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- The Kitty Sheet - Issue #5
The Kitty Sheet - Issue #5
Dear fellow kitty lovers, early giving is underway ahead of North Texas Giving Day later this month! You can help nonprofits get a jump start on their donation goals - links below! This week we also share some TNR guidance for community kitties to help them live their best, healthiest lives! YES. TNR (trap-neuter-return) can be daunting for first-timers, TKS knows this first-hand!!! But it is WORTH IT. In News, we share a victory in Alley Cat Allies’ legal effort to save community cats in Puerto Rico plus the most POPULAR cat names in America! And don’t miss the Cat Talk Radio podcast! Molly DeVoss welcomes Dr. Valarie Tynes, a SPCA of Texas veterinarian, to talk about the important topic of Feline Behavior Drugs.
As always, thank you for reading and sharing The Kitty Sheet!
-TKS
BIG news from Alley Cat Allies (ACA) and its fight to save community cats in Puerto Rico! ACA has won a victory in its ongoing legal action against the United States National Park Service (NPS) and NPS has agreed to stop movement on its plan to remove on the historic site starting October 1. But the cats are safe only through 2024. Read the full story here!
Early Giving is underway for North Texas Giving Day September 19th! Please consider donating to a nonprofit kitty rescue to support their efforts! In this financially challenging time for many it is critical they receive your support. Visit the North Texas Giving Day website. See our section below for quick links!
NORTH TEXAS EVENT: ARLINGTON, TX Residents ONLY! Arlington Animal Services and Operation Kindness are offering Free VET Services for the first 50 Community, unowned cats on Sept. 16th! READ THIS FOR the SPECIFIC guidelines for this event!
A 2024 Lending Tree Pet Debt Report finds alarming stats when it comes to how the economy is impacting pet lives and pet ownership.
NORTH TEXAS EVENT: Many pet owners are struggling to feed their pets in these economic times. The FLEAS (Friends of Little Elm Animal Shelter) Little Elm Area Food Bank is holding a Stock The Pantry Party on September 15th! Get all the details on FLEAS Facebook page here!
Wondering what the most popular kitty names are? U.S. News and World Report shares the Top 25 most popular kitty names in America!
The threat of bird flu is growing for both domestic indoor and outdoor cats as more cats test positive. The Scientific American shares the latest: Bird Flu Is Infecting Pet Cats - Here’s What You Need To Know.
Kitties are experts at masking their pain! Read these 10 Pet Health Signs You Should Never Ignore from the American Animal Hospital Association.
In case you missed it! Check out CatTalkRadio’s webinar recording: How to Extend Your Cats Life and Potentially Reduce Vet Bills! Watch the YouTube video.
You can make a difference! Help save kitties by donating to these nonprofits dedicated to helping kitties in need!! Here are some quick links to their North Texas Giving Day pages! Every 💵 dollar counts!
Garland Animal Services/Facebook.
Here’s a program to get excited about! The Garland Animal Shelter recently launched a food bank dedicated to supporting the city’s amazing community cat caretakers! Garland residents will need to register to take part in the program. See the FB post here. You must register to participate. For the registration form click here.
There are many topics to tackle when discussing best practices for caring for outdoor community kitties. Here we highlight TNR. Those three letters are super important to giving outdoor kitties the healthiest, best life possible. TNR stands for Trap-Neuter-Return. This usually includes a rabies shot, ear tip, and TKS recommends getting the FVCRP vaccine as well. TKS also agrees with the Stray Cat Project which advocates for microchipping since it could save a kitty from euthanasia if taken to a local shelter.
For first-timers, TNR is daunting! We know it because we have been there! It gets easier! It is exhausting, we won't lie - BUT providing compassionate care to community cats in this way changes lives and is worth it! YOU WILL NEVER REGRET the time spent. Low-cost vet care is possible. YOU can do it!
As explained on Alley Cat Allies’ website: Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is the only humane and effective approach to community cats, or unowned cats who live outdoors.
Here’s are the basics:
1. TRAP: Humanely trap community cats in box traps lined with newspaper, cardboard, or vent covers.
2. NEUTER (or spay): Take the cats in their traps to a veterinarian or clinic to be neutered, vaccinated, eartipped, and microchipped with their caregiver or TNR advocate information.
3. RETURN: After the cats recover, return them to their outdoor home where they were trapped.
ACA says ALL TNR should include:
1. Vaccination
2. Eartipping
3. Microchipping
National TNR / Community Cat Resources
Looking for hands-on assistance with Trap-Neuter-Return, veterinary services like spaying and neutering, or other local help? The Alley Cat Allies Feral Friends Network is comprised of individuals and organizations across the country and around the world. You’ll find the contact form here.
North Texas TNR /Community Cat Resources:
Some local resources for TNR guidance if you live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. This does not include any city-run TNR programs which may be available. Please check with your local shelter or animal service regarding any programs that might be available.
☑️ NOTE: ARLINGTON, TX Residents ONLY! Arlington Animal Services and Operation Kindness are offering Free VET Services for the first 50 Community, unowned cats on Sept. 16th! READ the event guidelines here!
TKS Trap Picks
In many cases you can find someone to loan you a trap, and even borrow one from your city's animal services. If you buy one, The Kitty Sheet recommends these:
Tomahawk Transfer Cage & TruCatch trap.
Best Trap: TruCatch - This one is revered by trappers everywhere as the best! There are various sizes and you can also purchase on Amazon.
Tomahawk Neighborhood Drop Trap
Best Drop Trap - Tomahawk - This is a great for hard to catch kitties! We definitely recommend buying the trap and transfer cage bundled together, because you need both!
Our special thanks to esteemed Certified Feline Training and Behaviorist Molly DeVoss of Cat Behavior Solutions for allowing us to share her super informative Cat Talk Radio podcasts with you each week!
Molly also has recently introduced an AMAZING program for shelter cats called Feline Right At Home in partnership with Vitakraft. It’s a FREE training program for shelter staff and volunteers to help scared, stressed and fearful cats become more trusting and more adoptable. Learn more in this YouTube Video.
✅ Shelters should visit Feline Right At Home to learn more and apply!
In this week’s episode, Molly is joined by Dr. Valarie Tynes, a SPCA of Texas veterinarian with a specialty in behavior, to talk about commonly prescribed medications for cat behavior issues. Which drugs are better for aggression from stress, and which are better for spraying? Get an understanding of why your veterinarian is prescribing behavior meds and learn how drug therapy might work well hand-in-hand with a behavior modification plan. Tune in below: ⬇️
✅ Subscribe to the Cat Behavior Solutions - Cat Talk Radio YT Channel!
✅ Follow Cat Behavior Solutions - Cat Talk Radio on Facebook!
About Molly DeVoss
Molly has spent decades helping cats who are suffering in shelters. Her vision is to reduce the number of cats euthanized in shelters through positive reinforcement and behavior modification so fearful cats become more adoptable. She sat on the Dallas Animal Advisory Commission for eight years, and works with the cats at Albuquerque Animal Welfare, Dallas Animal Services, Santa Fe Humane Society, Felines & Friends New Mexico, and individuals seeking cat behavior guidance.
The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) reminds us that September is Animal Pain Awareness Month. Cats are masters at hiding their pain because it shows a weakness that would make them vulnerable to predators.
Resources:
Guidance from the AAFP: How Do I Know If My Cat Is In Pain? And a wonderful PDF of signs!
The Spuce Pets:18 Warning Signs That Your Cat Is Crying for Help.
10 Pet Health Signs You Should Never Ignore from the American Animal Hospital Association.
Rocky, FIV+, crossed the rainbow bridge in February 2024.
💔 Our hearts go out to this FIV+ kitty recently posted by Buddies Place Cat Rescue. Per the Buddies Place post: “This is a picture of neglect but Mango is no longer neglected. A foster opened her home to him this week and he is showing how grateful he is to her by turning on the purrs and climbing in her lap for love. He was taken to our vet and he is not neutered, has scabies, FIV and heart worms.”
Mango.
We are so thankful to Buddies Place for helping Mango! 🙏 In honor of Rocky, we hope you’ll consider donating towards Mango’s care. Contact Buddies Place Cat Rescue here.
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Meet ACE! “Ace is the absolute sweetest boy you will ever meet. He purrs as soon as you look at him and wants lots of love and petting. His ears make him even more adorable if that's possible. His nickname is Curly because of his curly ear. He is dreaming of a forever home and is a perfect gentleman in the litter box.” Apply to adopt at Maricats.com or on Adopt-A-Pet.
Maxwell is a one-year old chocolate brown and white tabby. “He is so loving and attentive with his foster family and he adores their company and attention.” Home visits are available. Also, you can foster to adopt! Contact Feral Friends Community Cat Alliance for info about this handsome boy!
Jay is one handsome tuxedo kitten! He just finished his vaccinations and neuter surgery and is ready for a permanent home. Check out his FB post here and email [email protected] for an application or to meet him!
Say Hi to Poppy, a beautiful brown striped tabby! “She is a happy, healthy kitten who has been in a foster home since she was 4 weeks old! She loves playing with her siblings and the toys around her. Poppy is curious and affectionate. She will do best in a home with another active cat she can be buddies with!”. For more info contact Allie’s Animal Haven.
