The castration obligation for free-range cats is a much discussed topic. I can understand why many do not want to have their cats castrated. Cats babies are finally sweet! However, once you have experienced the suffering of free-range cats that do not have a steady home, you may be able to understand why many animal rights activists are in favor of a general castration obligation. Today I would like to write a few of my thoughts about it.

My First Experience With Stray Cats

For the first time I came in contact with strays at the age of about six years. It was already dark outside, but a strange noise - yes screams - kept us awake. We went out to see where this sound came from. In front of our house my parents had stacked firewood on the wall. What we discovered behind it? A cat mum just got her kittens. A truly touching sight! The cat mummy was a stray dog. We took care of the mommy and one of her kittens. At that time we were able to convey the others to a loving home. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if the cat had not born her kittens right in front of our house ...

It was already clear to our neighbor that something had to be done to deal with the suffering, which often goes hand in hand with strays. Gradually, she managed to neuter all strays in the area. So that was the first and last time that we had kittens. At that time, as a young child, I did not even know what that all meant.

My Second Experience With Stray Cats

My second experience with stray cats was on a holiday in Italy. Although it was also very sad, this experience was one of the most touching of my life at the same time.

Like many cat fans, I can not go on vacation without a cat. For years my husband and I go to the same house in Tuscany once a year. There are a lot of stray cats in Italy. Most of them, as so often, uncastrated.

There is a beautiful tortoiseshell lady on the spot, we christened her Chico. Year after year she spends our holiday week with us. She sleeps on the chairs in front of the house, gets food from us when we are there and a lot of petting. On our second holiday there, we heard that Chico had a very young offspring. We never saw her kittens, she hid them pretty well. On our last holiday evening I heard in the evening a loud screaming and Viepen in front of the door. I opened it and saw Chico with her kitten in her mouth. She had brought her to us. I still do not know why. Did she want to show it to us? Or did she know we could help her?

The little red kitten was estimated to be just four weeks old, helpless. I knew I was his first human contact, so I was aloof and just gave them food. The little kitten stood on the plate and ate eagerly. They spent the whole night with us. After that, I never saw it again ...

Since then, every holiday for us, Chico, means to provide us with their offspring. The last time we were there, we even met two generations of offspring. I do not want to imagine what hardships that must be for Chico. This could save her and her offspring so much suffering. With a castration.

My Third Experience With Stray Cats

The problem with always giving birth cats is not only in Italy, no, we have it here too. A few years ago our distant neighbors brought home a group of cats from their vacation, let them run around freely, but not castrate them. Every year there are 2x a year offspring. Of course, also among each other. This is then partially sold, or he simply stays here and soon gives birth to many, many kittens.

Uncastrated cats have a much larger area than castrated cats. This also means that they take much greater risks when walking through their territory. Many of them end with death.

Since uncastrated tomcats also rarely tolerate other hangovers in their territory, it often leads to real power struggles among the cats. My Puschi can sing a song about it, too often he has become the victim of an uncastrated cat. Of these battles, he was sometimes already so bad injuries that they had to be treated with antibiotics.

My Opinion On The Castration Obligation For Free-Range Cats

All these experiences really only allow me to come to a conclusion. So much suffering could be avoided, one would introduce a general castration obligation for free-range cats. I know, offspring is super cute, but not the suffering that just too often goes with it.

Every year the shelters are overcrowded because they have to absorb a lot of kittens, mostly from cats who enjoy free passage and have been able to reproduce unhindered. Every year, too many cats die as they feel the urge to roam their great territory under many dangers. Every year, cats die violently in battle with dominant, uncastrated cats / cats.

In Germany there are an estimated two million stray cats. From a mating of cats arise in about five years about 12,600 descendants. On farms, in industrial areas, in backyards, in forests. The suffering is often hidden and therefore not known or conscious. Who can stop this suffering? We!

Here I have linked to you a list in which cities in Germany there is now the castration obligation for release cats. I'm not connected to the linked club, I think the information is only interesting.

Let me know how you feel about this topic!

Cat Food

Juli 16, 2019

When I tell this story to friends, acquaintances or even strangers, they can not really believe many. Because we got cat growth without 'picking' a new cat. We, that's my husband and I and our two cats Puschi and Mammina. Because in the autumn of 2016 Shadow (pronounced: Schado) moved in, simply because she had chosen it that way.

Shadow is the little cuteness down in the photo. Shadow was not a stray but a neighbor's cat a few doors down. He adopted her from a Croatian shelter three years ago. Shadow lived as a pure outside cat in a family of three schoolchildren. As an outside cat, because no cat flap was allowed to be attached to the house and then she eventually became 'annoying' inside. She probably scratched the inside of the doors and the same.

Shadow and our big cat Puschi have always been friends, but Mammina did not really like Shadow and always chased her off the property when she saw her. Nevertheless, Shadow sometimes came to our house. For example, in the summer, when the patio door was open, she went into the kitchen, stole some cat food and disappeared again. At some point we discovered that she was sleeping in my closet. Since I wanted to provide the little mouse with a warm sleeping space, I cleared a separate compartment for her and laid it warm and cozy with a blanket. Almost every day she lay in it and slept there in peace. She did not participate in family life, she behaved inconspicuously and did not like to be touched.

Of course, we told our neighbors that Shadow sometimes stays with us, which was ok for them. They found them somehow strange and had already considered whether they should not give them away. So, a year and a half passed. When it was cool, we saw it more often, then sporadically in summer. Until last fall.

We noticed that Shadow is suddenly more often with us. She ate regularly with us and looked for other places to sleep in the apartment. She began to make herself comfortable on our sofa and took the window sill in the kitchen for herself. I worked with Mammina to better accept Shadow, which I did well and we (my husband and I) decided to adopt Shadow if our neighbors agree.

After a brief conversation with our neighbors, the matter was settled, Shadow - the unrecognized treasure - now officially belonged to us. From that moment something happened that I really did not expect. The little dachshund, who also liked to run against closed doors and move his head very strangely 360 degrees, changed himself 180 degrees. She loved to play it suddenly, enjoyed our attention, demanded pats (even on the stomach! My first cat likes that!), Loved to be combed, developed droll whimsy in the house (She loves to hang out with my husband at the faucet play) and we even caught her cuddling with Mammina! She has settled in so well with us, she lays more and more off her nervous ticks and her coat is now silky smooth. One thing she has not shown us yet, her treading *, I'm curious if that will come at some point! (* edit: In the beginning of 2018 Shadow showed us her stepping for the first time, I was so touched and happy that my tears came).

But we have a problem now: we need a bigger sofa 

This cat gives us so much joy - thank you Shadow, that you have chosen us as your new family!

Interesting: 

From time to time it happens that cats say goodbye to their family and look for a new one. Of course, only with free-fallers, it is clear. It is important that the families speak openly and find the best solution for the cat. Because not we choose our cats, but the cats choose their home. 

By the way, an absolute no-go is to feed a foreign cat extra, because of course the four-legged friends stay where they get something delicious to eat. And the family at home then wonders where the cat stays, or why she eats so changed. So if you notice that a strange cat is staying with you more and more often, you should definitely make out their owner and talk openly with him.

Cat Family Food

Juli 16, 2019

Again and again I experience how cat owners let their cats from the coffee or nibble the cats from the human plate. But is that really healthy for cats?. Of course, it always depends on what's on the plate. For example, if onions are served with, we should not let our cats taste our "human meal". For onions or leeks are among the dangerous foods for cats.

However, it is not so easy to keep track of the abundance of food, which food cats are allowed to eat now and which are not. If you get confused, it can be fatal for the cat. Therefore, I advise when feeding the cats, rather not take unnecessary risk and / or to inform themselves really well.

So that you get a small overview, which foods are not for your cats, I have you today a small list created, you can print out, for example, or you can check it out again and again, you should be unsure.

Dangerous Foods For Cats

• Onion and leeks
• chives
• garlic
• Cow's milk / dairy products in too high quantities (lactose)
• grapes
• raisins
• chocolate
• coffee
• tea
• avocados
• alcohol
• salt
• beans
• peas
• lenses
• Raw potatoes
• Raw pork
• Smoked foods
• Raw fish (salmonella danger)
• Raw poultry (salmonella danger)
• bone
• cabbage
• yeast dough
• Stone fruit (eg peach, apricots, prunes etc.)
• citrus fruits
• Birkenzucker
• Xylitol (sweetener in chocolate or baked goods)

In addition, you should do without the car for carbohydrates and sugar.

What Happens If The Cat Has Eaten "Wrong Foods"?

Often the cat suffers from nausea and intestinal discomfort after eating "wrong foods". Constipation is one of the consequences. Also, vomiting, anemia (onions), nervousness, panting, salmonella, tapeworms, coughing, muscle tremors, difficulty breathing, tachycardia (coffee) or convulsions can be further consequences.

The sweetener xylitol, which is contained in many chocolate, for example, can also lead to liver failure. What happens then, you should know. Many of these foods can also cause damage that can not be repaired. So pay attention to what your kittens get between the teeth.

If you have any more examples of "wrong foods" for cats, please let me know, then I'll add them to my list.

By the way: the list is not exhaustive.

Cat Food Healthy

Juli 16, 2019