (Barn) in Fitchburg.  
    
    	I can't believe the personal mail I got offering money to
    have her spayed if she was not.  You folks are too much.
    
    	Well.....we did it AGAIN!
    
    	Gosh - this makes my week!
    
    	-Dee
    
1066.20CIRCUS::KOLLINGKaren, Sweetie, Holly; in Calif.Fri Jan 29 1988 13:472
    Hurray for Alice and her friends and a big thank you to Mark for
    hanging in there until she had a good place to go.
1066.21off to Fitchburg!NETMAN::SEGERthis space intentionally left blankFri Jan 29 1988 16:485
I'm bringing her to her new home tomorrow.  It's a farm in Fitchburg and there's
already another cat there for her to make pals with.  I'll let you know how it
works out...

-mark
1066.22the journey's endNETMAN::SEGERthis space intentionally left blankMon Feb 01 1988 08:167
Well, I delivered Alice on Saturday.  We brought her down to the barn and 
although she didn't want to get out of her box at first, once she did she went
off exploring and I haven't seen her since.

So it looks like another happy ending.  Thanks to everyone...

-mark
1066.23worrywartCIRCUS::KOLLINGKaren, Sweetie, Holly; in Calif.Mon Feb 01 1988 22:034
    Dee, could we have an update on Alice from her new folks?  I have
    the small worry that she just wandered off completely lost when
    she was released at the barn....
    
1066.24Alice is O.K.AIMHI::UPTONTue Feb 02 1988 10:0319
    
    
    	Karen-
    
    	I spoke to the new owners and Alice was doing good so far.
    	She bolted out of the barn (why he didn't lock her in there
    	for the day I don't know).  But she has come back and is
    	eating.  I'm sure for Alice it is very traumatic, but hopefully
    	in time she will adjust.  The "other" cat that lives at the
    	barn did not seem upset with having her there.
    
    	I know it is not the most ideal situation, but it was the only
    	alternative at the time.  Well let you know if anything new
    	happens.
    
    	Thanks for caring to ask.
    
    	-Dee
    
1066.25Bravo!WLDWST::WASHEnjoying the experienceWed Feb 03 1988 08:4410
    I've really enjoyed reading thru the chronology of this topic;
    congratulations and appreciation to all of you who contributed
    to Mark's solution - especially you, Dee. It is great "witnessing"
    such concerted effort to bring continued good life to one of our
    feline friends - makes this conference all the more worthwhile.
    
    As for Alice - knowing the adaptable nature of cats - she is probably
    just out there continuing her adventure in Wonderland.
    
                                                         Marvin