Cory, mainly
And then there’s Cory (short for Coriander), the former trap-neuter-release (TNR) candidate. We noticed that there are scrawny cats outside our apartment complex. We thought that the least we could do was to gain their trust, grab them and have them neutered before returning them to where we found them. The rationale for this is that the learnt adaptive behaviour of feral cats make them unlikely candidates for adoption. They have learnt to be afraid of humans and often never get over this fear, not allowing themselves to be touched and hence make poor pets (or “companion animals”, if you prefer the PC term). Also, feral cats help to keep the population of rats and other vermin down in their territories and so perform a public service.
For the past three weeks or so, Gravitas has been leaving cat food out as he gets home from work in the evenings. After about a week, he noticed that a cat had started to wait for him for the handouts. This cat would meow loudly upon seeing him and would follow him to the usual spot where the food is placed. Where previously the cat would eat the food only after Gravitas had left, it soon started eating whilst he was still around and Gravitas noticed that it had bloody discharge from its eyes. After a few days the cat allowed Gravitas to touch it. We named him Cory. Then Cory started following us home. That probably sealed the deal where Gravitas was concerned. Cory was to be our cat too.
So last Saturday morning (by then Gravitas had started feedng Cory twice a day), after meeting at the usual place and time, Gravitas grabbed Cory and stuffed him into a cat carrier and away we went to the vet. Cory howled indignantly the whole way, showing me a mouth with some teeth missing. The vet diagnosed him with cat influenza. He has to be isolated from the other cats whilst he recovers. Its been a challenge giving him his meds (eye drops, antibiotics, phelgm solvent) and we’ve got the scratches to prove it.
When Cory and Saffron recover from their respective ailments we’ll be bringing then back to the vet for their vaccine shots. When they complete their course of shots, it’ll be the big snip-snip for them for these are the cardinal rules of responsible pet ownership - neutering your pet, and vaccinating them against preventable diseases.
We know we can’t take in all the stray cats and dogs in the neighbourhood (nor do we intend to try) and animal sanctuaries (whether with or without a no-kill policy) can only take in so many animals themselves, due to limitations in resources. This is where you, gentle reader, come in. Please neuter your pets to prevent unwanted strays. You may think that your pet is a male, and unwanted strays are not your problem but strays are our whole society’s problem. It costs public money to round up and dispose of strays, strays carry diseases, and we occasionally hear of stray dogs attacking passers-by. All of us have to play our part. A male animal only needs a single encounter with a female in heat (and males are prone to escaping from their owners’ homes during the mating season) to produce a whole litter of unwated babies. I’ve also heard of female, supposedly house-bound pets who surprise their owners with litters.
Secondly, adopt a rescued animal. They may not have the snob appeal of pedigrees but they do make excellent pets, and you’ll help by being a part of the solution.
For the past three weeks or so, Gravitas has been leaving cat food out as he gets home from work in the evenings. After about a week, he noticed that a cat had started to wait for him for the handouts. This cat would meow loudly upon seeing him and would follow him to the usual spot where the food is placed. Where previously the cat would eat the food only after Gravitas had left, it soon started eating whilst he was still around and Gravitas noticed that it had bloody discharge from its eyes. After a few days the cat allowed Gravitas to touch it. We named him Cory. Then Cory started following us home. That probably sealed the deal where Gravitas was concerned. Cory was to be our cat too.
So last Saturday morning (by then Gravitas had started feedng Cory twice a day), after meeting at the usual place and time, Gravitas grabbed Cory and stuffed him into a cat carrier and away we went to the vet. Cory howled indignantly the whole way, showing me a mouth with some teeth missing. The vet diagnosed him with cat influenza. He has to be isolated from the other cats whilst he recovers. Its been a challenge giving him his meds (eye drops, antibiotics, phelgm solvent) and we’ve got the scratches to prove it.
When Cory and Saffron recover from their respective ailments we’ll be bringing then back to the vet for their vaccine shots. When they complete their course of shots, it’ll be the big snip-snip for them for these are the cardinal rules of responsible pet ownership - neutering your pet, and vaccinating them against preventable diseases.
We know we can’t take in all the stray cats and dogs in the neighbourhood (nor do we intend to try) and animal sanctuaries (whether with or without a no-kill policy) can only take in so many animals themselves, due to limitations in resources. This is where you, gentle reader, come in. Please neuter your pets to prevent unwanted strays. You may think that your pet is a male, and unwanted strays are not your problem but strays are our whole society’s problem. It costs public money to round up and dispose of strays, strays carry diseases, and we occasionally hear of stray dogs attacking passers-by. All of us have to play our part. A male animal only needs a single encounter with a female in heat (and males are prone to escaping from their owners’ homes during the mating season) to produce a whole litter of unwated babies. I’ve also heard of female, supposedly house-bound pets who surprise their owners with litters.
Secondly, adopt a rescued animal. They may not have the snob appeal of pedigrees but they do make excellent pets, and you’ll help by being a part of the solution.
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