Barn Cats

Sunday, September 10, 2017

Blog 09/04/17 to 09/10/17

Seeking someone to take over Barn Cats, Inc.: I would like to officially retire as Executive Director in 2019. I can retain the fundraising pieces but would like to stop the relocations, equipment pickups, phone calls, and emails…the day-to-day stuff. I will be available for consultation. If interested call or email Barn Cats…972-315-2875 info@barncats.org

NORTH TEXAS GIVING DAY 2017 – THURSDAY, Sept. 14th

THIS WEEK!

Relocations

Our Cats after Release

Calls/Emails: White Cat – Poor Baby!

BMG (Bitch/Moan/Groan: 2 Scheduling Mishaps

OMG (Oh My God): Random Act of Kindness

Relocations and In Take: I placed 7 this week. Problem with appointments…

2 Front Porch in Midlothian (Princess, Queen)

2 Workshop in Copper Canyon (Jessie, Ace)

2 Barn in Plano (Rambo, Robin)

1 Adoption Group (Whitney)

Our Cats after Release:

1. Sachse: Florian and Leonie were placed in this barn with a couple who I put cats with that are now IN THEIR HOUSE! HA HA – I teach them to do that! They are hiding in the rafters but the food is disappearing and the litter box is being used.

2. McKinney: Alice, Marigold, and Persimon went this brand new barn. Marigold never really got to be friends with the other two and she took off. Alice and Persimon have become fast friends and are staying in the barn. The family has 2 Great Pyr puppies to keep the girls safe.

3. Lucas: Rocky went to this barn with the couple that are both veterinarians…lucky boy.

4. Farmersville: Tobias and Rose went to this barn with the house attached. Rose has been spotted early in the morning and Toby is out most of the time and really seems to love the people.

Calls/Emails: White Cat – Poor Baby!

Received a call about a white cat to place in a backyard. Well – we do not accept white cats AND we traditionally do not place cats in backyards. The family decided to move him to their new house so I packed up caging and drove to Buckner Blvd. south of I-30. Unfortunately the cat tested positive for feline leukemia. The owner was at a spay/neuter clinic who would not euthanize the cat – they are not full service. She took my caging (just in case) but started looking for a vet to put the poor cat down. BUMMER! Wish it had been a more positive ending but at least he did not die in the dirt.

BMG: 2 Scheduling Mishaps

1. Drove to Kennedale south of I-20 to deliver 3 cats. Well – the barn is shared with that family and the neighbors. Their side was not closed in so cannot leave the cats there. The neighbors were at work, so the relo was postponed. The good news is that it is now rescheduled for next Monday.

2. Drove to Celina with 3 cats and the larger caging so that a newly-purchased feral house could be put in the caging for the relocation period. Got there but the feral house had not yet arrived from Chewy.com. BUMMER! I set up the caging and left all the other equipment (feeder, waterer, litterbox, food, extra litter) and brought the cats back home. That set up is also rescheduled for next Monday.

OMG: Random Act of Kindness

I found a new Starbucks in Wylie on Hwy 78. I stopped in between picking up equipment in Farmersville and Wylie. When I got to the window, the car in front of me had paid for my drink. MANY THANKS!

Thanks for following the Barn Cats Blog. Peg

Sunday, September 3, 2017

Blog 08/28/17 to 09/03/17

NORTH TEXAS GIVING DAY 2017 – THURSDAY, Sept. 14th

Relocations

Our Cats after Release

July Closeout

August Closeout

Calls/Emails: Still Getting Kitten Calls!

BMG (Bitch/Moan/Groan: Screamer Cats

OMG (Oh My God): Empty Feral Box at LVAS

Relocations and In Take: I placed 8 this week. It is Labor Day weekend so always slow on a holiday week/weekend.

2 Shed in Haslet (Milo, Jett)

3 Barn in McKinney (Sadie, Rocky, Mandy)

2 Barn in Lucas (Jane, Cisco)

1 Backyard in Van Alstyne (Bubbles)

Our Cats after Release:

1. Flower Mound: Cairo and Whitney were placed in this indoor/outdoor situation. Whitney was just hiding all the time so she was returned to Barn Cats. Cairo is working out great and is staying in Flower Mound.

2. Flower Mound: Rip was placed at this horse riding stable. He is getting along great with the other cats on the property but does not like one of the worker’s dog…oh well – just so he is OK!

July Closeout

We placed 25 in July even though I was out of town from July 13^th until August 11^th. Those cats went to 4 North Texas Counties – Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant.

August Closeout

We placed 34 following August 11^th and after a bad week that took me to a hospital…ok now! They went to 5 counties – Collin, Dallas, Denton, Rains, and Tarrant.

Calls/Emails: Still Getting Kitten Calls!

This year, the kitten calls have never stopped or slowed down. I think it is because we did not have a cold winter…but…don’t know. We don’t take kittens ever (carried off by hawks in the daytime or owls at night) but I do recommend various adoption groups so they can be saved. Kittens deserve a safe, indoor-only home. Hope they all get that forever home!

BMG: Screamer Cats

Occasionally I get a cat here that is an all-night screamer! …then I get little sleep. It has happened this week with a group from Garland. I separated 2 cats into caging in my family room at 3 am one night only to find when I got up that one was loose in the house! I asked Nancy to come over – the cat was in the sunroom and was not that difficult to pack up. BUT – it does take 2 people. But, the screaming continued. So, on Saturday a 7 were moved to the garage – but it made me nervous so I moved all into the family room on Sunday.

OMG: Empty Feral Box at LVAS

Lewisville Animal Services called for me to pick up 3 that were spayed/neutered for Barn Cats. I went on Friday. One got away from us so they used the BIG NET to catch the cat. Cat #2 went easily into my carrier. When we went into the 3^rd cat’s cage, the feral box was EMPTY! OOPS! They call later that day that she had gotten away from them when leaving the TCAP clinic in Denton. At least she is spayed with an ear tip – hope she finds someone to take care of her. GOOD LUCK!

Thanks for following the Barn Cats Blog. Peg

Sunday, August 27, 2017

Blog 08/21/17 to 08/27/17

NORTH TEXAS GIVING DAY 2017 – THURSDAY, Sept. 14th

Relocations

Our Cats after Release

Calls/Emails: Update from 2 Fort Worth Barns

BMG (Bitch/Moan/Groan: Problem in Denton County – UPDATE!

OMG (Oh My God): Update from Terrell

Relocations and In Take: I placed 18 this week.

5 Garage/workshop in Emory (Scrawny, Scrappy, Grumpy Face, CJ, May)

2 Barn in Argyle (Sophie, Harry)

3 Barn in McKinney (Savannah, Georgia, Pepper)

1 Barn in Lucas (Rocky)

2 Barn in McKinney (Molly, Sammy)

2 Garage in Hickory Creek (Coopa, Glenda)

3 Barn in Lowry Crossing (Alice, Marigold, Persimmon)

Our Cats after Release: No Equipment picked up this week.

Calls/Emails: Update from 2 Fort Worth Barns

Put 4 cats in this nice barn in Fort Worth. This was several months ago. I got an update: “I saw all four of our barn cats last night before dark, relaxing in the grass, stalking prey and coming into the barn for food and water. I had not seen all four together, so I wasn’t sure if I had seen all of ours or whether other cats were coming in. Happy to see them getting more comfortable to their surroundings. Rodent population is dropping. My neighbor who also got four cats reports no more rodent droppings in her barn and cats using the litter box.” WOW – all good news from both locations!

BMG: Problem in Denton County – UPDATE!

I put 4 cats out with a cat guy on his property. 2 turned friendly and he let them inside. Then there was some bad weather out that way and his chicken coop was destroyed. He wanted some additional cats so I left the equipment there. I tried to make an appointment with him before I left for vacation but could not reach him. He was traveling, I think, on family business. NOW – I cannot reach him – phone is disconnected and email is also not working. I went to the property on Saturday. The electricity and water are working. The property is not FOR SALE but does not look maintained. I saw 3 of the 4 cats. There was food in the shed and I spread some out but the cats did not seem hungry and did not “look bad”. I think someone else may be feeding them…but….??? I found our equipment in the shed and removed it. I left a note on the front door and am just waiting for a call. I will return this week to leave a note attached to the bag of food that is in the shed. If someone is feeding, they may not see the note on the front door. If I get no response from the note on the food bag, I will go out there and re-trap those cats. Stayed turned for the update next week.

UPDATE: I did go back over on Monday evening and put out some extra food. I saw 2 of the 4 cats. THE NOTE I LEFT ON SATURDAY ON THE FRONT DOOR WAS GONE! …but no one has called me about it. I just don’t know what else to do. ON FRIDAY – I did receive a call from a friend of his who is now living on the property. He passed away! …don’t know circumstances but it is none of my business actually. The friend is now taking care of the cats and the property…so…I guess everything is OK. I guess I just have to trust him. I offered to take back the cats anytime. If he calls, I will do that but for now I guess this issue is closed.

OMG: Update from Terrell

“It is almost 3 years since we got the 2 feral barn cats from you for our horse barn here in Terrell. TX. In the beginning, we were lucky to even see these girls when we walked into the barn. About 10 months later, a miracle occurred and one of the cats, a calico we call Meowsette, jumped down from the haystack and rubbed up against my arm as I filled her cat feeder. I was so startled, I just froze afraid to move. Each day this because a regular thing and now she willingly lets us pet her and she ever comes out of the barn to meet up to welcome us in! The other cats, a tortoiseshell names Mollie, is about as feral as they come – in the first year we had her – I NEVER saw her unless I opened a stall where she happened to be hiding and then she would make a B-Line to the closest exit as fast as she could. I would only see a blur as she sped past me! There was one stretch of time we went about 6 weeks without seeing her. I wasn’t sure if she ran away or died or what. But then a few weeks of bad weather kept her near the barn and I started seeing her run out of the barn again when I showed up. But I can happily report that we have had another miracle =-- here in the last couple of weeks when I come out to feed them, Mollie stands about 1-0 feet away until I am done and as I walk away she jumps up to the feeder and watches me. She no longer runs as fast as she can to get out of sight. Hopefully in time she will trust us enough to let us pet her someday. I am hopeful! “

Thanks for following the Barn Cats Blog. Peg