Thanks, Barefoot. I haven't had a chance to advertise since I thought this was Mando. The problem is time. Our cats love the lanai & Mom doesn't like it that they have to stay inside as long as this cat is here. I'm going to try to talk her into giving me some time. I'll call WVLG tomorrow & I'll check with Marion County (they use Petsmart for adoptions) to see if they'll take it even though I live in Sumter County. :sigh:

KittyKat - when I was helping a stray cat in my neighborhood, all the local rescue agencies couldn't help so I got on the internet and just searched pet rescue agencies in central Florida and started emailing and making phone calls. Finally, one in Inverness took her. I know how time consuming it is. Maybe if you attach a picture to an email, it might help as the cat is really pretty. Also, I made sure that anyone I contacted was a non-kill facility. Marion County Animal Services who use Petsmart is NOT a non-kill agency.

Thanks so much for doing all this work. TOTV should have got some PR for these two cats-- Mando and your new friend. Good luck.

You've been an absolute angel in your attempts to socialize this cat and reunite him with his owner. I hope your mom will give you a day or two to put the ad on the radio. Hopefully someone will claim this lovely cat. Good luck KK. These lost cats just break my heart.

I often wonder about shelters that advertise themselves as no-kill.I'm not saying it's not possible, but I do question how they manage how they manage to do it. I volunteered with a beautiful shelter for four years.

They made every effort to find good forever homes for every animal that came in. But here's the problem. If an animal came in with a fatal disease what do you do? Let it suffer? Pay a lot of money to medicate and you know it will not work?

What about an elderly animal who also is very ill? Or a feral animal who has very little chance of being socialized? What about the people who sneak in, in the middle of the night thinking they are good Samaritans with a very sick animal, dump it in the drop-off pen, and don't leave so much as a nickle for it's care?

The issue for shelters is they have only so many dollars. They have many more animals. So they have to use their dollars to save the lives of as many animals as is humanly possible. This means making some heartbreaking decisions.

The solutions to this equation is easy. More money or less animals. Now before everyone gets in a tizzy, I mean by less animals, "Spay or neuter!" By more money I mean, "Contribute as much as you can afford to your local shelter". Then you will definitely have a "No-Kill" shelter.

You folks who are trying so hard to help these poor cats are definitely angels in my opinion. I feel no kindness to a small animal will go unrewarded. I wonder if you would consider volunteering at one of the local shelters. It sounds to me that you would definitely be good at it! I really enjoyed my time at Angels for Animals.

Last night I sent an email with pictures to districtgov.org which has a pet finder link. Today I called WVLG & left info. HS of Marion County is full. I'm pretty sure this is a feral cat because it hides under the chair when we try to pick it up. Still, hoping it has a chip. I can't believe Mando's family doesn't want this cat. The chance of getting their cat back after all this time is slim.

If it has been a feral cat, it probably will not make a good pet. I do hope I am wrong though and it has a chip.

No chip.
 

Just got back from the Vet--no chip. They had trouble holding the cat still so unable to check if male/female. It is skin & bones. They think it is partially feral and that I should release it if I can't keep it. I'm going to check on spay/neuter programs for feral cats before I release it.

Tal, I think you're right on the probability of it being hard to rehabilitate. I wish I knew of someone with a farm or ranch. :cry:

I'm not surprised it's not chipped. People seem to do that to dogs more than cats.

There is a cat that lives in the parking lot outside Bonefish Grill. It sleeps under people's cars. The staff at Bonefish must occasionally feed it. I've often wanted to "rescue" the cat and free it from its suffering. But my wonderful partner, Fireboy, always makes me see the sense. He tells me the cat is having a great life and I have no right to catnap it and send it to a shelter. I think he is right. But I avoid that parking lot, it makes me sad.

KittyKat - I pm'd you. Call me - I can help.

Oh Boy, just when you think it's over for poor kitty, someone intervenes. :crap2: I'm keeping my finger crossed and I'm :pray:.

Oh, I hope so!!! KittyKat sure has been doing her do diligence.

Good news!
 

Stanley is going up for adoption! PLEASE SEE NEW THREAD TITLED "IT'S A BOY!