Two Abandoned Cats Rescued By Dedicated Colony Caretaker And Foster Family

The COVID-19 pandemic caused many housecats throughout the Hawaiian island chain to become "community cats." However, the proliferation of homeless cats is also brought about by stringent housing policies, military reassignments, and the area's naturally transient population. While they may reside in the suburban wilds with their feral feline compatriots, they are not to be mistaken as undomesticated. They are the same loveable and tame cats that love to curl up on the couch for a nap, not aggressive hunters and foragers.

Colony caretaker Linda J. manages multiple clowders on the island of Maui. Just in one colony, she's seen at least ten domesticated cats abandoned over the last year due to sudden relocations of their pet parents and even agitated neighbors unfriendly to felines in the area. Nevertheless, Linda has a keen eye for newcomers to the groups she manages as she knows "every single cat" she cares for and knows "the first night someone new shows up," she explained.

Posted by Alex Lemieux

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In August, Linda noticed two unfamiliar felines during a routine check on roughly a dozen cats making the periphery of a local department store parking lot their home. The two shiny, jet-black kittens were young, just a few months old. Linda knew they weren't feral, but domesticated pets dumped in the busy suburban district. Unfortunately, unwanted cats and other pets are commonly deserted in unfamiliar places on the island, leaving them traumatized in unknown surroundings. Luckily, Linda is one of many colony caretakers with the dedication needed to rescue those who cannot survive with others outdoors.

Via Good Cat Network
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Linda explained that people believe dumping their cats in colonies means they will live on. After all, Hawaii boasts a year-round warm climate, and cats on the island have no natural predators. But that isn't how the story unfolds. Much like their savanna-trekking cousins, cats living together establish a fortified group, and new cats typically aren't introduced in a welcoming manner. Nevertheless, Linda works with Good Cat Network, a rescue group committed to giving discarded cats a new lease on life and rehabilitating them through their network of foster families. She quickly got in touch with Lisa, who houses several fosters herself. Linda and Lisa knew the two were siblings and understood there was little time to waste to get them into a home.

Via Good Cat Network
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"Most pets that have been fed at home in a dish don't know how to hunt and fight for their own food," Lisa said. "So, they end up starving." Linda said one of the cats, a male later named Onyx, came right to her. On the other hand, his sister seemed "much more traumatized," but she finally caught her, matched her up with her presumed brother, and took them to Lisa.
"Onyx is quite the character," Lisa said. Instead of the usual meowing cats do to communicate with their pet parents, he typically "chirps." She explained that the female, named Hematite, is "sweet…but she's terrified." When describing her relationship with Hematite, Lisa compared it to the romantic drama film, The Notebook. Every day when Lisa wakes up to greet her, it's like Hematite forgets who she is. "We have to go through this whole introduction for her to warm up to me," she explained. Then, Hematite allows Lisa to pet her but will often run off in an anxious flight, only to return later. "She's definitely very skittish." She said Hematite is "far from aggressive" but is essentially "afraid of her own shadow."

Via Good Cat Network
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Although the two siblings are still in foster care, the goal is to rehome them to the U.S. mainland. While Onyx is a "lovebug" and will fare well in any home with loving, energetic pet parents, Lisa explained that the situation with his sister, Hematite, is much different. Good Cat Network has a strong flight program that has flown well over 300 cats to Seattle this year alone. Even though Onyx and Hematite can pass the strict procedures and health protocols bolstering the program, Lisa said the potential stress of the plane ride may be too much right now for Hematite. "Putting her through all of that wouldn't be fair," she said. Linda illustrated that a perfect home for the anxious female would be an environment free of excessive stimulation. While that is diametrically different than the conditions in which Onyx would thrive, he and his sister may part ways so their individual needs can be addressed. Lisa added that the organization doesn't want to hinder Onyx's ability to be adopted—"it's not fair to him," she declared. Yet, it's too soon to tell.

Via Good Cat Network
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As Onyx and Hematite continue to be loved and cared for by Lisa and her family, there are ongoing needs to recruit more faithful foster families. Linda explained the Good Cat Network "desperately needs more fosters" with the passion to help felines in need, much like Lisa. "There are so many more cats that need to be trapped, but there's nowhere to put them," Linda elucidated. Getting involved in cat rescue and rehabilitation isn't a challenging task, though. While many cannot house a crowded clowder or manage multiple colonies of community cats, donating funds for food, litter, toys, and medical care or temporarily looking after one cat can make a big difference.

Via Good Cat Network