Forest Ridge Animal Shelter

02/02/2025

02/02/2025

📚 Our BACK TO BASICS SERIES: FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus)

FIV is a virus specific to cats and is often erroneously referred to as "cat AIDS." It is similar to AIDS in that it attacks and weakens the immune system and there is no cure. Reliable information about FIV is plentiful on the internet. We encourage you to learn more about it!

Here are some quick facts:
➡FIV is transmitted through deep bite wounds.
➡FIV is NOT transmissible to humans or dogs.
➡Cats with FIV can live long, healthy, happy and normal lives!
➡Intact males with outdoor access are most likely to be infected.
➡Kittens may be infected before, during, or after birth (while nursing).
➡FIV is quickly diagnosed through a blood test.
➡If you have an indoor/outdoor cat, you risk its FIV status every time it goes outdoors.
➡FIV+ cats CAN live with non-infected cats as long as they can co-exist peacefully. (Remember, this virus is primarily transmitted through deep bite wounds. If the cats don't fight, there's little worry about transmission.)
➡In the U.S., approximately 2.5-5% percent of healthy cats are infected with FIV.

📢 EDUCATION IS KEY!!!!! FIV+ cats have a VERY difficult time getting adopted because of their status. In the past, they were immediately euthanized instead of put up for adoption. Help CHANGE THE PARADIGM! Educate others about the virus and how cats can live a long, healthy, normal life with FIV. Manage expectations. Let's get these cats in homes!

📢 If you're in rescue or doing TNR, please note:
➡Before you place a cat for adoption (or send it to foster in a home with other cats), it should be tested for FIV. Adopt that cat out with full disclosure about its FIV status.
➡Beware of false positives in kittens under 6 months of age!
➡You can place FIV+ cats in homes with other cats that are not FIV+. Educate the adopter and make sure the cats are not likely to fight with each other.
➡We don't FIV test the cats we TNR. Alley Cat Allies also holds this position.

Original content provided by Stray Cat Project.
Graphic of unknown origin.




🐱❤️

02/02/2025

2 years ago I got a call . Dog fighting operation just a little over a mile from my home . I was asked to assist . I called the only person I trust to handle difficult dogs ,Be Still Dog Training and frank Ortiz . Together Frank and I worked day and night,for 4 days straight, removing over 100 dogs from their chains and holding them so they can be photographed and medically examined by veterinarians. We have a dog that was seized from that case .. her name is baby shark .
Today her abuser , and dog fighter went to trial . I was asked to bring baby shark to the court house . Today she saw justice in a big way .
Convicted on 93 counts of dog fighting , 10 counts of animal cruelty and sentenced to 475 years in prison. . Finally justice was served .. don’t fight dogs in my county .. they don’t play here ..
great job by everyone involved in this case . The hard work paid off . These dogs deserve better

02/20/2024

This handsome dude was DUMPED, and he's feeling sad and hopeless. Can you cheer him up and help him out?

Daito is an approximately 5 y/o intact male who was left in a carrier on our property while nobody was here. While many will suggest that this was "safe" to do, Daito doesn't feel that way. He is very confused, very scared, and has refused to eat, drink, groom himself or play since he arrived on our doorstep.

The person who dumped him knew what they were doing. They did not pull all the way into our parking lot, and covered their face as they walked to the building to dispose of him. While their efforts eluded the cameras on our property, they put themselves in clear view of neighboring video cameras and we have all that we need.

When needing to surrender or rehome an animal, please contact us at 423.790.1915 or via email at [email protected] so we can make the proper arrangements.

If you are interested in adopting or fostering Daito, you can visit today through Saturday 12pm-5pm. Let's show this kitty that there are good people in the world!

02/12/2024

They will always be by your side.

02/12/2024

Our friend Lori will pass along pictures of interests for us to share! Today she came across this. It is very informative! Thank you for sharing Lori!

02/12/2024

Great post by Paws 4 Purpose ...
--------------------
✂️✂️✂️Fix them all regardless of s*x! ✂️✂️✂️

Males are just as important as females. However, we wanted to share an infographic to help you identify possible female cats by their coat color.

Cats with three colors in their coat are female. If you find a male he’s extremely rare! (1 in 3,000)

If you see a calico or tortoiseshell cat, make sure you get her fixed quickly. Remember, if you trap a cat no matter the color, get it fixed, or you may never trap that cat again.

02/12/2024

Friends of Feral Felines has gotten nearly 10 contacts about injured cats just last week. Below Stray Cat TNR explains why we MUST neuter male cats.
------------------
Q: Why are we seeing so many injuries to male cats this time of year?

A: It’s most likely because mating season has officially begun.

Unneutered male cats go through horrible suffering in order to satisfy their natural urges. 😕 They will roam up to 5 miles to find a female in heat. They can encounter many dangers on this trek, including traffic, little food or water, other animals, unkind humans, etc.

Once they find a female, they most likely have to fight other tom cats for her, resulting in terrible injuries 🤕 and spreading diseases through the deep bite wounds they suffer. 🚫

✅️ A neutered male will stay closer to home because the urge to breed is gone which leads to fewer injuries/illnesses!!

‼️All of this suffering for males (AND the females they are trying to mate with) is 💯% preventable through spay and neuter.

DON’T WAIT until you start seeing kittens in your neighborhood. If you see adult cats, make a plan now! Be a hero now and save them from future suffering.

02/12/2024

📣 FREE NECROPSY SERVICE for cats 👈

As cat lovers and caretakers, there comes a time when we lose one of our animals -- whether it's a cat we've just come into contact with or one we've been attending to for years. Sometimes, the cause of death is clear; sometimes it's not. Many times, a necropsy is cost prohibitive. We're happy to share with you a FREE RESOURCE for finding some answers.

Dr. Adam Stern, a veterinarian, veterinary pathologist and Professor of Forensic Pathology at the University of Florida, recently asked us to share information regarding his program, 'A Cat Has No Name.' This is a FREE program designed to determine the cause of death of free-roaming cats and simultaneously help live cats, particularly when there are multiple sick and deceased cats living together. His department provides FREE diagnostic services for cat colonies to improve their overall welfare. This program is OPEN TO ALL community cats and ALL PEOPLE in ALL STATES. You do not need to work in animal welfare to submit a cat; they will also accept cats from colony caretakers and individuals.

For more information or to submit a cat, contact Dr. Stern at [email protected] or call 352-294-4077. Save or download the flyer below so you have this information at your fingertips when you need it.

02/12/2024

Do you know WHY that cat is bullying and attacking other cats?

Because he is an unfixed male, and those hormones affect his behavior.

Unfixed males will mark territory, fight with other cats spreading disease, and venture into other territories for mating, which causes chaos along the way. That chaos will 100% cause injuries in male cats.

An unfixed male cat's chance of testicular cancer is high!

That unfixed, free roaming male cat is responsible for all the kittens born each year!

Remember to fix ALL THE CATS!

.

01/17/2024

01/17/2024

📚 Our BACK TO BASICS SERIES: spaying and neutering

Let's continue our discussion on reproduction.....

SNiP Now shared this very informative post regarding female fertility and reproduction. They wrote:
"We have had a few calls from people worried their cats are in pain as they are exhibiting symptoms of yowling and other unusual behaviors (rubbing all over items). What these individuals are describing is their female cat having heat cycles which can occur in females as young as 4-months of age. Yowling, rubbing, raising the behind up in the air (lordosis reflex), spraying, the desire to go outside and find a mate...are all symptoms that can occur during a female cat's heat cycle. Sometimes females can appear more loving and other times females can have more aggressive tendencies during this cycle."

Remember that spaying a cat will eliminate these behaviors as well as help control the cat population. Please have your cat spayed by 4 months of age!

Content and graphic shared from SNiP Now.