I still wonder how much of it is true...
If a vet is visiting each week, sick cats would be treated, don't you think?
Their main problem will probably be catching them in order to be treated. And some infections will be hard to weed out in free-roaming populations, even if you treat all sick individuals. It is one of the hazards of a 'natural' lifestyle.
Of course, sick animals should be adequately treated, but with such an extensive population, there will ALWAYS be some sick cats, and before you make allegations about them not being treated or cared for, you should make very sure it is the SAME cats that are sick the next time you see them.
The pictures do not tell the entire story, or rather, they tell a story from a not quite realistic point of view.
So the sink and table are dirty... They WOULD be with hundreds of cats running around all day. Just look at MY sink after ONE cat walked over it. If you expect everything to be as spotless as in a house, you need a cleaner standing by at each bathroom 24/7
The water is dirty, they say......
It doesn't look all that dirty on the pictures. Ther may be some dirt in it, but as long as it is natural dirt, sand blowing in, or leaves, I do not see the problem. My cats have a bowl of fresh water at all times, but where do they drink? From the fountain or a rain puddle. Dirty water.
How clean do you suppose a brook or lake is? They are the natural sources of water for all free-roaming animals.
They show a video of a cat having trouble breathing. I magnified this film to have a good look, but I don't see it..... It may be because the film gets too unclear, it is a very bad recording, but I do not see any evidence of laboured breathing.
I saw my Daisy when she was suffering from FIP, I saw my Tuppence in a similar condition when her heart was getting bad, and they did not look like this cat. I see no obvious discomfort like I saw in my darlings, who WERE indeed having trouble breathing.
I do agree places like this should be closely monitored, but I see no actual proof of neglect. The photos and stories are random images, showing a given point in time. They are no proof of neglect, only of the fact that not all cats are in perfect health (which is only to be expected, given the number of cats that live there). If you survey an apartment complex with a similar number of people, you will find quite a number of them ill or injured. Does this mean they are not being cared for?
Only if you repeat the survey a week later, and again a month later, and the same pepole are in the same condition or worse, with no sign of care or treatment, THEN you can say they are being neglected.
I think it would be better if amateur do-gooders stopped spreading allegations, and, instead, professional veterinary health inspectors visited this place, and every other place like it, once a month or so, to check whether they provide proper care.
And these professionals would have to look at individual cats. If Lucy Lu was sick last time, they will need to check if, and how, Lucy Lu was treated and if she has improved.
