Husband brought home a feral kitten...

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shorty14788

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HUGE STEP FOWARD! HUGE!!!!!

(Sorry for the long post)

What a great morning!!!! As I approached the crate, she gave me a low little grumble but did not back away from the front of the crate. I offered her the food on my finger like I had been. She ate it without any problems. After about half a can into it, I placed some in her bowl. She ate from the bowl but kept coming closer to where I was sitting. I decided to try and touch her. With one finger, I gently stroked her back 3-4 times. She turned and looked at me so I backed off. I did not get any grumbles for it though. She looked like she enjoyed it but wasn't sure. She was sittting there grooming herself, and as I was watching her, I decided to mew at her. Just a little, "mewmew" She mewed back at me. It took everything I had not to laugh for fear that I may spook her.
I cleaned up her crate. (She is still going to the bathroom on her bedding so today I'm going to be baking dirt) Then she kept coming to the front of the crate. I think she was trying to sneek past me to get out, but it was gutsy of her none the less. I thought I'd try to touch her again. I slowly put my hand out, and sratched by her tail. She then rubbed against my leg. So I brought my hand foward and scratched her cheek. She just melted.... She was loving every second of it. I spent about 2 mintues just loving on her little face. It was like she finally decided that I was ok and surrendered completely. I was so happy that I started to tear up.
After the 2 minutes she went back to grooming herself, and I didn't want to push it. I took the toy mouse I had put in her crate and tried to get her to play with it. She hadn't even so much as swatted at it before today. So I was dangling it and moving it around the crate, and she finally swatted at it. Then it was like the kitten flood gates opened. She was having a grand ol time. She was batting it around and throwing it in the air. It was like she was just a normal little kitten. It was great to see her enjoying herself.
I still have been getting low little grumbles from time to time, but no hissing so far today. What a great way to start the morning!
 

wendyr

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YAY! That is fantastic! And gives us other feral kitten owners a lot of hope! I am so happy for you and the little lady.

Keep us updated....
 

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It sounds like things are going really well! She is a pretty little girl
Very lucky to have found you.
 
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shorty14788

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So much for her being feral...


I have been loving on her all day! I get head butts and purrs now! The only time I get grumbled at is when I stand up or move to quickly. She was just rolling around in my lap, purring and rubbing on me. She even nuzzles my face... She was even trying to wrestle with my hand. (I didnt let her since I dont want to teach her that hands are a play toy) But still, she trusts me. Now when I put her back in the crate she starts crying for me to come back. It looks like the only thing we have left is the litter box issue!

So thursday I am going to take her in for FeLV/FIV testing and to have her tail looked at. I'm going to try and socialize her with as many people as possible so I can adopt her out. (Lord knows I don't need 11 cats)

So if you all can send some FeLV/FIV negative and potty in the litter box vibes, I'd appreciate it. Things are looking really bright for this little girl...
 

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Originally Posted by Shorty14788

(She is still going to the bathroom on her bedding so today I'm going to be baking dirt) ...... I was so happy that I started to tear up.
So did I. So did I.


How is it with the bathroom things. Does she do it in the litter? Does she sleps in her bed?

Ie. Does she soils everywhere, and sleeping in it?

IF she sleeps in the clean litter, and making nr 1 and 2 on the bed = using the bed for bathroom not sleeping, it is really not a big problem.
She must be reinlearned, but the problem as such is really not big at all.
 

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OMG the headbump! I can't believe it came so fast. What a little darling.


Yup. Bake the dirt. If your vet carries the additive called Cat Attract, I'd get that and add some of it to the dirt - it should really help. (There is a Cat Attract litter, but I wouldn't recommend that as she's not using litter yet).

I was having a really crappy day, and was hoping for some smiles at TCS. You really lit me up!


for all you're doing!

Laurie
 
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shorty14788

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More good news....

WE POOPED IN THE LITTER BOX! YEAH!!!!
Who would have thought poop would be so exciting. Now we just need to learn to pee in it.... She is just moving foward in leaps and bounds today. I just hope the vet visit on thursday doesnt set us back too much.
 
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shorty14788

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Well she is completely trusting of me now. No hissing or growling. No apprehension. Just a normal little girl. She was just pawing the tar out of my leg...


She is still unsure about other people. When my DH came home last night he visited with her a little. She would allow him to pet her, but at times would get nervous and come running back to me. I dont know if that means she thinks I am her momma now or what. But she certainly came running to me like she thought I would protect her.

She is a LOVE BUG. Thats all she seems to want. I open the crate door and she just start rubbing on me and crawling all over me. She will run up to my hand and just start rubbing like there is no tommorrow. She also likes to just flop onto her back and have me pet her chest and chin. She is certainly a charcter. Who would have thought that she was a grumbly little pistol a few days ago...
 

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Oh Shorty! That is so great! Thank you for keeping updating. Been a bit of a tough few days with my feral kittens, so it is so lovely to hear about the successes - keeps me going! Any name for the girl yet?
 
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shorty14788

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She just urinated in the box! YES!


I have just been calling her baby cat. I know if I give her a real name I will be more likely to get attached to her and I certainly dont need to have 11 cats. It will be hard enough as it is to adopt her out since she seems to have bonded with me. (And her little stumpy tail is the cutest thing ever)


I will let you all know tommorrow what the FeLV and FIV tests show. I really hope its negative. I am just so worried because the last one we rescued from the same place was FeLV positive. I really dont want that for her. Not to mention, it will be VERY hard to place her if she does come back positive.

I need lots of negative test vibes from you all...
 
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shorty14788

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I thought I'd share some new pictures of her... (Keep in mind, my digital camera is a piece of junk.)

This is her trying to get to me...


This is her loving the attention...


And this is what remains of her poor little tail...
 

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She is so cute! Being so young should hopefully work toward her advantage in finding a new home.

for negative test results
 
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shorty14788

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Test results are in......

NEGATIVE!!! No fiv or felv!

She is somewhere between 10-12 weeks old. Her tail is not infected, but we are going to monitor it. We are going to see if it heals ok on its own or if will require surgery. She is using the litter box just fine now. And she did wonderful while she was there. All of my co workers were loving on her. (I actually had to put a note on the cage for them to leave her be so she could get some rest!) No hissing or growling... just a slightly shy, but very sweet baby girl.

Oh and I almost forgot. My DH decided to name her. Scarlet... (named for all the little scars on her face)

I have to go but I will let you all know about the rest of it later...
 
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shorty14788

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Oh crud... I think I'm getting attached to her. I just cant help but want to love on her and show her everything she has been missing living in that horrible place. There is something about her eyes... they just seem so kind. I need to find her a home fast. I REALLY dont need another one.
 

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That's why we don't foster anymore.
It's just too difficult for me, really. I know it's selfish.

We had to stop because one of our kitties has an autoimmune disease, and he was fighting for his life - and we couldn't risk exposing him to anything.

Then it just seemed easier not to start again. I just can't take the heartbreak.




Laurie
 
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shorty14788

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GREAT NEWS!!!

Tommorrow baby Scarlet goes to her new home. Her new owner is an elderly woman who has no other pets. She had been looking for a little female kitten for a while. I think it will be perfect since it will be a nice calm home with with only one person to shower attention on her. I'm going to be sad to see her leave, but I know I just don't have the time for another cat. She wanted to take her home today, but I just couldn't part with her yet. I know its selfish, but I need another day to be able to say goodbye to her. I'm already crying just thinking about letting her go, but I know its in her best interest. I knew I shouldn't have gotten so attached to her. Someone tell me I can handle this...
 

ldg

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YOU CAN HANDLE THIS!


The real question is - can the elderly woman?
She IS a kitten, after all! Just make sure she's up for Scarlet acting totally kitten-y at some point. And do make sure she knows poor baby will probably be scared at first.


This is the hardest part - but you can do it!




Laurie
 
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