[Nomad]

Sigh...I almost hate to start this thread, but a friend is desperate. I won't go into a lot of details except to say that 62 cats need to be transported from the Akron area to Fairmont in about a week or so. A truck they thought they had lined up was not refrigerated, so it won't work. This lady rescues and cares for cats. Many of them are damaged or ill, so I'm sure they wouldn't survive a 12 hour or more trip in an enclosed truck without some kind of cooling. The cats are all caged, so at least that's something. Please don't reply with any comments on her mental state. She has always been someone who rescues animals. She recently lost her husband and is losing her home. She has no choice other than to move, but won't go without the cats. I hope someone can give me a constructive solution. Any ideas are appreciated.

Thanks,

Nomad

 

[sisterpine]

Good morning: I am sorry to hear about your friends troubles. Could you maybe transport the cats in a well vented but un cooled trailer, like from uhaul or budget. The kind with slat sides and put a tarp over the top for shade. I think with enough water stops the incoming fresh air would allow most of them to make it. I did this while transporting cats from Arizona in the Summer to northern Utah several years ago and it worked out pretty well.

 

[JulieNC]

I was thinking of something similar--maybe borrowing a horse trailer. I know one woman who has a transformer hooked in her truck and uses it to snake a power line into her trailer to operate a fan mounted in the wall. Not perfect, but, as sisterpine said, frequent stops and waterings can help.

Good luck.

 

[Nomad]

Those are both options that I will pass along. One of her relatives plans to try to move some in the back of an open pickup truck. I don't think it's a very good idea. She's mainly worried about the ones in ill health. I'm sure there will be frequent stops. I know at least two kittens need to be bottle fed pretty often, and some need medicine on a regular basis. I may end up taking some in my van if they can't find a better way. We're not too well off right now, but we're in a lot better shape than our friend. It's the least I could do to help out. If I take out the rear seat I could probably get quite a few cages in. I am a cat person and have 7 of my own, but I'm not sure I want to smell cat poop and listen to plaintive meowing for 650 miles. :no: I guess earplugs and a clothespin might do the trick.

Thanks for your suggestions,

Nomad

 

[Cyngbaeld]

Is there any chance of appealing to the local spca type people? Or will that open a can of worms?

 

[JulieNC]

The open pick up would make me a bit nervous, too. Knew a guy who transported about 50 chickens to a processor about 2 hours away. By the time he got there, he had lost 3 chickens. He didn't use a tarp because he was afraid it'd create an oven effect. (Sisterpine's suggestion of using a tarp, though, is a good one if you've got adequate ventilation.)

Now, chickens are different than cats--you might have 5-10 chickens packed in a single crate, which is not the situation you're looking at with the cats (at least I don't think so ).

If the really sick and infirm ones can ride in an air conditioned car, then perhaps the others could tough it out in a more primitive setting.

One other suggestion--I'm assuming you'll have to stack crates. If the ventilation is less than ideal, I'd suggest that at rest stops, you restack the crates so that no cat is stuck for terribly long in an area without good ventillation.

Good luck to you. Y'all have my sympathy. The logistics of transporting 62 cats are simply mind-boggling.

 

[Nomad]

This isn't a situation I'd want to be in. Everything seems to be going wrong for the poor woman, so I feel I should help out if I can. I'll pass along all suggestions and hope that something can be worked out. She absolutely will not leave the cats behind, and cares far more for their well being than her own. In any event, all will be moved somehow very soon. I don't think getting any official agency involved would be too good. An apartment in this same town was raided last week and 39 cats were taken to the local animal shelter. It is now full. I think the answer that any agency would provide for cats that are sick, blind, crippled, deaf, having siezures, etc would be to destroy them. That is not an option with this lady. Anyway, thanks for the input. Things usually have a way of working out. I just pray it does in this case.

Nomad

 

[Ravenlost]

I would suggest she travel at night when it is cooler.

Is there any way possible she can find home for some of the cats before the move?

When I moved my four cats from Texas to MS the vet gave me a mild tranquilizer for them. It helped them to relax and I didn't have to deal with all that howling in the back seat.

When I moved three cats from AL to VA it ended up being a 21 hour trip. I do think the cats were in better shape than I was by the time the trip was over!

 

[agmantoo]

Call PETA, they are known for putting up signs here in NC that put animal welfare at top priority.

 

[Nomad]

Believe it or not, she actually does find homes for many cats. The 62 are the ones she has left. Since her husband was diagnosed with cancer she kinda shut down and focused on his care until he died. The organization that helped her with food and litter, etc had to shut down because there are just too many irresponsible pet owners who don't neuter their animals and they couldn't afford to keep giving out supplies to all the rescue people. I'll suggest they try PETA.

Thanks,

Nomad

 

[Nette]

Another idea if you're going to use the pick-up...You could secure the cages with one of those cargo nets that are made like bungie cords (real stretchy). They sell them at Lowe's, and as I recall, they're not real expensive.

 

[januaries]

No ideas about what sort of vehicle to use. Have read somewhere that it's a good idea to freeze a small container of water, wrap it in a towel, and put it in the cat's carrier if you're worried about heat. They can lean against it to cool off.

 

[Nomad]

Not a bad idea about the ice, but there are 62 cats. I'm not sure exactly how many cages she has. The wife said her house is filled with them, so it should be interesting. Sure would have been nice if she could have moved in November. I'm not sure if it was a friend or relative that was going to use a pickup, but even with a net I think it would be pretty traumatizing to the animals. I'm not directly involved with the move...yet. My wife is the one in contact and lets me know the progress and relays my messages to the lady.


Nomad

 

[Ravenlost]

In the week or so she has left I would concentrate on getting as many cats as possible adopted or new foster homes found for them. There has to be more rescue people in the area. Perhaps an article in the local newspaper would help (IF it wouldn't get her in trouble for having so many cats). You know, a "human interest with a feline twist" type story.

There should be more cat lovers out there willing to help.

 

[comfortablynumb]

my first suggestion is a reality check and painless euthinasia.
now for what she really wants... transporting the many cages packed in an open grate stock trailer with a solid roof (the type used for cattle) would be open and breezy and cool for the kittys comfort. avoid open HOT highways, travel back secondary byways with more shade and cover. stack the cages so they can be easily accessed and watered.
unless the cats are severly ill, I wouldnt feed them during the trip or 6 hrs before to avoid sickness and undue poop.
tthe rushing air will freak the cats out no doubt but after a few hours they will get used to it. I assume they all have wire mesh cages and not cardboard transporters which a freaked cat will claw right thru.

Some Uhaul type box trucks are rigged with scoop vents and are actually quite cool to ride in if your moving. some are also insulated, but not refrigerated.

do a little shopping around for rental trucks and look for ventilated cargo boxes.

you could if pressed into it rent whatever number of standard VANS you need to move them, and most rental vans ahave air conditioning. you may be able to transport 15 cats per van.
ive rented box trucks with vent scoops so i know they are available. they are either on the roof or the front corners of the box. leaving the back open with a cargo net will also force air to flow better.

If she has the time and money, all the luck to her. I would go with a group of vans with AC if its hot, a standard box truck with an open back and a cargo net if its cool weather.
it is not legal to ride in the cargo box BUT hey, Ive ridden in them and in horse trailers too. if your not searched, have someone ride in the back and keep an eye on the cargo.
driver and watcher both having cell phones or some wireless com link.

 

[coalroadcabin]

I hope all goes well for your friend. My only caveat would be that any of these solutions are going to cost $$. (Some more than others) It sounds as if she isn't rolling in dough, so wouldn't she reconsider adopting them out?

 

[Nomad]

She has given away all she can. Nobody will take any more. Even the main rescue organization won't accept any. There is a cat epidemic here. People don't neuter their animals and there are just too many everywhere. It's like we have reached the cat saturation point. Most days there are people at the local flea market giving away kittens. Course people have to have the little darlings, until they grow up to be cats. Then they dump them...un-neutered. Three of my cats were dumped by the side of the road at various times and we took them in. One has the sweetest temperment I've ever seen. The poor guy seems so lost. It's like he misses his original family and doesn't know how to fit in here. But I'm getting off track. I know it's not normal, but the woman would die before she'd leave any cats behind. That's why I'll probably end up taking a load in my van. At least I'll know I did what I could to help.


Nomad

 

[Guest]

What a good heart you have Nomad

 

[JulieNC]

You're a good person, Nomad, to want to help this woman. Most people would be so put off by her eccentricity that they'd wash their hands. It may sound strange to us--even bizzare--but the reality is that this is who she is, and no amount of talking is going to get her to change her mind set. It's wonderful that you are so accepting and willing to help. Plus, you have to admire her for her convictions. She definitely walks the walk.

Please let us know how it all turns out.

 

[Nomad]

Hey now...let's keep this nice Nomad stuff under our hats. I have a reputation to maintain. Every now and again I take a look around and realize that no matter how tough things are for me and my family there are so many folks that have it a lot worse. Just workin on my karma. Believe me it needs it.

Nomad