Graphic by Alley Cat Allies
Put that community cat back! …
8am. Tuesday. October 16, 2018.
Marcy and Penelope Kitten wake up Cynthia. They are freaking out.
penelope kitten (squeak screaming): Carl’s gone!
Cynthia: Carl? The Apartment Courtyard Community Cat?
penelope kitten: Yeah yeah.
Marcy: He’s not outside waiting for breakfast.
penelope kitten (panicking): he’s always waiting for breakfast.
Marcy: We checked for evidence of a coyote attack.
penelope kitten: none.
Marcy: We checked the street to see if he got run over.
penelope kitten: he didn’t.
Marcy: We checked under all the bushes and crawl spaces to see if he was sick, broke a bone, or had hurt feelings.
penelope kitten: he’s not there. he’s not anywhere. squeakkkk!!!!
Cynthia: Oh no! Let me see what I can find out.
Cynthia throws on a coat and goes around the building inquiring as to the whereabouts of Carl, The Apartment Community Courtyard Cat.
She returns a half hour later.
Cynthia: A neighbor called Animal Control. They got him and took him to the shelter.
Penelope passes out.
Cynthia: It’s okay guys, I’ll get him out.
Marcy: And then we need to bite the neighbor.
Cynthia: From what I understand she was worried about him and didn’t recognize his ear tip indicating that he is a neutered, vaccinated community cat. She thought he would be better off getting help at the shelter and didn’t understand that community/feral cats like Carl do best outside. She didn’t know that he would spend a terrifying week at the shelter and then get euthanized.
Marcy: Let’s bite her.
Cynthia: No, Marcy. Let’s educate her. She meant well and she feels just awful for causing Carl so much distress. That wasn’t her intention. Besides, we’re advocates, not adversaries. We’ll talk more about the misinformation surrounding community/feral cats and be sure to pass out Alley Cat Allies flyers and bust those mad moggy myths.
penelope kitten (squeaking): kapow! let’s go right meow.
Cynthia: Great. I’ll pick up Carl and we’ll meet you back here.
penelope kitten: yay! i’m gonna put on my superhero cape.
Cynthia, Marcy, Penelope Kitten (in her superhero cape), and Carl spend the rest of the day… Global Cat Day 2018 … talking to neighbors about community cats – their needs, their quirks, and their rights.
Well… Carl stayed mostly out of sight since he’s shy. But that’s okay. He’s a community cat and we let him live his life on his terms.
=^..^=
*The Global Cat Day 2018 theme is to correct the misinformation about our community cats and shelters so we can best help our feral feline friends.
*Thank you, Alley Cat Allies!
Alley Cat Allies is the definitive resource for cats. They are a national non-profit whose staff and volunteers work tirelessly to achieve these goals –
Reforming Public Policies About Cats
Saving Cats Lives’ In Shelters
Changing Attitudes Towards Cats
♥
*Btw, Marcy just realized that we’ve been celebrating National Feral Cat Day/Global Cat Day since 2013! Check out our stories below!
6 Comments
Holy meow!!! Poor Carl. Has he recovered from the trauma?
Yes! He’s doing great! Marcy and Penelope gave him their treats.
xo,
cynthia
Oh my gosh! I’m so sorry that Carl went through this! But, it sounds like his trauma lead to more people being informed, so he did a good deed. 🙂
He’s shy but sturdy!
Yes – it is amazing how many people think a cat like Carl would do better in a shelter and possibly get adopted. Most of the time the public doesn’t even see the ferals because they are kept in the back as “unadoptables”. We’re getting the word out about TNR and a ton had been accomplished but there is still a long way to go!
xo,cynthia
Another great PSA. OMG Carl is so fortunate to have you girls as his buds everyday and especially during the rescue. (LOL, hiding bc of hurt feelings ?).
Ahhh… thank you, Vik!
(cats are soooo sensitive! even feral cats! lol)
xo,cynthia