Pistachio
Spooky
Tina
Cricket
Mavros (who has actually put on a few pounds since this photo was taken)
Lila
About Carol's Ferals & Friendlies
Hello, I'm Carol Manos
In February 2006, I was introduced to cat rescue and T-N-R (trap-neuter-release). While it is very easy to become side-tracked (and oh boy, have I ever), my main focus is T-N-R.
Why do T-N-R? Well number one, there are not enough homes for all the stray cats out there. Just allowing them to roam free and multiply at the astronomical rates that they do, is not helping any cat. Leaving cats to multiply makes them seem “less than special”. Until cats are valued and there is a home for every stray cat in this country, then as I see it, we have a lot of work to do.
While I love to play with adorable little kittens, I must keep my main objective T-N-R. If there is a stray or feral (wild/untamed) cat outside, I will do my best to get it on a feeding schedule, humanely "live" trap it, have it spayed or neutered, rehab it after surgery, and release it back to where I found it.
I never intended to do shelter work. I merely wanted to fix feral and stray cats. Fixing ferals is easy. They want nothing to do with their captors. They don't want to look at you, be petted or want for anything except food, water and a clean litter box. Yes, ferals use litter boxes!
The tough ones are the strays. Strays are house cats that have either become lost or have been sent out of their homes for a multitude of reasons. Having to put friendly strays back outdoors is rough. But I am given no choice when it comes to the adults. But the babies...I have a hard time releasing friendly babies. This is where you come in.
When you adopt a kitten from Carol's Ferals, you give me the opening to take in more. When I can take in more kittens, getting them off the street, we are giving them a chance at a happy indoor life. It's a life that all kitties deserve.
The Big Picture
Adopting any cat through a rescue program is noble when you consider the alternative which is purchasing one from a pet store or breeder (ick).
One cat and her litter, if allowed to breed freely will produce an astronomical number of cats. I have heard the number to be 11,000 over 7 years. I have also seen it expressed at 420,000 over 6 years. Whatever the number truly is, doesn't really matter.
What matters is what you will see with your own eyes, since seeing is believing! That litter of 4 kittens in the backyard will surely start to reproduce when they hit 6 months of age (puberty for cats). And those 4 kittens will make 12-16 in no time. And those 12-16 will make 24-32 within two more months (cats have a 63 day gestation period).
A cat can be pregnant again while she is still nursing her kittens. It's crazy! But I've seen it. In no time what-so-ever, that backyard will become lousy with cats!!! And the person who didn't do something to circumvent this situation will feel lousy for not acting quickly enough.
This is a great battle we face. Everyone can help in these efforts. When you see a stray kitty, don't just feed it. Do it a favor, get it fixed. Kittens can be fixed at 2 months of age. Pregnant cats must be fixed before another unwanted litter is born.
Call C-SNIP at 616 455-8220 and talk to them about a low cost option for fixing a stray cat.
Or work directly with me. I can help you get your feral/stray cat population under control. Call me at 616 560-0555.
How You Can Help
If you want to make a difference for future generations of cats in your area, get every cat you can fixed. If you want to help a specific kitten in my rescue, adopt it and give it a forever home.
All cats in my program are spayed or neutered, tested negative for feline leukemia and FIV, come with up to date shots and have been treated for worms, fleas and ear mites. And all cats are litter trained.
Adopting out kittens is not what I want to do with my time. I want to fix stray and feral cats. Help me do this more effectively by adopting one of my kittens. Taking one of these kittens into your home enables me to better serve the cats of this area by concentrating my efforts in T-N-R.
Adopting A Friend
Adoption fees are $75 per cat/kitten. This includes spay/neuter, first round of shots, flea treatment, de-worming, and negative test results for feline leukemia and FIV. Right now, cats and kittens are two for one! If I find you to be a good person to adopt a kitty, I want you to think about taking a companion for your new family member.It is my goal to find homes for these wonderful cats/kittens so that I may take in others and stop the cycle of unwanted / homeless cats in the greater Grand Rapids area.
Want To Meet One of The Kittens?
Many cats in my program are in foster care. If you are interested in meeting a specific cat, please email me to set up a convenient appointment time.Thank You...
For considering one of my rescued babies!
To see what I've been up to,
View My Blog
Grand Rapids, MI
Phone: 616-560-0555
Email: dollmouse@aol.com
[Home ] [Information ] [Shelters ] [Search ]