Hi...I've been posting for a while on an excellent Canadian pet BB on the subject of 'ferals', and have gotten some much-needed support and advice. However, this BB has no specific category for ferals et al.; when I found this BB and saw this category I thought I should give it a try.
To give a 'reader's digest' version of my feral experience to date: Other than feeding the odd apparently independant cat-passing-through (I live on a very small farm in the countryside), and absorbing one obvious 'dumpee' into our multi[indoor]cat household, my contact with ferals was pretty limited-until this past June.
At that time I became aware that a momcat and her three one mo. old-ish kittens were living in a deserted shed just off my property. The mother starting hanging around me from a safe distance while I did horse chores etc., so I starting leaving food/water out for her.
After a month or so, she moved the kittens to another deserted shed a little closer to my house/barn; the kittens starting showing up at the feeding station (under my horse trailer). I continued to feed the Feral Family over the summer, but began to be concerned
about the upcoming Canadian winter-and the kittens reaching breeding age.
Although the kittens would only allow me to get so close while they ate, they played a lot around the horse trailer. As we began to get some cooler days in early Sept., I started to leave the food in our back porch with the outside door open-for about an hour at a time.
Much to my surprise, when I opened the kitchen door to the porch one morning and casually closed the outside door, one kitten was still at the far end of the porch; guess I caught him by surprise, literally! This kitten had been the boldest one, and after letting him 'hide' in the porch for a few hours, my husband and I were able to get him to go into a large dog crate. We did not attempt to touch him, but with patience, things went very calmly.
'Sparky' was in the cage for only 2 days; it was apparent that although previously unsocialized and untouched by humans, he was ready to get acquainted. We played things by ear...brought him to our bare guest room, and opened the crate; he 'gentled' amazingly
, with a few manner reminders!
About a week after Sparky's transition indoors, I was totally shocked to find that I had trapped the 2 remaining kittens in the porch with the same method. This time I knew things would be more of a challenge, as the new duo were much shyer than Sparky. However, we got them into the cage fairly quietly; they both hid in a 'boxcave' most of the time for a week or so; we then opened the cage to give them the run of the porch.
We started using our side porch as our entrance/exit, so the kittens would be secure. The bolder kitten came up carefully to be petted in the second week, which was a real breakthrough; exactly a week later the very shy kitten suddenly approached me
.
Things seemed to go 'suddenly' at that point, but I guess I'd spent a good 2-3 mos. feeding them outside, and chatting with them. The positive experience with the kittens motivated me to find a livetrap to borrow...another shock, as the first night we set it, we caught...Mr. Tom, whom I had only glimpsed in the later part of the summer, very briefly.
'Darrell the Feral' is a BIG, FIERCE guy, but a local vet clinic that is licensed to rehab wild animals had agreed to spay/neuter on short notice, so Darrell was caught one night/neutered (and vacc'd) the next a.m./released the day after that.
After a few days to catch our breath, the livetrap was set again, and we caught 'Meryl the Feral' that very night. Sooo, back to the clinic; Meryl was a bit pregnant as I'd feared, but they were able to spay her etc. That was just about a week ago, and due to Meryl's slightly complicated op, I'm just now planning her release (she's in the large cage in the back porch, where I've been trying to get a bit of weight on her).
The 'first' kitten, Sparky, has had his first shots and is now in the general household where he is adjusting great; his 2 sibs are in the spare room now and due for their first shots later today (they'll be in isolation another 2 week...I had to wait until they were a bit more trusting to even think about a trip to the vet).
Everything has gone just about as well as one could hope thus far
, although I've had a few deep-breathing sessions with a paper bag!! Darrell is still coming around for food, Meryl will at least be litter-free, and we're keeping Sparky...while a great catperson relative is taking the other 2 kittens.
My main concern right now is Meryl-releasing her on a nice day, and HOPING that she stays safe for a long time!!?? I will continue to stock the feeding station etc. Meryl is not as CRAZYWILD as Darrell, but is very much feral i.e stays in her boxcave when I am in the porch to feed her/clean litter.
With a lot of time and patience, I think she might be socialized, but with all the animals we already have...it seems that she is accustomed to being 'very feral', and will welcome her freedom. I guess I'm just finding it a bit tough-having had her to the vet etc., and worrying about her future...
This whole experience is definitely making a S/N activist sort out of me; there are no real resources in the county we live in...so many homeless/feral cats. I'm determined to try to help initiate something specifically S/N oriented. I'm presently trying to gather info/resources on this issue, and would welcome any feedback on S/N type organizations, as well as any thoughts on 'the release of Meryl'
.
Thanks to anyone for any input
!!
A
To give a 'reader's digest' version of my feral experience to date: Other than feeding the odd apparently independant cat-passing-through (I live on a very small farm in the countryside), and absorbing one obvious 'dumpee' into our multi[indoor]cat household, my contact with ferals was pretty limited-until this past June.
At that time I became aware that a momcat and her three one mo. old-ish kittens were living in a deserted shed just off my property. The mother starting hanging around me from a safe distance while I did horse chores etc., so I starting leaving food/water out for her.
After a month or so, she moved the kittens to another deserted shed a little closer to my house/barn; the kittens starting showing up at the feeding station (under my horse trailer). I continued to feed the Feral Family over the summer, but began to be concerned
Although the kittens would only allow me to get so close while they ate, they played a lot around the horse trailer. As we began to get some cooler days in early Sept., I started to leave the food in our back porch with the outside door open-for about an hour at a time.
Much to my surprise, when I opened the kitchen door to the porch one morning and casually closed the outside door, one kitten was still at the far end of the porch; guess I caught him by surprise, literally! This kitten had been the boldest one, and after letting him 'hide' in the porch for a few hours, my husband and I were able to get him to go into a large dog crate. We did not attempt to touch him, but with patience, things went very calmly.
'Sparky' was in the cage for only 2 days; it was apparent that although previously unsocialized and untouched by humans, he was ready to get acquainted. We played things by ear...brought him to our bare guest room, and opened the crate; he 'gentled' amazingly
About a week after Sparky's transition indoors, I was totally shocked to find that I had trapped the 2 remaining kittens in the porch with the same method. This time I knew things would be more of a challenge, as the new duo were much shyer than Sparky. However, we got them into the cage fairly quietly; they both hid in a 'boxcave' most of the time for a week or so; we then opened the cage to give them the run of the porch.
We started using our side porch as our entrance/exit, so the kittens would be secure. The bolder kitten came up carefully to be petted in the second week, which was a real breakthrough; exactly a week later the very shy kitten suddenly approached me
Things seemed to go 'suddenly' at that point, but I guess I'd spent a good 2-3 mos. feeding them outside, and chatting with them. The positive experience with the kittens motivated me to find a livetrap to borrow...another shock, as the first night we set it, we caught...Mr. Tom, whom I had only glimpsed in the later part of the summer, very briefly.
'Darrell the Feral' is a BIG, FIERCE guy, but a local vet clinic that is licensed to rehab wild animals had agreed to spay/neuter on short notice, so Darrell was caught one night/neutered (and vacc'd) the next a.m./released the day after that.
After a few days to catch our breath, the livetrap was set again, and we caught 'Meryl the Feral' that very night. Sooo, back to the clinic; Meryl was a bit pregnant as I'd feared, but they were able to spay her etc. That was just about a week ago, and due to Meryl's slightly complicated op, I'm just now planning her release (she's in the large cage in the back porch, where I've been trying to get a bit of weight on her).
The 'first' kitten, Sparky, has had his first shots and is now in the general household where he is adjusting great; his 2 sibs are in the spare room now and due for their first shots later today (they'll be in isolation another 2 week...I had to wait until they were a bit more trusting to even think about a trip to the vet).
Everything has gone just about as well as one could hope thus far
My main concern right now is Meryl-releasing her on a nice day, and HOPING that she stays safe for a long time!!?? I will continue to stock the feeding station etc. Meryl is not as CRAZYWILD as Darrell, but is very much feral i.e stays in her boxcave when I am in the porch to feed her/clean litter.
With a lot of time and patience, I think she might be socialized, but with all the animals we already have...it seems that she is accustomed to being 'very feral', and will welcome her freedom. I guess I'm just finding it a bit tough-having had her to the vet etc., and worrying about her future...
This whole experience is definitely making a S/N activist sort out of me; there are no real resources in the county we live in...so many homeless/feral cats. I'm determined to try to help initiate something specifically S/N oriented. I'm presently trying to gather info/resources on this issue, and would welcome any feedback on S/N type organizations, as well as any thoughts on 'the release of Meryl'
Thanks to anyone for any input
A
