Gray feral living near my house

cocoalily

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 17, 2007
Messages
1,816
Purraise
1
Location
MN
There has been a large gray feral living near our house for the past two/three months. (It's been eating my cat's food, and judging by how much I've been spending on cat food, it must be quite hungry.) I kind of like it and wouldn't mind keeping it, but it is extremely afraid of people (it dives into the woods whenever it sees someone) and I don't know if it has any medical issues or not. I am not endowed with very much money and I know my parents don't want to spend a lot of money on a feral cat.
My dad just thinks he should shoot it when he gets a chance. D: This cat seems like it would be very friendly if it was given enough love and kindness. Is there any way to get it to trust me when I can't even walk outside without it running?
 

furryferals

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 30, 2005
Messages
1,432
Purraise
4
Location
I'm not psychic,I just see through people
Hello and welcome to Tcs


Thank you for caring for this poor cat

There are some organisations that can help with having him/her neutered,I don't have the details but whereabouts are you in the US?

Please don't let your dad do something like that,It's not the cats fault it's living like that and any cat can end up in the situation that one is.They need love and understanding.


First you need to trap in a humane trap and have the cat neutered then release it back,then you can start with getting it to befriend you.
There are lots of things you can do,which would mean you sitting out with it for maybe an hour to start,then increasing the time.trying to get it to interact with you,a laser pen is good for that,and throwing food for it instead of leaving it on a plate for it.
Get it in a routine of being fed at the same time every day.




Originally Posted by Cocoalily

There has been a large gray feral living near our house for the past two/three months. (It's been eating my cat's food, and judging by how much I've been spending on cat food, it must be quite hungry.) I kind of like it and wouldn't mind keeping it, but it is extremely afraid of people (it dives into the woods whenever it sees someone) and I don't know if it has any medical issues or not. I am not endowed with very much money and I know my parents don't want to spend a lot of money on a feral cat.
My dad just thinks he should shoot it when he gets a chance. D: This cat seems like it would be very friendly if it was given enough love and kindness. Is there any way to get it to trust me when I can't even walk outside without it running?
 

jen

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 27, 2001
Messages
8,501
Purraise
3,009
Location
Hudson, OH
I have found a number of cats outside, what I thought would be feral because they seemed so scared, but as soon as I got them inside the warm safe house with all the food and water and toys they want, it turns out they are real lovers. Not that your cat will be this way but just keep that in mind. He could actually be feral too, you never know. Call around to local shelters or the pound and ask if there are low cost neuter clinics in the area.
 

catsknowme

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 2, 2005
Messages
11,458
Purraise
6,679
Location
Eastern California,USA
Even if your cat is truly feral, don't be put off - I have a very affectionate former feral in my bed at this very moment. It does take time, and we had our moments. I did feed at the same time, and put the food near me, altho TommyScott would swipe at my legs and try to drive me away from the food. I would wear thick socks, jeans and my hiking boots and make a "SSCcHH" noise to discourage that. It took from May till August before I could really stroke him. Once that occurred, things progressed quickly. It took quite awhile to figure out what toys are; he still doesn't understand teasers, but loves the fake mice, aluminum foil balls and bits of paper and wood chips.
I did have to take him in the carrier to the vet after about 5 mos.; he did better than my other kits. The vet was amazed because she did his TNR in the year 2000 and then he was an adult who gave them "whatfor"; this time, he was a model patient
One notable thing-during the trip to the vet, my car stalled in a major intersection, and I couldn't get it to start up and was beginning to cuss and generally act panicked - it scared Scotty, and he tried escaping the cat carrier by biting and clawing the REAR of the carrier, as opposed to the door
Once we were on our way again, and I calmed down, so did he..
 

StefanZ

Advisor
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
25,999
Purraise
10,648
Location
Sweden
Is your own kitty fully vaccinated? I hope so, as they are apparently eating the same food...

Your cat apparently goes out. How are they to each other? I presume they arent hostile, but are they friends?

The semiferal being friend with the homecats usually make the fostering much easier.
So Im confident you will be successful, when you had trapped it, get the vetrinary checks and neutering the other wrote about, and take him in.

You can also try to make friends with him outside, but it takes more time...

Look at some of other threads, and good luck!

 

keith p

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 26, 2005
Messages
1,474
Purraise
4
Location
(Long Island) west babylon, New York
Feral cats can live in a household, some may never be "lap" cats, but they do adjust to a house with time.

If you REALLY want to keep it, and are willing to have it in your house, here's what you do. (just make sure your dad is ok with it) I caught a feral cat and did almost these exact things, and now my cat is a loving,sweet member of my family, not a bit of feral left in her.

Here is the best way i can describe it.

You could always catch it in a trap, then bring it to a vet as soon as its caught. Have the vets give it an exam, then call you with the results (if you have to wait for blood results). If it's healthy, have the vets bathe it for you, give it it's vaccinations, and have it fixed. Once it got all those, it's ready to come home with you. (make sure you have all cat supplies first!)

When your cat comes home he/she will be nervous and in a little pain from being fixed, it's best if you keep him/her in a small room with a litterbox,food,water, cat bed, and toys, to make sure he/she gets litterbox trained, and to give him/her time to calm down and get used to living in a house. Dont try to pet him/her, that takes time, if he/she wants to be petted he/she will approach you.



Once the cat learns to use a litterbox, and calms down a bit, it can have roam of your whole house. It may hide, but thats because it needs to get used to the rest of your house. As long as he/she eats and uses the litterbox, it will eventually calm down and call your house it's home.

Have other members tell you how to introduce one cat to another properly.
 
Top