Dumped cats and kittens! What to do?!

[bock]

We were coming back from my FFA meeting, and we saw 2 young adult cats on the side of the off-ramp to the freeway. I thought they must be feral, since they ran off really fast when I opened the door. We drove a little ways farther, and there was an entire litter if 7(ish) week old kittens and an adult calico and an adult back and white cat. The adults ran into the bushes, but the kittens scattered. My mom and I spent 20 minutes trying to catch the kittens with no luck. They were hiding in bushes, climbing trees, and eventually they all ran onto the other side of the bard wire fence. Not to mention we were on a very steep hill with glass and thorns. They would crouch down, and let us get about a foot away before running. They were hissing, and neither of us felt liked being bitten and scratched. When we went back to the car, I noticed a large box wrapped in a plastic bag. I looked inside and there was a duffel bag inside of the box. I was scared there would be dead cats inside, I didn't have the guts to look. It didn't smell like decay....more like old fast food.

I am SO MAD at the idiots who dumped these poor animals. I don't even know how to help them!We are going to call the pound tomorrow, but would hate for them to be put down. We might try the no-kill shelter. I don't even know if they will come, and they don't seem very tame. But they are young, food is they key to trust!

We have raccoons, coyotes, cars, and a whole lot of other ways for them to die a horrible death. At least at the shelter they would be put down humanely...... My parents won't let us have anymore cats, we already have 3 rescued house cats. We could spay and neuter them and vaccinate, and have some barn cats. The thing is, the coyotes and mountain lions would pick them off pretty fast. Which is not fair to them at all. Any suggestions? Maybe animal control will catch them and let us foster them????? I don't think my dad would like that idea. I just want to help them!

 

[debilorrah]

I am with you on hating people that do that. They could just as easily take them to a shelter. I will never understand what motivates a person to drive out of their way to leave an animal with no way for nourishment.

I would call animal control and let them do what they do best. Poor kitties.

Odd dump story of the month: Someone dumped two cat carriers with two full grown bengal cats inside on my friends mothers porch.

First off, they left the carriers on her front porch. Carriers. That cost About $30 on a good sale. With TWO bengal cats inside. Bengals??? What were they NUTS?? She has them posted on CL for sale. At a really good price of $200 for the two.

 

[LiLRedCV]

Irresponsible pet owners just seriously tick me off

Since we live out in the country too, we get a lot of cat and dog dumps as well - usually pregnant. Idiots that used to own them think they're better off out here than in a shelter. What those idiots don't realize is that their animal dumps are not only bad for the animals, but for us country folk as well!

None of us out here can afford to take in all those dumps.. (but, but, but ALL of you "farmers" need another farm cat, right? Or another farm dog, right??) and all of us combined only have X=amount of friends to fob them off on... sooner or later, those dumps start starving and then they start attacking the livestock and may end up shot over it or they're eaten themselves because of the predators running wild also looking for food and they're easy targets.

Irresponsible pet owners deserved to be

 

[bock]

I agree.

How could someone be that heartless? It's horrible! If we had just gotten back a few minutes earlier, they would have heard a thing or two from me.

I am going to try and find some more no-kill shelters around us that might try to trap them. I will call tomorrow. If only I had had a net, I would have at least the 5 kittens that were closest safe and sound right now! There was one orange and white, one long-haired black and white, two short hair black and white, and one tabby. I am pretty sure there where others, but it was very chaotic.

Just a few months ago, I was wondering why we never found any animals around here. Well, since school has started, I have seen around 10 lost/stray dogs, 1 dead dog that got hit by a car yesterday, today I saw a dead siamese cat on the side of the road, one cat that almost got hit by a bus this morning, one yellow lab that runs around by our house (he has visited twice and completely torn up our front yard), and our neighbor's cats (that they claim they don't own until you threaten to take them to the shelter) are eyeballing our chickens again. Oh yeah, and when I run cross country, this chihuahua always follows us and almost gets hit by every car that drives by. And the owners yell at you if you try to return their dog!!!Holy cow! I don't know if I can take it much longer, it's nerve wracking trying to protect all these animals. It's a full-time job for sure. I cannot believe how irresponsible people can be. I am ashamed to be called a human at times. But you can't forget all the people who do truly try to help.

Anyways, off to find some local rescues. Wish me luck!

 

[bock]

I found a few rescues just from searching Petfinder. Many are low-kill, and 1 or 2 is no-kill. I am praying that they would be so kind as to come try to catch the cats for us. Our last resort is going to be the local shelter. 80% of the cats that go in never come out. Sad statistics there. That's where we rescued Bella from, VERY cramped and overcrowded. I think they are just euthenizing the cats as they come in, unless their numbers have gone down.

Debiraymond, that is crazy that someone would drop off two bengals like that. I just don't get it.

 

[drdoolittle]

If the low-kill and no-kill shelters won't go out and trap the cats, the regular local shelter should have live-traps they will let you borrow or rent so you can trap the cats. They just don't have the man-power to go out after all the animals running loose.

As for why peaople dump their animals-----lots of people think it's kinder to dump an animal than to take it to a shelter where they think it won't have a chance. Some people are still so ignorant that they think a housepet can survive out in the wild on it's own and therefore has a better chance at life than if it was at a shelter. Also, there are those who don't want to take an animal to a shelter because they think the workers there will look down on themfor surrendering theor animals. And there are tose who just plain don't care and find it's the easiest andquickest way to get rid of unwanted animals.

I hope you have luck trapping the cats----it's very sad.

 

[featherfinder]

One of my cats was a rescue. Sweetest thing you would ever meet to! Him and his litter mates we left in a box (with no holes or food) in the rain to die and they were only 3 days old! I was so sad when i heard his story and adopted him. He never bit or scratched anyone his whole life! I think he was very greatful.


I dont understand how people and be so cruel to and animal that needs its help like that. If they didnt want kittens then they should of had their cats fixed.

 

[LiLRedCV]

Every cat we've had - except two - in the past 26yrs has been a rescue. We've almost always had at least two cats at all times - one passes, we get another. We don't always choose kittens and we keep them until they pass away from natural causes. Whatever 4 legged critter we do get is ALWAYS spayed or neutered - if it wasn't done before we got them, we take them in as soon as their health or age warrants it. We just don't contribute to the unwanted pet category and we darn sure don't shirk our responsibilities towards them either!

Always makes me

when someone out there tells me they're going to let their dog or cat have "just one litter" because some old wives tale says it'll make them a better family pet or they see $$$ signs in their eyes!

NONE of my pets have had babies and they're ALL great family pets!!

 

[Kaitie09]

All of mine are rescues too. Most of them were found by me at 3 weeks or younger. I tend to take in and foster orphaned litters too. Luckily I have a lot of family members and they have friends, and everyone is will to take a cat.

We are lucky that we can have outdoor cats, or we would not have as many. There are some racoons and possums, but nothing other than that. We get all the fosters spayed and neutered before they leave for their new homes too, along with their first rabies vaccine. The local shelter has really great deals for the package ($20 for male, $30 for female).

Our outdoor cats have it made too. We have an 6x8 shed dedicated for them, with heated beds, food, water, and blankets.

 

[bock]

I think I am starting to see why theses people might have dumped them. Our local animal shelter has a 3 month waiting list, and it costs $20 per surrendered cat. The woman who works at the shelter in the next county over can't do anything, but was very angry that our local shelter was not willing to help at all. The low-kill non profit place can't do anything b/c they are in the next county, and the no-kill place will not answer our calls.

Our only option at this point would be to tap and tame them ourselves, then try to give them away to good homes.

However, we drove by today and didn't see any cats there. I really wanted to stop and get out, but there is no shoulder on that section of the road. We could have parked farther down and walked, but my dad wants nothing to do with them. I don't know if there is anything I can do at this point. They probably moved into the fenced off property behind where we were last night. Unless I see them again, I guess they really are on their own.

I just wish I could have caught at least one last night, my hand was literally inches away from the one in the tree. It's a shame really. If only this had happened on a weekend, I would have been searching all day.

Well, thanks for the help everyone. I will try to go look later, I want to help them so badly!