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Old 07-19-2019, 11:53 AM   #1
Schwartzie
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Join Date: Jun 2019
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Default Euthanasia?

I have met many hamster owners on this forum who are realistic and open minded when it comes to what’s best for our animals. We are custodians and one of our pledges on earth is to care for the creatures of this planet. I have a decision to make that is a tough one and am approaching you all to discuss my options...

Upon reflection I realized that I didn’t use enough tact in dealing with this situation and for that I am at fault and acknowledge that I could have handled myself better.

There are no official cat sanctuaries or shelters where I am. In the gated community we live in there are probably close to 300 cats. The majority are cats abandoned when their owners have final exited and moved onto the next country. The other half are offspring.

In Western countries where the weather is varied and there are more wild life available for cats to catch - mice, birds, rats etc and it’s not so hot that the cats can actually run during the day to hunt. Here it’s impossible and everything is concrete so paws get burnt and to be honest cats just can’t move in the heat.

The general ignorance here is that there are people who feed these strays once a day then leave them to fend for themselves to find their own shelter etc. the amount of food being left out is the only sustenance these cats are getting is from the food being given. It’s not like it is in other countries...if that person moved away and left the cats they would survive on hunting. Here they would die if they didn’t find another human feeder. If you were feeding 4 cats you would be the reason those cats were alive - the sole reason they were breathing. Back to ignorance...people feel that it’s not their cats but feeding them a meager amount once a day not according to their needs or age is a Florence Nightingale thing to do. The cat is alive right? By doing this one is keeping them just alive but not enough to lead healthy lives. They also believe the cats aren’t there’s so they are not responsible for fixing them. By feeding them just enough not to die they fall pregnant and you can imagine how they struggle to feed their kittens and house them. Even hiding in people’s yards under shrubs is still extremely hot. By feeding them and not fixing them one is solely responsible for that animal being born. Imagine that? Being solely responsible for that animal then leaving it to the elements?

I didn’t involve myself in this because I chose not to. We have two highly spoilt cats who watch Jackson Galaxy and hVe their own cat highways along the walls. I was asked to feed two groups of strays that people were feeding that had left for holiday for two months. I should never have accepted - I honestly thought these animals had all been fixed. I should have checked. I don’t want to be hypocrite by also feeding the problem. Anyways, kittens have been born and they were dying. That was last week. I have medicated them and they are healing well. I have began feeding the cats twice a day and have looked into trying to get the people who feed them to set up shelters in their yards with cooling mats. That probably won’t happen because I messGed both of them letting rip at the fact that they hadn’t fixed these cats. The convos didn’t go well - it wasn’t tactful on my part and badly handled I admit. I was furious... no excuse though. They probably won’t want to feed the cats anymore...those ants will move onto the next feeder. We have agreed to pay for 4 of them to be fixed and we are more than happy to help catch them. Probably won’t help after the tongue lashing I gave them.

Anyways...this is why I am posting this thread. Do we take the three kittens and mother and care for them? Get shelters rigged, cooling mats and the correct food according to their age and requirements and then when we final exit in 4 years or so put them down or do we continue to feed twice d daily, Medicare and then hand over to the other person who was originally caring for them but had to leave for a while and stay out of it?

We can’t leave those cats behind...cats live for 15 years plus. People won’t care for them like we do. When we leave our garden will be uprooted and cleared like a clean slate for the next contract holder.
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Old 07-19-2019, 12:17 PM   #2
Schwartzie
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Default Re: Euthanasia?

Just to add...our two cats will be moving with us from country to country. We ensured that they would be able to before we bought them. It would be unrealistic to move from country to country with 6 cats.
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Old 07-19-2019, 04:24 PM   #3
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Euthanasia?

It sounds a difficult and upsetting situation. If there is no other solution but taking on the cat and kittens (ie no-one else you can find to take them on), then I guess you should take them on. Four years is quite a long time away, but you recognise you can't take them with you. I would suggest that before it gets to 4 years time you have time to seek re-homing them with a good owner. I assume there will be other people who will want a cat and care for it. Very difficult.

It would be a big time-consuming thing to take on, but maybe another option could be to start a local charity and raise awareness - get volunteers and funding and publicity and try and improve the situation generally? At least so the wild cats can feed adequately.
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Old 07-20-2019, 01:45 AM   #4
Ria P
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Default Re: Euthanasia?

When you say getting the cats fixed do you mean getting them dressed or neutered by a vet?
I'd build a shelter in your garden for the four stray cats, get them neutered/sterilized by a vet to keep the cat population down and feed them. I wouldn't let them in the house or pet them because you have two pet cats already and its better if you don't get attached to them. Once you move country they will be allocated to another human feeder.
I don't think that you can change this unfortunate situation and without a charity or funding to catch and pay for vet treatment to curb this ever expanding cat population people can only continue to feed them.
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Old 07-20-2019, 02:43 AM   #5
Schwartzie
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Default Re: Euthanasia?

Thanks for the support and feedback. I really appreciate it. There are three lots of cats. The one lot of cats consists of 3 cats and that owner has agreed to get them fixed (spayed/neutered), the other lot of cats consists of about 6 or so and we have agreed to pay for 4 to be fixed and the feeder has agreed to fix the balance but has said they refuse to continue feeding the cats because I shouted at them for not taking responsibility. Those cats will have to move on. The other lot consist of the mother and her older kitten and then her three new kittens and 5 others. The fact that she has been allowed to reproduce so many times is unacceptable. That feeder will have to get them all fixed. There are about 5 needing.

At the moment we are feeding them all till end of next week. My hubby and I have bought cat pellets that show an average nutritional level so that the feeders have no excuse of not affording to continue and we have measured out scoops and attached the scoops to containers with adult food and then to the kitten food so all the cats in each group are catered for according to their age. The person feeding them while these feeders are away returns next week and can choose to continue with what we are doing - we feed twice a day instead of once a day and feed according to what each cats needs on the bag so they have enough food. We will then wait to see what happens when those two feeders come back from their holiday.

If the kittens get dumped on our doorstep out of spite or whatever we will then make the decision. I’ve had a crazy idea...do you think people in the UK....USA is quite far from us...would want to adopt the cats when we final exit? We could pay for half their airfare. I wonder if there are people out there who would want to give a cat in need a home all the way from the Middle East?
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Old 07-20-2019, 02:55 AM   #6
LunaTheHamster1
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Default Re: Euthanasia?

I would look into charities, see if someone could help - they may be able to help now. People adopt from overseas for sure.
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Old 07-20-2019, 03:01 AM   #7
Schwartzie
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Default Re: Euthanasia?

Quote:
Originally Posted by LunaTheHamster1 View Post
I would look into charities, see if someone could help - they may be able to help now. People adopt from overseas for sure.
I will look...getting cats across the world these days isn’t difficult. It’s a case of micro chipping them, vaccines, blood and paperwork. It could work. We could find them homes once they are older and healthy.
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Old 07-20-2019, 03:11 AM   #8
AmityvilleHams
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Default Re: Euthanasia?

I do know that we ship in cats and dogs from various countries into the USA frequently enough. It isn't so commonly known, but it is definitely a practice that some shelters even do(debatable practice, but one that does happen).

Honestly I'd be one of those people to go for it, but unfortunately I'm only really able to take on two kittens if I'm really lucky at the moment so that wouldn't be much help. Plus, it would be a lot of stress to the poor kittens to get them all the way to the USA!
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Old 07-20-2019, 04:57 AM   #9
Schwartzie
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Default Re: Euthanasia?

Quote:
Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams View Post
I do know that we ship in cats and dogs from various countries into the USA frequently enough. It isn't so commonly known, but it is definitely a practice that some shelters even do(debatable practice, but one that does happen).

Honestly I'd be one of those people to go for it, but unfortunately I'm only really able to take on two kittens if I'm really lucky at the moment so that wouldn't be much help. Plus, it would be a lot of stress to the poor kittens to get them all the way to the USA!
Thanks so much for being with me on supporting what I’m trying to achieve. To be honest, it would be a very long flight which is disappointing but I have your support. Will figure this one out step by step.
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Old 07-20-2019, 05:45 AM   #10
Ria P
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Default Re: Euthanasia?

Yes, the cat charities may be able to help.

I wouldn't take on a cat myself because i don't really like cats much but tolerate/feed them even the cat at work who makes a beeline for me (why me?) and insists on sitting on my lap making everyone think that i'm a cat person!

What happens to the people who don't want a cat as a pet and prefer to have a dog or no pet? Are the stray cats a shared responsibility of all residents?
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