For Jan Haag, it started with one half-starved, half-grown and completely wild cat she thought was male when she took the terrified animal, still in a live-capture trap, to a veterinarian to be neutered.
Haag, a Sacramento, Calif., college professor and friend of mine for many years, is a member of a volunteer "kitty committee" that works to manage a feral cat problem on her campus. The group has managed to keep the feral cat population down by taming kittens for placement in new homes, and by trapping, neutering and releasing the untamable adults to keep other cats from colonizing and breeding.
She'd trapped many feral cats and had taken them to be neutered, but this time she was in for a surprise. "The vet said not only was 'he' a 'she,' but also that the cat was pregnant. With two babies," she said.
"How much trouble can two little kittens be?" Haag remembers asking herself, in words that her friends and family reminded her of many times in the weeks that followed.
Not long after, the cat gave birth in Haag's back bedroom -- and refused to mother the newborns. It was near the end of the spring semester, Haag's busiest time, but she did what needed to be done, taking over where the mother cat left off in raising the kittens.
At that point, she joined hundreds of dedicated volunteers who do the same thing every year, bottle-feeding orphaned or abandoned kittens. The bottle-raisers range from young people who'll likely raise a couple kittens once at most to seasoned old hands who've each saved dozens if not hundreds of kittens over decades of volunteering. Many of the staff at veterinary clinics and hospitals also donate their time to bottle-raise orphans, and so do countless veterinary students.
With so many more kittens than homes available every year, it's natural to ask if the effort is worth it. Haag wondered that herself when told by the veterinarian that the feral cat could be spayed, ending the pregnancy long before the kittens could have survived on their own.
"I thought about it," said Haag. "But in the end I decided the kittens would live, and I'd take responsibility for them."
After the mother abandoned the kittens, Haag hooked up with a mentor who showed her how to feed the pair and keep them clean and warm. "One of her tips was to fill an old tube sock with white rice and zap it in the microwave -- but not for too long, of course. I'd then cover the warm sock with fleece and they'd snuggle up to it."
The bigger problem was one of logistics: The tiny kittens needed to be fed every two to three hours around the clock, and Haag had classes to teach. "I put the kittens in a carrier and took them to school. The students -- even some of the big, tough young men -- would line up to help with feedings."
Despite all the challenges, the kittens -- known collectively as the "Twinkies" for their size and yellow-orange color -- not only survived but thrived. They took greedily to bottle-feeding and put on weight easily. In no time at all, they'd moved from a small carrier to a towel-lined kiddie pool. Soon, they were ready to be placed. They went to a home together, and are healthy, well-socialized and playful youngsters today.
With another kitten season coming to an end, lots of bottle-feeders like Haag are finally catching up on all the lost sleep, putting the supplies away and trying not to think about next year.
There will always be more kittens, but chances are there will also be plenty of dedicated volunteers to turn the fortunes of these babies around and give them a chance at the loving, permanent home all pets deserve.
"It was a pretty intense few weeks," said Haag, who placed the kittens with a friend and sees them every week. "Bottle-raising kittens is not for everyone, but I'm glad I did it."
Glossy-sleek, healthy and playful in their new homes, there's no doubt the Twinkies and all the other bottle-raised babies are glad for the time and love of volunteers, too.
HOW TO HELP
For any cat lover with time to help, saving orphaned kittens can be an extremely satisfying accomplishment.
Contact any local shelter or rescue group to volunteer. They'll set you up with supplies and show you how to care for the kittens they'll give you to foster. Feline specialist Dr. Susan Little also has a thorough orphan kitten how-to on her Web site at www.catvet.homestead.com.
Kitten season starts up again in the spring.
THE SCOOP
Book a fascinating study of misunderstood animal
Of all the animals we have domesticated, perhaps none has as strange a relationship with us as the rabbit.
Like cats, rabbits are kept as indoor, litter box-using pets. Like sheep, rabbits are raised for meat. Like mink, rabbits are killed for fur. In animal testing, they are more used as "guinea pigs" than guinea pigs are.
We have adored the rabbit as a beloved character in countless children's books from Peter Rabbit onward, and we have even used the rabbit as metaphor, as in Michael Moore's "Roger & Me," when he drew parallels between the "pets or meat" offer of a Flint, Mich., rabbit-seller and the treatment of workers by General Motors.
With rabbits such a pervasive part of our culture for so long, it would seem likely that there'd be a good amount of scholarly thought about the complicated relationship between our species and theirs. After all, I can think of a couple of dozen such books about dogs or cats in just the last few years. But when it comes to rabbits, we seem to give them hardly any thought at all.
Into this void comes "Stories Rabbits Tell: A Natural and Cultural History of a Misunderstood Creature" (Lantern Books, $22). Authors Susan E. Davis and Margo DeMello, associated with the pioneering House Rabbit Society (www.rabbit.org), take a thoughtful and thought-provoking look at this common and yet nearly unknown animal. In my 20 years of writing about pets, I can remember few books that challenged and ultimately changed my perception the way this one did.
The authors bring their backgrounds in academia and journalism into play in taking a surprisingly dispassionate view of all the things we've done to rabbits, including massive hunts where even young children participated in the "fun" of driving wild rabbits into pens and clubbing them. The rabbit wars of Australia, where the animals were introduced and quickly bred out of control, are a grisly if fascinating study in what happens when humankind decides to mess with a well-balanced ecosystem.
Every section is like this, exploring territory that seems familiar yet afterward must be looked at in an entirely new way. In the end, one is left with a better understanding of the rabbit -- and a great deal of respect for its mostly involuntary contributions to the march of human progress.
For anyone who has thought of a pet rabbit as something to be largely ignored in an outdoor hutch until the children grow tired of it, "The Stories Rabbits Tell" will reveal the often unappreciated companionship potential of this often-neglected animal. For those who already understand and enjoy life with an indoor pet rabbit, the book is one that cannot be missed for the breadth, depth and affection its authors bring to the subject.
Q&A
Off-leash dogs dangerous on trails for horses
Q: Please spread the word about a dog-related problem we're having. We have horses, and we mostly use them to trail ride. The trails are posted in many places with signs that require dogs to be on leashes.
Every time we ride, we encounter dogs that are not on a leash. When we politely ask the owner to put their dogs on a leash, we often receive very rude replies. Our horses are not afraid of dogs, but some horses are. And any horse may be startled by a running, growling or barking dog.
Recently a runner came up behind us with her dog. One of the horses with us was startled and took off running. It took some time for the rider to control the panicked horse, and by the time the horse was under enough control so the rider could dismount, the rider was very upset. The horse could have easily thrown the rider and hurt or killed her. A scared horse could also kick and possibly hurt or kill a dog or dog-walker.
This is a serious situation that deserves attention. Signs on riding trails that say to keep your dog on a leash are there for the safety of all. -- P.L., via e-mail
A: As a person who has ridden horses off and on for years, I'm constantly amazed at how careless people can be around these large and powerful animals. Even well-trained horses can spook, with disastrous results.
Many if not most trail riders are gracious about sharing space with leashed, well-mannered dogs. They shouldn't have to share trails with irresponsible and inconsiderate dog owners (or runners, mountain-bikers, etc.) who put everyone in a dangerous situation.
For anyone who is allowed to use riding trails without being on horseback, please be alert for horses, let the riders know where you are, and stay out of the way while horses are near. And if the trails are posted off-limits, stay off. The rules truly are for everyone's safety.
Q: My 9-year-old Labrador has suddenly taken to helping himself to the fresh deposits in the cat-litter boxes. No changes in our household preceded this new behavior. Cats being the fickle creatures they are, I am afraid to alter their litter boxes for fear they will develop anti-social behaviors of their own. Can you help? -- C.R., via e-mail
A: The first rule to tackling a behavior problem is to make sure it's not a medical problem. While a lot of dogs love cruising litter boxes -- it's one of the most common problems I get asked about -- it is a little unusual for your dog to start this habit at this fairly advanced age. So please: Get your dog checked out by your veterinarian to see if any deficiencies show up in the blood work.
If all comes back clear, the best way to stop this disgusting behavior is to put up a barrier your dog can't get through but the cats can. Some people cut a cat-sized hole into the door of the room where the litter box is, while others ended the snacking with a baby-gate across the room opening. These solutions do require some effort, but they should keep the cats happy and the dog out of the litter box.
ON THE WEB
Pet toys get political
Pet toys in the image of political figures weren't selling all that well at Pet Food Express, a 22-store chain based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Then the head of the company's Web site (petfoodexpress.com) had an idea after adopting a puppy from an Oakland animal-rescue group.
"Like most pups, Lola is a ball of fire," said Bill Thompson. "To save my fingers, toes, socks, shoes, wallpaper and everything else, I brought chew toys home for her from work. The 'W' chew toy caught her interest immediately. I said aloud, 'Lola is voting with her teeth,' and a lightbulb clicked in my head."
Thompson put a "Vote With Your Teeth" promotion up on the Pet Food Express Web site, with not only President George W. Bush toys but also those representing Sen. Hillary Clinton and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The dog toys have squeakers, while the feline models are stuffed with catnip.
Sales have been strong ever since, but Thompson isn't willing to theorize about how those sales might translate in November. After all, there's no doll for Sen. John Kerry to even things out. "Most people take it in the spirit of fun that is its intention," says Thompson.
PET RX
Keep dogs cool on warm fall days
Autumn weather can be deceptive, with cool evenings and falling leaves making people forget the potential danger of a warm fall day to our dogs.
Staying in cars on warm days or exercising in the afternoon can put a dog into heat-related danger within minutes. This is true of all dogs, but especially true of obese, out-of-condition or older dogs, or dogs with short muzzles such as pugs and bulldogs.
A dog in trouble will be panting frantically, with a glazed look in his eyes. This is a dog who needs to be transported to a veterinarian immediately! While arranging transport, take the dog into some shade, put a fan on him, and swab his underside with cool water and alcohol. Do not use ice-cold water or ice because these can actually overcool blood vessels near the surface and trap heat inside the animal.
The best way to protect your pet from overheating is to make sure adequate shade and plenty of water are always available. Do not leave dogs in cars, even with the windows rolled down, and exercise during the coolest parts of the day.
October adoptions focus of group's promotion
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a New York City group with some national outreach programs, marks every October as Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. The group notes that less than 20 percent of all dogs were adopted from shelters and that behavior problems are what keep many shelter dogs from finding permanent homes.
In recent years shelters have worked to address these challenges, from hiring trainers to make shelter dogs more adoptable to implementing behavior hot lines to keep at-risk dogs from being taken to shelters.
Although it can take time to find the right dog, shelters continue to be a wonderful place to find a perfect pet. Not only that, but by adopting from a shelter you'll also be doing your part in the fight against pet overpopulation.
Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies," "Cats for Dummies" and "Birds for Dummies." She is also affiliated with the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or send e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com. You can also read her frequently updated Web log or view her column archives at www.spadafori.com.
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