Resource Center

Community Cats and TNR

Community cats are free-roaming outdoor cats. These cats can be friendly, but many community cats are not socialized, and are considered feral or wild. Community cats are a part of the local ecosystem and thrive in an outside environment. These cats have lived outside the majority of their lives and are naturally skilled at finding resources for themselves such as shelter and food. Feral cats do not generally thrive in a shelter environment or as an indoor cat. Taking a feral cat and putting them in a shelter can cause stress, potential sickness, and behavioral issues. For decades, feral cats have been euthanized and discarded, but this inhumane practice has done nothing to reduce their population. When community cats are removed and their food source remains, it does not take long before a new cat discovers this bounty, which creates more cats than were there previously. One unaltered female cat and her offspring can produce up to 2,000 cats in a four-year period. TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) is the only effective, humane approach to lowering the population of community cats.

Click here to learn why TNR works!

How to TNR with us:

Maybe you have a cat or two that have shown up at your home and you want to help them. The best way to do that is through TNR. TNR stands for Trap, Neuter, Return. We have humane traps available to rent for TNR purposes. You can use these traps on your property to catch outside, feral, or community cats. You can set up a surgery appointment with us if you know when you want to bring the TNR cat in, or we offer TNR cat walk-ins on Mondays and Tuesdays. This is limited to two TNR cats per week per person. TNR surgery includes spay/neuter, rabies vaccination, pain injection, tattoo, and ear tip. Once the cat has been altered, you must release them back to the location where they were trapped. This is very important, as the cat knows the area and where to find essentials such as food and shelter. If you have any questions or would like to set up a surgery appointment, please call us at 434-616-4948.

What should you do if you find a lost cat?

The city of Lynchburg does not currently have a leash law for cats. Many cats choose to be indoor/outdoor pets and these cats will often travel around the neighborhood getting food or attention from people and then go home afterward. These cats may appear to be lost, but they are just using their natural instincts to explore and will head back home when they are finished. If you have discovered an adult healthy cat that has suddenly appeared at your property or place of business, we suggest you leave them alone. If you want to leave water out, please do, but do not feed them. Statistics show that 66% of all lost cats will find their way back home, but only 2-4% of cats will make it back to their family if they are taken to a shelter. There is a much greater chance for a cat to reunite with their family if they are left alone to do so. If the cat continues to show up after a few days to a week, and does not seem to be leaving, or if you decide to take them in and feed them, please distribute posters and check with your neighbors, because most likely they belong to someone close by. Most cats do not wander more than 1500 feet from home. If the cat is injured or sick please take the cat to your local animal shelter or a vet for help right away.

If you find tiny kittens, please do not touch them right away. Instead, watch them from afar to see if their mother returns. Mother cats need to leave their kittens now and then to find food and shelter. It is common for them to move the kittens when they find a more secure location. If you are sure the kittens have been left alone for more than a few hours, then it may be time to intervene. Young kittens need to nurse every 2 to 4 hours depending on their age. If you do take the kittens in, it is extremely important that you set a humane trap out to catch mom as well. Kittens have a higher chance of survival if they have their mother with them. Once the kittens are weaned from mom, please make sure to get mom spayed right away. Remember, an unaltered female cat and her offspring can produce more than 2,000 new cats in a four year period. If you take the kittens in and cannot catch the mother, please contact your local shelter for help, or go to the Alley Cat Allies website for more information on caring for orphaned kittens. The best place for kittens under 8 weeks old is in a home and not in a shelter. Young kitten’s immune systems are not quite developed and they are susceptible to illnesses that may be found in a shelter environment. If you truly want to help them, please consider fostering them until they are 8 weeks old and can be adopted to a new home.

How to care for orphaned kittens

If you are taking care of young kittens without a mother, it is important to know what you are doing. Very young kittens need bottle fed often, and keeping them warm is a must. Please click below and check out Alley Cat Allies website for more information on raising orphaned kittens.

LEARN MORE

What is Heartworm?

Don't risk it! Have your friend tested and protected from Heartworm disease.

Dogs can develop Heartworm disease when they are bitten by an infected mosquito. Cats and ferrets are also able to contract Heartworm disease, though it is rare. Heartworm disease can be life-threatening to our furry friends; Fortunately, there are monthly medications that help prevent infection. For dogs who do become infected with Heartworm disease, there are effective treatment options, but they can be costly. It is best to have your dog heartworm tested and put on a preventative as quickly as possible. Heartworm preventative medications are safe, highly effective. and should be given all year-round. Some preventative medications can be started with puppies as early as 8 weeks old (with veterinarian approval). They should start getting an annual Heartworm test after they turn 6 months old. Some dogs may require a biannual test due to being a higher risk candidate.

Testing is a simple blood test that takes just 15 minutes.

Signs and symptoms of Heartworm disease only become evident after the heartworms start living in the dog’s heart and lungs. The most severe stage of Heartworm disease is developing Caval syndrome. Caval syndrome is a progressing condition of Heartworm disease. The heartworm parasite has become too populous in the pulmonary artery and has now migrated into the vena cava, right atrium and right ventricle of the heart. This is a life-threatening condition that causes dark urine, jaundice, anemia, liver dysfunction, heart failure, and death.

Don't take the risk with your loved one! Schedule their Heartworm test today by clicking the link below. Schedule under healthy pet exam.

Schedule Appointment

Flea and Tick Preventative

Many pet owners do not use flea and tick preventative during the winter months. Here are a few facts about fleas and ticks to illustrate why it is a good idea to treat your furry friends all year long:

#1) Fleas can jump distances 200 times their body length to get to a host. Their jumping power is equivalent to a human leaping 1,200 feet!

#2) Both fleas and ticks have sensitive sensory perception which allows them to detect when a possible host is present.

#3) Fleas and ticks can transmit dangerous diseases.
Some diseases transmitted by fleas include:
Tapeworms
Cat scratch disease
Murine typhus
Mycoplasma haemofelis
Some diseases transmitted by ticks include:
Lyme disease
Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Powassan virus
Ehrlichiosis
Anaplasmosis

#4) A few adult fleas can multiply to an infestation in no time. A female flea can lay up to 50 eggs each day.

#5) Pets can be allergic to flea bites. Most animals develop an itchy bump from the saliva that fleas leave behind after each bite. Many pets can experience a more severe reaction called flea allergy dermatitis. A single flea bite can cause an intensely itchy rash that requires treatment.

#6) The threat doesn’t die in the winter. Although fleas cannot survive below-freezing temperatures, many will remain warm on hosts and in shelter areas (such as your home, barn, etc.). Our area rarely sees below freezing temperatures, certainly not enough to wipe out all the fleas and ticks.

Resources: By Countryside Veterinary Hospital |April 2nd, 2019