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I certainly hope you spoke up and called the police on your former neighbor if he did something horrible to cats. If there was more public pressure and outrage and legal retaliation against animal abusers, instead of people tolerating the abuse because the abuser is a relative or friend or neighbor, the situation for animals would improve.
That article turned me off right from the get-go: "Cats roaming at large are not just a nuisance to gardeners and a menace to birds and other wildlife. They are also a threat to human health." The article continues in that tone. OK, let's agree that unvaccinated cats, whether feral or not, can contract rabies. But let's do something about vaccinating them and not use scare tactics to make mass euthanasia or whatever other plan the council cooks up acceptable.
In case anyone is wondering, I have trapped over 2 dozen feral cats on my property and paid for them to be spayed/neutered and vaccinated for rabies. All from my own pocket. And we had a rabid skunk in our yard last November that caused untold problems for us. So I am aware that rabies is a serious problem. But as soon as someone writes an article about "tens of thousands" of feral cats "roaming at large", and making them all seem like Cujo or something, I cringe.
It is sad that it seems cats are still often seen as "disposable" pets to some people. And it's also a fact that cats receive less regular vet care than dogs. (I have a co-worker with a 17 year old cat who can't recall the last time the cat went to the vet!)
I applaud those who work to TNR feral and stray cats to help with this problem. I have TNR'd one cat and know the work and stress involved.
It is sad that it seems cats are still often seen as "disposable" pets to some people. And it's also a fact that cats receive less regular vet care than dogs. (I have a co-worker with a 17 year old cat who can't recall the last time the cat went to the vet!)
I applaud those who work to TNR feral and stray cats to help with this problem. I have TNR'd one cat and know the work and stress involved.
That mindset is probably a byproduct of that old myth that cats are independent, aloof, and a take-care-of-their-self type of pet. Add in the fact that cats are notorious for hiding & disguising any problems they may be having, and some people have a cat specifically because they don't have the time, or the desire, to pay much attention to them.... so it's no surprise that may be true.
I just wanted to chime in on the importance of vaccinating your cats for Rabies even if strictly indoors.
Recently one of my cats started having seizures. During his episodes he bites himself quite viciously. Normally he is the sweetest thing and wouldn't even think of biting. However while seizing it is out of his control.
About two weeks ago while I was in the process of getting his Pheno ready (he was on the edge of the table next to me) he abruptly started seizing and when he does he jerks back around to bite his back and will fall over. Well....my hip happened to be at the edge by him and rather than latching on to his back he latched on to me. My immediate reaction was to grab my hip which in turn he latched on to my thumb nearly biting the tip off. I had to spend the night in the ER.
While in the ER there was never a mention of them reporting the bite and what the process was. However I had read about our City/County/State requirements so I knew what the law said. Thank god I had him vaccinated!!! Within hours....I'm talking probably less than 4 hours of me being discharged from the hospital I got a call from an officer at Animal Control asking me if I was going to euthanize my cat. I told them no that he only bit me due to his seizures and that he is strictly indoors, up to date and that we are working with a vet to control the seizures. Only because of that would they allow me to quarantine him in my home for a 10 day period.
While I am not a proponent of over vaccinating I just cringe at the thought of what could have happened had he not been up to date. I really wish the vets would work with government to reestablish the Rabies vaccination schedule or use titers....but until they I wanted to just send out a message on how diligent some areas are with animal bites/Rabies.
I just wanted to chime in on the importance of vaccinating your cats for Rabies even if strictly indoors.
Recently one of my cats started having seizures. During his episodes he bites himself quite viciously. Normally he is the sweetest thing and wouldn't even think of biting. However while seizing it is out of his control.
About two weeks ago while I was in the process of getting his Pheno ready (he was on the edge of the table next to me) he abruptly started seizing and when he does he jerks back around to bite his back and will fall over. Well....my hip happened to be at the edge by him and rather than latching on to his back he latched on to me. My immediate reaction was to grab my hip which in turn he latched on to my thumb nearly biting the tip off. I had to spend the night in the ER.
While in the ER there was never a mention of them reporting the bite and what the process was. However I had read about our City/County/State requirements so I knew what the law said. Thank god I had him vaccinated!!! Within hours....I'm talking probably less than 4 hours of me being discharged from the hospital I got a call from an officer at Animal Control asking me if I was going to euthanize my cat. I told them no that he only bit me due to his seizures and that he is strictly indoors, up to date and that we are working with a vet to control the seizures. Only because of that would they allow me to quarantine him in my home for a 10 day period.
While I am not a proponent of over vaccinating I just cringe at the thought of what could have happened had he not been up to date. I really wish the vets would work with government to reestablish the Rabies vaccination schedule or use titers....but until they I wanted to just send out a message on how diligent some areas are with animal bites/Rabies.
I agree with you about complying with laws for the cat's safety. Unfortunately, I often wonder if over vaccination may be the cause of these seizure disorders. Thankfully the PureVax rabies is now approved as a three year vaccine.
My seizure kitty bit me once (accidental, he was getting his claws trimmed and a car backfired in the street outside and it scared him and he inadvertently bit me) I needed treatment and of course it was reported. I had to keep him "quarantined" at home for 10 days, and they followed up too, calling me at the 10 day mark and when I didn't call back right away calling me daily until I did.
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