uh-oh... loooks like Hurricane Rita could be heading right for me!

[Lisa0825]

I only had one foster kitty left, Leander, so they gave me a playmate for him, and then a very pregnant momma came in, and they asked me to take her too. She is HUGE, and we don't know her due date because she was already pregnant when resued from her hiding place in someone's engine. The problem is that she has been in hiding since she got here, and I am very worried about what to do if I have to evacuate. She's behind the washing machine, and I'm no match for her.

:scared:

Any words of wisdon for me?

[ehrnst]

1. Can you lure her into a crate?

Maybe opening a can of tuna and setting it into a crate?

[Lisa0825]

2. I'm not sure I should try that yet....

anyone want to advise me on that?

I have never had a pregnant pet before, but what I have heard in the past is that cats go into hiding when they are about to give birth. Should I just leave her alone until the time comes, and then try to coax her out? Or try to coax her out now and get her into a safer room in the house?

[IndyOp]

3. Lisa - You might PM Lorien about this as she is very, very

experienced with foster cat care. If you have (or can get) some Feliway (at pet store) or Bach's Flower Essences (at natural food store) to help her calm down that might help.

Good luck with her.

The word hurricane has a whole new meaning now, doesn't it. I will pray for the safety of everyone in Rita's path.

O8)

[Lisa0825]

4. Thanks! will do!:-)

Poor thing.... I can't imagine how traumatic having to evacuate will be after getting stuck in a car, rescued, and possibly giving birth all in the same week!

[Lorien]

5. I would get a large, dark dog carrier, line it with towels that have been

sprayed with Feliway, and place it in a dark corner of the room where she is hiding. Prop the door of the carrier open, and put food and water just outside the door (and maybe a few treats inside). If she goes for it and gives birth in the carrier, then you're good to go. If she doesn't go for it, get a friend to help you to herd her into a large pillowcase or laundry bag, and lock her in the carrier with food, water, and a small litter pan. You can request a large carrier on Freecycle.

Take it from someone who has gone through hurricanes and evacuated from them; start packing NOW and plan your escape route. La Quinta Inns are a great place to stay if you have pets; as are a number of other chains (I'll try to post a link later). Get as many large trash bags/ drum liners as you can. If the hurricane looks to be coming your way bag as much as you can before you leave, and cover bookshelves and small furniture with the bags as well. Don't forget to tape the windows!

Good luck!

[Lisa0825]

6. Thanks!

I have a cat-friendly friend who will let me stay with her. She's in Houston, but far enough from the coast to be safe.

I have a large crate they gave me when I started fostering. I'll set it up as you suggested tonight, and hope she uses it! The problem, is, she is behind the washing machine, and I don't know if I can even move it enough to reach her, without moving it down the galley-style kitchen and disconnecting it. It'll be a big ol' pain, but I'll do whatever I have to do for the gal. She's been through so much already! Keep your fingers crossed that it misses us!

Thanks a bunch! :pals:

[Lorien]

7. How about a broom?

Usually just moving a broom near them will make them move, and if not, it's a fairly gentle tool when applied with only little force.

[Lisa0825]

8. There is a cabinet above the washer that makes that difficult.

I tried that last night, but couldn't get the angle, so I just moved the washer over a foot in two directions to give her more space, and then I put a blanket down, food and water, and a litter box a few feet away. She pooped and peed on the blanket and went back into the corner!LOL!

If the time comes to evacuate, and I haven't gotten her to come out, I think I will have to get one of the shelter volunteers to help, because I don't think I can both scoot her out of there AND corral her into the crate. I have coaxed her out of two hiding spaces, only to have her find a third space, instead of using the nice closets and cabinets I left open with blankets for her. :shrug:

[Lisa0825]

9. Shelter owner called me....

She said just let her know if/when I need anything. They have all dogs placed in foster care, but have 300 cats, about 150 amongst the volunteers' homes and 150 in the shelter itself. She says they do not have plans to evacuate, because they don't have the ability to transport that many animals, so they will stay and take care of them. I sure wish they had a better plan than that.

Wish us all luck!:hide:

[IndyOp]

10. My heart just sank with a big 'ol thud...

"They don't have the ability to transport that many animals, so they will stay and take care of them."

:cry:

God Bless Them O8)

& Damn It - we have GOT to do a whole lot better!

:mad:

[Lisa0825]

11. It's not a flood-prone area, and it's a concrete building....

but keep your fingers crossed for them. If Rita doesn't make it past a cat 3, I'd say they'll do OK. But if it's a cat 4, they will absolutely have to try to move 'em out somehow. If I wasn't fostering already, I'd take more, but between 3 cats, and an unknown number of kittens waiting to meet the world, plus, the pets my friend who's putting me up has, we'll have our hands full.