What to do with neighbors abandoned cats

[linasenzerrose]

Hi,

looking for advice, resources. My neighbor has just moved and is abandoning 5 cats at the house. They were outside cats so I am able to continue feeding them outside so they don’t go hungry while I try to help find homes for them. I feel awful for them that they are left behind. There are three adult cats, one of them a mama with 2 very young kittens. the mama is friendly as are the kittens but the other 2 adults are quite skittish. Pretty sure none of them are spayed/neutered. Small chance the neighbor will come back for them this weekend but I think it is very unlikely. My husband and I cannot take them in so I am looking for how to get them into homes. I have messages in at Furry Faces Foundation and Seattle Humane Society. I cannot afford surrender fees, they were not my animals to begin with-I just can’t ignore the fact that they are all sitting in my driveway, looking for food since their owners left. I am reaching out to friends and people in my circle to see if anyone wants them. Any other local resources out there?

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[mehud7]

linasenzerrose-Give me a call tomorrow and I may be able to help (206) 719-4864.

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[annaeileen]

linasenzerrose, you are a great person for not ignoring the problem and for taking care of them and asking for help. I have 3 rescue cats and can’t take any more but I am willing to help capture and take them to a shelter and chip in or pay any fees; it’s not the cats’ fault they were left behind. I generally never wish ill will on people but when I hear situations like this, I hope the people who left them get kicked to the curb themselves and I don’t care why they did it, it’s just not right. Please let me know if you need help.

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[anonyme]

From the Seattle Animal Control website:

“Animal cruelty includes abandonment of a pet, physical abuse, failure to provide food, water, shelter or veterinary care, fighting of animals, putting animals in a situation that causes distress (i.e. a hot car) or keeping an animal in unsanitary conditions. If you are concerned for the welfare of an animal, contact us immediately at (206) 386-7387.

Officers will investigate the situation. Depending on the nature of the case, officers may impound the animal or give the owner a time period to come into compliance. Citations and/or criminal charges may result.”

The only catch is that I would not want them to impound the animals until you’ve explored other options. Unfortunately, I doubt that Animal Control would do much of anything, but it would be nice to see some enforcement for a change – instead of the standard “live and let die” attitude.

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[furryfaces]

Hi linasenzerrose. First, thank you for caring about these cats. Second, we have not seen your email(?)in our in box or phone. Please give us a call (leave a message) at 206-321-4729 or email at furryfaces@hotmail.com. We have some ideas to help.

Again, thank you for caring.

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[linasenzerrose]

Hi!

an update –

thank you everyone for your support and advice. I have been talking with two women from FFF and have found a home for the two kittens-a friend of mine. One is in it’s new home already and the other one is pretty skittish and tough to catch. I am hoping to catch the other kitten tomorrow to be able to get it into it’s new home. As for the adults, I am going to try and catch them all tomorrow, one will be really easy – she is friendly (and I think pregnant :( ) and the others are a little more skittish but braver when food is involved so I think I can catch them too. Wish me luck! I will rest easier knowing they are on their way to homes. @mehud7, call you when I have some trapped tomorrow morning- thank you again and here is a plug to donate or support to Furry Faces, they are amazing!

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[2krazy4words]

linasenzerrose is “Leo” one of the 5?

Friends of the Animals Foundation posted this on him:

https://www.facebook.com/FAFseattle/photos/pcb.789182447793170/789181837793231/?type=1&theater

mehud7 is Marianne who is doing the trapping and transporting to the shelter. She does TNR and assists in placement, adoption, etc through FAF–a West Seattle based rescue that, like F3, is all volunteer based and relies solely on donations.

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[linasenzerrose]

yes, Leo was one of the 5, he was the only adult male. Super cute. Marianne is awesome, she has been the one helping me this week trap and care for the cats. we just have one left, who we think might have a littler of kittens stashed nearby so we don’t want to remove her yet. my friend adopted the 2 kittens, 2 adults to the shelter (leo was one, the other is a sweet sweet mama kitty who we think is pregnant again). thanks again to everyone who offered support and help and to FAF and Furry Faces, both are wonderful orgs

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[annaeileen]

So glad to hear you are able to catch most of them with the hope of getting the momma soon. I have tried to help other cats in the past and it takes time and patience. It sounds like you have the professional help you need to trap the cats and I am not a professional so I donated to Furry Faces as a way of contributing. I will contribute to FAF as well – budget be damned! Good luck and keep us posted!

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[2krazy4words]

yes, Lina both organizations are! and Thank You! annaeileen for fitting them into your budget :)

Momma Kitty will be headed to Seattle Animal Shelter on Wednesday–see post:

https://www.facebook.com/FAFseattle/photos/pcb.789914041053344/789912981053450/?type=1&theater

Actually in West Seattle we are quite fortunate to have several resources for assistance. This may be a good time & forum to mention them on:

Friends of the Animals Foundation (FAF)

TNR ~ Adopt ~ Foster ~ Sponsor ~ Volunteer ~ and more

http://www.fafseattle.org

http://www.facebook.com/FAFseattle

http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/WA77.html

501(c)3 non-profit

http://www2.guidestar.org/organizations/91-1853116/friends-animals-foundation.aspx

Furry Faces Foundation

Oliver’s Fund: assistance with food & vet bills; It’s Hip to be Snipped: assistance with spay/neuter; Tag Your Pet: pet ID tags & collars

http://www.furryfacesfoundation.org/

http://www.facebook.com/furryfacesfoundation

WA State Charity

Feral Cat Assistance & Trapping (FCAT)

TNR

http://www.feraltrapping.com/

http://www.facebook.com/FeralTrapping

http://www.youtube.com/FeralTrapping

WA State Charity

Kitty Harbor

Rescue, Rehabilitation, Adoption

http://www.kittyharborseattle.org/

http://www.facebook.com/kittyharbor

501(c)3 non-profit

http://www2.guidestar.org/organizations/30-0219160/kitty-harbor.aspx

All of them also work with:

Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project

low/no-cost spay/neuter clinic

http://www.feralcatproject.org/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Feral-Cat-SpayNeuter-Project/162495810485290?sk=info

501(c)3 non-profit

http://www2.guidestar.org/organizations/91-1827152/feral-cat-spay-neuter-project.aspx

Seattle Animal Shelter

http://seattleanimalshelter.org/

http://www.facebook.com/SeattleAnimalShelter

http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/WA27.html

ALL of them are a great resource to find the help & education you need…

ALL of them can help you with low or no-cost Spay/Neuter, so “I can’t afford it” is NOT an excuse. ALL of them will do their best to help you find the assistance you need.

They are also volunteer based and rely on your support through donating your time, energy, and resources. Each website has a donation & how you can help page. Those with a PetFinder page link allow you to sponsor a pet(s) of choice if you are not able to adopt it.

So PLEASE copy, print, save, and SHARE this information!

OH! almost forgot…and should you hear a kitty stuck in a tree, contact the awesome guys at

Canopy Cat Rescue

http://www.canopycatrescue.com/

http://www.facebook.com/canopycatrescue

You can follow their amazing ‘adventures’ on Facebook. These guys are sooo awesome!

I think that covers it! Hope it helps :)

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[annaeileen]

Wow, such great information! A few years ago I did some research on how to trap feral kittens and I found some sites but not this many that can help. I didn’t see the kittens again and couldn’t tell if they had a home (they were in blackberry bushes along the Burke Gilman) but I told myself I had to help any feral cats I come across. Now I have the information I need to get them help!

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[mehud7]

linasenzerrose-Thank you for not looking the other way.

annaeileen-Thank you for your donation. It was used to neuter and vaccinate four rescued kittens (now at Next to Nature)at the Feral Cat Spay Neuter Project yesterday.

2krazy4words-Thank you for your well researched list of resources.

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[mehud7]

Final count-

three adult cats: one male adopted out already from the Seattle Animal Shelter, one sweet female available for adoption at Next to Nature (her kittens were adopted by a friend of linasenzerrose), third female reunited in foster care with her four kittens aged four weeks (will need homes in about a month). Thank you to neighbor Jessica for finding the kittens in her garage and fostering the feline family. By the way, the Seattle Animal Shelter has a file on the woman who abandoned the cats.

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