Cats, AS, & Leadership

Post Reply New Topic

One of my obsessions is cats. Ever since I was nine years old and I met my first cat, I've loved spending time with cats, reading about cats, observing cats. Typical Aspie obsession.

(That means this post will probably be long. Bear with me.)

Recently I moved away from a place where I was helping with some feral cats. I'd sit there and talk and let them see me, so they'd get used to humans (if they can get used to people, the kittens might be tamable; and the older ones could become good barn cats); and I'd help with buying food for them. I wasn't anywhere near pivotal in providing the food and medical assistance the cats needed; and now that I'm gone the people who were there feeding the cats before me will be there still. They're about halfway through trapping and neutering the colony now; that way there will be no more homeless kittens, and the cats won't be a nuisance to anyone anymore if they don't need to spray and caterwaul looking for mates.

Okay, so now I'm in a new town; and this place is bigger. I went to the animal shelter--they actually have one here, though it's small--looking for volunteer work, because I have two days a week free and need something productive to do (and because I was kind of going through cat withdrawal). I asked a lot of questions; the shelter personnel were busy but they did answer some questions.

It turns out that not only do they not have a volunteer program there, they also don't have any effective means of managing stray cats. They just cart them in and euthanize them, which I think is a pity because they can't catch nearly all the cats, and people will just dump cats to make up for the ones they euthanize; so there'll still be ferals, uncared for, a nuisance, and with no working trap-neuter-release (TNR) program in the city.

I can come to the shelter anytime I like, though, to play with the cats (and four dogs) they have there. They're more likely to be adopted if they're used to people.

Thing is, the cats and dogs there are already are pretty friendly--because all the stray cats, and the older cats, get euthanized almost immediately. The oldest cat in that shelter was only five months old--still a kitten! I can't imagine a cat being killed just because it's too old; but I guess that's what happens here.

You think human overpopulation is bad? Go to an animal shelter.

So... now I want to do something about this situation. I've researched a lot about setting up TNR programs, and it all involves talking to people and persuading them of things... vets, city councils, shelters, even whole neighborhoods... and frankly, I'm just not up to it. Leadership--persuasion--organization of people!--Hello, Aspie here?! And on top of it, I'm new in this town--I have no influence.

My first plans, for the time being:
--Find where the ferals are. Find out who's feeding them. Somebody's got to be; most people aren't nearly hard-hearted enough to let a cat starve or subsist on garbage. If I'm lucky, I'll find someone who's already interested in this sort of thing, and wants to start doing something about it. And if I'm very lucky, that person will be decent at persuasion.
--Go to that shelter, play with cats (and scoop out those nasty litter boxes, if they'll let me), and hope that they'll get the clue that at least one person cares about helping them with their too-many-cats problem.


Does anyone else have any advice? How do you get people to do things when you're so socially awkward that even ordering in a restaurant is hard?

That is so wonderful of you!

Volunteering at the shelter is a very good start. I'd keep my ears open and find out if any of the shelter employees wish they'd do more or do things better. Then talk to them.

I don't know if your town has a cat club or if the cat club is interested in anything but showing purebred cats or if they have an Animal Humane Association but if they have absolutely nothing, you've made a good start.

OK - suggestions from someone who knew someone with the Albuquerque Cat Action team. Are you good at public speaking? Some of us who are no good face to face find dealing with an audience easier. I do. If not, go to Suggestion #2 -

Write a letter to the editor of the local paper saying that the animal shelter needs volunteers.

If you're young and there is a youth column or paper you can say even more. Kids today like to volunteer. I've seen it at school. You could even write an essay on the sorry state of the cattery, being very clear that the workers aren't to blame, they just don't have enough help or money.

And your posting above proves you can write, and eloquently, too. You've found your Good Cause - that's a great blessing. A lot of us look around, see a multitude of things that need to be done, and like the centipede who can't decide which foot to start off on, give up. You've been told by a Higher Hpower where to start. Go, and good luck!

If you feel strongly enough about it it's easier to sell your idea. If you feel very strongly you'll get into the zone, I get that sometimes, and then I can be really persuasive. Just think about the poor little cats and the horrible conditions they live under. Think about how that angers you, and how unfair it would be of these people if they dont help you.

You could write to people more than talk directly.

I've been thinking if I won a lot of money I would make my own luxury cat shelter, like monkey world. They'd live outdoors, with houses, in small family groups. And there be soft funitures, cat herp and other plants they like, and nice food, special treats on sunday.
Sigh. I wish.

Helping out in the shelter is a good start. Good luck!

Church groups. They are used to getting things done and a fair number of them have pets or care for animals. Do you have a church in your new town?

Also - local government. Attend some of the meetings (In Albuquerque they're televised). Pretty soon the staff will recognize you.

The staff at the shelters are your best resource - what I'd do if I were inhibited about speaking to people is tell them I'm "shy". That's something everyone understands, and most people are willing to help you out with. (Alas, many of them think "help" is cheerleading. Come on! You can DO it! Etc. But for every one of those there are the people who will start the conversation if you tell them that's what you need.)

However, writing may be the best idea.

So good to know others care about feral cats. I would love to do cat rescue. Some of the locals shoot them around here . My best cat was an adopted stray. We plan to be moving further out into the country in the next few years where I know of plenty of feral cats. We plan to trap all the ones we find in live traps and take them to the vet to get fixed and made healthy, and then to feed them on a regular basis. Then maybe they will hang around near us and be less likely to get shot.

That's great.