The traps were set.
"Here kitty kitty."
And so the waiting game began. ...
A few weeks ago, three volunteers with the Homeless Cat Network, Wendy Mann, Gina Trask, and Cookie McCrory, met at a South San Francisco feral colony to trap cats for sterilization. A cat named Bushy Tail had been particularly difficult to trap, so after months of failed attempts, the volunteers set up a large drop trap in an open area. They also hoped to trap a new cat, Midnight, with traditional traps that were placed by the cats' feeding station.
Many of the already neutered or spayed colony cats wandered into the drop trap to nibble on the cat food, but the volunteers patiently kept waiting for Bushy Tail. Finally, the long hours of waiting paid off. Bushy Tail, along with another cat named Thumper, went into the drop trap together and started eating. 
From a safe distance, Wendy pulled the string to the trap, which dropped it down on them.
Two frightened cats trapped together in one trap can actually move a trap around with their bodies, but the volunteers were ready. It took all three of them working together as a team: Gina quickly covered the trap with a towel and then laid her body across the trap to hold it down, Wendy opened the trap and transferred the cats to smaller, separate, transport cages, and Cookie spoke quietly and gently to the two scared cats to help calm them. When two cats are trapped in one cage, they become frantic to escape and can easily hurt themselves, such as broken legs and severe cuts. That’s why it’s so important to try and keep them as calm as possible.
When Bushy Tail and Thumper were secure in their transport cages, Cookie went to the feeding station to check on the other traps. Amazingly, Midnight was also in a trap.
"Luck was on our side!" Cookie beamed.
The cats were transported to Dr. Monica Thompson Rudiger at Nine Lives Foundation in Redwood City. It turned out that Thumper was already fixed, but needed to have his left ear tipped before being returned to the South San Francisco colony. Now the feeders at the colony will know that Thumper is fixed and he won't be trapped again.
Dr. Rudiger discovered that Bushy Tail (to the right) tested positive for feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and could not be returned to the colony. The Homeless Cat Network volunteers feared the worst, but Dr. Rudiger informed them that Bushy Tail was welcome to join the other FeLV+ cats in a special room at the Nine Lives no-kill shelter. Cats that test positive for FeLV can live many years in a healthy state, and the diagnosis should not be considered an immediate death sentence. Dr. Rudiger also neutered Bushy Tail, gave him his vaccinations, and performed extensive dental work on him before he settled into his new sanctuary. For now, he only allows Dr. Rudiger to pet him, and she calls him her buddy.
As for Midnight, Gina is currently fostering him because he is a friendly, loving cat. He may have been abandoned by his people, or perhaps he became lost and found his way to the colony. Gina will find him his forever home, and as Cookie said, "Another blessing for our South San Francisco colony."
Cookie, Wendy, and Gina are deeply thankful for all the care and love Dr. Rudiger has showered on their colony cats.
The majority of the colony cats in South San Francisco will live out their lives in the colony, but some have been trapped, fostered, and found loving homes with new people, or as in Bushy Tail's case, a safe sanctuary. Thanks to the volunteer rescuers with the Homeless Cat Network, Nine Lives Foundation and Dr. Thompson Rudiger, these abandoned, lost, or throw-away cats are given the best life possible.
About Homeless Cat Network
The Homeless Cat Network (HCN), which is a Best Friends No More Homeless Pets Network partner, is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) nonprofit feline rescue organization. They promote humane solutions for the feral and stray cat population in San Mateo County.
HCN believes that trap/neuter/return (TNR) is the most successful approach to feral cat management. Once sterilized and returned to their home territories, feral cats can live without the burden of constant reproduction. HCN practices responsible colony management, feeding neutered cats a healthy diet and educating local residents and businesses about the cats in their community. When possible, they rescue kittens of socializable age and tame strays, so they can find forever homes.
HCN provides advice, assistance, and mentoring to individuals, public agencies, and businesses. They offer training in the following: humane trapping, socialization, foster care, colony management, and adoption procedures. A variety of rewarding volunteer opportunities are available for reliable, caring people.
About Nine Lives Foundation
Nine Lives Foundation is a no-kill cat rescue nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation that works to address the over-population of homeless cats in Northern California. They provide low-cost spay/neuter services, vaccinations, medical care, shelter and adoptions for stray, feral, and at-risk cats, and to offer affordable medical care to local TNR (trap/neuter/release) trappers and rescue groups through their on-site veterinary clinic. Nine Lives provides all necessary medical treatments for their rescued cats and seeks loving, permanent homes for them, including those with physical, medical or behavioral disabilities.
Click here for ways to help the Nine Lives Foundation.
Photos by Cookie McCrory, Homeless Cat Network volunteer