Feature Stories
Misplaced Kindness
Well ... Spring has sprung and it’s “kitten season” again and the incessant phone calls are rolling in – “There’s a mother cat with 5 kittens in my back yard,” under my deck, on my porch, in my shed, down my window well, inside the wood pile – take your pick. The frustrating part of this is that SO MANY of these litters could have been prevented. And the sad part is that MOST of these kittens won’t find permanent homes. This article is not meant to chastise, but to educate. So many well-meaning people have been feeding the stray cats for months, or even years, and then are surprised when kittens appear. So if you encounter a stray cat in your neighborhood -- WHAT DO YOU DO???? ........
If you’re “lucky” enough to be the person whose yard a wandering cat chooses to take up residence in, PLEASE don’t ignore the situation. Most people would never ignore a homeless dog, yet turn a blind eye toward homeless cats. Cats are NOT wild animals and do NOT belong outside living like one, especially in our climate. Cats are a domesticated breed of animal, domesticated by humans, and we are responsible for their welfare. Ignoring a stray cat is, at best, perpetuating what’s already a huge problem – and at worst, cruel. Shooing the cat away doesn’t solve the problem. It simply moves the problem to someone else’s yard – someone who may not be as kind or civil as you to these innocent creatures.
So ... your first thought is to rush into your kitchen and get some food and water for the cat. And you’re correct - as long as the cat is there, it must be fed. But, you must remember that simply feeding the cat and letting it go on its merry way is NOT doing a kindness. I can promise you this is how the mom cat with kittens ended up on your porch in the first place! Millions of cats (and dogs) are born each year to live and die homeless. If you truly care about these companion animals, this fact is very upsetting. Cats and dogs have been domestic creatures for centuries. They give us so much joy – Why then do we allow this needless suffering of our animal friends? “At least he got a good meal” simply continues the cycle of misery and homelessness. So when you encounter that cat in your neighborhood, do not simply feed it and assume that “someone else” will take care of it. Like it or not, the cat chose YOU. YOU must offer it help. Even though it may not be “your” cat, YOU must take the responsibility – If you don’t, trust me, nobody else will, and before you know it a small problem will mushroom into a big one – in your neighborhood, and in your yard. Nip it in the bud NOW, before it gets out of control - But also, because it’s the right thing to do.
Many people who see kittens in their yard think they must leave them with the mother so that she can feed them. This is the BIGGEST mistake you can make. First of all, the mother may move them so that you lose track and then never get them – then they grow up and in 6 months start having kittens of their own all around the neighborhood. Second, if not handled and tamed down at a very early age, the kittens may NEVER acquire the social skills to become a pet. So don’t assume that very small kittens are too young to be taken away from Mom – this may be their ONLY chance at a good life – or life at all! Shelter volunteers will feed them and teach them to eat. YOU may even want to pitch in and help!
If Mom Cat (or Dad) is friendly, pick it up and contain it in a carrier. If it is fearful, gain its trust by putting food in the same place every morning, then use a Hav-A-Heart trap to catch it. (Many police departments and shelters have traps to loan). If you are not able to keep the cat and/or find a home for it, call your police department or animal control and see what services they offer in your community. Many will pick up the cat and bring it to a shelter.
However, if you run into a dead-end, don’t stop there! Call animal shelters in your area until you find one that will accept the cat. Please realize that since “no kill” shelters are limited in space, and by their very nature are usually full, they may not be able to take any more animals. Since Adopt-A-Pet does not own a shelter facility, we are limited to accepting only tame, adoptable animals into our foster homes. We are not equipped to handle feral or wild cats as we don’t have a facility to warehouse unadoptable cats.
Fortunately, there are many other good shelters that have an open-admittance policy to accommodate the thousands of other animals that need help. They are listed in the Yellow Pages and on the Internet. Here is at least a partial list of them: Chicago Area Animal Shelters. Be patient and be persistent, realizing that they’re ALL overwhelmed by the enormity of this problem and none of them have the manpower to return the huge volume of calls they receive. Once at the shelter, healthy animals that can make the adjustment to companions will be altered and given a second chance to lead the type of lives they deserve. Those that cannot be someone’s special friend will be humanely euthanized. Ideal? Of course, not. Disgusting? Absolutely. Heart-wrenching? You bet! But unfortunately, this is reality – and a reality, I might add, caused by humans in the first place. But sometimes, in an ironic way, this is kindness to animals. The life of a stray - unloved, fearful, hungry, diseased, frostbitten and often abused - can be very cruel. The numbers are staggering! And unfortunately, there are few choices.
If you simply cannot face the reality that a shelter may have no choice but to humanely euthanize the cat, and you feel you must leave the cat out (providing food, medical attention and shelter, of course) then AT THE VERY LEAST GET THE CAT SPAYED OR NEUTERED and bring an end to the “kitten factory,” which can get out of control very quickly, as many of our callers have already learned. There are several groups in the Chicagoland area that can help you accomplish what’s known as TNR – Trap, Neuter, Return: TNR Resources. They will provide information on low-cost or even free spay/neuter clinics, and they will teach you how to become a caretaker of outdoor cats. Realize, though, there may be drawbacks to this type of situation, the least of which may be that your municipality may have ordinances prohibiting feeding outdoor animals, and that your neighbors may be less than pleased. Outdoor cats in your yard may be spreading parasites and disease not only to other strays, but could also be a danger to your own companion animals.
So, what is the right thing to do for cats that are not “pet” material or that there simply just aren’t enough homes for: Humanely euthanize or TNR? Adopt-A-Pet remains neutral on this question. We believe this is an ethical question that we as individuals must answer for ourselves and do what we feel comfortable doing. Neither is a perfect solution, but until we as the humans in control do something to proactively PREVENT these situations from occurring in the first place, they remain our only choices, and choices we must take responsibility for.
The bottom line is ... One way or the other, PLEASE be part of the solution, and not part of the problem. No one wants to admit that he is contributing to the plight of homeless animals. Certainly not the kind-hearted animal lover who always leaves food out for the neighborhood strays. Shelters and alleys are filled with “unwanted animals” whose only crime was being born in the first place. DON’T allow this cycle of fear and homelessness to continue.
A kindness is NEVER wasted, although it can be misplaced.
Please make sure YOUR kindness is in the proper place.