Barn Cats

Sunday, February 1, 2015

Blog 01/26/15 to 02/01/15

Relocations and In Take

January Closeout

Our Cats after Release

Bad Calls/Emails: Relocate a Colony

BMG (Bitch/Moan/Groan): Unreliable Rescue Group

OMG (Oh My God): Southern Oklahoma

Relocations and In Take: Placed 11 this week with intake at 4.

3 Barn in Cleburne (Miley, Sasha, Blackie)

4 Adoption Group (Jane, Marvene, Garfield, Barrel)

4 Bonham Rescue

The Cleburne barn was very nice. They have a tack room with a cat door plus air conditioning and a heat lamp. I did not even have to take any equipment. They will contain them for the first 2 weeks in that room to get them acclimated. Two out of three cats even let the couple pet them!

January Closeout: We placed 35 is 6 North Texas counties.

Collin Dallas Denton

Ellis Kaufman Tarrant

Our Cats after Release: Picked up in 1 location and have updates from 3 others.

1. Ponder: Simon went to this barn. I gave an update on Shaggy (the first cat) in last week’s blog. Both are doing well there.

2. Lucus: Goldie and 2 other feral cats were placed here over a year ago. He accidentally called me on Friday but I turned it into an update. Goldie is friendly now and the others are still around “working” for the property owner.

3. Whitewright: 4 white cats went here. They had come from a warehouse that was closing down in Dallas. The barn owner sees them each day for canned food and got this wonderful picture of one of them. Look at those blue eyes! THANKS!

4. Pilot Point: Put 9 females in this LARGE INSULATED barn location. They have built them hidey places in that barn and the hay barn and see many of them each and every day. WOW!

Bad Calls/EMAILS: Relocate a Colony

I am getting at least 2 calls a week to relocate a colony of cats. Well – cannot help you until March. Just call back then and we will see what we can do and when. This is our slow season for placements – sorry!

BMG: Unreliable Rescue Group

A local group does primarily TNR (Trap/Neuter/Return). When/If the cats cannot be returned we come into play. I took 6 from them in the Fall and said I would take 6 more right after Thanksgiving. Well – “right after Thanksgiving” was a call just before New Years and I was leaving town. SO – they emailed/called over a week ago and asked for a delivery time. I reminded them about the leukemia test (not usually done but required here) and the distemper shot. She said they would get the paperwork together, check on the test, and call me back. OK – They asked for a Friday evening delivery time but I had a previous commitment…but…Saturday is always good because the volunteers are here from 10 to noon each Saturday. They agreed and I prepared for 6 additional cats for my family room that currently has 12 all ready. The good news is that I waited to put up caging until the cats were delivered. AND – you have probably surmised by now that they did NOT show and did not call to say they were not coming. Hummmm! I was not home that evening but there was a phone message left at 8:30 PM from a member of that group. WOW – over 8 hours late. Not sure what I will do – I WANT to blow them off completely but need to think about the cats first….will update you guys next week!

UPDATE: Kittens from Lake Dallas Animal Services “Little Hissers” are GROWING! Last week they tested negative for leukemia and aids, had first kitten shots and a rabies shot, and got a clean bill of health from All Care. They will both be spayed this coming week. They are 4 months old. Well – all good news!

OMG: Southern Oklahoma

I received a call from southern Oklahoma. YES – we cover 5 counties across the Red River but this location is north of Wichita Falls! It will be probably a 3 hour drive each way. The only reason I am considering it is that they want 6 and I certainly have many waiting for placement right now….cats everywhere! I have given them some other options to pursue and even contacted a group in Tulsa to speak with them. BUT – Tulsa is 4 hours from them….so….we shall see! Update next week.

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

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Blog 01/19/15 to 01/25/15

Relocations and In Take

Our Cats after Release

Bad Calls/Emails: Expectations

BMG (Bitch/Moan/Groan): Kittens at Animal Services

OMG (Oh My God): Rescuer Gone Bad

Relocations and In Take: Placed 14 this week with intake at 16…ouch!

2 Barn in Crandal (Lady, Molly)

2 Barn in Whitewright (2 from Denison)

1 Garage in Plano (Soleil)

6 Adoption Group

3 Bonham Rescue

Our Cats after Release: Picked up in 2 locations but did not get any pictures.

1. Celina: Sammy and Meadow were placed in this garage. Sammy is making himself know but Meadow is being more elusive. HOWEVER – there is lots of action in the litter box so both are still around.

2. Gunter: Toby and Tessa went to this workshop. Like Sammy above, Toby is making himself know to the family each time they are out there. Tessa – not so much!

3. Ponder: Got an update on Shaggy. He re-appeared about over a month. GEEZ! …and he looks good. You Never Know!

Bad Calls/EMAILS: Expectations

I get emails and phone calls all the time of people who EXPECT you to take their cats and resolve a problem that they have had for months/years AND do it yesterday! Sorry – this is our slow season. I can help you in March, April, and May but not so much how. I have too many “moving due to divorce”, hoarder, and illness situations to deal with now. All cages are full and I have 8 in my family room.

BMG: Kittens at Animal Services

I know I should not have gone over there….

A local Animal Services organization called with two feral kittens…a black torti and a gray torti. OH SO CUTE! Little bitty hisses! So now they are in my family room – GO FIGURE!

OMG: Rescuer Gone Bad

I took in 4 cats from a lady who took kittens out of animal services to “get them adopted” – except when they did not get adopted, she CONTINUED to take kittens out. Now they are older and ARE NOT SOCIALIZED! There were 80 cats originally in her 1,000 sq ft house. Now there are 50 left and I just took the first 4 that are un-adoptable PLUS one of those 4 tested positive for leukemia. Now there is a bigger problem! BUMMER!

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

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Blog 01/01/15 to 01/18/15

Relocations and In Take

Our Cats after Release

Bad Calls/Emails: Update

BMG (Bitch/Moan/Groan): No Entry This Week

OMG (Oh My God): Cats Placed in Virginia

Our Cats in Anna

Relocations and In Take: Placed 12 this week with intake at 1.

2 Barn in Waxahachie (Sarah, Bitzy)

2 Garage in McKinney (Montgomery, Oregano)

1 Workshop in Waxahachie (Becky)

2 Workshop in Corinth (Heckle, Jeckle)

5 Bonham Rescue

Our Cats after Release: Picked up in 1 location.

1. Waxahachie: JB and Berry went here in December. When I called to pickup equipment, they asked for an additional cat….so…Becky went there. JB and Berry are still inside the workshop.

JB – Now Miss Kittie

Bad Calls/EMAILS: UPDATE

Entry Before End of the Year: Received an emails from a lady who started feeding a cat last June when its’ owner passed away. Now the cat is sick (wheezing, stopped eating, etc – classic upper respiratory infection) and she wants someone to take it. Well, she says she can get it into a carrier but HAS NOT YET! AND SHE WAITED UNTIL A HOLIDAY WEEKEND TO DO ANYTHING! I cannot help that cat until she gets it into a carrier or a trap AND when the vet clinics are open – not a holiday weekend. We shall see if she follows through…???

Update: Never heard from her again.

BMG: No Entry this Week

OMG: Cats Placed in Chesapeake, VA

I received an email requesting cats in Virginia – a little outside our service area. I gave the barn owner some “general info” and also sent copies of emails from her area that were trying to place some cats. WELL – it worked out and “Mama” and “Papa” are doing well at a beautiful horse farm. YEAH!

Our Cats in Anna

Placed 6 in Anna in 2014 and received some recent pictures…so….here they are! Cats are doing well in their workshop.