Thursday, January 22, 2009

Keeping The Alley Cat Stable

The alley cat, wild and capricious as it may be, does serve the community well by minimizing rodent problems in the neighborhood. They may not actually rid us entirely of the rats as well as mice, but they can certainly keep a check on their population and, also discourage fresh rodents from entering the community. Thus, it is instrumental in maintaining the eco-balance.

An Interesting Spectacle

It also makes for interesting spectacle with many people deriving pleasure from observing them and, also helps lower blood pressure, according to medical studies. They also provide an opportunity for people to feed them and take care of them and, are good soul mates for the elderly and, help in relieving boredom, depression, loneliness as well as isolation. Alley cat help to destress and become a source of happiness for people those to take good care of them.

Alley cats can help in extending the life expectancy as well as lower blood pressure and relieve stress as; taking care of them is beneficial to the health of their providers. Taking care of them provides an opportunity that can obviate the need for irresponsible purchase of a pet that is left uncared for. Domesticating an alley cat after proper vaccination and sterilization helps in repelling other strays from coming close and also makes the alley suitable to stay in civilised human society.

However, alley cats are quite difficult to handle and should not be taken lightly and, it would be safer to handle them sparingly, to ensure one’s own well-being and safety. Taking them to the veterinary should be useful and, use should be made of special traps, squeeze-side cages, as well as cages to contain the alley cats, after they have been operated upon. In this regard, those who come into contact with an alley cat should have had pre-exposure rabies vaccinations and, if bitten, the wound should be washed thoroughly as well as be treated without delay, to prevent infections.

The alley cat may also be needed to be tested for viral diseases such as FeLV and FIV, though the rate of such infections in them is generally low. People often would like to give an alley cat sanctuary, but few of these cats would really relish living in confinement as they are wild animals that are accustomed to the outdoor life. Also, alley cats are social animals that may have developed strong bonds with companion cats. Relocating the alley cat may mean separating them and, thus cause them needless stress. But, for safety sakes, there is nothing wrong with relocating an alley cat.

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