Weekend Vibes
4 days ago
Showing posts with label community cat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label community cat. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
We created the problem. Why should they have to pay for it with their lives?
The burden of stemming the tide of destruction largely falls to cat caregivers – regular people with a big heart.
MEDIA RELEASE
Singapore, 10 February 2010 | For Immediate Release
The proliferation of stray animals in our communities is a human-created problem. They are here as a direct result of human-driven activities – a thriving live pet trade, irresponsible breeding and pet abandonment. As we enter the year of the Tiger, animal welfare agencies and organisations have a big concern - the number of animals that are going to be cleaned out with the trash during spring cleaning. This trend is mirrored in more than one turning of the year on a multi-cultural calendar – Hari Raya and New Year’s Day. And we are already seeing it happen with the next Chinese New Year around the corner.
On January 30 2010, 8 cats were abandoned in their filthy, rusty cages. When community cat caregivers received the tip-off, only 2 very frightened cats remained. The rest had gone to hide in the drains. Our experience with home cats that have been abandoned is that they have very little chance of survival. Some stay put in their hiding spot refusing food until they waste completely away.
Cat caregivers are those who sterilise and manage their community cats and work closely with the Town Council to resolve cat-related issues. They are volunteers who give of their own time and resources to care for the welfare of community cats.
The current measures in addressing the problem of stray cat proliferation includes
Pet Cat Ownership
* Improving standards and practices of pet shops by the Agri-food & Veterinary Authority (AVA)
* Education and awareness campaigns on responsible pet ownership by government agencies and animal welfare organisations
* Banning cats from public housing by the Housing & Development Board (HDB) (therefore pet cat abandonment is not a crime)
* Face-to-face mediation with cat owners, sterilisation assistance and rescue efforts by cat caregivers with the support of the Cat Welfare Society and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)
Stray or Abandoned Cats
* Sterilisation of community cats by cat caregivers with the support of SPCA and the Cat Welfare Society. Approx. 4200 sterilised through the support of the Cat Welfare Society and SPCA in 2008.
* Boarding at overtaxed animal shelters in Singapore
* Surrendering of animals and destruction at the Society for the Prevention of the Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) – Approx. 4500 surrendered in 2008
* Impounding and destruction by the - AVA Approx. 3500 culled in 2008
And still we had to put down 8000 cats last year. An average of 10,000 cats has been put down every year for the last 10 years.
The current measures put the considerable burden of addressing the problem of irresponsible cat owners squarely on cat caregivers. They also offer irresponsible cat owners an easy way out by abandoning and surrendering without consequences. The number of cats destroyed is gradually coming down, but the burden on cat caregivers continue year after year. The decreasing numbers is also a testimony to their efforts.
Many cat owners are driven to keep cats to save them from the streets, pest control and abuse. The percentage of people with local cats picked from the streets far outweighs the ones with pedigrees. Not regulating ownership not only penalises responsible owners who help keep cats off our streets, it puts irresponsible owners out of reach of the long arm of enforcement. Currently, government action against cat owners is confined in large degree to eviction. The pet cats then often join the community cats on the street.
Addressing the problem of irresponsible supply and demand, breeding and abandoning of pets has to come from a direct and concerted effort by government agencies, animal welfare organisations and the community of concerned citizens and pet owners, through legislation and enforcement, awareness and education and community peer pressure.
It is our aim at the Cat Welfare Society to support this steadfast and devoted community. We are celebrating their labours, the spirit and their compassion at the Tiger Show.
More information about the event at www.catwelfare.org.
MEDIA RELEASE
Singapore, 10 February 2010 | For Immediate Release
The proliferation of stray animals in our communities is a human-created problem. They are here as a direct result of human-driven activities – a thriving live pet trade, irresponsible breeding and pet abandonment. As we enter the year of the Tiger, animal welfare agencies and organisations have a big concern - the number of animals that are going to be cleaned out with the trash during spring cleaning. This trend is mirrored in more than one turning of the year on a multi-cultural calendar – Hari Raya and New Year’s Day. And we are already seeing it happen with the next Chinese New Year around the corner.
On January 30 2010, 8 cats were abandoned in their filthy, rusty cages. When community cat caregivers received the tip-off, only 2 very frightened cats remained. The rest had gone to hide in the drains. Our experience with home cats that have been abandoned is that they have very little chance of survival. Some stay put in their hiding spot refusing food until they waste completely away.
Cat caregivers are those who sterilise and manage their community cats and work closely with the Town Council to resolve cat-related issues. They are volunteers who give of their own time and resources to care for the welfare of community cats.
The current measures in addressing the problem of stray cat proliferation includes
Pet Cat Ownership
* Improving standards and practices of pet shops by the Agri-food & Veterinary Authority (AVA)
* Education and awareness campaigns on responsible pet ownership by government agencies and animal welfare organisations
* Banning cats from public housing by the Housing & Development Board (HDB) (therefore pet cat abandonment is not a crime)
* Face-to-face mediation with cat owners, sterilisation assistance and rescue efforts by cat caregivers with the support of the Cat Welfare Society and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)
Stray or Abandoned Cats
* Sterilisation of community cats by cat caregivers with the support of SPCA and the Cat Welfare Society. Approx. 4200 sterilised through the support of the Cat Welfare Society and SPCA in 2008.
* Boarding at overtaxed animal shelters in Singapore
* Surrendering of animals and destruction at the Society for the Prevention of the Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) – Approx. 4500 surrendered in 2008
* Impounding and destruction by the - AVA Approx. 3500 culled in 2008
And still we had to put down 8000 cats last year. An average of 10,000 cats has been put down every year for the last 10 years.
The current measures put the considerable burden of addressing the problem of irresponsible cat owners squarely on cat caregivers. They also offer irresponsible cat owners an easy way out by abandoning and surrendering without consequences. The number of cats destroyed is gradually coming down, but the burden on cat caregivers continue year after year. The decreasing numbers is also a testimony to their efforts.
Many cat owners are driven to keep cats to save them from the streets, pest control and abuse. The percentage of people with local cats picked from the streets far outweighs the ones with pedigrees. Not regulating ownership not only penalises responsible owners who help keep cats off our streets, it puts irresponsible owners out of reach of the long arm of enforcement. Currently, government action against cat owners is confined in large degree to eviction. The pet cats then often join the community cats on the street.
Addressing the problem of irresponsible supply and demand, breeding and abandoning of pets has to come from a direct and concerted effort by government agencies, animal welfare organisations and the community of concerned citizens and pet owners, through legislation and enforcement, awareness and education and community peer pressure.
It is our aim at the Cat Welfare Society to support this steadfast and devoted community. We are celebrating their labours, the spirit and their compassion at the Tiger Show.
More information about the event at www.catwelfare.org.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
continuing stroke of luck with new TC officer
We have a new TC officer and she is a cat-lover! There has been some complaints about the number of community cats in the estate but she lets it be known that the TC abides by the general rule that sterilised cats will not be removed.
The sun is finally shining on our estate.
But the area she is referring to is a problematic one that keeps us busy catching and sterilising every few months. There must be at least one chronic breeder upstairs if not more. The officer has spotted kittens in one of the corridors and the woman will hopefully be able to follow the lead this time to the culpable unit.
The woman also reconnected with a feeder who discovered an old hoarder in the neighbourhood. The old cleaner lives with her mentally challenged brother and 20 cats, although the number can’t be confirmed as the old woman opens her door only enough to speak through it. Even so, the putrid stench can fell a grown man. Only seasoned cat aunties like the woman and the feeder are able to stand their ground without so much as an involuntary nose twitch as they coax the old woman to let them sterilize and install grills for much-needed ventilation.
They met minor success when the old woman agreed to neuter her male cats. The whole experience brought forth geriatric tears as she passed the cats out to the woman one by one. It’s a start. She has still to relent on the females and help in cleaning and grilling. At least there will be no more new litters for now.
These are the small victories that the woman keeps her eyes on when the decision to fund cat welfare efforts becomes more complex in our present economic climate. Yet all the more, it calls for dedication and determination from volunteers and sponsors to stay the course. It will really be a crying shame if we let our collective labours be undone by a prolonged but ultimately temporary bad situation.
Ginger needs you!
The sun is finally shining on our estate.
But the area she is referring to is a problematic one that keeps us busy catching and sterilising every few months. There must be at least one chronic breeder upstairs if not more. The officer has spotted kittens in one of the corridors and the woman will hopefully be able to follow the lead this time to the culpable unit.
The woman also reconnected with a feeder who discovered an old hoarder in the neighbourhood. The old cleaner lives with her mentally challenged brother and 20 cats, although the number can’t be confirmed as the old woman opens her door only enough to speak through it. Even so, the putrid stench can fell a grown man. Only seasoned cat aunties like the woman and the feeder are able to stand their ground without so much as an involuntary nose twitch as they coax the old woman to let them sterilize and install grills for much-needed ventilation.
They met minor success when the old woman agreed to neuter her male cats. The whole experience brought forth geriatric tears as she passed the cats out to the woman one by one. It’s a start. She has still to relent on the females and help in cleaning and grilling. At least there will be no more new litters for now.
These are the small victories that the woman keeps her eyes on when the decision to fund cat welfare efforts becomes more complex in our present economic climate. Yet all the more, it calls for dedication and determination from volunteers and sponsors to stay the course. It will really be a crying shame if we let our collective labours be undone by a prolonged but ultimately temporary bad situation.
Friday, February 20, 2009
conversations on cat welfare
the cat blogosphere has been ablaze with fresh activity since ava’s banal “no easy response to stray cats” rejoinder to the spirited TODAY feature on Dr Tan Chek Wee “the outspoken doc”.
the govt’s arguments about cats being a nuisance and hazard are laundered yearly right down to its bare threads and so past its sell-by date, it’s heartening to see people still with politically-correct words left in their defense. i only have one, @#%.
then the grisly discovery of 45 cats buried in seletar stunned the nation. cat lovers grieved. seletar residents fretted. cat non-lovers were appropriately respectful. the media prepared for a bonanza. and how the authorities must have braced themselves for an impending public relations problem.
true to fashion, TNP sold many papers with their provocative features on cat aids and Tony Tan Tuan Khoon. they freaked the public and gave Tony and cousin Choo their cringe-worthy airtime. but they also ignited a coherent campaign against govt funding and support for vigilante cat trapping by ordinary citizens that might actually stick.
it is a point worth driving home to the powers upstairs: rubber-stamping culling as a reasonable method of reducing strays spawns the likes of Tony, one civic-minded law-abiding poster boy no respectable govt agency wants to be associated with.
while the cat community keeps the dialogue alive on blogs, on forums, on facebook, perhaps it is time for a parallel approach. as we continue the battle of words, letters and petitions, perhaps it is time to see it from the govt’s perspectives and offer concrete solutions to the sticky issues that they cite time and again as deterrents towards more progressive and humane policies. and this may actually require working alongside the govt to tackle their pet issue – reducing public complaints on strays. it’s a tall order but one worth pursuing.
already, AVA numbers show a definite down trend in nuisance calls. CWS should take the credit for that for their relentless effort in engaging TCs and AVA, providing support for caregivers and channeling resources to education, mediation and to sterilisation. that barrel needs to keep rolling.
and still there is always room for fresh ideas and platforms if the right people can come together on it. and that is where “Conversations on Cat Welfare” comes in. we are meeting tomorrow 21 Feb 3pm at Food#03 on 109 Rowell Rd.
this informal meeting hopes to identify current gaps in cat welfare practices, areas of collaboration and ultimately spin off projects that will help the cause. these can eventually be taken up individually or collectively.
to start the ball rolling, some information has been collated to provide perspective on the cat welfare ecosystem in singapore. this is by no means complete and inputs are welcomed to make this a robust repository for the benefit of everyone. if anything, our message is that it is time for the cat community to work together despite differences, share information as much as possible and to support each other’s ideas and efforts, because the stray cats downstairs can only benefit from more of them, not less.
click on images to enlarge
CCM = community cat management
AWO = animal welfare organisations
Before 1998
*150,000 stray cats
*13,000 stray cats culled annually
*14,000 cat nuisance calls
1998 – Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) (then PPD – Primary Production Dept) implemented Stray Cat Rehabilitation Scheme (SCRS)
2001 – 28,000 stray cats impounded
2003 – AVA terminates scheme
*80,000 stray cats (10,000 sterilised)
*16 Town Councils (TC) & 500 volunteers on TNRM
*Cat nuisance calls spike during SARS, sterilised cats also at risk
*AVA & TCs culling bill up 20% ($62,000) to $598,944 to catch and cull 7,682 cats and 4,744 dogs
2006 – AVA supports sterilisation by volunteers with subsidy and communication to TCs
if you have an interest in cat welfare, feel free to come join us.
the govt’s arguments about cats being a nuisance and hazard are laundered yearly right down to its bare threads and so past its sell-by date, it’s heartening to see people still with politically-correct words left in their defense. i only have one, @#%.
then the grisly discovery of 45 cats buried in seletar stunned the nation. cat lovers grieved. seletar residents fretted. cat non-lovers were appropriately respectful. the media prepared for a bonanza. and how the authorities must have braced themselves for an impending public relations problem.
true to fashion, TNP sold many papers with their provocative features on cat aids and Tony Tan Tuan Khoon. they freaked the public and gave Tony and cousin Choo their cringe-worthy airtime. but they also ignited a coherent campaign against govt funding and support for vigilante cat trapping by ordinary citizens that might actually stick.
it is a point worth driving home to the powers upstairs: rubber-stamping culling as a reasonable method of reducing strays spawns the likes of Tony, one civic-minded law-abiding poster boy no respectable govt agency wants to be associated with.
while the cat community keeps the dialogue alive on blogs, on forums, on facebook, perhaps it is time for a parallel approach. as we continue the battle of words, letters and petitions, perhaps it is time to see it from the govt’s perspectives and offer concrete solutions to the sticky issues that they cite time and again as deterrents towards more progressive and humane policies. and this may actually require working alongside the govt to tackle their pet issue – reducing public complaints on strays. it’s a tall order but one worth pursuing.
already, AVA numbers show a definite down trend in nuisance calls. CWS should take the credit for that for their relentless effort in engaging TCs and AVA, providing support for caregivers and channeling resources to education, mediation and to sterilisation. that barrel needs to keep rolling.
and still there is always room for fresh ideas and platforms if the right people can come together on it. and that is where “Conversations on Cat Welfare” comes in. we are meeting tomorrow 21 Feb 3pm at Food#03 on 109 Rowell Rd.
this informal meeting hopes to identify current gaps in cat welfare practices, areas of collaboration and ultimately spin off projects that will help the cause. these can eventually be taken up individually or collectively.
to start the ball rolling, some information has been collated to provide perspective on the cat welfare ecosystem in singapore. this is by no means complete and inputs are welcomed to make this a robust repository for the benefit of everyone. if anything, our message is that it is time for the cat community to work together despite differences, share information as much as possible and to support each other’s ideas and efforts, because the stray cats downstairs can only benefit from more of them, not less.
CCM = community cat management
AWO = animal welfare organisations
Before 1998
*150,000 stray cats
*13,000 stray cats culled annually
*14,000 cat nuisance calls
1998 – Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) (then PPD – Primary Production Dept) implemented Stray Cat Rehabilitation Scheme (SCRS)
2001 – 28,000 stray cats impounded
2003 – AVA terminates scheme
*80,000 stray cats (10,000 sterilised)
*16 Town Councils (TC) & 500 volunteers on TNRM
*Cat nuisance calls spike during SARS, sterilised cats also at risk
*AVA & TCs culling bill up 20% ($62,000) to $598,944 to catch and cull 7,682 cats and 4,744 dogs
2006 – AVA supports sterilisation by volunteers with subsidy and communication to TCs
if you have an interest in cat welfare, feel free to come join us.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
at dinner
dinner conversation turns to the topic of the animal family today. it is quite usual then for friends to start wondering about whether it is right to lock up cats. today, they also thought about whether it is right to let Bak Bak continue to face his fate. this mind you, coming from a doctor.
as cat welfare volunteers, we know our course of action. but it does throw up some food for thought. what is more important? to be free or to be free from suffering? in our crazy world, these two values are in increasing opposition. in many instances, you can only fulfill one to the detriment of the other.
humans usually have a choice, to live with abandonment or to live cloistered. to plead doctors to save you at all cost or to give them an advanced medical directive. us cats do not have that kind of control over our fate so these well-meaning moral wranglings about being free or free from suffering hold no real meaning for us. ultimately, survival and pain is just as much a part of life as everything else.
so if you have to make choices for us, we only ask that you make them with the conviction of your love. if you must keep us in, do it because you can give us your best. if you must help us along to a better place, let it be because you done your best. if you must allow us to hold on to this precious bitter sweet life to the very end, let it never be in darkness, away from your presence, your thoughts and your prayer.
already, to have you make any decisions about us makes us the lucky ones, over the many whose fates are left to blow in the wind.
saved from AVA, our community queen, Frazzle, still rules the roost.
as cat welfare volunteers, we know our course of action. but it does throw up some food for thought. what is more important? to be free or to be free from suffering? in our crazy world, these two values are in increasing opposition. in many instances, you can only fulfill one to the detriment of the other.
humans usually have a choice, to live with abandonment or to live cloistered. to plead doctors to save you at all cost or to give them an advanced medical directive. us cats do not have that kind of control over our fate so these well-meaning moral wranglings about being free or free from suffering hold no real meaning for us. ultimately, survival and pain is just as much a part of life as everything else.
so if you have to make choices for us, we only ask that you make them with the conviction of your love. if you must keep us in, do it because you can give us your best. if you must help us along to a better place, let it be because you done your best. if you must allow us to hold on to this precious bitter sweet life to the very end, let it never be in darkness, away from your presence, your thoughts and your prayer.
already, to have you make any decisions about us makes us the lucky ones, over the many whose fates are left to blow in the wind.
saved from AVA, our community queen, Frazzle, still rules the roost.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
modern day cowboy
the man and woman was introduced to a professional cat catcher recently who does work exclusively for TNRM. in less than an hour, he solved the problem of our wily carpark cats who have been eluding the woman's traps for months. with lightning speed, he has them in the cages before they even knew what hit them. for our particularly gangster-like white alpha cat, he used a net. with the feeder calming the cat, he took his time to case the periphery as the cat is lulled into complacency. in one blink-and-you-miss-it action, the cat was in the net and quickly transfered into the cage. *applause*
the woman can really use a lesson in this. the quick actions of the cat catcher minimises the trauma of being caught to the cat and they can quickly calm down in the safe darkness of the cage. it's more than a skill, it's a talent to have that kind of hand eye coordination and dexterity. if only we knew about Vincent earlier!
with far less style, the woman performed a stunt of her own this morning. as she left the house, chaplin made a dash for it and ended up on the locked 2nd floor landing where he froze with fear. after running around like a headless chicken for about 10 mins, the woman decided to climb onto the landing from the lift lobby. to get there, she had to lever off a railing onto a narrow decorative wall where she slid like a snake until she connected with the landing. there chaplin hardly protested as she passed him along to the man and safely back home. it will be sometime before chaplin lets his curiosity get the better of him, we think!
so far, vincent has been down twice and we had 5 carpark cats, white gansta and ginger tom snipped. 2 more coming of age cats to go...
the woman can really use a lesson in this. the quick actions of the cat catcher minimises the trauma of being caught to the cat and they can quickly calm down in the safe darkness of the cage. it's more than a skill, it's a talent to have that kind of hand eye coordination and dexterity. if only we knew about Vincent earlier!
with far less style, the woman performed a stunt of her own this morning. as she left the house, chaplin made a dash for it and ended up on the locked 2nd floor landing where he froze with fear. after running around like a headless chicken for about 10 mins, the woman decided to climb onto the landing from the lift lobby. to get there, she had to lever off a railing onto a narrow decorative wall where she slid like a snake until she connected with the landing. there chaplin hardly protested as she passed him along to the man and safely back home. it will be sometime before chaplin lets his curiosity get the better of him, we think!
so far, vincent has been down twice and we had 5 carpark cats, white gansta and ginger tom snipped. 2 more coming of age cats to go...
Saturday, June 14, 2008
bad tooty
oh my, has it been this long??
sorry my dears for not keeping up with this blog for a while. i blame our digital camera, which conked out on us and we had only our pathetic camera phone to fall back on. blogging just didn't seem worthwhile without nice handsome pics of the family to make all you people green with envy... :D
on the cat welfare front, the woman had some luck with the new TC officer who is sympathetic but understandably caught between a rock (the woman) and a hard place (cat hating complainers). sterilisation however, has been tricky as it is getting harder to catch the new younger cats in the neighbourhood. for some reason, they have become a lot more wary and clever, even of their feeders. a good combination for avoiding pest control but not good for TNRM. we had some luck with two prolific males that got hungry and complacent but at least three more are particularly hard cases that have time and again avoided capture. i don't think the conventional traps are working and the woman is on a look out for better ones.
on the home front, we are still an intact household of 2 beans, 11 cats and 1 leafty. it's probably time to update the "how we came by" section to add Tuxedo and Calico to the list as they are well and truly family now.
me slacking off
Chaplin is now our alpha male, never mind that he remains pint-sized compared to Papa, Bak Bak and Rosie. he even orders the woman around! so what do they say about size?
Rosie mellows with age... she is 6! we are sorry to hear about your brother baby blue who died of leukemia late last year. see you at the bridge, blue
Tuxedo graduates to adulthood
sorry my dears for not keeping up with this blog for a while. i blame our digital camera, which conked out on us and we had only our pathetic camera phone to fall back on. blogging just didn't seem worthwhile without nice handsome pics of the family to make all you people green with envy... :D
on the cat welfare front, the woman had some luck with the new TC officer who is sympathetic but understandably caught between a rock (the woman) and a hard place (cat hating complainers). sterilisation however, has been tricky as it is getting harder to catch the new younger cats in the neighbourhood. for some reason, they have become a lot more wary and clever, even of their feeders. a good combination for avoiding pest control but not good for TNRM. we had some luck with two prolific males that got hungry and complacent but at least three more are particularly hard cases that have time and again avoided capture. i don't think the conventional traps are working and the woman is on a look out for better ones.
on the home front, we are still an intact household of 2 beans, 11 cats and 1 leafty. it's probably time to update the "how we came by" section to add Tuxedo and Calico to the list as they are well and truly family now.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
giddy lunar
outwitted, outmaneuvered, outdolled on Survivor: Bridesmaid... Rosie took my spot!
heady from wedding glee, man and woman splurged on a luxurious new sofa. never mind that there is no more space for walking. just dive and sink at the door and you don't even have to hit ground to prod the on switch for the TV. domestic bliss.
all this from the good folks at salvation army. definitely worth a trip to one near you this year.
Flower Mama is our first TNRM kitty for 2008.
Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Thursday, November 22, 2007
goodbyes
remember the kitty flushed out by a storm? the crazy man and woman almost kept it because it had the uncanny knack of throwing them a head-in-tail curl, a belly-up, a hang-in-the-air-for-a-second hop and a carry-me-whichever-way-you-like flop when they are at their most vulnerable... they even named it - Monk... and then someone adopted it! muahahahaha, so long sucka.
you got to laugh. because when you stop...
Poppet the carpark cat went the way of toothless calico. the vet made her as comfortable as she could be, and she went. the feeder doesn't know how to carry on when her love and her labours isn't enough against the brutalities of life on the street, but she will. the woman doesn't know how she can give help and hope again when there is the chance she has to make a cat auntie cry, but she will.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
long haired heaven
Marble has a nice cuddly companion in Cream at her new home. she's been renamed Koffee after Cream's first companion, who expired of old age earlier this year. according to new owners, she looks exactly like her previous namesake. so, Koffee and Cream, anyone?
little maine coone also has it pretty good - a new home, a new arm and a new nick, the incessant meow-er.
our downstairs strays are not to be outdone. no hair, no home but they got something else...
Like the seashore clings to the sea
Like you'll never get rid of your shadow
You'll never get rid of me
Let all the others fight and fuss
Whatever happens, we've got us.
And now to repeat what I said at the start
You'll need a large crowbar to break us apart
We're alone but far from blue
Before we get finished, we'll make the town roar
We'll hit a few late spots, and then a few more
We'll start out at Stringy's and maybe Groucho
Life is gonna be wow-wow-whee!
For my shadow and me!
this happens to be the man and woman's song too... :)
Thursday, October 18, 2007
eye of the storm
yesterday's storm flushed this little thing out from the drain. too sadly drenched for the woman to leave outside so she spent the night in the back room drying out... great timing for next week's Free Spay Day, actually. fingers crossed that we secured our slots!
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
comings and goings
marble has been adopted!
she was sterilised together with carpark cat, Poppet, who is still with us until she fattens up a little. according to our malay neighbour, Poppet moved into the carpark about a month ago after toothless calico passed away. the vet was quite sure Poppet has had many litters in her lifetime as the ovarian tissues showed much wear and tear.
we just hope Poppet will be more resilient than dear toothless...
she was sterilised together with carpark cat, Poppet, who is still with us until she fattens up a little. according to our malay neighbour, Poppet moved into the carpark about a month ago after toothless calico passed away. the vet was quite sure Poppet has had many litters in her lifetime as the ovarian tissues showed much wear and tear.
we just hope Poppet will be more resilient than dear toothless...
Monday, August 13, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
exemplary community cats, exemplary communities
news release | for immediate release
the ministry of social concerns recognises that well-integrated community cats are a testimony of their community's cohesiveness, cultural tolerance and sense of responsibility.
in recognition of the efforts of the exemplary townships that have overcome great odds to keep their cats tipped, fed and safe, we hereby present them with a much deserved "Our Town Meows" Award.
in third place, represented by Auntie Ah Lan and Auntie Ann's regal 'grandma' tabby, the "Our Town Meows" Award goes to...
Tanglin Halt 10-storey (zhap-lao)!
in second place, represented by this larger-than-life mascot of fuzzy black fur, the "Our Town Meows" Award goes to...
Lorong Ah Soo!
last but not least, and no small credit to this curiously and uncommonly rotund puff tortie, grand prize goes to...
Toa Payoh Lorong 4!
mayor ma receives award from minister with pride, "I am so proud of the people of toa payoh and the other winning towns, who are an example to all for their humanity towards the cats and to each other. on behalf of the cats, especially our lorong 4 puff tortie, i say a big thank you to them."
honorary mention
________________
whenever the woman visits lorong ah soo and sees the cat auntie, she always feels a sense of the unresolved. this arises from many years ago when she was much younger (and obviously stupid). coming home late one day, she saw the cat auntie scolded by a nasty man who told her that her feeding was a nuisance. the girl the woman was felt compelled to step forward to the cat auntie's aid, but her indignation rose as a hopeless jumble in her mind and turned to fear and cowardice before she could take the first step. now as an auntie herself, she is spoiling for just such a fight but the split second opportunity to stand up for what you believe in comes mostly once. miss it, it doesn't likely come knocking again.
the ministry of social concerns recognises that well-integrated community cats are a testimony of their community's cohesiveness, cultural tolerance and sense of responsibility.
in recognition of the efforts of the exemplary townships that have overcome great odds to keep their cats tipped, fed and safe, we hereby present them with a much deserved "Our Town Meows" Award.
in third place, represented by Auntie Ah Lan and Auntie Ann's regal 'grandma' tabby, the "Our Town Meows" Award goes to...
in second place, represented by this larger-than-life mascot of fuzzy black fur, the "Our Town Meows" Award goes to...
last but not least, and no small credit to this curiously and uncommonly rotund puff tortie, grand prize goes to...
mayor ma receives award from minister with pride, "I am so proud of the people of toa payoh and the other winning towns, who are an example to all for their humanity towards the cats and to each other. on behalf of the cats, especially our lorong 4 puff tortie, i say a big thank you to them."
________________
whenever the woman visits lorong ah soo and sees the cat auntie, she always feels a sense of the unresolved. this arises from many years ago when she was much younger (and obviously stupid). coming home late one day, she saw the cat auntie scolded by a nasty man who told her that her feeding was a nuisance. the girl the woman was felt compelled to step forward to the cat auntie's aid, but her indignation rose as a hopeless jumble in her mind and turned to fear and cowardice before she could take the first step. now as an auntie herself, she is spoiling for just such a fight but the split second opportunity to stand up for what you believe in comes mostly once. miss it, it doesn't likely come knocking again.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
facing eviction
this sweet faced kitty is facing eviction from a school in ghim moh. the caregiver has been given notice. if you can adopt or foster, please help!
we would if we could but we still have 2 to be rid of... sorry calico & tux.
(update: kitty has been adopted!)
we would if we could but we still have 2 to be rid of... sorry calico & tux.
Friday, June 01, 2007
so small so fragile
little kitten died in its sleep. after 2 feeds, it seemed so perky and happy, curling up onto the woman's palm to sleep. after leaving it to sleep on its own to prepare the next feed, the woman checked back to find it restful but found it still shortly after.
newborn kitten in distress!
not sure if she is doing it right but the woman is seen here feeding a newborn kitten found earlier in the night. it still has its umbilical cord attached.
the kitten was crying its lungs out amongst a pile of leaves and garbage in the drain. it had a bad smell of death there so we suspect it could be a lone survivor of the litter. the heavy afternoon rain couldn't have been kind.
after fishing it out of the drain though, the man and woman lost the nerve to feel for any possible others. they are on the look out for the mum (the drain is in direct view of our block).
the people at the 24hrs animal hospital were kind enough to spare some milk powder where none was available for sale. but the kitten has not stopped crying even after feeding, bowel movement, heat bottle and lamp and human touch. it's straight to the vet when they open tomorrow.
(update: the man did something right with his feeding and bowel relieving technique and little kitty is finally sound asleep. but it's all touch and go, we fear. we hope the kitten might get a better chance with a more experienced fosterer. drop us an email.
further update: kitty survived the night. phew!)
the kitten was crying its lungs out amongst a pile of leaves and garbage in the drain. it had a bad smell of death there so we suspect it could be a lone survivor of the litter. the heavy afternoon rain couldn't have been kind.
after fishing it out of the drain though, the man and woman lost the nerve to feel for any possible others. they are on the look out for the mum (the drain is in direct view of our block).
the people at the 24hrs animal hospital were kind enough to spare some milk powder where none was available for sale. but the kitten has not stopped crying even after feeding, bowel movement, heat bottle and lamp and human touch. it's straight to the vet when they open tomorrow.
(update: the man did something right with his feeding and bowel relieving technique and little kitty is finally sound asleep. but it's all touch and go, we fear. we hope the kitten might get a better chance with a more experienced fosterer. drop us an email.
further update: kitty survived the night. phew!)
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