Tiny Angels Cat Rescue

I've been doing cat rescue for over 10 years. Rescue work is HARD and I don't say that lightly. Despite the social media posts and reels of happy adoptions and cute kittens, rescue behind the scenes is a very different story. This is just a glimpse of things YOU will probably never see or experience:

- You will never experience the moment a kitten is gasping for their last breaths while you’re scrambling to pull Euthasol to help end their suffering. You don't have time to cry, get frantic, or lose your sh*t.

- You will never know what it's like to be at the emergency vet all night only to have your kitten die, wake up 3 hours later and be forced to function because there are many other lives counting on you. There's no time to cry or grieve properly.

- You will never have to make difficult decisions whether to spend thousands of dollars on one cat for a complicated surgery or to opt for euthanasia. Question “do I try to socialize these semi feral kittens to give them a chance at an adoptable indoor life or save the space for future 5-10 friendlies? Or do I take in this medical kitten who will be euthanized at the shelter?” You have to make these hard decisions every day.

- You will never have to wake up every 2 hours to bottle feed newborn kittens because someone decided to “rescue” them and brought them to you while mama cat was out trying to get food. Basically kidnapping them…But hey, they feel good because they “rescued them” and left you to do all the hard work, pay their medical bills, and spend every weekend at adoption events making sure they go to good homes.

- You will never see the cruel side of humanity where you witness animal abuse, kittens being thrown out of cars, cats taped up in boxes and dumped in the garbage, find half dead kittens in a shoe box left on the conveyor belt at your adoption pet store….and you are still expected to be a kind, polite, and a happy, normal human being.

- You will probably never have to give up your high paying corporate job because working a normal 8+ hour day and then coming home to do rescue “work” for another 8-10 hours is just not sustainable or healthy for anybody.

- You will never know what it's like to give up every weekend to “work” adoption fairs, miss family events, miss out on friendships and relationships, or have a social life. You'll never know what it feels like to sacrifice so much, give SO much, and feel SO underappreciated.

But I know all these things because this is what it's like to run a rescue.

People will say “why don't you have more cats for adoption?” or give an attitude because they weren't the selected adopter for the kitten of their choosing. People demand that I help them because “you're a rescue” and that I “should come to their house and remove these cats” or ask “why can't you help me with these kittens?” because I'm tired. I have limits. I am one person. That's what the Tri city shelter is for - but they will turn you away because even with staff and resources, they can't do it all.

If you are adopting from a rescue, if you're asking for rescue help, just read some of these things and please be kind. We are really doing our best. If you know a person in rescue, buy them a coffee, a snack, a drink- they most likely haven't eaten anything all day. Appreciate them in a way that will make their day a little bit easier. Everyday is a difficult day for us in rescue but kindness goes a long way. Like I said…rescue work is hard. Most people don't know or understand - but now you know… even if it's just a glimpse.

Written by Yurika Vu, Director Kitten Rescue 101

(Picture of my foster kitten in the oxygen chamber 3am last night at MedVet Emergency). Juvenile Lymphoma...she died.

Dear Friends 💜🐈‍⬛🐾

I'm sure that you've all noticed that we've been a bit hush these past few months, but please bare with us as we take a tiny but much needed break from rescue to recover and restart. We promise we will be back soon, saving lives and doing what we do best!

A huge thank you Brenda and her team for helping sterilize 14 cats this past Thursday! And a very special thank you to those who contributed towards the costs! 💜🐈‍⬛🐾

📸 Look at this post on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/ggwoeXCD96XRPS2X/?mibextid=xfxF2i

WHEN IS IT BEST TO STERILISE KITTENS?
INTRODUCTION
As a vet, I am of the old school: vaccinate at 8 weeks, 12 weeks and then sterilise at 6 months. We all know it and believe it is written in stone. Then, a few years ago, I decided to shake up my world a little. In this article I would like to shake up your beliefs and share information with you; times they are a changing!!!
I started an early sterilisation approach a few years ago and have never looked back. By that I mean that our kittens are sterilised at 7 weeks, at 600-800 grams, and they are tested for FIV and Feline Leukaemia at the same time. Kittens are sterilised before vaccinations or anything else is done. I have in desperate situations sterilised very wormy, snuffly kittens weighing as little as 250 grams and ALL have done very well after surgery.
We do on average 300-500 kitten sterilisations a year and I would far rather do a 7 week old kitten than an adult as the surgery sight is far smaller, the operation quicker and the recovery is vastly quicker.
FACING THE FACTS
Most kittens are homed at 2 months and two months later she is a cat! Cats can come on heat and fall pregnant at 4 months of age. The gestation period lasts 8 weeks/2 months they give birth to anything from 4 to 8 kittens. Cats can then be back on heat when kittens are 2 to 4 weeks old, therefore producing the next litter of kittens when the first litter is less than 3 months old. On average half the litter of kittens are females.
BENEFITS OF STERILISATIONS
World Overpopulated
The fact is there are only so many people wanting cats and kittens. The remaining cats and kittens end up as piles of bodies “euthanased humanely”, as if there can be anything humane about having your life ended when it has just begun! By sterilising you are being a responsible owner and preventing this.
Cruelty is Diminished
Those that don’t get “humanely euthanased” sometimes face a worse fate of being disposed of at birth by drowning, being thrown in a dumpster or fed to a dog. You might think you are giving your kittens away to loving homes but how sure are you? By sterilising you need not worry about this.
Decrease in Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is becoming a bigger and bigger threat to our cats and even though it does not cause immediate death, it does lead to a shortening of life expectancy. The two main ways of transmitting the disease is through s*x and fighting. By sterilisation you reduce the risk dramatically.
Decrease in Feline Leukaemia Virus (FELV)
Feline Leukaemia Virus (FELV) is a “friendly” cat disease. The more cats you have in an area the more likely it is to spread. By sterilising you decrease the numbers of cats and make them less likely to wander and pick up the disease.
Decrease in Abscesses and Wounds
Cats that are not sterilised are more likely to get into fights with other cats and dogs; they are also more likely to get caught on fences, resulting in big vet bills. By sterilising this behaviour will be diminished.
Decrease in Broken Legs or Death from Encounters with Cars
Most mating occurs at night. Cats can travel a large distance for mating with a one-track mind. This leads to cats often being hit by cars, resulting in large vet accounts and lots of needless suffering by your pet.
Decreased Incidence of Cancer
By sterilising your cat you decrease the incidence of uterine and mammary carcinoma (cancer).
Decrease in Urine Marking
Unsterilised males mark their territory with urine due to hormones; this eventually becomes a habit and even neutering does not stop it. Making sure that your male cats are neutered early ensures that this habit does not develop.
NEGATIVES OF STERILISATIONS
You can no longer breed with your pet and males do not develop a large head. That’s it! Those are the only real negatives.
MYTHS OF EARLY STERILISATIONS
The Kitten is too Small and It Will Die
As stated earlier, if certain precautions are taken, the recovery is better, faster and less eventful than their parents done at the same time. Our kittens are back playing the same day as if it was a non-event in their lives. The wound is a lot smaller and heals quicker.
It Will Pick Up a Disease and Die
Again, certain precautions need to be taken, namely a separate surgical kit for each kitten, and good asepsis between kittens. The biggest risk is snuffles and we find that sterilisation does not affect the rate of recovery from snuffles.
It Will Affect My Cat’s Growth
Bones of kittens sterilised at a younger age do stop growing a bit later than those sterilised at 6 months. This leads to long bones being a millimetre or so longer. The difference is not visible and does not affect their athletic ability later in life.
-It Will Affect My Cat’s Genitalia
This is true; the genitalia of an early-sterilised kitten differs in that it is smaller. A male cat will often be mistaken for a female later in life due to this. It does however not affect the diameter of the urethra. Cats sterilized at 7 weeks or 7 months have the same diameter and research shows that, if anything, cats sterilised at 6-7 month are more likely to develop UTI (Uterine Tract Infection) than those sterilised at 7 weeks.
It Will Cause Other Cancers
Early sterilisation in dogs has been correlated to a slight increase in osteosarcoma, haemangiosarcomas, mast cell tumours and hypothyroidism. This is not an issue with cats.
My Cat Will Leak Urine After Surgery
This is more a problem with dogs.
It Will Affect My Cat’s Personality
If anything, a cat after sterilisation is more likely to be a homebody and more affectionate.
PRECAUTIONS MY VET CAN TAKE TO MAKE AN EARLY STERILISATION A NON EVENT
Prior to surgery don’t take away water at all and ensure food available for a longer period
Kittens get hypoglycaemic very easily. We only take food away 3-6 hours before surgery, never restrict water and, after surgery, feed soft food as soon as they can lift their heads
Need to work on a warm surface and ensure kept warm after surgery
Kittens get cold very easily. We ensure they are kept as warm as possible, in blankets and wet them as little as possible.
Need to work quickly after pre-med
Kittens wake up far quicker than adults and once sedated they need to be worked on as quickly as possible.
If anyone is interested in learning more about early sterilisations, please contact me
Dr Tracy Dicks
0824922296
Written 2016
Dr Dicks is the resident vet @ Feral Cat Project

Welcome to the TACR family little ones 🐈‍⬛💜🐾
These sweet siblings, 3 boys and 1 girl, were rescued by a kind gentleman in the area who says someone was about to dump them onto the road. He contacted us and we made a plan to take them in.

Names and pretty photos to follow ☺️

They are approx 10-12 weeks old, and will be tested, steried and vacc'd soon. They appear in good health overall but we will give them all the TLC they need to be their absolute best!

We desperately are in need of assistance for food and medical care. Please consider a donation to help us help these babies.
You can whatsapp us on 0787555471, or use the details below:

Tiny Angel's Cat Rescue
Tyme Bank
Branch code: 678910
Acc Type: Current
Acc number: 53001915549
Ref: TACR Donation

Love, licks and purrs 💕

Hello Friends! 💜🐈‍⬛🐾

We are so sorry we've been a bit quiet on the socials but trust me there is loads going on in the background.
We've been communicating with our suppawters mostly via our whatsapp group lately.

We welcomed these 2 beautiful girls on Sunday. They were rescued by a kind gentleman who found a homeless person trying to sell them at the robots by KFC in Woodstock.

They are doing well so far and we estimate them to be around 6 weeks old. Good, healthy weights. They will be tested for the nasties tomorrow, and hopefully it's all clear.
I love a gorgeous Tortie and we have been super blessed to have had quite a few Ginger girlies over the years.

They will be up for adoption soon. Watch this space!
Name suggestions are also very welcomed 😁

If you are able to assist us with donations towards their foodies and medical care, please DM me on 0787555461 or use the details below:

Tiny Angel's Cat Rescue
Tyme Bank
Branch code: 678910
Acc Type: Current
Acc number: 53001915549
Ref: TACR Donation

Thank you!

Love, licks and purrs 😊💜🐾

❤🐾🐈❤

BO KAAP CAT ACTION GROUP
will be running a FESTIVE CAT FOOD DRIVE during the festive season. All food is to be used to feed our growing feral colonies as well as helping the less fortunate in the community in their times of need.
We'll be collecting any type of cat food be it a tin to bags of cat food to any donation towards our cat care.
Together we can make a huge difference.
Pls DM if u are able to make a pawsitive difference and able to donate
Shukran/Thank u 😻😻😻

Here at Tiny Angels Cat Rescue , we believe in giving our kittens the absolute best start to life with great nutrition. All our babies leave to their furever homes in the best health, and we always reccomend that our new families continue with a Royal Canin SA diet to keep them that way! 🐈‍⬛🐾💜

Hello Friends 💜🐾🐈‍⬛

We needed to urgently have a mommy cat tested for FIV/FeLV at the SPCA. Please, please could you assist us in settling the bill? It would be so appreciated🙏
You may make payment directly to the SPCA with the below details :