Ham-Micks

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Wordy Wednesday

It's amazing how much more quiet the house is with 2 poodins missing overnight. With Sally and Smokey boarding overnight at the V-E-T, there were only 8 poodins to count when it came time to close the cat flap to the enclosure. Only 8 poodins worth of output to scoop from the litterboxes this morning. Of course they were missed. Without Sgt. Sally's howling, it was eerily quiet last evening. And without Smokey to wrassle Dorf and Reno, there wasn't much fur flying in the hallway.

During their health checks yesterday, it was determined that Smokey really didn't need his teeth cleaned. Yay! But, he does have a heart murmur, and we wanted his heavy breathing checked out. When he's lying down, we can hear him breathe from across the room. I don't know if it's because of his Herpes virus, or if he has asthma, or if it's his weight. He only weighs 15 lbs., which isn't overly large in this house. So, he stayed overnight with Sally and will have x-rays and blood tests done this morning.

Sally was throwing a hissy fit at the V-E-T. She was not happy at all. She used to get that way when I would take her to the PetsMart Adopt-a-Pet center. One hour in the cage and she was spitting and hissing and wanting to rip the arm off anyone who came near her. That's how we ended up keeping her. It was just too difficult to try and find her a home. I assume it's because she was kept in a cage for the first 10 months of her life at the Crazy Cat Lady's garage.

I will say this 100 times over on this blog. Anyone who believes they are fostering by keeping cats in cages are doing a disservice to that cat. Yes, shelters keep cats in cages because they have little choice. Most are publicly funded and way down on the community's priority list. But an individual who performs "rescue" should not need to confine the animals. They might be saving the life of that animal, but at what psychological cost to it?

Luf, Maw

24 comments:

LZ said...

I am very very lucky I never had to live in a cage, its not fair what happens to kitties like lovely Sally.

Chase

Gattina said...

I think if somebody would do this here he would have the whole neighborhood and police on his neck ! That's so cruel !

Shaggy and Scout said...

Poor Sally. We aren't surprised she freaks out at the sight of a cage. She must have horrible flashbacks and probably post traumatic stress disorder. Give her and extra hug & kiss from us when she comes home.

Sunny's Mommy said...

Good luck to Smokey and Sally today. I hope he doesn't have asthma.

Dragonheart, Merlin, Devi, and Chloe said...

Poor Sally. :( We are lucky that we've never been confined, except in our PTUs and at the vet's when we had our hoohaectomies. We hope Smokey is okay! Maw and Paw, you are wonderful individuals.

Parker said...

Amen Maw, Amen...

Diamond Emerald-Eyes said...

I was under the impression that the idea behind fostering a cat was to keep it out of cage at the shelter. I realize that humans are short on brains, but some forgot to get any in the first place.

Anonymous said...

when the Lady would volunteer regularly at the shelter, she said it was so sad to see how the purrsonality of the cat changed, the longer they spent in the little cage. that shelter doesn't even have a room where the kitties can exercise or socialize. it's tragic.

Daisy said...

At the shelter my Mommie volunteers at, the cages are just for sick cats (in the isolation room), kittens, and cats who have not been spayed/neutered, tested, dewormed and deflea-d yet. The rest of the cats get to roam freely!

Lux said...

I want to give Sally a hug. Hopefully everything goes well today and your missing poodins will be back today!

Gemini and Ichiro said...

I think all your cats are so lucky to have you.

We can't imagine fostering a cat where we had to keep them in a cage. However, we did know a woman who did keep a couple of cats in large cat runs in her garage. She's gone now and I wonder how those cats adapted. Some were awful sweet.

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Mickey's Musings said...

WE totally agree about cages!! Cats are born to be free,not locked up.
I hope Smokey will be OK. Sally too.
Purrs Mickey

Angel Junior, Orion and Sammy said...

Purraying for Sally and Smokey.

I am sorry Sally was in a cage for so long. That is terrible. I am gald good beans like yours decided to keep her and take proper care of her.

Tybalt said...

Maw, you are right as always. Purrs to you! I hope Sally and Smokey get to come home soon so you are back to your normal 10!

Big Piney Woods Cats said...

Momma really hates cages! She had to quite working at the local shelter, cuz of the cats that were kept in the cages. They would look at her so sad, and it broked her heart. That is how Mittens came to live here.

Patches

The Furry Kids said...

Lots of purrs and purrayers for Sally and Smokey.

And a big old poo on the pillow of icky beans who think they're "fostering." Grrrr

Rosemary B❤️ said...

This is a very sad story. I will say a lot of purrrs for Sally and Smokey


<3

Zippy, Sadie, Speedy and M'Gee said...

Dat lady was crazy but she was no cat lady! Effun da shelter Sadie came from din't keep da kitties in cages all da time. Dey had a big room wif smaller places fur kitties to hide in if dey needed. Sadie hided a lot...poor Sally. Oh and mom sez dat Jeff don't put toona cheeze and liver in effury treat dat is just da flavors dat he makes. He won't tell mom how dey are made just dat der's no wheat (or grain) at all and dey is made wif organic stuff. Mom sez she prolly couldn't afford to make dem wif da same stuff dat Jeff uses cuz he's filthy rich...dat what she sez anyway.

Zippy, Sadie, Speedy and M'Gee said...

Dat lady was crazy but she was no cat lady! Effun da shelter Sadie came from din't keep da kitties in cages all da time. Dey had a big room wif smaller places fur kitties to hide in if dey needed. Sadie hided a lot...poor Sally. Oh and mom sez dat Jeff don't put toona cheeze and liver in effury treat dat is just da flavors dat he makes. He won't tell mom how dey are made just dat der's no wheat (or grain) at all and dey is made wif organic stuff. Mom sez she prolly couldn't afford to make dem wif da same stuff dat Jeff uses cuz he's filthy rich...dat what she sez anyway.