Illinois Residents: Support a Bill to Ban Cat Declawing

This action is ONLY for residents of Illinois.

Declaw surgery is not a nail trim, but a surgical amputation of the last joints of a cat’s toes. Declawing is almost always nontherapeutic, meaning it has no medical benefit to the cat. Without their claws, cats can’t perform many of their instinctive behaviors, can feel unsafe without their natural protection, and can experience issues with walking and balancing. The pain and discomfort caused by declaw surgery can lead to permanent physical and mental harm.

Ask your state representative to support HB 1533 to protect cats from declawing in Illinois.

Goal: 1,000 Possible?

We need to be more aggressive than last year. Setting a goal of at least 1,000 cats neutered in 2023. If you see cats outside, check for eartips. Seeing none, try to locate the caretaker who is feeding the cats and share Feral Fixers’ information. Consider assisting with trapping for Feral Fixers – at least in your neighborhood. Think about volunteering for Feral Fixers – while that can mean direct cat care, fostering, helping at the building, it can also mean asking your company to match donations, having a supply drive where you work, sharing our fundraisers and adoptables on social media, coordinating a fundraiser for us. There is no one way to benefit Feral Fixers and help us reach our goal this year!

Off To a Big Start

Both ADOPT Pet Shelter and DuPage County Animal Services have helped us start off the year early with surgery slots.

On 3/27 we sent 6 ferals to ADOPT, 4 males, 2 females. Five were from a garage that we are working on, the sixth was a cat that jumped into a woman’s car as she parked close to a dumpster in an apartment complex. DiMaggio would not leave her car and she had no clue as to what to do. Diane brought a carrier, he jumped in, great, right? Turns out he was very feral acting – suspicion is he was abused by a woman because he hated our voices! Yesterday he was relocated to a location where there are mostly men – already asking to be petted by them! All cats are individuals!

3/27 - All 6 cats snuggly fit in Debbie's car!

DiMaggio coming to the front of the crate for pets.

DiMaggio was interested in interaction even before moving into crate.

On 3/30 we went two different directions! 20 cats went to DCAS, 18 ferals, two friendlies, 11 males, 9 females, one of which was already spayed. We tracked down Abby’s microchip, called her owner, a very elderly gentleman who had given her to his daughter and Abby took off, could we find a new home for her? The caretakers who had brought her in were delighted as they care so much for her. Microchips are forever!

We also sent 5 ferals to ADOPT, 1 male, 4 females. Again, from that garage situation.

With these trips, our count is 64 for March, 95 for 2023 and 14,047 to date.