Rescued cats show the value of compassion

Date published: 3/18/2007

ORANGE--Having recently moved to the town of Orange, Marjorie Klein was on her way home one evening when she noticed several cats hanging out behind the Route 20 Market in the iron/metal recycling yard near the intersection of Blue Ridge Drive and State Route 20.

Needing to drive past this spot every day, Ms. Klein soon noticed more than a few cats--now there were kittens, too, and often one or more were running across the road.

Fearing for their safety and knowing they were most likely in need of care, Ms. Klein investigated and discovered a colony of abandoned cats living as best they could behind the market and in the underbrush around the recycling yard.

With the consent and cooperation of the property owners, she put out food and water daily from late July to mid-October, and using non-injurious traps (baited with some of the Route 20 Market's fried chicken) she was able to trap what is believed to be the entire colony, 22 cats and kittens.

The trapping required 15 different evenings of going to the site, setting the trap, and, as soon as a cat or kitten was in the trap, taking it to a secure location. (During this operation, which went on for about four months, one of the traps and one large pet carrier disappeared, perhaps "borrowed," and it would be nice if those items would be returned.)

As the kittens were collected, they were taken to the Orange County Animal Shelter, and through the auspices of the Orange County Humane Society were evaluated for adoptability, spayed or neutered, and given pertinent medical treatment, including rabies vaccinations and treatments for flea, tick, and roundworm control.

Medical support was performed by the Orange Veterinary Clinic and by HHD Mobile Vet Clinic and paid for by the OCHS.

As it turned out, only eight of the 22 cats were adoptable, and those eight, mostly kittens, have been adopted by loving, responsible homes where we believe they will be well cared for. The remaining 14 have been sent to a farm Ms. Klein owns in Louisa County, where they can safely continue their feral lifestyle but will be provided shelter, fresh food, and water daily.

Thanks to their medical care they will not be producing kittens, and they are not subjected to traffic, cruel people, or hostility.

Date published: 3/18/2007