I'm sorry cat friends but I need to write this myself. I am the lady peep and I need to vent to all of you cat lovers out there about a terrible thing that happened today.
My husband works downtown in Edmonton Alberta, where lots of outside and feral cats roam around. His office staff befriended a feral female cat a year or so ago, and in an attempt to make her life more bearable, they fed her when she came around, but never tried to touch her or tame her because they knew she was really wild and it would be wrong for her to expect humans to care for her as most of them would probably hurt her.
She apparently came to trust them a bit and when she was getting ready to have a litter of kittens really late this fall she chose a crack in the basement wall of his office to hide her babies. The crack is large enough that she could get into a space between two buildings where it is relatively warm and safe. She had the kittens about 6 1/2 weeks ago. A ginger tabby, one solid grey and 1 grey tabby. Naturally I've been eagerly waiting for an opportunity to go downtown and visit with them. The kittens because they're absolutely beautiful and adorable and playful have made friends with most of the staff and have come to trust them. Hubby told me yesterday that they have a tree outside of the office where they've put cat toys and it is really sweet to watch them play. His office had decided to catch the kittens and attempt to tame them whle they were young and find homes for them. They had put up a sign above the crack that these kittens were loved and well cared for and everyone who worked in the area were taking an interest in their well fare.
Unfortunately the mother cat has never been to the vet because no one could catch her and she didn't come around regularly. Hubby was planning to trap her after the babies were born and take her to be spayed and then set her free again. However, since the babies arrived, it became quite obvious that the mother was in failing health. She still attempted to feed them, and clean them so it was clear that she wanted her babies to survive.
Mother cat has been missing the last few days. No one knew where she went and everyone thought it likely she succumbed to exhaustion or sickness. So Hubby and I went downtown this morning to visit the babies (me with the idea to take at least one of them home with me, if they appeared to be tamable, socialize them properly and then find them a home). When we got there, guess what we found. We found a cage outside the crack in the building containing a beautiful long haired grey tabbly kitten with white mittens. This woman came up to us with this big grin on her face saying, oh good I've caught him. I was kneeling on the ground in the snow trying to calm an absolutely terrified baby and said what is going on here? Then I lost my temper a bit and said did you not read the sign, these babies are being cared for and there is a plan for them. She said she had permission from the building owners to catch the kittens. My husband said, I doubt that...the mother cat has lived her for over a year and the building owners know we watch for her and care for her and the babies. I was really really angry beause I didn't know how long the kitten had been banging his head against the door trying to get out and trying to squeeze through the bars. I asked her if she knew where the others were and she said yes she did and that one of the babies (the solid grey one) died earlier this week and that she had given the other one away. Then, she said...and this is what absolutely sickened me...she said she found out later that the lady she gave the kitten to had 40 other cats.... I swear to you, I'm not making this up. She said she'd taken thehe mother cat to the emergency vet clinic a few days ago and they didn't know if she would live. I couldn't believe that she'd stolen the mother cat several days ago and left the babies without a mother in this cold weather. So I said "I want to take this kitten, I don't want you to take it...it...seeing as you've already given his sibling away to a crazy cat lady." She got real cranky with me, told me I was very rude and then outright refused to give me the kitten. I asked her where she was taking it. She refused to say....I asked her to please take it to our vet, in Sherwood Park for a check up and I'd gladly pay any of the costs to see if he was healthy. She refused. Then I started to cry. I couldn't help it. I apologized for being rude and I begged and begged her not to take the kitten but she just refused to let me have it.
My husband, seeing that I was completely freaking out, finally convinced the lady (lady, who am I kidding) to take our telephone number. She said if she couldn't find it a home somewhere else, she may call us. I asked "Why are you doing this? You know I want the kitten, why don't you give it to me. She said "because you're rude and I'm not comfortable giving you this kitten. " Like it was hers to give to someone. I said "Are you planning to keep it yourself? What's your role in this?' She said "No, I'm not keeping it, I'm just attempting to resolve the feral cat problem in this neighborhood." So by this time, I'm crying again... I can't believe this, you have no interest in this kitten, you're not planning to keep it yourself. You're on a power trip here. And, then I begged again for the kitten. No luck. So I gave up and left. I wanted to pop her one on the chops. I'm so afraid she's planning to have it euthanized (perhaps that's what happened to its sibling) I cried all the way home in the car and have been stressed out all afternoon. I'm so afraid she's planning to take the baby to the SPCA or even worse, give it to the crazy cat lady... perhaps she is the crazy cat lady... What should I do... Hubby says I should just forget about it... We'll never see that cat again.
Am I wrong to be so traumatized by this?
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5 comments:
That is awful. I would have felt just as angry and helpless. I don't really know how things work in the USA, but here in the UK the RSPCA are pretty helpful, and it would be possible to call them from the scene like a 999 call and they would send out an emergency person to investigate what was happening. I do hope those two surviving kittens eventually fall into the hands of caring people.
Kate (Fat Eric's mum)
Oh, what an awful story! I think Karen's right about calling the police or at least animal control of some sort. Here (Wisconsin) there's a number to call if an animal is in immediate danger, and I'd say that was the case here. How awful! You won't be the only one angry about this if the whole neighborhood was involved in protecting the kittens. Is it possible the building owner or manager might know who that woman was? Does it make any sense to report her and this event to the SPCA?
For yourself, hug Eddy really close and tell him you love him, and listen to his answer because he loves you too and knows you did what you could. Victor sends you purrs for caring so much and Bonnie offers to bite that woman if she can be found.
what to say, what to say??? Oh mommy! I can't say that, I'm only four!!!
Mommy said to try and call ASPCA in the area to get the other kittens. They'll make sure they gets to a good place.
That is absolutely terrible and I would be just as distraught as you at the thought of what was going to happen to those poor little kittens and their mother. As Fat Eric's mum said, we are able to call out the RSPCA in an emergency, and they would take the kittens to a shelter if they thought they were in danger. Although their future doesn't sound very hopeful, I just hope things do turn out well for them. The worst thing about it is, she says she is trying to do "something" about the feral cat problem and as she is obviously not a cat lover, she is probably doing the same thing all the time.
Jackie
Sounds horrible! Meanie cat-hating lady! Call the ASPCA and report this lady - maybe they can help.
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