Biwako Lakeside TNR Project
Sponsor a spay or neuter, and name that cat!

02/23 check
Saw only 3 cats...put food out to try to lure anyone else out, but only ever saw the three. They weren't very hungry, but ate a bit (to be polite?!).
   

Nigel came right out to greet me! He let me pet him and I checked him over to make sure he's a good weight and in good shape--he is. I saw two of the cats walk down the concrete dock steps and drink from the lake.

   

This little striped and white one kept its distance, and I couldn't get anywhere near it. Do think it's ear isn't tipped, though, so we haven't spayed/neutered yet. Nigel has been neutered, but doesn't have his ear tipped because we planned to rehome him, until he did so poorly at the shelter.

   

We haven't spayed or neutered this little black and white one yet, because we haven't been able to catch it--maybe a girl? The cats have generally been so well fed,
that it's become difficult getting them to enter the traps.

   

I stayed for around an hour, until it got dark, hoping to see more of the cats. Nigel and his pal stuck near me the whole time.

   


02/03 check...Went there with news paper crew...Picked up the mostly white cat and brought her back to the shelter for spay.
      

01/31 check...Went with ZTV crew...Previously met the feeder that goes to the location everyday, and continue to find the cats fairly well fed...
 
                     

The start of the Biwako TNR project
We arrived at the small fishing area to find over a dozen cats and kittens living with minimal shelter...

   

The cats looked well fed, though we haven't yet determined who is their main feeder...we put food down and left one of our spay/neuter fliers with a note saying that we want to help the feeder to help the cats. They'll need better shelter from the cold, in order to live outside through the winter, and of course, spay/neuter operations.

   

The fisherman who contacted us about the cats, clearly cares about them, and will help with the work!

       

The other people fishing in the area interacted quite kindly with the cats, as well.

   

There were 5 friendly kittens that were about 3 months old, and all had eye discharge...we decided to rescue them for rehoming.

   

We could place the kittens in carriers, but most of the adult cats were not easily touchable. We'd had a report of a lure stuck in one of the cats mouths, but it had already been removed by someone. We couldn't check clearly, since we couldn't pick the cat up, but it looked fine and was eating easily.

   

We noticed a lot of trash in the area, along with cat food cans...usually feeding debris is one of the big complaints about cats living in an area, but perhaps it's masked by other debris, in this case.

   

Many large hawks were circling the area, which often prey on young kittens...someone had made a kind of tunnel, using pieces of plywood, for the kittens to travel along safely.

   

There were enough females of reproductive age for us to see that quite a few kittens must not have made it this past season...spaying these moms will prevent so much suffering!

   

We rescued one female adult cat (possibly pregnant, and quite eager to leave with us), and 5 kittens...we left some dry food for the remaining cats. We're really eager to get back and start trapping for spay/neuter!

     

Back at the shelter, everyone settled into their posh new life right away!