I don't expect this entry to get much attention and probably even fewer comments - none deserves fewer. I am the first to admit this is not about any significant socio-political issue that dominates recent conversations here and elsewhere. But, as is true of about half the BLOGS I write, this one is for personal ventilation. The kind of of exhalation required for no nobler purpose than to rid one's self of stale, acrid air and to breathe in some that is fresh. In a sense, it falls in the "rant" category but in a kindler, gentler way. It is a topic that I think of often as it befits a simple mind. At the same time, if I would allow it, the thoughts would birth one of those irrational, passion-filled diatribes we occasionally witness on Blogcritics that does no one - including the author - any good, whatsoever. A little background may shed some light on the murky waters upon which this discourse, uninteresting as it is, floats.
I have an office in a "professional office complex.” It borders some woods, an area that stretches about 100 yards deep behind our building and a half-mile or so down the parkway behind several buildings, moving west. The wooded area and a 8 foot chain link fence separates our complex from Highway 59 which runs on higher ground behind my clinic.
After I moved into the office, some 6 or 7 years back, I would get occasional early morning (I get to the office between 4:30 and 5:00) glimpses of feral cats. These hearty creatures have, I assume, been living in those woods long before I got here. They are the most feral animals one can imagine: avoiding all human contact and at any cost. Undoubtedly this is a learned response, sensing - as only animals can - that humans are not to be trusted. They know, perhaps firsthand, the capabilities and tendencies of our species.
It is a useful survival trait. For, if they were to be tamed, they would dare to approach cars, moving or not, to beg for a handout from their mortal enemies. They would, if they were so naive, be crushed in the parking lot or on the street, or, if they were lucky, just have someone throw rocks (or anything else handy) at them. Being the intelligent creatures there are, they have learned and they surely learned quickly. They scurry back into the woods and safety.
I have been here for some years now and I see their ghostly images in the predawn hours. I can sometimes see them observing me from the safety of their woods, their eyes reflecting the fading morning streetlights or in the headlights of my car. They know that potential evil and even death lurks out on the pavement.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Nancy
I'm not going to castigate you for my own sins. It kills me to see 'throwaway' pets. Yeah, yeah, I know there are 'throwaway people' & I "should" be more concerned about them, but I'm not. People can always vocalize their needs if they really want; animals can't. People are protected by law (theoretically); animals aren't. 2 of my 5 girls are stray rescues I found - or rather, they found me, fortunately, & I keep a can of wet food & a bag of dry in my desk drawer for any other 'emergencies' I might find. I just hope that there really is a greater Justice after all, and those that abandon animals like that get their well-earned reward in some truly horrific corner of hell.
2 - Shark
Nice essay, Doc.
3 - Lisa McKay
Here's the thing, dietdoc - if everyone does the thing that, in their own world, makes a small bit of difference in the quality of life, whether it be for humans or animals, the world becomes a better place. I am an unrepentant feeder of strays.
By the way, I am speaking from experience when I say that those feral kittens make fine companions if you can catch them early and bring them in. We've had two such critters in our family.
4 - dietdoc
Lisa writes: By the way, I am speaking from experience when I say that those feral kittens make fine companions if you can catch them early and bring them in.
Reply: Wish I had been able! They were born out in the wilds of the woods and heaven only knows where! They are beautiful little buggers but, at this point, they are beyond the reach of any human. They make their Mom look like a lap cat! Good teaching for future survival!
Cheers,
Ron
5 - Dr. Tristan, M.D.
it actually made me sit here and cry just thinking of that little family of feral cats running back and forth dodging cars and trucks and getting their "guaranteed 1 meal a day in the morning .........
maybe Bono & Geldof could begin that in Africa ---- just going out in the morning, say with a few drums of porridge for the poverty stricken Africans so they can at least be guaranteed one meal a day......
it IStrue---giving millions of dollars to the corrupt governments there just ends up in the thieves Swiss numbered accounts----so the REAL solution must be to somehow bypass the individual despots and get the food into the hands of the people that actually NEED it~~
Now if Bono and Geldof could concentrate on that and overcoming the logistics preventing THAT from happening, they would truly be performing an admirable service to the poor they are trying to help..
and Tony Blair could dump his $1800 tailored Saville Row suits and put on some khaki shorts & a T-shirt and do the same,......I can see that now ...!!!!
6 - Nancy
That's why I don't give to Big Charities any more. I gave to the Red Cross after 9/11, only to find out they gave huge chunks of funds that were intended by the givers like me to help the victims' families, to corporations, to make themselves even richer by re-developing the area! These corporations would have made out like bandits anyway on their own money, but thanks to the Red Cross, they got it all for free! And then the ongoing scandals of United Way ... I will NEVER give another nickel to ANY charity I can't see with my own eyes what they do, and know for certain where that money is going.
At least w/these strays, & the little local no-kill shelters, I can SEE where the money goes, & they file their 990s, too so I can check on what they spend it on.
7 - Dr. Tristan, M.D.
VERY good point Nancy makes; as it seems most of the larger charities are all corrupt, as in the Catholic church and Vatican;.........
at least with local smaller charities we can keep a vigilant eye on them to make sure the donations are actually going where they are SUPPOSED to ~~!!!
8 - Victor Plenty
For a small local charity you can even donate time, or usable goods like nonperishable food and other supplies.
Your hours spent caring for strays at a local animal shelter can't be diverted into anyone's Swiss bank account, and it would probably be more trouble than it's worth to convert canned food into any form that could make corrupt officials rich.
9 - Brooke Lee
I live in pet-dumping central: the Boonies. In fact that's how we tripped over Molly; she basically showed up in the middle of the night and asked, "Will you be my family?"
I'm not kidding about the dumping. Chickens, actual abandoned chickens; it's rather absurd when ya think about it. Oh and peacocks. Peacocks do not make spiffy pets. Every hear a peacock call? Download a wav then play it continuously; voila, life with a peacock.
Every since I moved here (nearly six years ago) we've had a stray that I've simple dubbed, White Cat. I feed him and he knows I'm his bitch. 100% feral, however if I sit very quietly he will venture within inches of me, but he ain't havin that lovey dovey crap. Fair enough.
There's a story/legend around these parts of a flight stewardess who converted her entire backyard into a cat haven. A good acre of land fenced, partially roofed for shelter and shade and the rest of the top fenced to keep out dogs, mountain lions, coyotes, etc. In one part of the yard there was this huge sandbox (every cat's fantasy litter box), trees, toys and anything else for a cat to muck around with. So whenever this gal or someone in the community happened onna abadoned cat, she'd let 'em live in the little kitty paradise. Sometimes folks adopted the cats, but usually your one-eyed three-legged guy held less appeal and went on to live in comfort to a ripe ol' age.
10 - Nick Jones
Beautiful article, dietdoc.
11 - Paul Herrington
There are not many things that feel quite as good as helping an animal in need. I thought this was a very insightful article.
12 - Jennifer
Dear DietDoc-
What a beautiful article you have written. In this cruel, hate filled world there are people who truly know the love and appreciation these innocent cats have. My plight for them started with a dirty towel that was a catch all for my own cats food. I thought I would throw it outside "for the birds to eat". I just happened to catch a glimpse out the window and there she was. A starving, skinny, gray cat. I had no idea she was out there. It was the summer in Arizona. That is no laughing matter. So I started placing a fresh bowl of food and water out each day. I would watch her come to the bowl at night in the cover of darkness. One night when I peaked in on her I saw the awful truth. It wasn't just her who was starving it was her, and her three kittens. She was a Mom. I was shocked. She wasn't the only cat I was feeding. In the weeks that I had begun feeding I realized that the problem was a bit bigger than I had realized. I was now feeding about six other males as well. The bowl went from one to at least three or four. That was fine. The fatter she got the happier I got. I didn't want her to get pregnant again. I started calling around to find out what I could do to help her. Fortunately there is an organization here that works to TNR feral cats. That is Trap, Neuter, Return. I got on a waiting list which was very long. By the time I was able to be helped the kittens had grown. They had learned from Mom to come to my house to eat, they have known nothing else. I was finally able to trap them and had them all spayed and neutered. She had one girl and two boys. I also got the six males and prevented them from breeding as well. Sadly, about two months after I spayed Mom she was hit by a car in front of my house and died. I promised her that day that I would take care of her "kittens" who were of course now adults. They stuck together, all of them. About a year and a half after Mom died one of the boys stopped coming. I still wonder to this day what happened to him. I know it couldn't have been good. He knew nothing else. But his brother and sister still come here and various cats have come and gone since. This will be my third summer feeding them, I can touch the boy now. He has let me have the pleasure of petting him on his invitation only of course. I know he likes it and even looks forward to it. His sister looks just like her Mother and wouldn't dare let me touch her but I can get very close to her. I will forever remember the beautiful cat that started my heart overfilling with joy each time I looked out my kitchen window. The view is better than any television show. It breaks my heart that there are so many cats who seek a measly bowl of cat food and never know the joy of the human touch. Who never lay on a soft bed with the air conditioning blowing on them. But I am always glad when they find my door, because I know I will make a positive change in there lives and they make positive changes in mine every time I see a new face. I prevent them from breeding, I prevent them from aimlessly searching for food. I hope that one day no cat goes without a home. Until then I will make a difference outside my door. I have volunteered for the organization that helped me for the last two years and will do so as long as they will let me. I thank God each day for the opportunity to serve, and pray that he leads many more cats to my door. There are so many more cats I could talk about but it would take all night. I hope that anyone reading this will be moved to look outsied their doors, or find ways to help in their communities. God bless...
13 - theSliver
I'd have no argument with you feeding them, especially if it reduced their predation on the local wild population of birds and small mammals. I'd suggest though that you'd help in promoting spaying and neutering of the adult cats.
Colonies of feral cats can, if left unchecked, decimate quite large areas of birds and mammals of all sizes up to wood pigeon. Given the nature of their scavenging as well they'll increase the chance of toxoplasmosis being vectored, an increasing parasitic disease in humans, especially in the continenal US.
So carry on feeding them as you will.
14 - dietdoc
Thanks for all the wonderful comments to something that was, primarily, simply a personal venting. I see there are more, like me, who have difficulty understanding the callousness of people who would betray these little animals, first, and leave them in the wild, second. As domesticated animals, they have few of the survival skills to hunt anyting, much less "decimate a local wildlife population." I have seen mockingbirds squawking within 5 feet of these little cats and feel perfectly safe.
After a few generations, like my little family, I guess they do develop some skills and can partially survive. I doubt they will significantly decimate anything. I have everything from huge crows/ravens to robins and everything else in and around the woods of my office complex.
I have thought about capture/neuter/release but I don't think we have those capabilities here. I will check harder because it would be a sensible thing to do. But, as I mention in the piece, nature usually is her own limiting factor.
Thank you all for renewing my belief that, despite our gaping faults, people still care and have love to give.
Cheers,
Ron
15 - Shark
re: raining on the poetic, yet feral, out of balance parade
Sliver: "...Colonies of feral cats can... decimate... birds and mammals of all sizes up to wood pigeon."
I left my compliment and zipped my lip, but somebody hadda say it;
hope yall appreciate that it wasn't me, the Simon Cowell of Blogcritics.
: )
PS: If somebody can breed feral cats that only eat grackles, they could make a fortune in Texas.
16 - Shark
Another Sharkian thought:
I wonder if starving Africans would eat feral cats?
~ IT COULD WORK!
17 - dietdoc
Shark writes: I wonder if starving Africans would eat feral cats?
Reply: Shark, sometimes your mind takes some very strange turns, without signaling. (wink) I enjoy the wackiness of your take on most things here. You are quite unique, my friend.
Cheers,
Ron
18 - dietdoc
Silver writes: Given the nature of their scavenging as well they'll increase the chance of toxoplasmosis being vectored, an increasing parasitic disease in humans, especially in the continenal US.
Reply: According to the CDC, Toxoplasmosis is transmitted to humans by:
1. Accidentally swallowing cat feces from a Toxoplasma-infected cat that is shedding the organism in its feces. This might happen if you were to accidentally touch your hands to your mouth after gardening, cleaning a cat's litter box, or touching anything that has come into contact with cat feces.
2. Eating contaminated raw or partly cooked meat, especially pork, lamb, or venison; by touching your hands to your mouth after handling undercooked meat.
3. Contaminating food with knives, utensils, cutting boards and other foods that have had contact with raw meat.
4. Drinking water contaminated with Toxoplasma.
5. Receiving an infected organ transplant or blood transfusion, though this is rare.
While I understand your viewpoint on disease vectors and appreciate your concerns about the wildlife population, both concerns - in my particular instance - are really not likely. They (the cats) don't ever get close enough for transmission and, from what I can tell from their hunting habits, the wildlife has little to fear. The local birds usually just swoop down, dive bomber-style, and scare the bejeebers out of the cats who appear to want nothing to do with them. Now, if they reduce the field mice and rats (old building, you know), I can live with that.
Cheers,
Ron
19 - Nancy
It isn't just feeding them, always. I found a smallish cat (I thought was a 4 mo old kitten, but almost 2ce that age) who seemed to have a bad cold. With the help of a neighbor, we managed to corner her & I grabbed her & stuffed her into a carrier, shedding much blood along the way (mine, not hers), & got her to the vet. Unfortunately, not only did she have a bad case of pneumonia, she also had FIV. The vet said she had little chance of recovery, so we sadly put her to sleep. But I had her cremated, and brought her home - she does indeed have a home, & I'm her mom, for the few short hours she was under my care - and buried her under one of my big rose bushes in the sun where I first saw her. Poor little Nugget. I still cry for her.
20 - dietdoc
Nancy writes: "I grabbed her & stuffed her into a carrier, shedding much blood along the way (mine, not hers), & got her to the vet."
Reply: You, dear lady, are a saint in commoner's clothing. If there were more people willing to make the sacrifices you make, in your corner of the world, it would be a much more pleasant world, indeed.
Cheers,
Ron
21 - andy marsh
dietdoc...why do we need that...we have PETA...down here in VA and NC...euthanizing them and throwing them in dumpsters!
22 - dietdoc
Andy writes: "we have PETA...down here in VA and NC...euthanizing them and throwing them in dumpsters!"
Reply: That is a public relations disaster that put PETA in damage control mode for years to come. Unfortunate for a group whose goals are noble, even if their methods are a bit wacky.
Cheers,
Ron
23 - andy marsh
I think SOME of their goals are noble...some of what they spew is just way to out htere for me.
24 - Dave Nalle
After the feral cats come the ...
coyotes, feral dog packs and feral hogs
.... all of whom live behind our house.
But it's okay, because massive construction of new housing has driven cougars into our neighborhood to take care of all these problems for us...
except, of course, the cougars.
Dave
25 - dietdoc
Dave writes: "...except, of course, the cougars."
Reply: Dave, as I note in the original BLOG, nature is its own excellent control system. Things do have a way, usually - unless man tries to "intervene" in a particular ecosystem - of working things out.
Cheers to the cougars and all nature's ultimate control systems,
Ron