What a beauty! And she's preggers... I need to trap her.

[bertha katzenengel]

We've named her Smudge. I don't know how far along she is.

Tonight I begin trying to trap her. We have a "cage" we will keep her in. Sounds inhumane, but it is very large, and safe. It'll keep her isolated from the other cats, give her a safe place to have her kittens, and I will be able to reach in to get them, to hold them, to socialize them so they can be placed.

This is my first attempt at fostering kittens in more than four years.

Wish me luck in the trapping!

Here's little Smudgy:



Sorry the image is so big. My Photoshop is on the fritz... can't open photos!

[bertha katzenengel]

1. hello, evening crowd . . .

:kick:

[txwhitedove]

2. Feral mama, I take it? Good luck.

:thumbsup:

[bertha katzenengel]

5. Yep, feral. Thanks, White Dove!

:hi:

[AirmensMom]

3. She's cute.

:loveya: We're trying to trap a feral tom through right now for TNR. How frustrating! The neighbor's dog keeps getting the bait. If we close the gate to the deck, the cat doesn't come around. :shrug:

[bertha katzenengel]

6. How is the dog getting into the trap?

Or - do you have a trap?

[AirmensMom]

9. We have the smallest trap available that the rescue place loaned us.

It looks too small for the dog to get into, but she somehow gets the food out of the back and doesn't even trip it. It's VERY sensitive, so I have no idea how she does it. I tried putting it on a table and surrounding it with other furniture and she still managed to knock it down.

Yesterday I saw her sleeping right beside the steps. It's almost as if she's trying to protect me from the kitty. :shrug:

[bertha katzenengel]

16. Wow. Talented dog!

I wonder if there's a dog repellent that cats don't find repulsive. Hmm....

[Taverner]

4. Nothing inhumane about cat traps

Much less humane to let her have those kitties...

[bertha katzenengel]

7. Ah - no, I meant that the cage we'll be keeping her in may seem inhumane.

:hi:

[YellowRubberDuckie]

8. Bertha, I know I've said it before...

But you guys have the biggest hearts. i know it's not easy doing what you do, but it's so helpful. You guys rock.
Duckie

[bertha katzenengel]

17. There are a lot of us here, I think, who perform TNR services in our

communities. By "a lot" I mean maybe ten?

I will tell you, though, Duckie. If I'd known how much work it can be when you continue to miss that elusive queen, I would have stayed up nights with a net until I caught her. Ugh!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

10. My dear bertha........

She is a beauty!

Good luck trapping her......and socializing those kittens.......

They have no idea how lucky they are.....

:hug:

[bertha katzenengel]

18. thanks for the luck, Peggy

:hug:

(socializing the kittens will be the easy part)

[Flaxbee]

11. she's beautiful!

ahem - once trapped, she could have a kitty abortion.... vets will do that unless the cat is too far along. Might seem coldhearted, but fewer kittens to worry about finding good homes. :shrug:

We got a feral a while back, took her to the vet's and said "Spay, please, shots, etc." and only after did they tell us she was pregnant (not far along). I felt sad, but would have been unable to keep her incarcerated, care for/socialize babies, etc. and wanted to stop the cycle of feral kittens having more feral kittens...

[bertha katzenengel]

19. I know they'll do that. I don't find it coldhearted, but for me,

I couldn't let it be done, at least not with as far along as Smudge is.

:pals: Thanks, Flaxbee

[Flaxbee]

23. I'm glad you're there to care for her, help with the babies, etc.

And good luck trapping her, I hope you get her soon! Feline (domestic) gestation is so short - does it seem like she's really near to giving birth?

[bertha katzenengel]

26. She has plumped up rapidly in the last three weeks, and she is

a small kitty. I know I'm running out of time!

[Arugula Latte]

12. Aw. Pretty kitty.

Good luck with her and THANK YOU for doing this! :applause: :yourock:

[bertha katzenengel]

20. hi, Oregonian

:)

[Arugula Latte]

25. Hi, Bertha

:hi:

I always click on your kitty threads when I see 'em. :)

[bertha katzenengel]

27. Cool. I'm sure some folks don't!

:bounce:

[liontamer]

13. the title of your post was kind of scary till I saw that it was you

she's a cutie

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

15. Haha...I had the same reaction.

Then, I looked at the poster and was like, "oh okay, it's about a cat."

[bertha katzenengel]

21. OOPS! LOL . . .

:blush:

[ScreamingMeemie]

14. Look at how much she looks like our new kitten!

That's amazing!



She's even got the same tuft of white fur on her chest. :hi:

[bertha katzenengel]

22. Oh, my!

Sweet kitties are just all over the world, aren't they?

Look at your pup (can't remember her name) -- she looks trapped, but like she's trying to be okay with it.

[NNadir]

24. Bertha, I really admire your work with feral cats.

It's a very fine thing you do.

[bertha katzenengel]

28. achhh....

I am just following through on what my soft heart started. :blush:

:hi: