FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We’re sorry, we seldom have room to take in kittens. We recommend you have them altered and find homes for them. We may be able to help you get them spayed or neutered, as well as the mama cat. You can also read about how to rehome cats on our Rehoming page.

We do offer Trap, Neuter, Return services.  We have a large list of requests and currently practice targeted TNR. This means we focus on one are at a time in order to reduce to cat overpopulation in a controlled method.  Give us a call and we can discuss your need!

For low cost spay/neuter services we have to low cost spay neuter clinics in our service area.  Anicira, located in Harrisonburg and the Augusta Regional SPCA Spay/Neuter Clinic in Augusta County.

The Anicira Veterinary Clinic and the Augusta SPCA Spay/Neuter Clinic offers low-cost vaccines and testing at the time of spay/neuter surgery. For follow-up vaccines, we recommend you go to your regular veterinarian. Occasionally shelters or Animal Control agencies will have vaccine clinics; watch for these in the paper.

We do not recommend it. Declawing is not legal in Virginia. It can cause permanent pain and behavior difficulties with your cat. We do not de-claw, or allow our adopters to de-claw.

We would be glad to advise you on how to either be able to keep your cat or how to best find a new home. First, please read the information on our Rehoming page.

First make sure your cat doesn’t have a urinary infection — check with your vet. Sometimes cats won’t share a litter box, or won’t use it if it isn’t pristine. Give us a call for detailed counsel on why this might be happening; hopefully, we can get to the root of the problem quickly together!

We recommend contacting Dr. Ruth Chodrow, a Harvard-educated Animal Bahaviorist. She can be reached at 540-886-9371. Dr. Chodrow graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University and obtained a Master of Science in zoology from the University of Massachusetts. She earned her V.M.D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Chodrow is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the D.C. Academy of Veterinary Medicine, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, and the Blue Ridge Veterinary Medical Association.

We also recommend Michelle Carter, animal training and behavior expert. Michelle owns “Leader of the Pack” Dog Training and serves the Staunton, Waynesboro, Augusta County and outer lying areas of Virginia.

Many allergy and asthma suffers can still keep their cats — try “Simple Solution” anti allergy product from a pet supply store such as PetSmart. You just wipe it on your cat with a cloth once a week — the cat likes it because it’s just like being petted. It’s non-toxic too. Of course you should run this by your doctor as well!

Cats with FIV can enjoy a normal lifespan with no apparent health problems due to the virus. FIV is not a death sentence.

Cats mostly acquire FIV through deep bite wounds from other cats with FIV, as the virus is present in the blood and saliva of infected cats. The chance of FIV being passed from one domestic cat to another domestic cat in the same household is approximately 1-2%. Cats who are allowed to go outside are more at risk of being bitten by an unknown feral or stray FIV+ cat than by a friendly FIV+ cat living as part of the family.

Good care, quality food, and lots of love can help your FIV+ cat enjoy a long life. A healthy diet along with annual vaccinations will ensure many years of good health.

Here at Cat’s Cradle, we regularly adopt FIV+ cats–approximately 3-4 per year. We continue to hear from our adopters of FIV+ cats, who are always grateful that we gave these cats a chance, and report that their cats are happy, healthy, and enjoying life.