Borrego Animal Rescue

04/20/2025

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04/20/2025

01/28/2025

Frankie went to his forever home yesterday. From San Diego to Denver. Thank you Southwest Airlines and their SWATT program that made this possible!

01/18/2025

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01/18/2025

Feline Fact Friday courtesy of Stray Cat Project.
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What is a FERAL cat, and why should one be careful when using this word? 🤔

A feral cat is AN OUTDOOR CAT THAT HAS NOT BEEN SOCIALIZED WITH HUMANS; they have not had human interaction by being spoken to, played with, or held. These cats fear humans and prefer to live outdoors, away from people.

📢PLEASE NOTE: "feral" does NOT refer to any cat living outdoors. "Feral" refers to DISPOSITION only.

Feral cats typically live in colonies with other feral cats and are not suitable as indoor pets. They tend to be nocturnal, coming out overnight to avoid interacting with and being detected by humans. You will not be able to catch a feral cat without a trap; they will never allow you to get close. They will not make eye contact with you, will not meow, and will usually appear well-groomed and healthy. Feral cats want nothing to do with you!

There are varying degrees of "feral." A cat that has never had human interaction and refuses human interaction might be labeled "totally feral." Another cat that has had some interaction--perhaps with a feeder--and will allow a human to come close might be described as "semi-feral." Sometimes, semi-feral cats are taken into foster care for socialization. Success depends on the cat and the person doing the socializing. Socializing a semi-feral cat is a long-term proposition requiring tremendous patience.

👉Are all outdoor cats feral? NO.
👉Can the terms "stray" and "feral" be used interchangeably? NO.
👉Should we use the word "feral" for ANY cat that lives outdoors? NO!

BE CAREFUL of using the term "feral" when describing a cat, as the word has negative connotations. Describing a cat as feral could lead to its immediate demise. Feral cats should never be taken to a shelter; they will be immediately euthanized there as feral cats are considered unadoptable.

What can we do for feral cats? TNR them and let them be AND provide food and shelter to make their lives easier. 🐈💙

Original content provided by Stray Cat Project.

01/18/2025

📚 Our BACK TO BASICS SERIES: spay & neuter myths and misconceptions

🤔Myth: Female cats should have one litter before spaying.
👉Truth: There are no medical benefits to justify allowing a cat to have a litter before spaying. In fact, spaying eliminates the possibility of developing uterine or ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the chance of developing mammary cancer. Spaying also prevents pyometra!

🤔Neutering will make my cat feel like less of a male.
👉Cats don't have any concept of ego or sexual identity. He won't miss his ⚾⚾!

🤔Myth: Cats become less active and overweight due to spaying or neutering.
👉Truth: Cats become overweight when fed too much and not exercised properly.

🤔Myth: Behavior is adversely affected by sterilization.
👉Truth: The only changes in behavior after spaying or neutering are POSITIVE ones! Neutering will greatly diminish or eliminate aggression problems and undesirable behaviors fueled by reproductive hormones. Male cats will decrease or stop spraying and fight less, resulting in fewer bite and scratch wounds and lessening the spread of FIV and FeLV. They also tend to become calmer/friendlier and stay closer to home because they no longer wander in search of a mate.

🤔Myth: Spaying/neutering is painful to my cat.
👉Truth: Sterilization is performed under general anesthesia by a veterinarian. The minimal discomfort experienced by spayed or neutered cats can be lessened with pain medications and is well worth the endless suffering that is prevented by preventing unwanted litters.

🤔Myth: Everyone should be allowed to witness the miracle of birth.
👉Truth: Every litter of kittens contributes to the millions of unwanted cats that die yearly in our nation’s animal shelters or alone, outdoors. Don't enable overpopulation!

🤔Myth: Spaying/neutering is expensive.
👉Truth: Low-cost services are available in many areas. Look for clinics and SPCAs near you!

🤔Myth: Indoor pets don't need to be spayed/neutered.
👉Truth: ALL pets need to be spayed/neutered!

Original content provided by Stray Cat Project.

01/18/2025

📖Our BACK TO BASICS SERIES: the reality of Spay Abort

Spay abort—spaying a pregnant cat and therefore aborting her kittens —is standard practice in veterinary clinics that perform TNR surgeries. This is a sensitive and emotional topic that can be challenging for many to confront. However, many believe it is a key approach to addressing cat overpopulation, supporting the well-being of community cats, and lessening the burden on rescues and shelters by helping cats and kittens already in the system find homes.

During a spay abort, the veterinarian removes the cat’s uterus and ovaries under anesthesia. If the cat is pregnant, this ends the pregnancy, meaning the unborn kittens do not survive. Veterinarians do not consult with rescuers while the cat is on the operating table; it is understood and agreed at drop off that should the cat be pregnant, the pregnancy will be terminated and the kittens lost.

We recognize this is a difficult topic, and it’s natural to have questions or strong feelings. We invite open and respectful conversations in the comments to help foster understanding of these practices and their role in community cat care and population control.

01/18/2025

PSA: Please be kind to opossums. Many of them find a cozy place to combat the cold. So many we see are missing parts of tails, ears and toes due to previous frost bite-- and your garage or porch may be the only place they have. Opossums won’t hurt anything-- promise-- and shooing them out may be certain death due to lack of shelter. They are Northern America’s ONLY marsupial. And these precious souls eat fleas, and other pests.
Please. Be kind. Be the change you wish to see in the world.😽

01/18/2025

Some humans are so self-centered... 😿

01/18/2025

🌬️❄️ It's a good day to repeat this information. Discover how to rescue a hypothermic fur friend, so you're ready to be a lifesaver!

Many thanks to our friends at Stray Cat TNR for encapsulating all this information into an attractive graphic!



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