Feral Kitty Capture!!!

When I got home from grocery shopping today...I spotted one of the feral kitties that I have been unable to catch, eating cat food up by the back door. I walked up to him slowly, and he didn't run away...I thought that was very unusual, until I realized that BOTH of his little eyes were stuck completely shut!!!
He didn't even see me coming!

Before he knew what was going on, I reached down and grabbed him securely by the nape of the kneck and lifted him up. He began hissing, but could not scratch me in that position.

I took him in the house, and washed his little eyes with a warm washrag, until they popped open....but they had all kinds of gooey junk in them. I have some eye medicine left from treating one of my cats eyes awhile back, so I doctored his eyes up with that, then I put him in a big cage in my computer room. (It's an old rabbit cage)

I put a litter pan, and food and water in with him. I want to keep him in the cage for awhile until he gets used to people, and I can safely put him back outside without fear he will go "wild" again.

I can also keep treating his eyes this way.

He looks to be about 12 weeks old, and is all black, except for a patch of white on his throat.

I have named him Shadow.

At first everytime I reached into the cage, he would back into a corner and hiss and sputter at me. But right before I got online tonight, he let me gently pick him up, and I held him in my arms and petted him and talked softly to him. He was shaking the whole time, but eventually he stopped, and seemed to enjoy being petted and stroked. He didn't purr, but I could tell he was liking it.
He layed on my lap for about 20 minutes before I put him back in the cage.

My husband wasn't too happy about it...he said I was stupid to be taking care of a "diseased" cat (as he called it) while I am pregnant. But this little kitty just has a cold, I think, and an eye infection. I have had kittens get the eye infections before, and I treated them, and never got it myself, so I'm not too worried. I am also going to give him some flea medicine. I don't know if he has them, but I might as well give him the medicine in case.

Ah, Shadow is a cute name for a lucky little feller! He's lucky to have found someone who cared enough to take him in and care for him, especialy that it is you, Debby!
And, tell that hubby of yours to kiss your @$$ ...... You are not stupid for taking in a sick little kitten. I think it's a good idea to give him the meds, too. Are you going to adopt him as one of your owns, but keep him outside? Or find a home for him?

There are a bunch of ferals at the Sonic Drive-In we go to. Yesterday, hubby and I saw a bunch of young ones. I think its a family of them . They hang around near the garbage dump, but also hang around the bushes (not near traffic ..... its a wall type of thing with trees and such. Anyways, I wish I couldve brought one home, but I just can't ....... I dont know if they are sick or whatnot. If I knew one of them were healthy, I'd take one in a heartbeat. Hubby suggested me taking them some food to them, which I thought of doing..... Atleast they'd be getting GOOD food.

Debby, That's great!! Keep that up and you might get Hissy's grab award! I know Debra M. has it for Goldie; maybe you'll qualify. Shadow sounds like a beautiful cat; I'm so glad you're helping him. Those are pretty good acrobatics for a pregnant lady!

Tigger....I will keep him as one of my own, and have him neutered when he is a bit older, and then if I find him a home, that is great, but if not, I will keep him. That is sweet that your hubby suggested you take food to those cats!! I think that is a terrific idea!!!

Jeanie, I don't know that I did any special acrobatics, I just quietly sneaked up behind him and grabbed him by the back of the kneck!!

He is eating this morning, I think he was too scared last night. But he is eating like crazy this morning, and let me pick him up and pet him again for awhile! he doesn't appear to have worms, since he is so fat, but I am going to give him a dose of wormer just to be sure.

Debby, as pregnant as you are, just bending over is heavy acrobatics!

Congratulations of being able to catch the little kitty and for standing up to hubby and telling him to back off!

Originally posted by lotsocats
Debby, as pregnant as you are, just bending over is heavy acrobatics!

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You have a point!!! :laughing:

Debby! Congratulations on your capture!
It is normal for him to be scared and want to hiss and protect himself. Give him a few days and he will come around. You can buy over the counter terramyacin ointment for his eyes. It is important to treat them regularly, but you already know that!
Good luck with Shadow. How many more to go?

There are still a couple more out there!! One lets me pet him if I sneak up behind him while he is eating, but when I tried to grab him by the kneck, I got a good scratching for my efforts, so I am just taking it slow with him. He won't let me near him unless he is eating and I sneak up on him, then he will let me pet him until he realizes what is going on!! He even arches his back and enjoys it, but as soon as he turns around and sees me...he bolts!

Congrats Debby on your feral catch! I hope everything turns out ok with Shadow. And hopefully you'll be able to catch the rest of them some day soon.

Debby, I'm trying to paint an image of you with your belly and sneaking up on them! hehe.

Try a weak boric-acid solution, as an eyewash. About a teaspoonful of boric acid, to 1 pint of water. It soothes and gets rid of gunk.

Originally posted by Debby

he let me gently pick him up, and I held him in my arms and petted him and talked softly to him. He was shaking the whole time, but eventually he stopped, and seemed to enjoy being petted and stroked. He didn't purr, but I could tell he was liking it.

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Even though the kitty is completely wild, he seems to realize that you have only good intentions and that you can be trusted. Good job Debby!!!!

Thanks for the comments everyone, and the advice!! And thanks for the blob-o-rama, Suzieq.

I held him off and on all day today, and he is purring now when I pet him.

Wow, Debby! What a great story to read! I hope everything continues to go well with Shadow. You are really putting those "mommy" instincts to good use on this one.

Originally posted by katl8e
Try a weak boric-acid solution, as an eyewash. About a teaspoonful of boric acid, to 1 pint of water. It soothes and gets rid of gunk.

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I heard once that although borac acid is good for people eyes, it isn't good for kitty eyes. Anyone know for sure whether its okay for kitties???


Debby...I'm so happy that the kittens are becoming more and more socialized. Maybe Amber will hear what fun the kittens are having being petted by you and will come on out so she can get some lovin of her own!

Great job, Debby! From the sounds of it, little Shadow will be a healthy and happy member of the family in no time. He sounds like a real doll, too.