Monday, June 4, 2018

The Cats of Georgetown

There is a problem here with homeless cats. On one side of the problem are the dumpers and on the other side, the rescuers.  

Even though it is illegal, people abandon cats everywhere.  There's a big warning sign at this popular dumping place -- the road to the old abandoned bridge that is a favorite fishing spot.  Other favorite spots for dumping are the Walmart parking lot and the docks where the shrimp boats come in. 

I don't understand people.  There are three rescue groups within two or three miles of that sign where cats are accepted and cared for.


Saint Francis is a no-kill shelter right in town, endowed by a caring lady back in the 1980s.  The other day when we stopped by for Bob's flea and heartworm pills we got there at breakfast time for some of the outdoor crew.  


























The parking lot has far more cats than cars! 



















There are far too many cats to house them all inside.  Arrivals are given shots, spayed or neutered, and allowed to decide if they want to live in one of the many little shelters or the woods.  Some cats, those that are sick and injured or under treatment by the vet, do stay in the facility in cages for awhile.



I'm not allowed to come here alone.  















I'd come home with a carload of cats!  😍😍😍😍
Who could resist?










19 comments:

  1. We have a few (2 or 3) rescue homes in this area and though they are always busy we don't seem to have a problem with feral cats. Years ago, of course, cats simply made their way to the nearest farm where "good mousers" were always welcome. I'm not the sort of person who would keep an animal as a pet, but I can't understand peoplewho have them then abandon them.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Feral cats, abandoned cats, outdoor house cats are a huge problem when it comes to wildlife. They will decimate bird populations, to say nothing of field mice and meadows voles, both important prey species for birds of prey, foxes, coyotes etc. They will also kill salamanders - pretty much anything they can tackle actually. I have seen a cat climb up to a cardinal’s nest and kill every baby in it. Cat owners must be, as a group, among the most irresponsible people on earth. I can never understand why cats are not licensed in the same way dogs are. Owners can permit their cats to roam the neighbourhood unchecked, poop in my garden, tear up the soil, stalk the birds, the chipmunks, the deer mice that I welcome in my yard - and sometimes not just one cat. Many people own multiple cats but seem to exercise little control over them. Personally I think that cats are a bit of a plague - their owners even more so.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love the sign, having cats in the parking lot would scare me, they like to crawl up in wheel wells...at least up here they do. I am glad they are being taken care of...and I can see why the Author doesn't let you go there alone. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. When we adopted two kittens when the daughters were young we had to agree to keep the cats indoors. We kept to that. In fact our cats never went out except to the vet. It is a sad state to see so many abandoned there. I'm not aware of it happening here but its likely to be a problem too.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I hope someone is sterilising the cats, so the problem does not increase at any rate. Good for the people who are caring for the unwanted ones.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I would have to resist the cats. Angel was terribly allergic to cats and so is GN. I learned about a stretch of road not far from me where the same fellow dumps dogs... and more accurately... puppies. He doens't dump them on the side of the road. He intentionally leaves them in the middle of the road, in a box, so they get hurt or killed. And... as soon as I saw the change you made to your blog, I knew that I would be able to comment again. Thanks for taking a look at that!

    ReplyDelete
  7. We have entirely too many feral cats and chickens in Hawaii. Your cats are lucky to have such a great sanctuary.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Can't understand why so many.
    Here cat's are to be neutered, the RSPCA an organisation will take unwanted kittens/cats, dogs etc. for there is someone out there who wants one cheap. However, I'm told a few cats are put in the bush and of course go ferile..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Margaret is spot on - here in Australia it is compulsory to have cats neutered unless they
      are of a breed for showing purposes and then they have to be registered, collared etc.

      Feral cats are a pest we can all do without.

      Such a bloody pity that the ex-damn owners of these pests can't be identified.
      Colin

      Delete
  9. So good people are caring of the poor cats that are abandoned. I never understand how people can leave their cat behind. I am devastated when my cat doesn't come home....

    ReplyDelete
  10. Dear Cynthia, like you I do not understand how some humans feel about animals. As if they are mere inanimate objects with no feelings and no sense of abandonment or pain. Albert Switzer (not sure of spelling) spoke of the love of animals and how one can determine the morality of a nation by how its citizens treat the most vulnerable--children, the elderly, and animals. Peace.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cynthia, it's Albert Schweitzer. I googled it! Peace.

      Delete
  11. Dumped cats and dogs are a problem here too. People seem to think that they can dump cats in the country and the cats will take care of themselves. Domestic cats are no match for true wildlife and most don't make it. Those that do usually find their way to a farm house. I've been noticing a new cat hanging around near our barn lately and think he will be our next outdoor mouser. I just need to start taming him so I can get him to the vet.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Are these cats feral??? If so they will never be adoptable. Here ( Independence, MO area) these cats are caught and neutered.... and released. The ears are marked so they are not caught again.... these cats are good for catching mice, rats etc. And being neutered, the population will decrease. The idea is catching on in other towns.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I don't see why people dump them off. It makes me angry. We have had 17 caught in our yard and they are feral and very vicious. The home down the street had 40 caught under their house. It had gotten to where our flower beds were one big toilet and the people down the street, their yard was horrible smelling. Just not clean. A few I don't mind because they do keep down mice which in turn keeps the snakes away from my house. But gosh this was horrible with so many feral ones.
    Glad to see the cats are given shots and neutered or spayed.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Aww. We love cats. How sad. I agree -what is the matter with people!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Oh these cats are cuties, I wouldn't trust myself near them, might adopt one. I have one cat and one dog who like each other. That is good the cats are neutered.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Oh, that's great that they take care of all those cats. Yes, what is wrong with people! It wouldn't be good releasing cats here in New Zealand - they would decimate our native bird population. I'd want to take some home too.

    ReplyDelete