Why is My Older Cat Refusing to Use the Litter Box?

DEAR JOAN: One of my cats is a 15-year-old male that was feral. We’ve had him a good long time in the house, and, finally, after 10 years, he isn’t spending most of his time under a bed because there was a noise.

He has never had a problem holding everything until he could sneak out to the litter box in the dark and do his business. Then all of a sudden about two months ago he started peeing on the bath mat in one of our bathrooms. This was usually at night.

We started keeping the door shut, but he then started using the carpet in my office as his private commode, both peeing and defecating on it sometimes. I tried using some repellent that contained methyl nonyl ketone (didn’t want coyote pee smell, too) on the carpet with little or no effect on his behavior. I ended up discarding the carpet and now keep the door closed.

To read more on this story, click here: Why is My Older Cat Refusing to Use the Litter Box?

FOLLOW US!

Feral Cats: The Neighbors You May Never See

It is estimated that the feral cats living on the streets of the United States number in the tens of millions. What are feral cats? They are distinct from stray cats—“domesticated pet cats who have been raised among humans but became lost or were abandoned. These stray cats are accustomed to, and in many senses depend upon, human society; they therefore can and should be returned to their owners or adopted into a new home.

Feral cats, on the other hand, are cats of the domesticated species who have been raised apart from humans or separated too long from human company and have returned to “wild” ways. They cannot be socialized and are not adoptable as pets, although kittens born to feral cats, if taken before about the age of eight to 10 weeks, can be socialized and adopted. Some people attempt to “tame” feral cats in order to make them adoptable, but this has been shown to be virtually impossible, as a feral cat’s nature is to live independently among other cats and to range freely outdoors, avoiding strangers and escaping from confinement. A feral cat may rarely learn to accept human companionship and live inside a house, but it is not the cat’s natural home, and the situation is far more stressful for the cat than living outside in its colony. Further, the amount of resources spent on trying to make a few feral cats adoptable could be better used in other ways, such as spay and neuter services.

To read more on this story, click here: Feral Cats: The Neighbors You May Never See

FOLLOW US!

Feral Cat Colony Crisis Pits Environmentalists Against Humane Groups

'This is unacceptable behavior for dog owners. Why is it OK for cats?' asks Grant Sizemore, a conservation biologist with the American Bird Conservancy.


UPPER MARLBORO, Md. — Marian Parker pulled her small Hyundai into the parking lot of an Upper Marlboro, Md. strip mall and started her daily mission.

In the cluttered back seat, rested an empty cat cage, several bags of dry pet food, and cases of 22-ounce 'Paws and Claws Turkey and Giblets' dinner cans.

Parker comes daily to feed a colony of about 20 feral cats.

The animals live in a trash-filled, muddy, no-man’s land in the forest behind the shopping center along the banks of the Western Branch near the busy intersection of Routes 301 and 4.

Parker and others have set out overturned plastic storage tubs filled with flea-infested straw in the muddy woods to shelter the cats. Holes are cut in the plastic for the cats to enter.

To read more on this story, click here: Feral Cat Colony Crisis Pits Environmentalists Against Humane Groups


FOLLOW US!

Your First Thought….What a Cute Kitten!: This is Not a Kitten, This is an Adult Sand Cat

Don’t be fooled by the off the scale cuteness. This is not a kitten. This is an adult Sand Cat – or Felis margarita, a little known species of desert cat. In the wild it lives in areas that are too hot and dry for any other cat- the deserts of Africa and Asia, including the Sahara. It is the only desert species of cat known to us. As such, this cat is one tough cookie.

It also lives in the Arabian desert and those of Iran and Pakistan, yet despite being so widespread it was not described by a European until 1858.

To an extent the sand cat could be mistaken for a domestic cat but there are differences, noticeably the very broad head. Additionally the ears are much wider apart than they are in the domestic cat – a feature which means that the sand cat can flatten them horizontally when hunting. They are a little larger, growing up to ten centimeters longer in length than the domestic cat, with a span of up to sixty centimeters.

Likewise with their height – they usually grow to about six centimeters taller than the domestic cat. Their sandy yellow fur sets them further apart, as do the pale bars which can be found on their legs and backs. Perhaps what adds to their attractiveness is the white chin and underside and the pale red stripes which run over the cheeks from the eyes.

One difference from the cats that we know which is difficult to see in these pictures is the fur that the cats have between their toes. You might think that the last thing a desert living cat might need is more fur but this helps to insulate them against the piping hot sand over which they must stalk their prey. They also have fur on their footpads which makes it very difficult to hunt as the fur misshapes their tracks.

The hollow structure that encloses part of their middle and inner ear, their auditory bullae, are also larger than those of the domestic cat. This helps to enhance their hearing and with it they can pick up vibrations in the sand. Finally their mucosa (the membrane around their eyelids) is a conspicuous black which gives them a certain eyeliner look.

So desolate is their natural habitat that sometimes the sand cat can go for months without a drink of water. Instead, they survive off the water in their food, which is mostly rodents but they will also eat birds, lizards and insects. They will not live in sand dunes themselves but prefer flat or rolling terrain's, retreating to their burrows when it becomes too hot even for them.

As they mostly eat rodents, they do a lot of digging. Skulking close to the ground they use their extremely sensitive hearing to detect the sound of burrowing underneath them. When they hear something which corresponds to a meal they dig down to catch their prey.

Despite the fact they are not terribly social and only really get together for mating they do not defend territory. They have even been observed taking turns sharing burrows. One cat will leave and hunt while another stays behind and rests. When the first returns, the other will leave.

As well as their obvious enemy, us, the sand cat is not at the top of its own particular food chain. It is predated by wolves and even occasionally by snakes and large birds of prey. Yet they are fearless creatures, and are obliviously unafraid of humans when they come in to contact with us.

Hunting the sand cat is prohibited only in half the countries in its range, though it is hoped that this law will soon extend throughout its territories. It has even recently been reintroduced in to the wild in Israel where it had been previously extirpated. It remains one of the least known but beautiful cat species on the planet.

For more information on Sand Cats, visit: Sand Cat - Facts, Info & Photos

FOLLOW US!

Why Do Pet Cats Attack Their Owners?

The danger of pet cats?
Cats are one of the most popular pets in the world and are savagely beloved by millions, although the dangers present from their razor sharp claws and teeth, such as serious infection, are largely not taken seriously. But how much of a threat do they really pose to human health? Have domesticated cats ever killed a person?

In this article...
Can cats cause human fatalities or severe injury?
Overlooked dangers of pet and feral cats
Why might a cat become aggressive?
A list of reported cat attacks and aggression, plus video
Human fatalities

Cats are too small to kill a human by force with the exception of human babies, although there are no reported cat-related deaths involving infants in recent U.S. history. Domesticated cats are also the subjects of various folklore, including the old wives tale that they can suck the breath from an infant, which might lead some people to believe that they are dangerous with small children.

However, cats typically have little incentive to attack a helpless child. They are predators of small animals like mice and birds, and have territorial tendencies directed towards competing animals and predators, therefore babies are relatively safe. The recipients of reported cat attacks have largely been adults, although aggression toward infants has occurred. You won't find statistics about cat bite incidences like you will dogs and exotic pets, because people don't really care.

To read more on this story, click here: Why Do Pet Cats Attack Their Owners?

FOLLOW US!

Study Suggests That Cat Poop Parasites May Pose Public Health Hazard

Here’s a sobering thought for every cat owner in charge of emptying the litter box: Felines deposit about 1.2 million metric tons of feces into the U.S. environment every year, a new study finds, and all that poop may pose an under-recognized public health hazard.

No one's saying to get rid of the kitties, but scientists who study an infectious parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii say they've found that the eggs of the bug are more widespread than believed, and that cat owners should take precautions when it comes to kids' sandboxes and backyard gardens.

That's even though there's evidence that fewer are becoming infected by the parasite and veterinarians say that responsible pet owners are actually at lower risk than others.

It’s long been known that some cat feces harbor the parasite known as T. gondii, which can cause human illness. Pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems have been warned for decades to avoid cat box duty because the resulting infections can cause congenital problems and serious illness.

But a new analysis by Dr. E. Fuller Torrey and Dr. Robert H. Yolken, scientists at Johns Hopkins University Medical Center, finds that the parasite eggs, known as oocysts, may be more common than previously known – perhaps between three and 434 oocysts per square foot of soil, according to samples taken from places as diverse as California, China, Brazil, Panama and Poland.

In addition, it may take just a single oocyst to cause infection, an alarming thought when one estimate shows that the dirt under a gardener’s fingernails could harbor 100 oocysts, reported Torrey, the lead author of the study in the journal Trends in Parasitology.

“It may be a much bigger problem than we realize,” said Torrey, a psychiatrist who heads the Stanley Medical Research Institute in Chevy Chase, Md.

There have been outbreaks of toxoplasmosis in healthy people, not just pregnant or immune-compromised patients, he said. And recent studies have suggested -- although not proven -- that there may be a link between high levels of T. gondii antibodies and development of conditions including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD.

“Some of us suspect that some of the important transmission may occur in childhood,” Torrey told NBC News.

Cats acquire the parasite when they eat infected prey, such as mice or birds, and then shed the oocysts in their poop. Children may ingest oocysts present in sandboxes and backyard dirt, said Torrey, who wants better control of the cat population, including feral cats, and better covering and monitoring of kids’ play areas.

“It should give you pause before you put your child in a public sandbox,” he said.

Still, even Torrey’s paper notes that there’s little evidence that owning a cat actually increases risk of T. gondii infection. And he acknowledges that the incidence of human toxoplasmosis, as measured through antibody levels, has decreased steadily in the U.S. and Northern Europe during the past two decades. A 2007 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the prevalence of T. gondii antibodies in U.S.-born people ages 12 to 49 dropped from about 14.1 percent to 9 percent between 1999 and 2004.

That decline could be driven in part by increased freezing of meat, so fewer people are becoming infected with T. gondii tissue cysts from raw beef, for instance, he explained. The CDC says that toxoplasmosis caused by eating infected meat is a leading cause of deaths form foodborne illness in the U.S.

Overall, however, the CDC estimates that although 60 million men, women and children in the U.S. may be infected with the T. gondii parasite, very few have symptoms because the human immune system typically keeps illness at bay.

“This is not considered a big problem,” Torrey admitted.

Indeed, responsible cat owners are likely at lower risk than others, said Kimberly May, a veterinarian and spokeswoman for the American Veterinary Medical Association. Those owners empty litter boxes frequently, wash their hands and keep kids away from cat feces, she said. The bigger risk for T. gondii comes from gardening without gloves or failing to follow those precautions.

"We are concerned that cats are being the scapegoats for this," she said.

No question, the number of cats in U.S. homes is on the rise. Between 1989 and 2006, cat ownership increased about 50 percent, from 54.6 million to 81.7 million pets. During the same time, dog ownership rose by 38 percent, from 52.4 million to 72.1 million dogs. In 2012, 86.4 million cats were owned in the U.S, compared with 78.2 million dogs, according to statistics from the Humane Society of the United States.

The number of feral cats in the U.S. has been estimated at at least 25 million, but could be much higher, Torrey noted.

With about 1 percent of cats shedding oocysts at any given time, perhaps 55 million oocysts per day, it could be a more serious problem than is now recognized, Torrey contends. Oocysts can survive up to 18 months and perhaps longer, he noted.

“This should raise the public health concerns about the number of T. gondii oocysts being distributed in the environment, especially as we do not know the limits of oocyst viability or the true relationship between these oocysts and the human diseases with which they have recently been associated.”

That’s a view downplayed by infectious disease experts, including Dr. William Schaffner, chairman of the department of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.

He said that the recognized risks of toxoplasmosis infection are well known – and well communicated to the people who may be most affected, including pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems.

But the links between the infection and psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are tenuous, he said.

“The association has been discussed, but it has not been completely accepted by everyone,” he said. “If people were convinced of that, we would have acted on it.”

Still, Torrey said he worries about what future research will confirm and wants pet owners to be proactive now.

Cats are nice pets, said Torrey, who emphasized that his intent was not to anger feline fans. But when his young granddaughter wanted a kitten, he advised her mom to say no.

“I don’t think that they are ideal pets for children,” he said. “I don’t think we know enough.”

FOLLOW US!

How to Stop Feral Cats From Urinating on Your Property Without Harming the Animal

You work hard to keep your house clean and cozy. Unfortunately, every time you walk up to the front door, you get a noseful of cat urine. Having feral felines use your porch as a toilet is frustrating, but don't despair. You can stop the smell without harming the animal.

The Porch
As soon as you finish sandblasting and refinishing your front porch, the neighborhood tomcat comes over and lifts his leg on every corner. You get a whiff of his "perfume" every time you open the window. The first step is cleaning the area thoroughly. Pick up a bottle of enzymatic cleaner from your local pet store. These specialized cleaners break up the enzymes in cat urine that make the area smell like a toilet to animals, even if you constantly clean. Once the urine smell dissipates, fill a spray bottle with white vinegar. If the smell of vinegar bothers you, dilute it with water and make a 50:50 vinegar-water batch. Spray all of the corners of your porch, including underneath. The vinegar smell repels the neighborhood feline gang.

Potted Plants
You adore your potted plants and have them scattered all over your yard. However, replanting flowers has become quite the chore since your plant pots seem to be the neighborhood litter box. Clean the outside of the planters with the enzymatic cleaner. Clean up any solid waste and mix a small amount of white vinegar in with the soil. At this point you'll want to cover the soil with aluminum foil, pine cones or large, sharp-edged pebbles. These materials aren't comfortable for kitties to walk on. They'll learn that your plants not only smell funny, they hurt to dig through, forcing them to go elsewhere.

Lawn and Garden
The last thing you want is dead yellow spots in your grass or fresh growing vegetables coated with cat urine. Head back to your neighborhood pet store and pick up a carton of cat-repellent granules. These granules blend perfectly with soil -- without harming your grass or plants -- and keep unwanted furry critters away. Simply sprinkle the granules around the perimeter of your lawn or stir them into the soil the next time you work in your garden. Follow the manufacturers instructions carefully for optimal protection. Some varieties last for up to one month.

Other Tips
If you're not having luck with granules or vinegar, use citronella spray or mix grated orange peels in with your soil. Most kitties despise the scent of citrus. Also, don't use any ammonia-based household cleaners to scrub away urine markings in your yard. Ammonia smells like urine to cats, so you might wind up enhancing the problem rather than getting rid of it. Talk with your neighbors about the issue. Maybe your next-door neighbors let their kitty roam as pleases, but they aren't aware of how much he damages your property. They may be willing to keep Max inside, rather than allowing him to navigate through the neighborhood.

FOLLOW US!

How to Keep Your Cat From Scratching Furniture – and Why You Should Avoid Declawing at All Costs

As much as we adore them, it can drive cat lovers crazy to see their beloved feline claw at their furniture. Cats are capable of precious snuggles, amazing acrobatics, and hilarious antics but watching furniture get torn to shreds is not fun! 

Of course, clawing is a completely natural behavior for cats. According to PAWS, cats will scratch at furniture, carpet, and other objects for numerous reasons, such as to remove the dead outer layer of their claws, to mark their territory by leaving a visual mark and scent (cats have scent glands on their paws), as well as to stretch their bodies and paws. Unfortunately, for some inexperienced guardians, a cat’s need to claw might drive them to return or abandon their new feline. 

70 percent of shelter cats end up being killed including strays, feral and surrendered cats, so it’s important we keep cats happy and safe in their home by any means possible, and keep them out of shelters. So, if your cat is scratching at furniture and other items in the house, here are some tips for how to deter them.

To read more on this story, click here: How to Keep Your Cat From Scratching Furniture – and Why You Should Avoid Declawing at All Costs

FOLLOW US!

This Hunter Waged a War on Feral Cats: Now He Says He Has Become the Target of Attacks

For years, Sam Wood has been a proponent of hunting and killing invasive species, such as wild hogs, that can threaten the native ecosystems. His Facebook page is filled with photos showing the 48-year-old outdoorsman taking down sparrows and starlings, pigeons and rats.

But Wood’s most recent mark seems to have made him the target, feral cats.

It started earlier this month, when the Wisconsin resident shared a stock photo of a cat in a trap.

“Some may find this offensive but the truth is feral cats are a huge problem,” he wrote online. “I know this post will cause some backlash from the Disney educated but by putting the truth out there and not hiding we can educate some folks.

“Back in the 80’s we used to get $5 for a cat hide. Buyers had pallets of cat hides. The hides were used as trim on leather gloves. Some trappers targeted cats year round which helped the environment tremendously and it also gave them gas money and they used the meat for bait. Now we have bunny huggers that want to protect cats. They refuse to educate themselves as to the true impact of what they are doing and saying.”

In an interview, Wood said he sets up traps near his home in Wild Rose, a small town in central Wisconsin, to catch raccoons and other small animals to sell on the fur market. But sometimes, he said, he inadvertently catches feral cats.

To read more on this story, click here: This Hunter Waged a War on Feral Cats: Now He Says He Has Become the Target of Attacks

FOLLOW US!

Felines Are Helping to Curb the Rat Population in New York City

Multitudes of feral cats roam New York City's concrete jungle, and some now have a practical purpose: They're helping curb the city's rat population.

A group of volunteers trained by the NYC Feral Cat Initiative traps wild cat colonies that have become a nuisance or been threatened by construction, then spays or neuters and vaccinates them. The goal is to return them to their home territory, but some end up in areas rife with rats.

Feline rat patrols keep watch over city delis and bodegas, car dealerships and the grounds of a Greenwich Village church. Four cats roam the loading dock at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, where food deliveries and garbage have drawn rodents for years.

"We used to hire exterminators, but nature has a better solution," said Rebecca Marshall, the sustainability manager at the 1.8-million-square-foot center. "And cats don't cost anything."

About 6,000 volunteers have completed workshops where they've learned proper ways to trap cats.

The program is run through the privately funded Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals, a coalition of more than 150 animal rescue groups and shelters. It estimates as many as half a million feral and stray cats roam New York's five boroughs.

The life of a street cat is a tough one. Some are former pets, abandoned by owners. Plenty die of disease and malnutrition or are hit by vehicles. Others ingest poisoned cat food — set deliberately to get rid of them, cat advocates say.

Many of the animals are displaced as a result of New York's development, with new construction creating perilous conditions for those that once inhabited the city's nooks and crannies, from vacant lots, decaying factories and empty warehouses.

One colony of two dozen cats living in a lot on Manhattan's West Side are about to be displaced by construction on a new $3 billion office tower. A City Council member is working with residents and developers to make sure the creatures are moved to a safe location.

The Javits Center's quartet of cats — Sylvester, Alfreda, Mama Cat and Ginger — were lured to its 56 loading docks about two years ago with pet food brought by animal-loving employees. On a recent fall morning, Sylvester stationed himself next to a commercial truck, ready to pounce if needed.

The cats are predators but don't necessarily kill rats. Instead, experts say the feline scent and droppings repel the rodents.

"A mother rat will never give birth near a predator because the cats would eat the babies," said Jane Hoffman, president of the mayor's alliance.

The cat population is controlled through spaying and neutering, provided free of charge by the Humane Society of New York and the ASPCA. In most cases, adoption is out of the question for feral cats because they are just too wild to be domesticated.

Thanks to the volunteers, says Marshall, "we're protecting wildlife in the city, and the cats get a second chance at life."






FOLLOW US!

Kristen Lindsey, The Austin Veterinarian Who Bragged on Social Media After Killing a Feral Cat Has Had Her License Suspended for a Year

Austin, Texas - A veterinarian who used a bow and arrow to kill a feral cat has lost her license for now.

Kristen Lindsey, the Austin veterinarian who bragged on social media after shooting and killing a feral cat with a bow and arrow, has had her license suspended for a year. She'll also be on a probationary period for four years. During that probation she is to have a board-approved supervising veterinarian to watch over Lindsey and submit quarterly reports to the board. In addition, Lindsey will have to take continuing education classes in animal welfare.

In the Facebook post, Lindsey is seen holding a dead cat by an arrow lodged in its head. "My first bow kill. The only good feral tomcat is one with an arrow through its head," she allegedly wrote.

After the post surfaced, Lindsey was fired from her job at a Brenham animal hospital, which faced heavy public backlash.

"Those actions don't any way portray what we're here for at Washington Animal Hospital," the hospital's Dr. Bruce Buenger told abc13 at the time. "We put our heart and soul in this place."

Lindsey's attorney issued the following statement:

"Dr. Lindsey and I are disappointed that the Board ordered suspension of Dr. Lindsey's license based on an action that had nothing to do with the practice of veterinary medicine. We are also disappointed that the Board has, for all intents and purposes, chosen to take sides in the culture war between the animal rescues zealots - who have campaigned to destroy Dr. Lindsey and her family - versus rural property owners who have the right to protect their property and their own animals from feral animals who are destroying their property and threatening their own animals. Dr. Lindsey did what she did to protect her property and her own cat from an animal that was trespassing on her property, damaging her property, and endangering her domestic cat and her horse. It is also disingenuous - if not absurd - that the individual who now claims she owned the cat didn't care enough about the cat at the time to give it a collar and tag - or any evidence of ownership, or to get the animal vaccinated for rabies (in an area where rabies was pervasive), or to prevent the animal from roaming wild in an environment where it was likely to be eaten by coyotes or otherwise suffer and perish. It should be very troubling to regular people that the State of Texas is spending precious tax dollars on the prosecution of someone who killed was simply protecting her property from a free-roaming feral animal, and that this Board doesn't have the integrity that the District Attorney in Austin County had to stand up to an irrational - but loud - lynch mob of zealots. We will be appealing the Board's decision to the District Court and we are confident that common sense and justice will prevail."





You may be interested in reading:

A Veterinarian Has Been Fired From Her Clinic After She Posted a Horrifying Image of Her Holding a Cat She Had Killed by Firing an Arrow Into its Head

Veterinarian Shown in a Facebook Post Bragging About Killing a Cat with a Bow and Arrow, Can Not Be Charged Until Investigation Determines if the Picture is Genuine

FOLLOW US!

High School Shop Students Build Over 600 Dog Houses and Over 110 Feral Cat Homes: Gives Them to Low-Income Families for Free

High school teacher Barry Stewart has an interesting way of motivating his students to learn their way around the basics of construction. His biggest assignment is to build small dog and cat houses for pets and feral animals, which are then donated to organizations and families in need at no cost. Construction of these miniature houses is similar to the way large houses for humans are built. It presents similar challenges and prepares kids for possible careers in the industry, and it’s all for a good cause. 

Mr. Stewart started this project in 2002 as a way to give his shop students at a career center some experience in the field of construction.  He had heard about Forsyth County Animal Control’s Houses for Hounds program–a program that works with animal welfare groups to give free dog houses to low-income residents. The project worked amazingly well as a teaching tool. Not only did students learn about construction, they innovated new ways to make animal houses more functional. For example, they moved doorways from the center of the house to the side to protect against wind, added two-inch entryways to prevent pets from removing their beds, and created removable roofs so feral cat caretakers could take kittens in for spaying and neutering before returning them to their families. 

Stewart’s students have made over 600 dog houses and over 110 feral cat homes since he began assigning the project. Mr. Stewart now works in Jacksonville, Florida at Englewood High School and donates the pet houses made by students to organizations like Friends of Jacksonville Animals and Epic Animals Outreach. The students have also added feeding stations to their designs. The animal homes are often carried by animal welfare officers to warn people of the danger of leaving pets exposed to the elements. They are then provided to low-income families for free.

FOLLOW US!

Australian Officials Are Pushing to Put Domesticated Cats Under 24-Hour Lockdown

The Australian government doesn’t want outdoor cats in the outback. Government officials announced a push for cities across the land down under to ban pet cats from running wild outside. But the kittens’ well-being isn’t what Australia is concerned about: it's their prey

Australia is home to many different species of tiny mammals that also happen to be the perfect cat snacks. Feral felines have already wiped out several native species, and some conservationists think they're responsible for almost all of Australia’s small mammal extinctions since they were first brought to the continent by English settlers 200 years ago, writes Cara Giaimo for Atlas Obscura. Now, Australian officials are pushing to put domesticated cats under 24-hour lockdown in order to protect at least 28 endangered species they threaten.

"They are tsunamis of violence and death for Australia's native species," Environment Minister Greg Hunt recently told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

The curfew comes on the heels of the Department of the Environment’s new feral cat plan, which also aims to exterminate 2 million feral cats in the next five years. Because the federal government doesn’t have the authority to impose a country-wide ban, officials are calling on cities and states to take action themselves. "The plan over the long term is to make this part of our culture,” Gregory Andrews, the country’s first Threatened Species Commissioner tells Nicole Hasham for the Sydney Morning Herald. “It's a journey that Australia has to go on."

Some cities and municipalities near conservation areas have already enacted bans, including several suburbs of Sydney and Canberra. But some cat lovers, including PETA and the French actress Brigitte Bardot, have taken issue with both the ban and the culling despite the government’s ecological intentions saying that extermination in the name of conservation doesn’t work.

Australia’s pet cats may soon be confined to their owners’ homes, but don't worry: the flow of cat pictures and GIFs to the internet should remain unaffected.

FOLLOW US!

Alley Cat Allies Presents the 2015 Internet Cat Video Festival

Alley Cat Allies is celebrating 25 years of saving cats by presenting the wildly popular Internet Cat Video Festival, curated and produced by the Walker Art Center, at AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, Maryland on November 12 and 15.

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Doors open at 6 p.m.; Film screening from 7–8:40 p.m.

Get tickets online. ($12 General Admission, $7 Child, $10 Senior, Military & Student)

Get directions to AFI Silver 

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Doors open at 10:30 a.m.; Film screening from 11 a.m..–12:40 p.m.

Get tickets online

Get directions to AFI Silver 

Download the flyer 

You’ll be treated to a 75 minute reel of the internet’s best cat videos, selected from public nominations in the categories of comedy, drama, action, and more! Following the show on Thursday, enjoy a Q&A session with Will Braden, famed creator of the Henri, Le Chat Noir films and the curator of the Internet Cat Video Festival.

Doors will open early at each event so you can visit Alley Cat Allies information tables, learn more about local cat adoption groups, and meet and pose for a pic with our mascot Frank the Feral!

FOLLOW US!

Veterinarian Shown in a Facebook Post Bragging About Killing a Cat with a Bow and Arrow, Can Not Be Charged Until Investigation Determines if the Picture is Genuine

A Texas sheriff said Saturday that he could not arrest and charge a veterinarian shown in a Facebook post bragging about killing a cat with a bow and arrow unless an investigation determines the picture of the dead cat is genuine.

Austin County Sheriff Jack Brandes said he was disturbed by the image that shows Kristen Lindsey holding up what she described as a dead feral tom cat. He has assigned two deputies and an investigator to the case.

"I've had people calling me from all over the country expressing their concern," Brandes said, speaking from a pasture while inspecting his cattle. "I just want everybody to know several things. We can't arrest and charge someone like that based on a picture on the internet. We have to make sure that is true and correct.

"Anybody can take a computer and alter a photograph."

The operators of the clinic where Lindsey worked in Brenham, about 100 miles northwest of Houston, said Friday she was fired after they learned of the posting earlier in the week, which has since been removed, along with her Facebook account.  The posting prompted hundreds of phone calls also to the Washington Animal Clinic.

"We are absolutely appalled, shocked, upset, and disgusted by the conduct," the clinic posted on its web site. "We do not allow such conduct and we condemn it in the strongest possible manner."

Bruce Buenger told Bryan-College Station television station KBTX, which first reported the story, his clinic's goal was to "try to fix our black eye and hope that people are reasonable and understand that those actions don't anyway portray what we're for here."

"We put our heart and soul into this place," he said.

A sign outside the clinic that lists its vets had her name covered with tape.

No telephone listing for Lindsey could be determined Saturday and she could not be reached for comment.

The sheriff said his office had reached out to her.

"She didn't want to talk to us at this time," he said. "She said she was going to come in with her attorney. Hopefully early next week, we get something cracking. Hopefully this girl comes in. She may. She may not."

The incident is believed to have taken place in his county, which is adjacent to Washington County, which includes Brenham. The results of the investigation would be turned over to the county district attorney, who could present the evidence to a grand jury or issue a warrant.

Depending on the nature of the charge, animal cruelty can be a misdemeanor or a state jail felony in Texas.

Brandes said while Lindsey's posting described the animal as a feral cat, he was aware of some reports that it was a lost domestic cat.

"We haven't determined that 100 percent at this time," he said.

The Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners lists Lindsey as holding a valid license since June 2012 and with no disciplinary actions.

"All these people are jumping up and down, they want action," Brandes said. "The wheels of justice turn slow. You want to be sure once you accuse and arrest someone."

If you missed the initial story, you can read it here: A Veterinarian Has Been Fired From Her Clinic After She Posted a Horrifying Image of Her Holding a Cat She Had Killed by Firing an Arrow Into its Head

FOLLOW US!

A Veterinarian Has Been Fired From Her Clinic After She Posted a Horrifying Image of Her Holding a Cat She Had Killed by Firing an Arrow Into its Head

A veterinarian has been fired from her clinic after she posted a horrifying image of her holding a cat she had killed by firing an arrow into its head on Facebook. 

Kristen Lindsey, 31, who lives in Brenham, Texas, allegedly hunted the animal down in her backyard and shot it with a bow, believing it was feral.

But a local rescue center say the cat, believed to be called Tiger, was domesticated and had been missing for around two weeks.

Beneath the shocking image, Lindsey, a Wyoming native, wrote: "My first bow kill... lol. 
The only good feral tomcat is one with an arrow through it's head. Vet of the year award... gladly accepted."

She also said in a comment, before she learned she no longer had a job: "And no I did not lose my job. Psshh. Like someone would get rid of me. I'm awesome." 

The Colorado State graduate lost her job at the Washington Animal Clinic after the image began circulating online and staff have since been distancing themselves from the former employee.

Staff at released a statement on Facebook on Friday saying: "We are absolutely appalled, shocked, upset, and disgusted by the conduct.

We have parted ways with Ms. Lindsey. We do not allow such conduct and we condemn it in the strongest possible manner," the clinic said in the statement.

"Please know that when informed of this we responded swiftly and appropriately and please do not impute this awful conduct to the Washington Animal Clinic or any of its personnel."

Local prosecutors are now considering whether she should face criminal charges.  

A Facebook page, called 'justice for the cat murdered by Kirsten Lindsey'  has already been 'liked' by more than 7,000 people.

A video of the six-year-old cat that Lindsey is believed to have killed riding on top of a tractor has also surfaced online. 

Austin County Sheriff, Jack Brandes, says he was disturbed by the image.

He told KBTX: "This kind of stuff shouldn't happen in our society," Brandes said. "It's a very sad thing." 

"Hopefully we will get to the bottom of it and get the truth, 100 per cent truth, and get it to the DA and put it in his hands if it needs to go any further." 

The Texas Veterinary Medical Association also condemned her reactions, insisting her conduct does not reflect the standards of other vets.

In a statement, they said: "The Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) strongly condemns the actions of a veterinarian who claims to have recently shot and killed a feral cat with the use of a bow and arrow. 

The veterinarian, who worked in Brenham, Texas, and is not a TVMA member, posted a picture of herself holding the deceased cat on her personal Facebook page along with some insensitive remarks about the incident."

"This individual’s actions directly violate the veterinarian’s oath taken to use his or her scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health and welfare, the prevention and relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health and the advancement of medical knowledge.” 

"We are saddened and disturbed by the unfortunate actions of this individual, and we remind Texas residents that this conduct is not reflective of the veterinary profession or of the veterinarians who strive to embody the words of the veterinarian’s oath every day."

Upon learning of the troubling misconduct, the Brenham clinic, where the veterinarian was practicing, immediately condemned her actions and terminated her employment. 

The clinic’s ownership and staff have expressed their deepest shock and disgust at such behavior and are regretful that the individual acted in a manner that so drastically deviated from the conduct and values the clinic has upheld in its community for years.

"We hope you will stand strong with us against this type of behavior against animals. TVMA values the trust built between veterinarians and the public based on mutually shared care for animals.

We hope that we can unite to prevent actions like this from occurring in the future.
She was also condemned online by a number of people in her profession."

Larry Wallace, who said he had been a veterinarian for 40 years, said on Facebook: "I have never in my long career heard of such an atrocious act by a member of my profession. 

This person most be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. 

She took an oath to protect and heal not to killing innocent life. I will be contacting my national association about this matter as she has tarnished the profession for which she has chosen."

Underneath the clinic's statement, Sheilah Christensen wrote: "She needs to be in jail for animal abuse - follow your state statutes on animal abuse. Take her license away -- my God, what did she do to the animals in her care at your clinic." 

Cruelty to animals is a Class A misdemeanor under penal code 42.092: “A person commits an offense if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly tortures an animal or in a cruel manner kills or causes serious bodily injury to an animal.”
Lindsey interned at Equine Sports Medicine & Surgery in Weatherford from 2012 to 2013.

She created a personal blog called Wyo-Girl-Kristen Lindsey and posted about herself in 2011, saying: "I love Wyoming and the mountains....the Big Horns especially...but any will do when it really comes down to it. 

I love hunting, fly fishing, pack trips, the outdoors in general, horses, skiing, dancing, whiskey, my friends, my family, God, raising hell, my daddy, and sheep." 

Kristen Lindsey from Brenham, Texas, allegedly hunted the animal down and shot it with a bow believing it was feral and then posted the image on Facebook

Lindsey, pictured with her mother Becky, said after the picture was uploaded that she didn't lose her job - claiming no one would fire her because she is 'awesome'. However she later learned she had been fired

Local prosecutors are now considering whether she should face criminal charges. She was also slammed online with a number of people saying she should lose her veterinarian license  

A video of the six-year-old cat that Lindsey is believed to have killed riding on top of a tractor has also surfaced online

The Colorado State graduate lost her job at the Washington Animal Clinic (pictured) after the image began circulating online. She has yet to respond to the image 

The clinic issued a statement confirming Lindsey had been fired and distanced themselves from the employee. They said they were 'disgusted' by her conduct 

FOLLOW US!

New Reward Amount: $15,000 Cat Found in the 1400 Block of G Street, NE with Eye Injury: $15,000 Reward For Information Leading to the Arrest/Conviction of the Person(s) Responsible for this Horrific Act of Animal Cruelty - Washington Humane Society

Washington, DC - $15,000 REWARD: On March 15, a young cat was found on the 1400 Block of G St, NE with an eye injury. Upon treatment it became apparent that a BB gun pellet was lodged in his eye. Based on the condition of the eye upon treatment, it is suspected that the cat was shot not much earlier before he was found.

Thanks to our friends at Alley Cat Allies and a generous anonymous donor, the reward for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible for this horrific act of animal cruelty has tripled and is now $15,000.

WHS is seeking the help of the community for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this horrific act of animal cruelty. The Washington Humane Society, Alley Cat Allies and a generous anonymous donor are offering a $15,000 reward that will be given to any person who provides such information.

If you have any information about this case, please contact the 
Washington Humane Society Humane Law Enforcement Department:

Officer D’Eramo
dderamo@washhumane.org
(202) 723-5730
Information will be kept confidential upon request.

Please Share! FOLLOW US!