you know, I have found this to be pretty true, also. I have taken several farm cats into my home bec. they got injured and were later determined to be FELV+ or they were simply too sweet to part with. Most have been former Toms (of course, they are immed. vetted/neutered, etc), but these cats have been the most loving cats I have had, that and the ones rescued from the city streets after being mangled up and rescued. It is almost like they are grateful.
> [Original Message] > From: Sheryl Spagg <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <felvtalk@felineleukemia.org> > Date: 6/26/2007 10:47:03 AM > Subject: Re: Now i've got something of a dilemma > > Hi Cassandra, > I can tell you by my recent experience with farm cats > that sometimes the momma is so thankful to be taken > care of and loved that the stress goes away quicker > than we think it will. I rescued 6 kittens and a > momma from a farm that sounds as bad as the one you > are describing...except the dog liked the kitties...I > worried about the momma after being in a house but she > is doing awesome!!!!! She loves me now and enjoys > getting petted and loved. Give your farm momma a > chance you might be surprised how thankful she will be > that you saved her and her babies...I know my farm > family is thankful! > Good luck > Sheryl > > > --- C & J <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > My husband works with a young guy who lives with his > > parents on a farm. These people have barn cats, who > > they basically care very little about. Well one of > > the cats had kittens a couple of days ago, and got > > cornered by a dog. By the looks of how scratched up > > the dog was, she put up a good fight, but the dog > > ate all but 2 of the kittens. The farmers don't > > care about the kittens at all, so they may still be > > in danger from the dog. > > > > My husband, feeling empty and sad by all that we've > > been through, and wanting to make me happy again, > > offered to take the mom and babies. > > > > I seriously don't know what to make of this. On the > > one hand, it is far far too soon for me take in > > anymore kitties, especially three of them. By the > > sounds of it, momma is half wild as she doesn't > > receive much attention from humans. She is used to > > being outside on the farm, and I don't know how she > > would handle coming into a strange house all of a > > sudden. It is possible she might get stressed out > > and not take care of her little ones? > > > > I also wanted to test my remaining two cats for FeLV > > in about 6 weeks, to make sure they haven't picked > > it up. I didn't want to expose any kittens to the > > virus. Plus I don't know if this momma is even > > healthy. She could have the virus herself, or any > > other number of things. She will never have been > > vaccinated. If I was going to get more kitties, I > > wanted to check out their backgrounds a little bit. > > > > On the other hand, these poor kitties may or may not > > survive on the farm. Nobody cares about them. > > Plus, ever since I was 9 years old and watched a > > mother cat give birth and watched the kittens grow, > > i've wanted to experience that again. I know I > > could give them a much better life. > > > > I just know i'm not ready to make this sort of > > decision. I've got open wounds that will take a > > long time to heal, and just replacing my 3 lost > > babies so quickly is not the way to heal. I wasn't > > even sure I wanted to get more cats, and definately > > wanted to wait quite awhile. I felt both appalled > > and excited when my husband told me that he had > > offered to take the kitties in. When it hurts so > > much, sometimes you just want to try filling those > > empty places in your heart. > > > > I know its difficult to give me any advice on this > > one, but I just needed to tell someone. You have > > all been friends to me through the rough times. > > > > Cassandra > > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________ ________ > Take the Internet to Go: Yahoo!Go puts the Internet in your pocket: mail, news, photos & more. > http://mobile.yahoo.com/go?refer=1GNXIC
