Monday, October 27, 2014



Blog 10/20/14 to 10/26/14     

Relocations and In Take
Our Cats after Release
Bad Calls/Emails:   Name Droppers
BMG (Bitch/Moan/Groan):  Samsung Washer
OMG (Oh My God):  Texas Country Reporter Festival
  
Relocations and In Take:   Placed 25 this week with intake at 11.       
3          Adoption Groups (Derrick, Rocky, Patches)
3          Barn in Gunter (Lucky, Jody, Cody)
3          Garage in Melissa (Carmen, Edward, Genie)  
11        Bonham Rescue
5          Cameron Rescue

Our Cats after Release:  Picked up equipment in 1 location this week.
1.      Melissa:  Well – not really because they wanted additional cats.  So Carmen, Edward, and Genie went to the same garage in Melissa as Linda and Elaine. 

Bad Calls/EMAILS:  Name Droppers 
Don’t you love the folks that think you will get better service if they mention they know the director of another group – or the President of the US – or something?  NO — at least not here!  When I am out of cages, then that is it until others are placed.  I have no control over the barn calls.  The other thing that is so funny is “I can buy you additional cages” – OK – then put them up in your family room – mine is full!  Sorry – you can know GOD and it will not help you here!  But if you do know GOD, then ask that people me more caring and get all their cats and dogs spayed and neutered then we would not have this problem. 
   
BMG:  Samsung Washer
1 ½ years ago, I purchased a high-end clothes washer from Sears.  It cleans laundry, does windows, and even makes dinner…just kidding…wish it would just WASH THE CLOTHES!  For the last year it would DC (get off balance) on almost every load.  They changed out the motor, 2 sets of sensors, the control panel, 4 corner balancers, and finally the whole tub assembly.  Still it was “off balance” over and over and over.  Sears declared it a LEMON this week and has allowed me $1,000 to get a different washer at Sears.  Eventually those service contracts pay off.  I got a new washer for only $37.  YEAH!  Hope this one lasts!

OMG:  Texas Country Reporter Festival, Waxahachie, TX
I spent all day Saturday sitting under a tent on the square in Waxahachie.  I talked to a lot of people about spay/neuter, coyote control, barn cats, feral cats in general, and spay/neuter clinics.  If was a good day but LONG!   I arrived at 7 am and left about 6:30 pm.  Below is a picture of the court house and the Barn Cat Booth set up.  I was pretty BRAIN DEAD after that long day.  




 “Thanks” for following the Barn Cats Blog.  See you all next week.          Peg

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Blog 10/13/14 to 10/19/14     

Relocations and In Take
Our Cats after Release
Bad Calls/Emails:   Nasty Property Owner in Arlington
BMG (Bitch/Moan/Groan):  Siamese Rescue MOVED to Denison     
OMG (Oh My God):  Cat Loose in the Van
      
Relocations and In Take:   Placed 18 this week with intake at 6.       
4          Barn in Van Alstyne (Bear, Scooter, Hudson, Victor)
1          Barn in Parker (Megan)
2          Workshop in Princeton (Ginger, Big Gray Boy)
1          Barn in Ponder (Shaggy)
2          Backyard in Frisco (Noodle, Macaroni)
8          Bonham Rescue

Our Cats after Release:  Picked up equipment in 2 locations this week.
1.      Denton:  This barn in Denton is on the property of a group home.  Stacy, Mirna, and Turtle were placed here.  The area is even heated in the winter because one of their goats has a heart condition.  Turtle has attached herself to one of the employees and is now living inside the office.  GOOD JOB TURTLE!   Stacy and Mirna are still in the barn.         
2.      Parker:  Grace and Greta were placed in this barn.  One is still there – not sure which one because they looked alike.  The barn owner asked for one additional cat so Megan was placed there on Thursday. 

Bad Calls/EMAILS:  Nasty Property Owner in Arlington
I received calls from 3 rescue folks and one email.  It appears that a cat was dumped on a business and then had kittens.  They are now about 6 months old.  The owner will not let them go into the back area to trap so they are not really sure if they can catch them.  He wants them GONE and is treating to poison them but will not work with the rescue ladies to get them removed.  Well, we all know there is a certain section of the population that hate cats.  It is not logical so you cannot argue with them – they just hate cats!   GOOD LUCK – we can take them after capture and vetting.     
   
BMG:  Siamese Rescue MOVED to Denison    
I have not called them yet…but that will be coming.  How can you expect someone who wants to adopt from you to travel to Denison (between Sherman and Oklahoma) to look at cats?  How can you expect volunteers to pick up Siamese cats abandoned in a kill shelter in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and then drive an hour or more to bring it to you?  The property in Corinth is up for sale or rent.  They had some electrical concerns last Fall and I paid a contractor to fix those problems.  If they were renting, why didn’t the OWNER fix those problems?  I have many unanswered questions about this situation – more in a future blog, I guess.   

OMG:  Cat Loose in the Van
Shaggy is a 5 year old black cat who came to Barn Cats from Pottsboro.  I packed Shaggy up to travel to his new barn home and started off for Ponder.  I hear something bumping around in the back but just thought I had left something not secured.  BUT – then Shaggy was in the passenger seat looking out the side window!   The good news here is two-fold:  He is friendly and I was not far from home.  I turned the van around and Nancy helped me get him into a larger, more secure carrier.  That first carrier is now in the recycle bin!  I wonder if he will try and break out of the cage at the barn – we shall see.     

“Thanks” for following the Barn Cats Blog.  See you all next week.          Peg

Wednesday, October 15, 2014


 Blog 10/06/14 to 10/12/14     


Relocations and In Take
Our Cats after Release
September Closeout
Bad Calls/Emails:   Always use a Cat Carrier
BMG (Bitch/Moan/Groan):  We Cannot Help Everyone   
OMG (Oh My God):  Cat House at a Church – WHAT?
    
Relocations and In Take:   Placed 21 this week with intake at 15.       
2          Barn in Richland (Thomas, Oriele)
2          Barn in Melissa (Linda, Elaine)
1          Workshop in Blue Ridge (Randy)
1          Barn/Backyard in Aubrey (Nell)
2          Brick Shed with Windows in Wichita Falls (Mittens, Pickles)
2          Garage in Ennis (Mama, Miss Kitty)
9          Church in Flower Mound (all from same colony)
2          Bonham Rescue

Our Cats after Release:  Picked up equipment in 2 locations this week.
1.      Sherman:  Rebecca, Elena, John Ross, Bobby, and Christopher are mostly hiding above the tack room but one was spotted when I came to pick up equipment.  BUT – he was headed UP to his safe place as you can tell. 
                       
2.      Palmer:  Jinx and Pipsqueak went to this barn in Palmer.  They are living the good life thanks to Carol.

3.      UPDATE -- Palmer:  Honey Bear, Soldier, Clyde, and Rascal were all discussed in last week’s blog.  BUT – I have received an update and I quote:  “Soldier is very happy in his new home.  He is gaining weight and loves hiding under the old wagon wheels in our garage.  He and his pals sometimes come check us out when we come to visit but most of the time they play hide and seek.  The other day, he even came to visit us on our back porch.  Soldier and his young comrades-in-arms are doing a fine job in the fight against the evil rodents.  We haven’t seen a single critter yet even through the weather has turned cooler.  Our home and barn are safe thanks to our new employees from Barn Cats!”  (picture of Soldier below)
 

September Closeout
We placed 94 in 8 North Texas counties:
            Collin               Denton            Fannin             Kraufman
            Dallas              Ellis                  Grayson           Smith

When I returned from vacation in early September, we had 21 barns waiting for cats.  So – we got after it and placed a BOAT LOAD in September.  This is 578 for 2014 at the end of the month.

Bad Calls/EMAILS:  Always Use a Cat Carrier
I guy had a cat problem and I told him to leave it at the vet we use for evaluation.  I think there was some problem with a leg…???  Anyway, he started walking out to his car with THE CAT IN HIS ARMS, something spooked it, and back under the shed it went.  Besides, you do not want a cat loose in your vehicle:  get loose when you get to the destination OR get stuck inside the dashboard OR get under your feet while you are driving – ALL BAD SITUATIONS!  If you don’t have a carrier, borrow one from a friend, relative, or neighbor or just purchase one at most Dollar Stores, pet stores, or WalMart. 
   
BMG:  Sorry – We cannot help everyone! 
I wish I could but we cannot help everyone who calls or emails with a feral cat situation/problem.  We fill openings as cats are placed but currently there every cage is full and there are 13 in my family room.  We get over-stocked sometimes just because of situations like hoarders.  Also, we try to take cats from KILL SHELTERS whenever we can just to give them a second chance.  I took cats from the Tri-City Shelter this week as well as Lewisville Animal Services.  Highland Village has one vetted for us and Flower Mound is holding 2 others.  SPAY NEUTER IS THE ANSWER!  If less are born, there are less to place. 

OMG:  Cat House at a Church – WHAT? 
In the middle of the summer, I received a request from a local Flower Mound church who wanted us to release some cats for rodent control.  About the same time, a young scout contacted the church looking for a project for his Eagle Scout designation.  It was a match made in heaven – HA HA!  The project took several months to complete…drawings, approvals, raise money for construction, build, and then populate with 9 cats from the same colony.  All of this was completed on Sunday afternoon, 10/12/14 when the Cat House was set up with rugs, beds, hidey boxes, feeder, waterer, and litter box.  The cats will be contained there for 2 weeks then released to roam the property and “take care of business”.  Thanks to Charlie. a former Barn Cat recipient, who provided direction to the scout and to Rhonda who trapped and held the 9 cats throughout the summer to keep them safe.  Now Crazy, Crooked Tail, Round Face, Yatzi, Domino, Lewis, Clark, Lucky and Smudge have a great enclosure and people to look after them.  LIVE LONG AND PROSPER!



“Thanks” for following the Barn Cats Blog.  See you all next week.          Peg

Sunday, October 5, 2014



Blog 09/29/14 to 10/05/14     

Relocations and In Take
Our Cats after Release
Bad Calls/Emails:   Phone Mail Boxes
BMG (Bitch/Moan/Groan):  Nope, Not Our Cats!    
OMG (Oh My God):  Our Cats at Bluebonnet Great Pyr Rescue
            
Relocations and In Take:   Placed 9 this week with intake at 4.       
2          Barn in Grapevine (Vicky, Molly)
2          Barn in Granbury (Skipper, Cry Baby)
2          Adoption Groups (Aaron, Earl)
3          Bonham Rescue

 
Skipper
 
Cry Baby

Our Cats after Release:  Picked up equipment in 1 location this week.
1.      Celina:  Moxie and Shelley were placed here.  Moxie hides in the bushes but Shelley is out and about…even sleeping with the dogs. 
  Shelley

2.      Palmer:  This barn took 4 semi-feral cats:  Honey Bear, Soldier, Clyde, and Rascal.  All are not leaving the barn/workshop EVEN with the doors wide open – GOOD!
3.      Trenton:  Coco and Percy were to this barn and are both doing well.  The barn owner levels out the dry food each evening and it is “disturbed” each night – so the kids are still around.  
4.      Justin:  Jackie, Flower, and Oreo were relo’ed to a barn in Justin.  They are having the “Good Kitty Life” as told by their new care giver, Lauren. 

 Flo

Otis (formerly Oreo)

5.      Whitewright:  Lucy, Pam, Ann, Izzy, and Ian went to this barn home.  I saw Ian and Izzy but not the girls.  One is showing herself but the other two are being illusive.  There are plenty of great places to hide!  Below is Izzy.
 


6.      Bartonville:  Tink and Petra (formerly Petey) went to this great neighborhood in Bartonville.  The barn owner has not spotted them but the food continues to disappear each night. 
7.      Italy:  Miss Ellie, Sue Ellen, and JR went to this barn/workshop.  JR is see regularly but not the girls.  But the family believes they are all still around.    
8.      Krugerville:  Jack is a “killing machine” in this barn/garage in Krugerville….also….he has worked his way into the house – GOOD BOY, JACK!  

Bad Calls/EMAILS:  Phone Mail Boxes
Why do people have FULL mail boxes or “The mail box on this phone has not been set up yet.”  If you have either of the above, YOU SHOULD NOT LEAVE MESSAGES FOR OTHER PEOPLE.  That puts the responsible on me to try and contact you – AND there is a certain part of the population that does not answer the phone IF THEY DO NOT RECOGNIZE the number calling.  OK – people leave Barn Cats messages on my land line but I return calls on my cell phone.  SO they do not know the number and they do not answer.  THEN I cannot leave a message.  I GIVE UP!   
   
BMG:  Nope – Not Our Cats! 
Every now and then a location “sounds good” but does not work out after we get there.  We took 3 boys (Larry, Curley, Moe) out this week and brought them back.  The place to put the cage was protected from the weather but not from “critters”.  “My other cat was here for 20 years!  The dog keep the coyotes away.”  SURE – but her is now leaving town each weekend to help out a friend with MS and TAKES THE DOG WITH HIM for 2 to 4 days.  That means that the cats would be sitting ducks for a coyote attack while they were in the cage for the 2-week relo period.  ALSO – if they turned over the water on day one, they might be without water for up to 4 days until he returned.   We will not set them up to fail!                          So – NOT OUR CATS!   

Larry

OMG:  Out Cats at Bluebonnet Great Pyr Rescue
In the spring of this year, Lynette Taff opened a new rescue for Great Pyrenees dogs in Whitewright, TX.  We asked us for some cats because she is also keeping goats – with feed come RATS!   Our guys are still “taking care of business” for her.  AND – one of our cat clients in Celina has gotten 2 dogs from her!   YEA! 

 Bandit
 Four Paws and Dusty
 
Sammy
Speckles


“Thanks” for following the Barn Cats Blog.  See you on next week.          Peg