TNR: After Trapping it is Time to Visit the Vet

Links: A. Wikipedia definition of TNR
           B. Ally Cat Allies/TNR

Tomorrow morning I will be getting up at a ridiculously early time; anyone care to join me, 'cause I sure could use the help! Not help with the cats, but help waking myself up at 4AM. I will be driving a load of  unhappy cats to the vet in Austin, so we can complete the middle section of the TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) program. In most instances the reason why it is so difficult for me to wake up and do this drive is because I'm usually still tired from trapping cats the night before. I always set up the car the night before, because I'm on autopilot in the morning and I don't want to leave any cats behind. My normal breakfast of cereal and coffee takes no time at all and before the sun comes up my little blue car, filled with aggravated felines will be cruising down the road to Austin. In an hour and or so, I find myself backing into a parking spot at Austin Humane Society. I leave early so I can arrive early, because no one, I mean no one, wants to get caught in Austin morning rush hour traffic.  Another reason that I like to arrive early is to ensure that my cats are taken care of quickly and I don't get stuck in Austin all day. Everytime I make this trip, I turn the corner into the parking lot full of anticipation, waiting to see if I'm the first to arrive. Believe me, it's important; a matter of minutes in the morning becomes a matter of hours by afternoon. I usually get to the Humane Society a bit early, so I sit and wait until the staff unlocks the doors at 6:30 AM.  When the doors open, there can be a bit of a rush to see who gets signed in first.  If I've arrived first, fair and square, don't try and push me out of my first place spot!  Before I can leave, the still-caged cats must be brought into the facility, and then its real paperwork time.  After roughly an hour, I'm ready to say a temporary good bye to the cats, and I have usually five to seven hours to kill before the cats are ready for pick-up. I load up my reliable blue car with groggy, "altered" kitties, and I head west back to the Hill Country.

When we arrive back home, I remove the cats from the car and place them safely in my carport, where they will sleep off the anesthesia overnight. I also make sure that no complications have developed and that the cats have food and water. The next morning is the part of the process that I really

enjoy. When the cats are released back into the environment in which they are familiar, their happiness is palpable, as is mine. I feel like singing the theme song from "Born Free", as I watch the cats celebrating their freedom once again. Ideally, arrangements will be made for the cats to be fed on a regular basis.  Now TNR is not anyone's idea of a perfect solution. It begins with the unpleasant task of having to deny the cats food in order to coax them into the trap. Keeping them in the traps for an extended period of time is also not my idea of proper animal care. But in the end, an abandoned cat has been altered so that it doesn't create five unwanted cats every year.  I believe in the program because I know it works.  

6AM Outside the Austin Humane Society, waiting
for the doors to be unlocked

Covered cats in traps, lined up
waiting for surgery

  

A Rainy Day in Austin,TX

Yesterday was a long chilly, tiring day. A day of steady rain temperature in the mid 40's. A good day to stay home in front of the fire. Alas, I had 7 cats loaded into the car and ready to go to Austin. I needed to by on the road by 5am, so I set an alarm for 4:30, woke up at 3:30. It didn't seem worth it to try to go back to sleep for only an hour.

Sixty miles in the dark and pouring rain, several minor adrenaline rushes and quite a few prayers, we all made it safely to AHS (Austin Humane Society). Misery loves company. A few minutes after my arrival, Marcia pulls in, she also had brought 7 cats 60 miles in the dark and rain. We commiserated for a few minutes, then retreated to the shelter of our cars.

Thank you Mike for unlocking the doors a few minutes early. Had all the cats checked in by 7am, then as my usual routine, went to MacDonald s for my second breakfast. Then to my favorite parking lot to catch some zzz's. I spent a few peaceful hours napping snug in my car. Unfortunately I can only sleep so long before the chill and aches creep in. What to do until the cats are ready to go home. Walmart? Nothing I really needed. Goodwill? Every time I go I spend money, plus not a good day to by trying on clothes, I had too many layers on. Plus 'taint natural undressing when it is cold outside. So I did something that Rennies do when the weather is bad, I went to see a movie. American Sniper, not a good rainy day movie, good guys and bad guys. I wish life were that simple.

Uneventful ride home in the rain, all kitties fed in my car and tucked in for the night with a heat lamp to keep them warm. It took a while, but the wood stove finally got the house warm, after a hot shower I was ready for bed.

Fast forward... 5am I am awake again, this time waiting for daybreak so I can see to release the captives. This is one of my favorite parts of the job. It is such a relief for them, after being though so much to be back in familiar surroundings and for me to relinquish responsibility for them. Also by now they can be pretty stinky, I am always anxious to get the traps out of my car, laundry sorted and the car aired out, which will be a challenge today as... it is still raining!

Phyllis

Chess Club Café Kitty

Another Trapper Would Understand

When trapping cats you have to adjust to their schedule, that means you are setting traps just before dusk and dawn. I usually trap at night, which causes me to have a somewhat broken schedule. I may sleep in the afternoon then stay up late trapping. Catch a few hours sleep then get up really, really early to be on the road by 5am to be able to get to the Humane Society by 6am. To be first in line.  It is important to be one of the first ones there, as first in, is first out. So if you are lucky you will beat Austin's afternoon traffic. Needless to say that by about 7:30 am I am tired, so it has been my habit to borrow a few old blankets to make a pallet in my car to sleep on. A slight misunderstanding arose when a worker saw me take the blankets. Thinking that I was stealing them. Later when questioned I explained that I was only borrowing them for the day to sleep on.  I explained that when I put 15 cats in 15 traps into my small car there is not much room for blankets, thus my borrowing for the day habit. This brought a round of laughter, and a bit of head shaking. Is it strange that I should park in a church parking lot and burrow under a pile of blankets for a few hours? Another trapper would understand!