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They Had Less Than A Week To Move Them! It Was A Race Against Time To Save Them All!

With their home sold at auction, rescuers only had one week to save their lives before demolition day, it was quite literally a race against time.

Up to 30 cats or more had been living in an around the only place they felt safe, which just happened to be an abandoned home near Spokane, Washington. However, unknown to them, the entire colony of cats were about to lose the roof over their heads, their home had been sold at auction and was about to be demolished!

Photo Courtesy of @murcismission.org

Demolition date was set for October 8th giving rescuers only one week to save over 30 feline lives. A rescue team was set up based from Murci’s Mission, first of all, they surveyed the home and established a more accurate count of just how many cats were living there.

They worked out there were a little fewer cats there than they had originally thought, however, there were still an awful lot of cats to save, care for, and then try to rehome.

Screenshot via www.kxly.com/news

What would usually happen is that the cats would be TNR’d ( trapped, neutered and returned), but in this case, returned where? Not all of these cats are going to be social enough to, first of all, be fostered and then go on to their forever homes. What of the out and out feral ones, where would they go?

Staff had to work fast, soon the house would be gone, and so would the lives of many of the cats that lived inside it.

Screenshot via www.kxly.com/news

We are told that there are between 11 and 30 feral cats living in and around this home. How do we help 11 to 30 wild animals in 7 days? By working together and trusting one another,” said a spokesperson for the rescuers.

A plan was hatched to get the colony out of harm’s way, though it was not going to be a quick nor easy thing to do.

Screenshot via www.kxly.com/news

Since their home is being demolished, these felines need to be relocated first. So in their case, we are looking at TNRR; Trap, Neuter, Relocate, Release.

The most important part about this process is that it does not involve hurting or killing the animals and in the case of feral cats, that’s a big win.

Screenshot via www.kxly.com/news

First of all, a place was found for them to be relocated to, at the Spokanimal Barn Cat Program.

Once there each cat would cat a thorough vet checkup to make sure they are not carrying any highly infectious viruses, diseases or other major health issues. Once cleared they would be part of the cat barn program.

Screenshot via www.kxly.com/news

Once part of the barn, they will eventually become true barn cats. Part of a feline family, important and cared for.

At least as much family as a feral, or partly feral cat is willing to accept.

Screenshot via www.kxly.com/news

Not only did Murci’s Mission know they had to be as fast as possible, going about what they were doing, they also had to be smart about it too.

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The law clearly states that they need to get permission from the current owner of the home before they could begin trapping the cats.

Screenshot via www.kxly.com/news

Once permission was granted they began to feed the hungry felines. This would begin the process of the animals at the property becoming used to having humans around.

Also as one spokesman wisely put it, “with each bite, comes a dash of trust.”

Screenshot via www.kxly.com/news

The food they were going to be fed would be top-notch, however, it would be served on a very sneaky, if not cheeky platter. It would be placed inside cages zip-tied open, later, after a couple of days, the zip-ties would be removed. Making these cats easier to trap now they were used to cages.

For this to work well trappers would need to follow one very important rule!

Screenshot via www.kxly.com/news

DURING THIS TIME, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT NO OTHER FOOD IS OFFERED SO THAT THE CATS MUST DEPEND ON THE FOOD IN THE TRAPS!

This rule needs to be strictly adhered to, especially when there are lives you are trying to save. There is nothing worse than arriving at a trap site and finding bowls of food scattered around the area.

Screenshot via www.kxly.com/news

On the night of Saturday the 5th, the traps went “live”, and a colony of cats would hopefull begin their new lives.

To find out what happens next click 2 below!

 

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