Spay Neuter Kingston Initiative

Hello everyone

I just wanted to let you know about the success of our first spay/neuter venture with the Bath Corrections Feral Cat Colony.

Last Thursday, March 31, we arrived at Bath Institution with a rented panel truck and an assortment of medium to large carriers. After the obligatory sign-in and surrender of our valuables at the entry gate, we drove in and awaited the arrival of the cats. Two very feral individuals had been trapped the night before and were out of sight of the rest who were waiting for food to be presented. As one of the inmates laid out a bit of food on the pavement, a very pregnant orange female approached. The inmate was able to pick her up and bring her over to the truck. However, she panicked, and escaped. We thought this did not bode well for the rest of the day!

As it turned out, the inmate had very little trouble catching the Twins, two big orange tabby males who buddy up. He was also able to capture three of the fall litter mates, a grey tabby and white male, and two calico females. By that time, the rest of the cats were spooked enough that we did not feel it would be worthwhile to wait and see if they would settle. We trundled them off to the garage of a group member who generously offered the space to hold them overnight and for the post op recovery period. We settled them in with litter pans, water and a small amount of food, and left them for the night.

At four AM, we set off for Newmarket. The drive was relatively uneventful, and we were there by 8am check in at the Spay/Neuter clinic of the OSPCA. After filling out our documentation, we left the kitties in the care of the dedicated and competent staff and returned to the panel truck for a little nap. Incidentally, the female feral from the trap was heavily pregnant.

By 3pm we were all cleared for departure. After loading up, we headed back to Kingston and resettled the kitties in their carriers. The Twins were adopted and were dropped off on the way home. On the morning of April 2, we checked everyone over. Healing is proceeding nicely. Some of the cats had eaten. None had used the litter box. This gave us some concern, so our next plan was to allow them free run of the garage during their recovery period. All three kittens are touchable. The two ferals that came in traps even allowed our “cat whisperer” to touch them and view their incisions.

We are looking forward to increasing our time with the cats for the the next three days. Our adoption campaign continues. The cats remaining at the prison for the moment are three females, each with litters of unknown size, born this past week. There are three half grown kittens, perhaps three months of age. We believe there is at least two more littermates from last fall’s litter, and at least one huge dominant male, who may require trapping.

We have been very grateful for all the support we have received in keeping this colony from being exterminated. First of all, a hearty thank you to those of you who have donated money to help with bringing this about. Your support means a great deal, not only to us, but to the inmates who love these cats. Also, a hearty thanks to those who donated, blankets, food, litter, toys, bowls and carriers. Thank you to the gentle friend who is providing the garage where we have been keeping these cats. These donations have been invaluable in the effort to fix these cats and make it possible to find new homes. We will be posting pictures to our website as soon as they are available.

Please share this wonderful news with as many people as you can. The job is not done, even though we have made a good start. The 9 cats and assorted newborn kittens still need help over the next few months. We have collection jars around the city of Kingston at Pet Value Gardiners Road, Urban Paws, Cataraqui Animal Hospital, Birds and Paws, and Global Ryan Pet Food. No donation is too small!!! Local veterinarians have offered to help as well, and we will need money in order to bring this about, for food, antibiotics for runny eyes, gas, and for the veterinary costs. Please do consider what help you can give.

There is also a petition at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/restorativejustice/ and a physical petition at each of the locations mentioned above. Please add your voice to ours to support the return of of some of these cats to the institution where they provide opportunities for the inmates to demonstrate compassion, empathy, and understanding for those smaller than they are. If Restorative Justice is not to be thought of as a meaningless catchphrase, let us show Correctional Services Canada that they can do the right thing for the cats and the inmates by allowing cats to remain as a managed colony.

Your voice counts. Thank you for helping us help them.