It's What I Do - Acadius's Blog - SacPaws.com

It's What I Do - Acadius's Blog - SacPaws.com http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Acadius These are some of my tales from various rescue adventures. These are some of my tales from various rescue adventures. en-us A sane end for Crazy. http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Acadius/509 http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Acadius/509 <font size="4"><font face="Courier New">In my previous post, I reported that I had caught Crazy Gray, a feral cat that I had been trying to catch for several years.<br /> I won't get into the details since you can read the other blog.<br /> Last week, I was informed that Crazy had to be put down because of feline leaukemia.  <br /> It pained me to hear this news but I knew it was for the best.  I struggled with knowing that I would never see Crazy again once I had caught her.<br /> She wasn't going to make it through another winter, I just knew it.<br /> At least she will never be hungry again, go cold and need shelter again.<br /> I told some of the security guards of the area about her fate and they too were saddened.<br /> Seems that she had helped catch some criminals because when the criminal turned a certain corner, Crazy would be sitting there with her fur all pulled out and the insane look in her eyes; causing the runner to jump backwards and fall.<br /> As I have said, I miss seeing Crazy at this certain site because there was a comfort in knowing that I would always see her.<br /> </font></font> I got Crazy http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Acadius/495 http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Acadius/495 <h3><font size="4">Hello again.  I'm back again.</font></h3> <font face="Verdana"><font size="4">I hope I got your attention with the title.  After nearly four years, I caught the cat that I called Crazy Gray Cat.<br /> I believe Crazy had been a house cat at one point until someone had abandoned her at the site where I have taken care of her for nearly four years.<br /> Why did it take you me so long?  She wasn't exactly forthcoming with affection.<br /> Let me say that I call her a she because that's what she looks like and I believe that she/he had been neutered since she has never had kittens nor had the "packages" that males have.<br /> Crazy NEVER got close to anyone.  In a hearbeat she would vanish if anyone approached.  At the same time, I think she missed her calling as an assassin since I would witness people walking toward her and without realizing, Crazy would be sitting on a wall, staring at the person and scaring them.<br /> Crazy was a smart cat and knew what a cat trap was and would never get near one, no matter what kind of food I placed inside it.  She preferred to be alone.<br /> over the summer I would see Crazy at night, sleeping deeply until I was right behind her and then she would awake and then jump over a small wall and wait for me to place the food.<br /> The feeding area is tight and a feline has the advantage when it comes to me trying to net or grab them.<br /> In the past two weeks, Crazy would sleep in a parking lot, alone; waiting for me, the food guy to come by.<br /> It didn't matter if it was 9 or 11pm, she would sit alone, staring at the pavement.<br /> However, when I arrived she would come to life and briskly walk over to the area.  I always worried that she was going to get hit by some Neantherdal who thought it would be fun to drive fast through a parking lot.<br /> Crazy would go to the feeding site and wait while having a hard time breathing.  She has some sort of upper respiratory challenge.  <br /> She scarf down her food and then jump over the wall only to return to her spot in the parking lot.  Alone.<br /> Like I said, I couldn't net her behind this small wall because she  would run.  So, I took my chances and started petting her lightly.  She was uncomfortable with it to an extent.<br /> Finally, two nights ago I decided I was going to catch her once and for all.  Earlier that day I searched for her because I wondered where she slept.  I found her in some VERY shallow shrubs that barely covered her.  The sun shined on her while she struggled to breathe through her nose.  If anyone were to walk past and scare her, she could run off and get hit by some passing car.  This area is a high traffic spot.<br /> So, I feed her and watch her eat.  Once in a while she looks up at me with her mouth covered with wet food.  I slipped on my thick leather gloves and took in a deep breath.  My heart was pounding so hard that I thought for sure that Crazy would hear it and run away because she suspected something.<br /> I signaled my partner, who was standing close by with a trap and then I reached down over the wall and picked up Crazy.  At first she was rather calmer than I had expected, it wasn't until I started putting her in the trap that she freaked out put still went in.<br /> It was done.  Crazy Gray was finally caught.  <br /> I felt horrible.<br /> Why?  <br /> Because I had become accustomed to her through these years.  She was like an old friend that greeted me each night.  I know it sounds a little nuts but you have to be there to understand it.<br /> Last night was the first night that I knew Crazy wouldn't be at this site ever again and it felt empty in a roundabout way.<br /> I told my contact to give me updates on her condition, I told my contact that I would understand if Crazy had to be put down because of a disease.  I know that she won't be suffering alone and slowly because I did the right thing.  And as I said before, I don't think she would have survived another winter in this area.<br /> But even as I write this, I have a heavy heart for some reason.<br /> I will post her picture soon.<br /> Thanks.<br /> </font></font> The photos I promised. http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Acadius/482 http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Acadius/482 In my photos are some recent rescues that I have done.<br /> More to come later.<br />

Title:
Caption:
Credit:

Title:
Caption:
Credit:

Title:
Caption:
Credit:

Title:
Caption:
Credit:

Title:
Caption:
Credit:

Title:
Caption:
Credit:

The cats just know me. http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Acadius/478 http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Acadius/478 <font color="#0000ff"><font size="4"><font face="Tahoma">Sorry to have been away from the site but I just got back from LA and have busy with trying to trap while dealing with people who think they know better than I.<br /> I believe where I last left all of you off was with Cash and her four kittens that were about three or four months old.<br /> Trapping these guys was impeded when someone started feeding TOO much food every night.  You can imagine my disappointment when I would see this excess of food when I intended to trap.<br /> Finally, I made a polite note asking the person(s) not to feed since I was trying to humanly trap them and find homes for the cats.<br /> Two nights later, the note was acknowledged by a phone to me.  I'll call the woman, Jennifer.  Jennifer said that had known about the site for sometime but never knew who was feeding (you would think I would've gotten a note or something after four years of doing this area).  Jennifer and I met at the site and I have met her personality types before, it's where they know everything and I know nothing and have gotten lucky in the past.<br /> No matter how many tales I told her, they were immediately brushes off and she attempted to order me around as if I was an employee.  <br /> Well, Jennifer had another friend come out who was unaware of me and I had to explain myself all over again.  This woman, "Janet", had the same attitude toward me, I knew nothing since she had been catching cats for 14 years.  I respect the woman but she needed to understand that everyone works differently.  Janet worked for a rescue group whom I won't name.  Janet thought it would be a good idea to put up a sign telling people not to feed the cats because trapping was in progress.  You could see this sign from across the street and this bothered me since we all know that I like things private and quiet because I don't want some irresponsible person dropping off their cat because they think I'll take care of it.<br /> With all these people wanting to help and thinking they can catch the two remaining kittens since I caught two at once the previous week, I needed some nights off and figured they could handle Cash and her kittens.<br /> I went to LA and was updated via emails about how frustrating it was trying to catch these cats.  I think they bit off more than they could chew.<br /> I give them credit for trying and staying out there for several hours.<br /> So, yesterday, I called, Janet, and told her that I would take over again.  She told me how hard it was to get them as if I had no idea what I was dealing with.<br /> I went out there and the two kittens almost ran underneath our vehicle since they knew the sound of the car and associated it with food.  One white with gray patches and the other a black kitten.<br /> The white/gray came up to me and I set down some wet food and the white/gray started chowing down and allowed me to not only to touch him but pick him up.  I put him in a carrier but he slipped out and ran.  Yeah, I was ticked at him and myself.  The black kitten simply followed him to another bush.  <br /> The two stared at me with mistrust as I put down another plate of food.  They ate just beyond my fingertips.  I went back to the car and grabbed the net.  I knew that I only had one chance at this.  If I missed, these guys were not going to trust me any longer.<br /> I gauged which way they could run and how they would sprint.  I used my "incredible" gamer skills and brought the net down onto both of them and pressed my weight on the handle so that they couldn't get away while my partner got the carrier.<br /> We were relieved to say the least.<br /> I called Janet and told her that I caught them.  She was pleased but I could detect that she was slightly bruised in the ego.<br /> I informed her that she would attempt to catch Cash since I have been trying for three years.   <br /> That's what I have been up to.  In my next post I will show some pictures of the recent catches and plus I will talk about Crazy Grey Cat who I will have to trap in the upcoming week.  Crazy has been around for three years but has fallen ill.<br /> Thanks for reading.</font></font></font> Breaking point http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Acadius/437 http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Acadius/437 <div><font size="4"><font color="#800080"><font face="Tahoma">I have to admit that I am tired.  I've been pulled in every direction in effort to save a cat or a kitten.<br /> Of all these years that I have been doing this, this year is the worst.  People who know what I do come up to me and ask if I can take in a litter of kittens or an older cat because someone got foreclosed on and left the pet behind thinking that the bank would discover the cat within a few days.  What the ignorant are unaware of is that banks sometimes don't show up for at least a month after a home is foreclosed on.<br /> Or how about those who can't afford to bring 'fluffy' to the vet because their gas tank needs filling?  Little Fluffy is dropped off in a rural field where the owner thinks the cat will hunt mice and rats for the rest of its "happy" life.<br /> I am the one that gets the call about some cat that has had a litter in a barn and the owner of the land despises cats for some reason.<br /> I have to deal with being under threat each night I go out to a particular site, the threat of being jumped by 'thugs' who have nothing better to do, the threat of these cats that I am trying to help getting shot at by BB guns (or worse).<br /> I'm ranting, I know.  <br /> We are out there every night and barely have time to take time for ourselves.<br /> On a lighter note, I should be posting some new photos of the rescues I have done.<br /> </font></font></font></div> Still active http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Acadius/423 http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Acadius/423 <font size="4"><font face="Comic Sans MS">Despite having a broken shoulder, I'm still out there doing what I do.  Just not as much as I can.<br /> I finally caught one of "Olive's" kittens who is about three or four months old.  I wanted to catch them sooner but the person who asked me to do this has told me that she is full and can only take one here and there.  We almost caught two at once since two white kittens were going into the same trap.  There is always a rush when this happens because it cuts out a lot of long amount of waiting in the future.<br /> Alas, the second cat backed out at the last minute.  The one that we did get will be easily domesticated since it allowed me to pet him and liked to talk.<br /> It was brought to my attention that I should be alert in this area that I am trapping because there are people getting jumped in the same alley that I am trapping in.<br /> Yeah, I'm careful as it is, as anyone would know from past posts.<br /> I do have to say that we rescued an unexpected cat.  An orange Manx who was wandering around in a parking lot and was hungry.  It's a friendly little guy and we checked the paper over and over for Lost ads.  In the end, he will go to a good home.  <br /> I know I am behind on posting pictures but they are coming, I'm just editing my face out of them.  I'm a little shy ;-)</font></font> Ouch! http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Acadius/387 http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Acadius/387 <font size="4">Hello again.<br /> I'm writing to report that I had an accident in trying to catch a feral cat.  <br /> Let me start off with last Sunday night where I was out doing a catch in Rancho Murieta and was chasing this very quick cat.  He was a gray little guy who blended with everything at night.  At once point I thought it was some debris laying around.  Yes, he was that still at times.<br /> I'm running around with a net and spot him and slowly approach from behind.  I was silent like a ninja and was within a couple of feet of him when I stepped on a dried leave and the cat heard me.  He takes off and I tell my partner to go after him and I would go around the building and head the feline off.<br /> I get to the back of the building and the cat is stone still as my partner closed in while I approached from the other side.  The cat decided that we were too close and was ready to bolt toward me.  And it did.<br /> At this point things went into slow motion in my head because the cat was about to escape me again.  Just as he was making his getaway I lunged my body into the air with net in hand.  Guess my Halo playing skills paid off because I landed the net opening right in front of the cat and he was caught.<br /> I brushed off the dirt and made sure that the cat didn't escape the net.  And talk about a biter, his teeth got through my thick leather gloves. I'm telling you, I need kevlar gloves.<br /> Now, let's cut to last night in the same area where there was one remaining cat who is crafty like fox.  At point I had this white cat within two feet in front of me but it turned around and ran.  Several times I walked the large area to see where the white cat (let's call him Fox) had gone.<br /> It was now 9:15 at night and the lawn sprinklers were going off in this area.  I'm walking around with a net and flashlight when I spot Fox.  I tell my partner that she needs to go around the other side of the modular building.  Fox sees me and bolts off but does a quick left turn and head under the steps that lead underneath the building.<br /> I'm thinking that he is heading toward another opening that would be on the other side.  I go running and slip on one of those concrete blocks that you see in parking lots (that's because it was a parking lot).  I fall forward, my upper body lands on the cement curb and grass while my lower body is still on the parking lot. <br /> So there I am laying face down, face in the mud with a thick stream of sprinkler water showering me.  I lift my head up and see the flashlight point in my face and I didn't know where I was for a moment.<br /> I felt ok until I tried to move my left arm.  I couldn't move it and there was a SURGE of pain shooting from the shoulder into my fingers.  The pain was paralizing and I couldn't get up.  I called out for my partner twice with no response.  It was one of those moments you see in a scary movie where the victim is unable to move with rain pouring down them around them and the flashlight is just out of reach.<br /> My partner freaked when she saw me face down and not moving.<br /> She helped me up with the water still striking us in the face and backs.  I laughed because I found it funny.  Fox the cat was nowhere to be seen but I'm he was snickering in the darkness as he controlled the sprinkler system.<br /> My shoulder hurt ALL night and at the suggestion of others, I went to the doctor.  Turns out that I have a cracked shoulder socket and there is a good chance I will need surgery.<br /> I'm laughing sort of because it's my left arm and I am left handed.<br /> I'll still feed my sites since I know these cat depend on this food plus the fact that Cash (the cat from previous stories) has new kittens a month old.<br /> I'll keep you guys posted.<br /> :-)<br /> </font> Who would have thought? http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Acadius/380 http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Acadius/380 <font size="4">I believe I have mentioned that there is a cat whom I call Cash because she resides in a bank parking lot.  She has had several litters and I've been able to catch all but Cash herself.  She terrifies me because she has actually attacked me.  I can't blame her since if I gave birth to several kids and then someone came along with food only to take my offspring away for some reason.<br /> Anyway, there was one kitten from the last litter who evaded capture and is now four months old.  We tried to net him and chased him through the parking lot but it got away.<br /> Well, in the last two weeks whenever I appear with the food, the young cat would start to do the happy dance; where the cat is happy to see you and knows meal time is here.  You see that with domesticated cats.<br /> I'm talking with the Sheriff that patrols on the property about the cat who I call Kitty Cow (its coloring is that of a cow) and the Sheriff moves on and wishes me luck.<br /> I place the food but Cow is more interested in me.  I approach it and begin to play with some string and it wants to play too but not get too close.  After twenty minutes, Cow actually allows me to pet it.  I have never seen this happen with a pure feral feline.  Since I didn't have a trap with me, I pet Cow a few times and decided to leave its trust intact with me.<br /> The following two nights Cow had disappeared.  <br /> On the third night Cow showed up and was happy.  I begin to pet it and look over at my partner and signal to get the trap ready.  I pick up Cow and begin to walk toward the car.  Cow became nervous and struggled a little.  Just as I got it into the trap and the door was closing, Cow slipped out and ran for the feeding bush.<br /> I was devastated because I thought I ruined the trust.  My partner urged me to go right back.  It paid off because I lured Cow back out with some food, picked it up and placed it in the trap.  Man, Cow was loud but once it was home it purred and acted as if it had been housed before.<br /> Even as I write this tale, I am amazed how a cat who had NO human contact allowed itself to be approached.<br /> I hope you enjoyed this "tail".<br /> Yeah, I couldn't resist the pun.<br /> Next time I will write about the incredible catch I made on Sunday night.</font> Long Way Round http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Acadius/379 http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Acadius/379 <font size="4">I know that I've been away for a bit but understand that I have been busy but I hope these new tales are worth it for those that are reading my posts.<br /> I will begin with a few weeks ago.  I get a call from mall security around ten at night telling me that there was a kitten in distress on their property.  Luckily, I had gotten home when I had wanted to and was still out and about.  I figured that this would be an easy catch since the last time that they had called me for a kitten there was minor effort (I closed myself in with a bunch of dumpsters and the lost cat).  <br /> I was told to meet security in the back of the mall and so I did but farther from the property than I had expected.  <br /> I will describe this area as best I can here.  The kitten was located within some pine bushes that span about 30 feet and APPEAR to be only a foot deep.<br /> I was sorely mistaken.  <br /> Truth be, these bushes were three feet deep and beneath was a maze of roots that formed perfect catacombs for the little brat to run through.<br /> So there I am with two other security guards and my partner, trying to "force" the kitten to the edge and catch him.<br /> I don't know at what point the flashlights had died but I was now looking for this kitten in street light.<br /> Did I mention the gunfire?  Yup, while I was flat on the ground, trying to see where the cat went, there was a series of pops and came what seemed to be return fire.  What I missed were the fleet of squad cars that arrived in the distance.<br /> I thought it was funny if someone drove by and saw only my legs sticking out from this mass of bushes and no movement while police are the distance.<br /> I became frustrated and tried to pull these bushes up from their roots just so I could get the kitten.  The little guy kept on moving all over and I would only get a glimpse of its tail.  It was something out of an Alien movie when the Alien is moving too quickly and all you see is the tail here and there.<br /> Finally, I told everyone to back away and I would find the kitten who was screaming non-stop for mommy who was nowhere in sight.<br /> He was less than two feet in front of me but still out of reach because of the large roots.  I kept on calling him and he could see my hand but ignored me.  I got the idea to get a plate of wet food and blow the smell toward him.  He smelled it and started to go toward it but once I started to go for him, he turned away.  So there I am blowing the smell to him before he went too far.<br /> He turned around and I managed to nab him.<br /> He was maybe a month old with ears that were too large for his head.<br /> I called him Yoda and he is doing fine.  It took us three hours  to get him.  <br /> So much for a quick catch.<br /> </font> Black Widow Kitten http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Acadius/345 http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Acadius/345 <div><font size="4"><font face="Courier New">It's been a while since I have posted anything and that is because I have been busy.  <br /> It seems that the mommy cat who I call Cash has given birth again.  I say this because she appears to be bloated for the past few weeks and is suddenly thin again and very protective around the area in where I feed her.<br /> Last night I approached her at the site and she wasn't moving away like she normally does.  I was getting a little nervous as she started to hiss at me but she finally went into the bush.  Now, I'm on my knees with the food, water and a flashlight trying to remove the slugs on the dishes all the while Cash is less than two feet away from me in the bush and growling.  The kind of growl and hiss that I have grown to fear from her.<br /> I keep the light beam in her face so that she can't see me in case she attempts an attack but this time she started moving closer to me and to the side.  I wasted no time in stepping up my movements.  You would've thought that there was a bomb in the bush and I was Jack Bauer from 24 trying to escape.<br /> I will keep people posted when I see her new litter.  I have to say that I am amazed that she has lived this long in the concrete jungle since the normal life span of a cat in that sort of area is 2 years and she is three.<br /> One of the security guards in this area was telling me about how last week he was doing his patrol and was driving near a loading dock and heard the crying of a kitten.  He nearly gave up looking for the kitten because it was dark and he couldn't see it with his flashlight.  Finally, he saw a white marking move in a corner and it was a kitten that was just a month old and it was covered with Black Widows (four of them).<br /> He brushed them off and put the kitten in his truck and quickly fed it and cared for it.  The kitten is doing well and is living the high life as he told me.  I thanked him for having a kind heart and told him he is making a difference.</font></font></div>