What does it look these cats are suffering through? Heat? Hunger? A bout with lethargy or fatigue? Illness?
These cats, and a handful of others, have spent their lives, and as long as I’ve known them, outside, homeless, in a public park. They hide in the sewers to stay cool during the heat. They hide in sewers to stay dry from rain, unless the sewers are flood and then spend the duration of the rain in open, getting wet and sick.
The tortoise shell cat (black and gold cat) was, as best as I can gather, was abandoned in the park near my house during Labor Day weekend 2019. She was barely a year old then, and rains were just around the corner. For the past year, I’ve been able to feed her and care for her the best I can, knock on wood. For the past year, thankfully, she has stayed safe.
The orange-back (white one with pattern), along with his three siblings, was born in the park around April or May of 2018. His mother, and aunt (if there is such a thing among cats), to the best of my knowledge, were also abandoned in the park by their owners. Since then they have weathered grueling head, pouring rain and ashy weather from wildfires in California.
In the past few years, frequency of wildfires has intensified and ill-effects due to climate change have continued to worsen. August 2020 has seen historical heatwaves and wildfires worsening the air quality. If the surviving in the streets wasn’t hard enough, if fighting for survival in the streets wasn’t cruel enough for these animals, weather has done little but to add to their struggle.
While you and I sit inside our homes turning on air-conditioners and air purifiers, trying to stay cool (or dry), safeguarding our health, these cats, and other animals, are suffering what we are trying to avoid. Many wild animals have lost their lives, limbs, chances of survival during these wildfires. Australian wildfires are a prime case study in how these animals were harmed.
Many cats, and animals in general, have died cruel, undignified deaths because of irresponsible human neglect and damage. Many of these poor animals have died (with no fault of their own) because we are too selfish, too cruel, to think beyond our needs. What’s worse is we continually succeed in thinking of excuses for our selfishness, or ignorance, our irresponsibility and our inaction.
I’m not asking for the problem to be fixed overnight or incite a sense of guilt. I am asking for empathy. I am asking for help in taking up responsibility in caring animals who are rejected, discarded, or live on the fringes. Caring for animals who are just trying to survive hunger, thirst, weather and dangers every hour of every day.
I am asking for help.
