April Fool’s Day is usually a time for playing jokes on friends or family and when one of the volunteers at the Independent Cat Society in Westville, got the early morning telephone call about at least 7 cats and kittens allegedly dumped outside and needing to be rescued, she hoped that this was all it was, but it was no joke. Several ICS volunteers were called upon that morning to help catch and rescue these 7 cats and kittens but little did they know at the time that there were more than these 7 waiting to be rescued. That same day, number 8 was also found.
However the drama wasn’t over yet as the next day another cat, number 9, was found and rescued and then later that same afternoon yet another cat was discovered up in a tall tree, on a dead limb, too afraid to move or come down. Several attempts were made to coax this cat down, but to no avail. Even attempts to climb the tree failed as this only caused the frightened cat to climb even higher. It was getting dark and a rain storm was on its way so the rescue efforts were halted for the day and the ICS volunteers went home praying the frightened cat would find its way down to a safe dry spot for the night after everyone left.
One of the ICS medicators couldn’t get the cat off her mind, and with her family, went back to look for him about 10:30 that night. They were happy to see the cat was no longer in the tree but they were not able to find him and hoped that he had gotten to someplace safe for the night. As they were leaving they caught a glimpse of something moving in the bushes and discovered cat number ten. They were able to sneak up behind him and catch him, number 10, was rescued. Thinking this was the cat from the tree they thought finally all the cats had been rescued, but oh no, the drama still doesn’t end here.
Early the next morning the true ‘tree’ cat was spotted in another tree, and the ICS volunteers were again called in to try to rescue him. However, in attempting to catch him, the cat was spooked and jumped out of the tree and ran across the yard and across a busy highway and into a rain-filled culvert.
The ICS volunteers were close behind. The cat sat in this rain filled culvert for several hours and would not move. With evening approaching, this elusive cat was finally chased out of the culvert, but he ran right past the trap put out to catch him and up a tree. This time the cat did not go as high and one of the volunteers was able to, with the help of a net, capture the cat and hand it to the other ICS volunteer waiting on the ground. Number 11 was finally caught and safe. Even though he had been outside in the rain and cold for days and had sat in the rain filled culvert for hours, this cat was so grateful to finally be rescued that he began immediately to snuggle up to the ICS volunteer to show his appreciation.
All 11 cats and kittens rescued in this drama appear to have been well cared for and be in good health and are very friendly. They will all soon be checked out by a local vet so they can become available for adoption at the Independent Cat Society.
If you need to relinquish your pet(s), please do it with kindness to the pet and consider the fact that these cats or dogs are a living being and are not simply ‘disposable’. We understand that some people are desperate when they have to give up a pet but consider the pet and make sure they are somewhere safe and where they will be cared for.
You should also be aware that to abandon a pet, even at a shelter or rescue, without announcing yourself and without placing the animal directly into the care of the people at the shelter or rescue is considered a ‘felony’ and is punishable by law. The 11 cats and kittens in this drama were someone’s pets once, but luckily, through the Independent Cat Society, they have a second chance to find a loving home – perhaps with your family! Please feel free to send donations to the Independent Cat Society to help with the vet care of the ‘April Fool’s Day’ cats and always remember to spay and neuter your pets.
