4 in the Christian Quarter;
3 in Jewish Quarter parking lot;
about 5 along the Jewish Quarter street nearest to the Western Wall;
2 being cared for by Margo, an Armenian lady (not Rose).
I sallied forth at 11 PM tonight to trap one of these 14 cats, (When you go late at night, the streets are quiet, so you see a lot more cats, plus it's MUCH easier to trap without all the pesky humans milling about.)
The first female was a kitten screaming from a place where it couldn't get down. For those of you who know the Old City, the kitten must have jumped down from the rooftop over the Muslim Quarter at the end of Chabad Street, and then could neither get back up to the rooftop nor safely jump the distance to ground level.
. It was just me and a very concerned Arab there. We didn't have a ladder high enough to reach the spot. After much head-scratching, I decided to go up to the Muslim Quarter rooftop. The Arab (whose name turned out to be Samed) came up, too. I lowered the trap down, using the sheet I had brought as a cover. 2 police officers appeared and asked us what we were doing. They were satisfied with our answer, and moved off.
I've done somewhat dangerous rescues before, but this took the cake. As I climbed down onto the 1st of 2 rickety-looking metal store awnings, the 2 policemen came by again, and ordered me to come back up. I said that "I have done more dangerous things to rescue animals" (actually, I can't remember a more dangerous incident in rescue), They insisted that I come back up. I said, "I only weigh 60 kilo. I'm not a great big man---just a little lady. The roof will hold me". (I was SO not sure!) Then I had to step on top of the air-conditioner to get to a lower rickety-looking metal awning. The police and Samed, and now a second jolly-looking Arab ordered me not to step on the air-conditioner. I guess they all held their breaths as I proceeded to do just that, and then onto the final destination of the kitten's metal awning. (Fortunately, the police actually left!) I put canned catfood on a spot where the kitten eventually ventured out, began ravenously gobbling the food, I grabbed the scruff, packed him into a white bag, then into the trap. Samed hoisted up the trap, while I climbed back up. Put kitten in bathroom ---gave more food and worming medicine, and headed back out to find one of the females on my radar, but found 3 in one place NOT on the radar. Trapped a big black one, and she is now meowing in the trap in spare bedroom. (It's 3 10 AM, and I have no idea why I'm still awake.) I hope all goes smoothly tomorrow getting to the shelter, etc...
