Good Shepherd Pet Alliance of Madison County

06/16/2026

He who feeds a hungry animal feeds his own soul.

Charlie Chaplin

06/09/2026

This is probably our final update on Otter:

Otter is doing very well. Once he was completely over his UTI and crystals he became meticulous about using his box and only his litter box. The infected testicles and urine burns on his back legs healed.
We assumed he was FIV+ given his scars. In fact, the combo test was negative for both FIV and FELV reminding us never to assume.

He moved from a table top cage to a big walk in cage and after a few more days he was released.

We worried when we did not see him for a couple days he might have gone over the fence around the yard, which is possible.

The barn has a cat door to outdoors and a second cat door from barn to an attached catio have had straw filled shelters.

He started coming into the barn to eat last night and came again tonight.

So far, when he has been with the other cats there have been no hostilities.

We have been told his ears are not frostbitten or deformed, but that instead he appears to be a Scottish Fold cat.

His vet is not sure and remarked that surely no one who paid what those cats cost would put him outside to live or abandon him. We explained we rescued another SF cat living in the storm sewers in one small town and have found blue-eyed Siamese and Himalayans or their mixed offspring living outside all over our rural county.

What do you think? Do you find that many people pay for purebred or so-called purebred cats and lose or discard them?

06/06/2026

06/01/2026

04/23/2026

UPDATE ON OTTER

Otter’s dental had to be rescheduled and will be done Monday.
We have learned some things about Otter. He is a very tame cat not feral as first thought. When we began brushing him he made it very clear he was brushed in the past and began purring and arching his head to help us get at the fur on his throat. When we started to brush his stomach he flipped over on his side and offered us his belly.

We were initially concerned he might be incontinent or have diabetes, because of his peeing everywhere in his cage except his box. His urine was dark even though he was hydrated so he was treated for a UTI the past 10 days and his urine is now a healthier color. He nearly always pees in one place now, which is the puppy pad just outside his litter box. We learned this is due to his sitting on the side of the box and peeing down the outside.

He easily consumes 3-4 5.5 oz cans of wet food a day plus Churus.

It’s hard not to spoil this sweet cat.

Thank you Sandy Miller for giving us Wahl’s Waterless Shampoo! We’ve tried several brands that disappointed in the past. Wahl’s has been very helpful.

04/21/2026

Pregnant spay is a hot topic in cat rescue. I will go over many reasons why we do it below, but three things first.

1. Do not apply your religious obligations to an animal you have never met. No matter how the spirit moves you. We should only be considering the cat’s health, the risk of the kittens and lastly, the overpopulation.

2. She should have never been pregnant in the first place.

3. She should have never been pregnant in the first place.

One reason we pregnant spay is because a mother cat does not resonate with pregnancy. She has no clue she is pregnant. After though, when kittens are born. She mourns, she feels, she knows. Until her job is done and she kicks them to the curb. I guarantee she never wanted to be a mom outside. Constant fear, lack of food and resources. Even the very best of moms bring their kittens to their feeders when it is safe. They don’t intend to raise feral children.

Another reason. If you have held a kitten in your hand and have tried to save it, but instead watched it die. Felt its last breath. While writhing, you promised as humans we would do better for all cats…….. there would be no question of why you would pregnant spay.

Another reason we do it is because it’s not their fault it’s ours. They never asked to be loved and tossed out. Yet they are the ones who feel all of the suffering. We didn’t teach each other not to let her get pregnant in the first place. Yet we all band together to condemn the one who has to do the right thing.

Spaying her is saving her life. When you spay a cat, pregnant or not, you are ensuring that she will not get a deadly infection of her uterus called pyometra, which often presents similar to a pregnant cat. Further, you are saving her life because she is now free to remain feral if she wants to, with only herself to protect and worry about.

No matter how hot or cold this topic ever becomes, the truth will always be:

She should have never been pregnant to begin with.

~ Amanda Coats @ https://www.facebook.com/share/16tMaVqbYK/?mibextid=wwXIfr