June has been a month
of bad news. Bad news for cats especially. The city of San Jose
may not fund their spay neuter program and people all over the
country want to exterminate them as a species.
I learned early on that cats have a lot of enemies. I learned
to hide that I was caring for feral cats so as not to bring
attention to the cats in order to protect their shelter and
feeding stations. A lot of people see cats as pests and nuisance
animals with no rights as a species. I am a member of many wildlife
groups which I joined long before I came into contact with my
first feral cat. I was shocked that wildlife groups see feral
cats as enemy #1 and don't understand why people cannot appreciate
their value.
Man befriended feral cats
in ancient Egypt to help keep rodent populations down in
feed storage areas in towns and villages which is a needed function
and should be welcome in today's society. With we human caretakers
to neuter them, take them to the vet, provide shelter and adequate
food, they simply don't have the impact on the wildlife that
they get blamed for over and over again. I have birdfeeders
and birdbaths under trees in areas where my ferals reside. I
watch them from my window often and I never ever see them going
after the birds, although some like to drink water from the
birdbath, the birds take off the minute they see him coming.
They never even hunt rodents, although one is set on catching
bugs. My ferals are just plain too fat and too comfy to have
to actually really hunt for their food.
I think the TNR solution is wonderful as feral cats are wonderful
animals - halfway between little Fluffy and their cousins in
Africa. Yes, we mess with them by neutering them and feeding
them, they aren't really "wild" anymore, but I think
it helps keep them living happy and healthy lives without them
resorting to being true predators since they have us to care
for them. We must care for our feral cats responsibly and not
let them down. Cats are very smart animals, they know the exact
time their meal ticket arrives daily and are right there waiting
for their food. If you take on a colony, you've got to stick
with them throughout the years in good and bad weather and please
don't let them down, as they depend on you.
Please read these articles about feral cats plight throughout
the country and let us know if you would like to help them by
volunteering in our feral cat program which includes caring
for them, trapping and taking them to the vet, etc. They need
you!
Rosi Mirko - TC Director
Further reading:
Town
Cats Feral Information
Town Cats
Cats
in ancient Egypt www.touregypt.net
The
Role of Cats in Ancient Egypt by M. Epstein
Alert!
Help Stop Killing of Richmond, Ind. Ferals |
Feral Cat
News |
| |
| Now, we do have a little bit of good news
to add to newsletter |
|
....the county of Santa Clara Spay/Neuter program for Feral
and Stray cats and dogs has been refunded beginning July 1,
2003. Albeit at half the normal budget, there are funds available
to spay or neuter, vaccinate and test for leukemia and FIV
stray and feral cats all for $10 copay! For dogs, it's a $5
copay for the spay or neuter, and you need to pay for the
shots. So far, the following vets are participating:
Lawrence Pet Hospital
Santa Clara (up to 10 ferals on Sundays only)
408-296-3300
Bascom Animal Hospital
Campbell (males only)
408-371-5630
Santa Clara Valley Humane Society
Spay Clinic Santa Clara
408-727-3383
St. Francis of Assisi Spay Neuter
Clinic
San Martin (Tuesdays and Wednesdays only - limited # of ferals)
408-683-0866
|
| Article |
Thousands hitting the streets of Rome in the shadow of the Colosseum
this past February 2003 in support of Italy's felines "Gattare"
or cat.
Ladies and men alike, protested government policies and attitudes
toward cats with banners, picket signs or cat companions in
hand. Marchers included volunteers, tourists, cat lovers and
Italian TV start banding together for the following demands:
1. Increased public respect
for abandoned animals and their caretakers.
2. Increased awareness of spaying
and neutering, plus full enforcement of regional law 34/97,
which states that free spaying and neutering must be provided
for stray animals by Rome's public medical services.
3. The founding of a public
cat shelter in Rome, which already exists for dogs.
4. The founding of a free emergency
veterinary clinic for sick and injured stray animals.
5. Increased police patrols
to identify and prosecute individuals guilty of abusing animals
and their caretakers.
Organizers plan to hold another Cat Pride march next year. For
information visit www.romancats.com.
|
| Humor |
http://www.cheiry.com |
 |
|
| Health |
Principles
of Vaccination
Approved by the
AVMA Executive Board April, 2001 |
|
INTRODUCTION:
Medical decisions about vaccine selection and protocols have
become more complex. Selecting vaccine products and recommending
vaccine programs are among the most complicated of medical
decisions facing the veterinarian. The reasons are numerous:
continued evolution of our understanding of the immune system;
increased value of animals to the owner/client; improved medical
record systems, and longer animal life-spans allowing the
emergence of chronic sequellae. Improved understanding of
infectious diseases, the strengths and limitations of the
biologic regulatory approval process, and of adverse events
associated with vaccination, also complicate decisions required
for best patient care.
The Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents (COBTA) has
studied the issues of vaccinology and immunology for the last
two years. This study included a review of the scientific
literature and interactive testimony with four expert groups
including academic, regulatory, industry, and practitioner
experts. Topics included safety, efficacy, duration of immunity,
research and development of vaccines, vaccine licensing, product
labeling, adverse events and adverse event reporting, governmental
oversight of manufacturers, and legal issues associated with
medical procedures.
Vaccines have played a significant role in enabling people
and animals to live longer and healthier lives in this world
filled with microbial pathogens. Vaccine products vary in
efficacy and safety. Modern science continues to learn more
about the immune system and to develop strategies and technology
for safer and more efficacious vaccines. Thorough evaluations
of the risks of the disease, and those potentially associated
with the vaccine, compared to the benefits of vaccination
for the patient, are necessary in crafting optimal health
recommendations that include vaccination.
|
More |
| Veterinary
Services |
|
|
|
Vets offering special
Spay/Neuter Rates for Town Cats Visitors
These rates are being offered
to the public if they mention they were
when making their appointment.
|
 |
AKAL Berryessa Veterinarian
Hospital
408-453-2524
Spays for $45
Neuters for $35 |
|
|
Animal Medical Center
408-267-7387
Spays for $39
Neuters for $29
|
|
St. Francis of Assisi-San
Martin,Ca
408-683-0866
(Tuesdays & Wednesdays only)
"Call for Rates for Cats and Dogs"
Low Cost Vaccine Clinic Tuesdays & Wednesdays
"opened low cost spay/neuter/vaccine
clinic in Turlock too!" |
|
|
 |
The Texas Department of Transportation reported that 17,043
Animal Friendly license plates had been issued as of press time,
generating $1,101,747 in fees and renewals to be distributed
among reduced and no-cost spaying and neutering programs.
In January, the Texas Department of Health awarded $250,000
to 12 eligible spay/neuter organizations across the state, addressing
a crisis of animal overpopulation that sends as many as 90%
of animals entering shelters to their deaths, according to the
Houson based Spay-Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP). License
plate sales aim to drastically cut that statistic. The Animal
Friendly plates cost $25 extra per year, added on to normal
registration fees and $20 from every plate is deposited directly
in the the Texas Animal Friendly account. License plate applications
or more information can be obtained by calling SNAP at 800-762-7762
or visit www.snapus.org.
|
| Sweeps
& Freebies |
|
Unwanted Prizes are always Welcome
!!!
If you have an unwanted prize please email
us.
If we can't use it at Town Cats we may be able to auction
it off to raise much needed funds and help make a cats life
a little bit easier.
Win
a collar
Catnipetc's
2003 Pretty Kitty Contest
Win
$50 in "Kitty Kash"
Win
a Sitting Pretty Kitty gift bag
Photo Contest
monthly sweepstakes to win free pet food for a year.
If your Show-n-Tails entry is voted the monthly winner by
our site visitors, you’ll receive a great PRO PAC Prize
Pac including: - PRO PAC Bowl
- PRO PAC Denim Shirt
- PRO PAC Baseball Cap
- PRO PAC Pet Treats
- PRO PAC Pet Food Coupons
win a free three-month supply of PRO PAC Pet Food just for
voting on your
favorite Show-n-Tails entry!
WHISKAS
Cat of the Month Photo Contest
WIN
Free Cat Friendly Seeds
Win
FREE Pet Food for One Whole Year!
Win
a bag of Bil-Jac dog or cat food
Woodruffs
Monthly Give Away
Win
a free cat toy!
A
bag of Flint River Ranch dog or cat food
|
Win
your choice of Mini Print
From Cat Man Drew Strouble |
Win
Hartz pet products & a t-shirt
Hand-Crafted
Catnip n' Nap Basket
Hair-Raising
Pet Tales Contest
Watercolor
portrait of your pet
Sheba
Cat of the month Photo contest
Fancy
Feast Playing Card Offer
|
Thankyou to CashnetSweeps.com
for supplying details of pet related sweeps for our subscribers
and supporting Town Cats. |
|
Aidan 
Crystal
