Took in a stray cat. Now I can't get rid of it...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question for those who live in areas where the publicly-funded shelter doesn’t take in strays. Who is spaying and neutering these animals?

The county. It’s called TNR (trap, neuter, return).

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter/tnr

Your link says they don’t. It’s supposedly volunteers. NOT the county. They don’t bring them to the shelter, they need to find a vet that will do the surgery. That’s just crazy that the county doesn’t do their part.

You didn't read it correctly. FCAS doesn't take in healthy community cats to adopt out. It absolutely provides TNR services on a regular (weekly) basis. The cats are brought to the shelter, spayed/neutered, and returned to their community. The only requirements are that you attend a free workshop if you are unfamiliar with how to safely and humanely trap cats, that the cat be from a Fairfax County location, and that you make a clinic appointment in advance of bringing the cat(s) in. The shelter can even provide the traps for you if need be.

Healthy community cats do NOT do well in the shelter environment. Many of them are not adoptable as house pets so they end up as working cats, basically a situation not that different from the one they originally came from with the addition of a stressful shelter stay. A cat that is sick, injured, or otherwise unsafe outdoors is another story and FCAS can/does take in those animals.

Correct.

[Anonymous]

Maybe the cat traveled farther than anticipated? Maybe post to a wider audience on NextDoor? You might also try King Street Cats if you haven’t already.

[Anonymous]

What is the description of the cat? Saw some posts about missing cats but in moco.

[Anonymous]

OP here - kitty was reunited with her owner this morning! It's a Christmas miracle!!

The owner has been out of town for a few weeks - we connected after she got back and blasted social media!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - kitty was reunited with her owner this morning! It's a Christmas miracle!!

The owner has been out of town for a few weeks - we connected after she got back and blasted social media!

Wow. What a heart-warming story! I'm glad it turned out this way, OP.

[Anonymous]

Awww! That’s wonderful! And you did such a kind thing in looking after her kitty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I took in a stray cat almost two weeks ago. She was wandering outside my house - we almost never have outdoor cats in our neighborhood so I assumed she was lost and that someone would claim her right away. I have put up flyers, posted on Nextdoor, facebook, Pawboost, and reported her missing three county animal shelters. She doesn't have a microchip and has not been claimed. Humane Society is full. FFX Co. animal shelter doesn't take healthy animals (according to them). I have been in touch with a couple of rescues and would serve as a temporary foster, but the only one that has gotten back to me is located an hour away and I'd need to travel to them for vet care, etc.

I think I will most likely end up working with a rescue, but I need to get her to a vet in the short term. She's in my garage because we have two indoor cats who are due for shots, etc. (appt for them is Friday).

Any ideas or does anyone know of a vet that will examine her and give shots and advice if it's safe to let her in with my cats?

Really wasn't anticipating this when I took her in. In no way do we want or need a third cat.

Maybe she has a chip; the vet should have a reader.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I took in a stray cat almost two weeks ago. She was wandering outside my house - we almost never have outdoor cats in our neighborhood so I assumed she was lost and that someone would claim her right away. I have put up flyers, posted on Nextdoor, facebook, Pawboost, and reported her missing three county animal shelters. She doesn't have a microchip and has not been claimed. Humane Society is full. FFX Co. animal shelter doesn't take healthy animals (according to them). I have been in touch with a couple of rescues and would serve as a temporary foster, but the only one that has gotten back to me is located an hour away and I'd need to travel to them for vet care, etc.

I think I will most likely end up working with a rescue, but I need to get her to a vet in the short term. She's in my garage because we have two indoor cats who are due for shots, etc. (appt for them is Friday).

Any ideas or does anyone know of a vet that will examine her and give shots and advice if it's safe to let her in with my cats?

Really wasn't anticipating this when I took her in. In no way do we want or need a third cat.

Maybe she has a chip; the vet should have a reader.

didn’t read before I posted

[Anonymous]

So you took in a stray and then wanted to foist it onto the county or rescue org? Why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So you took in a stray and then wanted to foist it onto the county or rescue org? Why?

Read the whole thread. OP is a saint! Cat is reunited with her family. OP, I’m sure you made the owner’s holiday season!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - kitty was reunited with her owner this morning! It's a Christmas miracle!!

The owner has been out of town for a few weeks - we connected after she got back and blasted social media!

Thank god! Was someone supposed to be watching her, and didn’t realize she was gone?

And this shows why your local shelter needs an overhaul. It WAS someone’s pet. If you hadn’t taken her in, she would have been out on the street. All because the shelter doesn’t want to deal with “strays”. Remember DCUM, “stray” does not equal “feral”. The shelter needs to do a better job doing what they are supposed to do! Thank goodness OP stepped up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - kitty was reunited with her owner this morning! It's a Christmas miracle!!

The owner has been out of town for a few weeks - we connected after she got back and blasted social media!

Fantastic! Good job OP.

[Anonymous]

Animal welfare league of Arlington is wonderful.