It has become appallingly obvious
that our technology has exceeded our humanity..Albert Einstein
This sad but shamefully true quote could apply to so many situations around the world today but here it is used by Cat Alliance of Australia to highlight the dire situation regarding feral cats in Australia. CAA wants to bring Australia in line with the rest of the world with the 'trap, neuter, return' solution to the cat overpopulation. While I was researching this post the Atlantic City Boardwalk Cats Project made me so happy whereas the story of Little Tom (scroll down) made me weep. Walking along the mole on Monday, we saw at least ten cats..some huddled together to keep warm, others disappearing into the cracks and crevices of the rocks. The CAA feels that an effective program of TNR as well as shelters, rescue organizations and local councils working more effectively together could bring about a solution for a happier life for these wee creatures. It would be wonderful if people would do the right thing by not abandoning their pets when they get bored with them, but the human element can at times be extremely distasteful oui! Sorry about the rant, but sometimes you just have to put it out there :) Yesterday was one of 'those' days, hoping for a better one today..take care.....
Oh, I do SO agree with you, Grace!! It breaks my heart to see so many cats -- and dogs in many cases -- that are thoughtlessly abandoned when their owners tire of being responsible! Heartbreaking captures and a great post for the day! Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteYes, we also have colonies. Nice captures, G
ReplyDeleteAloha :-)
Now this is something I haven't seen around here. Your photo are so sweet and it it wonderful that you did 'put it out there'. Good on you!
ReplyDeleteIt is a mystery to me how anyone could just abandon an animal that has lived with them. It seemed like the recent real estate crisis created a lot of these situations. My friend David adopted a beautiful golden retriever that had been abandoned in a foreclosed home. I can't even imagine doing a thing like that. But, I'm glad David came to its rescue because it is the sweetest dog.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, this is a world wide problem Grace!!! Just yesterday I read a blog about the issues in Ontario Canada with comments from all over the world...(http://justcats-deb.blogspot.com/2013/06/deaf-ears.html) It makes me sad...especially that so many people think they can drop a domestic cat (or dog) somewhere in the wilderness and somehow have the illusion that it will survive, unscathed. My animals are my furry family members!!! I could never just abandon them! (one of them is sitting on my lap as I write...purring!!! I rescued her from a shelter when she was 4 months old!)
ReplyDeleteIT'S A SAD LIFE FOR SO MANY ANIMALS...I know I have seen large groups along the sea wall in Galveston, Texas.
ReplyDeleteNice cats :) Arianna
ReplyDeleteMy parents' neighbour started feeding some strays a few years ago and then all of sudden there were kittens all over the neighbourhood. They were caught, neutered and returned but they must have missed a few since there are now kittens around again! It's a real problem especially here when it is so cold in winter.
ReplyDeleteI so agree with you!If I were rich, I'd like to have a big house to rescue abandoned animals..
ReplyDeleteI love animals. Recently i have a cat... it's a baby cat :)
ReplyDeleteGreetings! This also solves the problem of stray cats. In our town was founded organization "Cat's hope." It's a shelter for cats. After castration and medical treatment are located here.'s New owners can take to care.
ReplyDeletePhotography is nice, touching. Cats are individuals. They have their head, their reason. At home we treat one cat - British species. Have a nice day!
Pardon my French but the bastards who abandon animals should be hung, drawn and quartered. And I want you to photograph it for me!
ReplyDeleteI TOTALLY agree with you! A feral cat has a much shorter lifespan because it is a hard life. When people abandon their former pets (that they supposedly loved), they have an even shorter life span. When I hear about people just dropping their pets off on the side of the road or wherever, it REALLY makes me angry.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to sound callous, but I prefer to take care of children...
ReplyDeleteNice cats pictures.
ReplyDeleteGreetings,
Filip
Automatic micro chipping for all pets and the owners to be held responsible in the future. The stress of being caught and surgery for strays might not be the kindest action in the long run and there such a huge number of them. I'm afraid I suggest more immediate methods until the numbers are reduced at least.
ReplyDeleteWe're have an Allied Cats group in Columbus. They do good work. Spay and neuter programs will eventually (i hope) reduce the numbers of strays.
ReplyDeleteI hate to see animals mistreated and don't understand people who bring home, and then abandon, pets when they find out that they actually need care and attention.
You really touched a nerve today, Grace. Keep up the good work.
I've never understood the mentality of abandoning a pet... poor critters.
ReplyDeleteI too wish people who took on pets wouldn't abandon them, they are domestic not wild creatures! Poor Little Tom. We are lucky to not have cat colonies here, but I've seen this in so many places. A sad sight.
ReplyDeleteNot sure there's a simple solution for this one... better education for humans I guess.. Compassion sure would go a long way too
ReplyDeleteThe black one is adorable.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how big a problem feral cats are around here (whether "here" is Florida or Connecticut). But, I completely agree that people who abandon pets are callous and deserve the fate that Craig outlines above.
ReplyDeleteRather than engage in Craig's solution, I wish that humans would become more sensitive to the living beings on the earth. Programs like TNR are terrific, sensible as is adopting these animals rather than buying expensive show dogs and cats.
ReplyDeleteOh, that bottom one looks like Luann, my daughter's late cat. Abandoned pets are a problem here, too. You can always count on a certain portion of the population to do the wrong thing.
ReplyDeleteHow very, very sad. It´s as bad as in the Eastern European states with dogs. They even shoot "wild" dogs there, I can´t understand people like that.
ReplyDeleteThat woman just walked on? Oh, my...
School holidays started over here, many pets will be left at the roadside again, shelters will be more than full, as every summer holidays. That Einstein-saying really is sadly true, Grace...
Nice that there are people who do care.
Sadly neutering is the only answer. Feral cats do breed well! Not good for them in the long run.
ReplyDeleteI worked for a vet for many years that did work for the SPCA. It is horrifying how many people in this world have animals, only to abandon them when the pets do not suit their way of life. I wonder sometimes if they do the same to their children!!! Diane
ReplyDeleteSo sad to think of these poor animals being abandoned Grace.
ReplyDeleteI wish there wasn't a market for breed pets that are so expensive. People should rather adopt a stray or abandoned animal. I adopted 2 cats that started showing up in my garden and only realized a month or so later they were both pregnant! So now I have 5 cats (with the other 5 kittens having been adopted).
ReplyDeleteBreaks my heart Grace to see abandoned cats trying to fight for survival ... my son-in-law brought home a feral older kitten but it has retained that wild streak .... I guess it comes from not being loved and cared for.
ReplyDeleteThis happens far too often. Here, we've had dogs, cats, birds, even potbellied pigs abandoned, left to fend for themselves. Too many people don't understand that these animals have feelings, just like we do. They don't understand what they've done to be discarded like so much garbage.
ReplyDeleteI had to leave my bird Sam briefly once. I didn't think he was going to forgive me. He was so hurt that when I went for him, he wouldn't even look at me. I promised him--and myself--I would never leave him again. And I didn't.
Sam came from a pet shop--but my next critter companion, whether it be a bird, a dog, or a cat, will be a rescue. A shelter animal.
Thank you, Grace, for posting this.
Oh, these feline chaps left to their own luck is heartbreaking!
ReplyDeleteGod bless you!
Cezar
hugs to you and thank you for putting it out there .. some days i wish those who abandon would be abandoned and see how it feels .. GAH ...
ReplyDeleteCool captures, Grace.
ReplyDelete