Shadow Cat Rescue

2009-12-05T18:02:00.000-05:00

Catnip isn’t just for cats, humans can benefit from the herb as well. Nepetaclactone is the chemical compound in catnip that produces the ‘high’ cats experience. The cats experience this euphoria by smelling nepetalactone and may bruise, crush, or chew the herb to entice the plant to emit more of the chemical. The scent of nepetalactone may not produce the same euphoric or catatonic effect in people as it does in their pets, but that doesn’t mean catnip doesn’t serve a purpose for humans as well–in fact, it’s a lot more useful than you might think. Catnip capsules, available at many health-food stores, are helpful in treating headaches, indigestion, stomach cramps, and gas. Catnip can also be used as a topical poultice for cuts (crush and dampen fresh catnip leaves, then apply the paste directly to the wound) or as an aromatic herb in cooked dishes and salads. Additionally, a tea brewed with dried catnip leaves is a relaxing nighttime beverage and even an effective remedy for insomnia. Pregnant women should avoid catnip in any form as it may cause a miscarriage.

2009-11-02T08:08:00.002-05:00

It's time, for Texas to lose his manhood, sorry if that sounds bad, facts are facts - testosterone makes men stupid. My opinion YES, but as a fact testosterone is responsible for encouraging cats to roam from home and to engage in fights, oh and yes it does cause more offspring to come into this world - which is a good enough reason to neuter Texas all by itself without keeping him home and fight free.

Texas was born completely wild - a feral kitten to a feral mom in Montgomery County Texas (thus the name). After discovering the feral family I trapped the mother and she was supposedly spayed by FCAP in Houston, TX (that is a whole other story).

The whole family was tended to and I tried hard to domesticate the kittens as much as I could but was in the process of moving across many states and feral cats don't do well in vehicles. Besides when you already have five cats of your own taking on anymore puts major strains on the human & feline family.

With an additional cage set up in the vehicle carrying all the felines - none of my cats are fond of vehicles - I called for the feral kitties as we were ready to pull out - I called "Kitty, kitty, kitty", which should of brought every loose cat to me, only one came, at that point he didn't have a name, but he came running from out of the thicket ready to be a part of our life - forever. He was put in a cage much to his amazement and disapproval. He was still just a young whipper snapper then, but now he is becoming a man and that man needs to become a gelding - so to say.

The recession has put a financial strain on my personal income and the trickle effect is worse from there. The time has come to prevent adding to the pet overpopulation problem so let the funds be found.

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Texas was neutered on Tom Cat Tuesday by the local Humane Shelter for $10.00 and was updated on shots, checked for leukemia and F.I.V. (negative - yea), and came home with pain meds for under $60.00 for everything. What was needed just when it was needed.

2009-10-01T11:59:00.022-04:00

Statistically the month of October is the single most dreadful month for black animals in general and black cats specifically. Most Rescues and Shelters will go 'on alert' from early August until mid till late November, tightening to eliminating adoptions of certain types of animals.

In all honesty solid white cats suffer from ritualistic sacrifice as much as the solid black ones, and Doberman Pinschers, Rottweilers, and Great Danes.

Be especially careful with your pets this time of the year.

Came across this unusual Black Cat Adoption for the month of October:

http://www.petwork.com/news/get-lucky-adopt-a-black-cat-in-october-black-cat-a-thon

Be Interesting to turn this whole stigma around and make October the month to adopt black animals into your life.

2009-08-28T17:18:00.008-04:00

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a retrovirus that infects cats.
As a retrovirus, the genetic information of FeLV is carried
by RNA instead of DNA. FeLV is usually transmitted between
infected cats when the transfer of saliva or nasal secretions
is involved. If not defeated by the animal’s immune system,
the virus can be lethal.

The disease is a virus, not a cancer. The name stems from the
fact that the first disease associated with the virus was a
form of leukemia. By the time it was discovered that the virus
was not the same as leukemia, the misnomer had already found
its way into the vocabulary of pet owners.

Not to be confused with Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (F.I.V.),

2009-07-08T13:51:00.000-04:00

Ferals

2009-07-06T20:54:00.002-04:00

A pair of breeding cats, which can have two or more litters per year, can exponentially produce 420,000 offspring over a seven-year period.

Many people assume their animals will survive when they move away and leave them behind. Contrary to popular belief, domestic animals do not automatically return to their "natural" instincts and cannot fend for themselves. United States animal shelters are forced to kill an estimated 15 million homeless cats and dogs annually.

Feral cats (and dogs) , are the 'wild' offspring of domestic animals and are primarily the result of pet of pet owners' abandonment or failure to spay and neuter their animals, allowing them to breed uncontrolled. Feral cat
colonies' can be found behind shopping areas or businesses, in alleys, parks, abandoned buildings, and rural areas. They are elusive and do not trust humans.

Feral populations are swollen by the breeding and dumping of unwanted pets, 5 million cats and dogs are 'dumped' annually according to the US Department of Agriculture while American surveys suggest that between 36% and 60% of unaltered male cats become feral within 3 years.

Alley Cat Allies estimates the current U.S. figure to be between 60 million and 100 million feral cats, the U.S. is not alone in the pet overpopulation problem as Australia and Singapore also struggle with problems related to feral cats.

Trap - Alter - Release programs for management of feral cat colonies have seen the long term effect as positive for all concerned.