While my human is off dropping off some of those cat tunnels to a local rescue, I thought that I’d use today’s Blog the Change for Animals post to talk about feral cats. Recently, there has been an uproar at the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific Resort because they changed their policy regarding the resident feral cats. Instead of the model program that had been used successfully for a long time, some higher up ordered the program halted and the cats trapped and sent to a kill shelter. As many of you know, this is certain death for feral cats, because they are unadoptable. To add irony to injury, the Loews chain claims to love animals and uses the tagline, “Loews loves pets.” Maybe they should change that to “Loews loves pets and hates feral cats?” Because Loews’ decision has gotten so much bad press, this issue is getting a fresh look. Maybe the efforts of animal lovers across the U.S. will make a change for these ferals.
You can be the change for ferals in your area, with the help of Alley Cat Allies. They have put together several videos to show what you can do. A couple are below. The first is an introduction to feral cats, and about programs and policies that can help them:
If you can’t see the above video, click here to watch on YouTube.
The second video teaches you how to talk to neighbors about the resident ferals, if you are already taking care of or looking out for them. It includes ways to be proactive and address community concerns.
If you can’t see the above video, click here to watch on YouTube.
These are very nicely made videos and well worth watching!
Great post. I really hope that all of this attention on the recent decision of Loews puts the pressure on and they change their policy back. It’s sad that they recently took this step.
Your Alley Cat Allies sound great – we just wish all cats could be neutered and found homes so there would be less stray/feral cats to start the cyles off all over again.
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx
**sigh**Oh the plight of feral cats. We have hoof siblings and Mama is waging a never ending war on our feral cat population at the barn. She traps them and has them spayed or neutered. The local vet does it for her at a small fraction of the price. The problem is, just when we get the population under control some $#^* uses one of those cheap hardware store traps to trap all their feral cats and drops them off at our barn! EGADS! Last Spring the Mama was up to her ears in kittens. She catches them young and socializes them, so we have been very successful in adopting out quite a few, but we just wish there was a way to really stop it. The Mama is thinking about posting a sign at the end of the drive way requesting that if you intend to abandon a feral cat on our property, just bring it up to the house so we can crate it and send it for de-sexing before releasing it!
We veery much support TNR. They have a program around here and the strays TW sees are notched. This is an important topic. Thanks for addressing it.
We’re sorry to hear about the feral cats and hope the policies change instead of them doing something so horrible. We’re supporters of Alley Cat Allies too!
Our mom’s heart aches for the feral cats. They have such hard lives, we should do what we can to help them. All of her cats have been unwanted, throw aways and strays, with a couple of ferals thrown in for good measure. Those were a couple excellent videos, thanks for posting them.
Dear Sparkle,
What a great blog for Change! We is all for help for ferals.
A while back, a place where we lived thought that ferals was a big problem and they went on a big campaign to get rid of them all. They started neighborhood by neighborhood. The neighborhoods where they had gots rid of the cats started to have horrible mouse and rat problems! Guess what, they stopped the feral cat removal program and started a catch and spay program!
Kisses
Nellie
As they say, the squeaky wheel gets the oil. If we make our voices heard, perhaps we can help Lowes change their minds.
Purrfect information, Miss Sparkle
Purrs for all of them
xoxo
My human did help a former volunteer from a local no-kill shelter with TNR and she knew very little about feral cats & TNR. These two videos were a big help with understandng about the feral ktties and TNR. I am so glad that Ally Cat Allies are around to help these kitties.
Excellent post for today! The videos are really good and I donate every year to Alley Cat Allies, too. In fact, my Mother’s Day card to my mom every year is via Alley Cat Allies, so they get a small donation from me when I do that…
Love Alley Cat Allies! They do awesome work, and the information they provide is top-notch. Let’s keep the pressure on Loew’s, that line they give about loving pets is maddening! Feral cats deserve all the support – and respect – we can provide them.
I’ve seen some much needed attention drawn to the Leow’s situation and all I can say is that there is always room for more. To dismantle their previous program would be a tragedy.
Thank you for sharing both videos. The first Alley Cat Allies video is terrific for many reasons, but that this is a human created problem and thus feral cat care is a human responsibility – legally and hands on – is important to impart. The second is so important in terms of educating the public.There are so many misconceptions. Thank you for sharing these. I’ll be using them as resources in my own town!
Thanks, Sparkle, for Blogging the Change.
Kim
BTC4animals.com
ThisOneWildLife.com
This is a wonderful program. Thanks fur sharing the videos.
Thanks for addressing the issue of feral cats. I was not aware of Alley Cat Allies and TNR until I began blogging two years ago. This program just makes so much sense! I am happy that Loews Universal Orlando is now taking a second look at their decision to end their TNR program. It goes to show that pet bloggers and animal lovers really can make a difference when they work together and voice their opinion!
The publicist always says it is not the cats’ fault. Some human somewhere dumped the first cat who was not fixed and then the next one and then the feral population just grows. If the kittens can be caught they CAN be domesticated with love and attention. If the females are fixed then there will be no more kittens and the population will just die naturally.
She gets so mad at irresponsible humans that don’t care for their animals. She is sorry to rant in your comments
We’ll definitely watch these videos. There is a feral colony near Mom Paula’s mother and she wants to see how they can best help out.
Truffle and Brulee
I watched the entire second video and it was extremely comprehensive. I am familiar with the capture-neuter-release program and think it is wise. I was not aware of all the other ways in which we can help feral cats. Thank you for blogging the change today!
Peggy
BTC4animals.com
Peggy’s Pet Place
Sparkle… Thanks for such a wonderful post for Blog the Change. Great videos and great information.
Have a super day.
pawhugs, Max
My heart aches for the feral cats. I too have and will contribute to Alley Cat Allies.
OH…my new girl who will be home with me late tomorrow or early Tuesday will have her own blog with a link back to Admiral’s blog so Admiral can blog from the Rainbow Bridge occasionally. We hope you’ll come and visit her when she does start her own blog.
xox
Mom Carole
We are happy to hear that the Loews situation is getting another look. We can’t believe what they wanted to do with the feral cats thinking they were “helping” them. We love Alley Cat Allies and what they do to help feral cats and spread the word to others so they can help.
The ferals need every once of help they can get!
Those are such good videos. And Alley Cat Allies is a wonderful organization. I sure was glad to hear that statement about feral cats are just fine living outside.All mine do just fine. They have two barns to snuggle in if they want to and food three or four times a day. I hope lots of people watch these videos. It is so important to get the cats spayed and neutered. Also the increase in the low-cost spay and neuter clinics sure is a good deal. Thanks Sparkle for posting this. Well done.
Those are great videos. Thank you for showing them. M said she’ll give some to Alley Cat Allies too.
Hi Sparkle! I am a dog blogging mini schnauzer who is ‘Blogging for a Change’ too. It is my first time participating and I am very excited. You have a great blog and I really liked your presentation about feral cats and Allie Cat Allies. I have three sisters that are rescue kitties themselves. My family has also helped many a feral cat over the years. We believe strongly in spay/neuter too.
Thank you for sharing this!! Have a great day and come visit me at my blog sometime.
I am very happy that my mom gives monthly to Alley Cat Allies. I hope they can help with the situation at Loews Resort. I was once a “throw away” cat , too, because my owner didn’t want me and my brother any more. We were lucky the vet wouldn’t let that happen and we got to a rescue, no kill organization. Feral cats aren’t even looking for homes with people. They just need a some management help, like spaying and neutering, maybe a little shelter and food, and they survive fine.
Excellent advice. Ferals have rights too!