The height of kittens season is just around the corner for those of us that live in Volusia County and that means pregnant cats are everywhere. Male cats are out and about traveling longer distances to impregnate as many females as they can.
You might even catch a glimpse of a momma cat and her babies out searching for food or kittens that were stolen from the nest by predators or people wanting to do good but don't know how.
The first and most important thing is to get your cat spayed or neutered. Even if it is an inside only cat it is better for their health to be fixed. It only takes one time slipping outside for a moment and the deed is done.
I adore cats and kittens more than anyone I know, but the truth is when push comes to shove, the more kittens born, the more that are destined to die by illness, hit by car, or the needle via euthanasia. For every cat ( or dog for that matter) that is bred and has kittens or puppies by their owners or by breeders for profit, an innocent pet is killed.
I adore cats and kittens more than anyone I know, but the truth is when push comes to shove, the more kittens born, the more that are destined to die by illness, hit by car, or the needle via euthanasia. For every cat ( or dog for that matter) that is bred and has kittens or puppies by their owners or by breeders for profit, an innocent pet is killed.
From the first litter on up, the chances of the mother cat getting mammary and other cancers rises quickly. The sooner you get them fixed the better it is for them and for you. Male cats can smell a female cat in heat for two miles and will do whatever is necessary to get to that female. This is the top reason for males running away.
Fixing your male cat will eliminate that call from nature and will help curb spraying and fighting. There are a few low cost spay and neuter clinics in our County.
If you live in the unincorporated part of the county or in DeLand or South Daytona you may be eligible for "The Pet Vet Cruiser" which travels to different parts of the county and does these surgeries on a specially equipped bus. They will also vaccinate your dog or cat for rabies!
If you live in the unincorporated part of the county or in DeLand or South Daytona you may be eligible for "The Pet Vet Cruiser" which travels to different parts of the county and does these surgeries on a specially equipped bus. They will also vaccinate your dog or cat for rabies!
The people who work the Pet Vet Cruiser are very experienced and knowledgeable and I have found their surgeries to be top notch.
You can make an appointment with them by calling 386-323-3575 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily.
Speaking of notch, if you have a feral cat they will spay or neuter it and give it a rabies shot for $25 under their Free Roaming Cats Program. While under anesthesia they will give the cat a once over for fleas, ear mites, worms etc. and help treat for these sort of things.
There is also Concerned Citizens For Animal Welfare that assists in acquiring low cost spay and neuter appointments at local veterinary offices.
They are tireless in their effort to bring awareness about spay and neutering, holding many fund raisers and low cost shot clinics where you can have your pet vaccinated and purchase flea and heart-worm medications (with proof of heart-worm test) at discounted prices.
They have been monumental in lowering the numbers of free roaming and feral cats by spay and neutering. They also provide help with the cost of fixing dogs and owned cats.
I am a volunteer for this wonderful organization. They have personally helped me lower the free roaming and feral cat population in New Smyrna Beach via my own little rescue organization "Friend Of Ferals."
There are other private vets throughout the County that offer low cost spay and neuter in their offices. If you don't live in one or the areas covered under the County program you can e-mail me at ShiraBethWildNSB@aol.com with “SPAY” or “NEUTER” and the name of your CITY in the subject line and I will try and point you in the right direction.
The usual LOW COST male cat neuter is about $35 to $45 for the surgery. Female cat spays run about $40 to $50 for their surgery. Rabies and FVRCP (Distemper Combo) shots run a total of $16 and are good for a year.
Please keep in mind we work tirelessly trying to Trap/Spay/Neuter and vaccinate large colonies of feral cats. Be patient with us. None of us make a dime, we lose money doing what we do, but it has to be done. The vets don't make a dime in the process either and some close up their offices 1 or 2 days a month just do these surgeries at an affordable cost to pet owners and colony caregivers.
Please keep in mind we work tirelessly trying to Trap/Spay/Neuter and vaccinate large colonies of feral cats. Be patient with us. None of us make a dime, we lose money doing what we do, but it has to be done. The vets don't make a dime in the process either and some close up their offices 1 or 2 days a month just do these surgeries at an affordable cost to pet owners and colony caregivers.
Another thing that is also desperately needed at this time ( well, all the time!) are foster homes for the kittens of cats that have been hit by cars or have died by other means or for cats that are nursing kittens. It's a short term way to make a huge difference and save these kitties and have them start their lives with loving people, a nice soft bed, food and water.
Sometime we have older cats who's families have abandoned them and they don’t do well living in a cage in a facility. They need a temporary home until we can find a "purrfect match" to adopt them out.
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