3's Company

Momma and baby still are not, as far as we can tell, using either of the shelters we have set up for them. Every morning and evening they are coming up from under our porch. If we get any more snow, they will either be trapped under there or unable to get in, so this is not a good solution. The tom cat (Boots) does not appear to be staying with them. He does come up from under there if he has been waiting for the evening meal and it is cold, but we don't think he is staying there. Someone has been using the shelter in the back yard and I suspect it is him. Sooooooo today Rick is building an area for the girls in our basement. Rick has an 8 foot workbench along one wall that we will close in the bottom of so that they have their own "space" We have an extra littler box and I will either get them a basket today or make them a bed from some extra materials I have already here. We are going to put a solid end on it and use a frame and plastic fencing the rest of the way around. What I am wondering is should we solidly close in more so they have a hidey hole? I suspect baby will adapt pretty quickly but this will stress Momma out quite a bit. she is the only one that will not let either one of us approach her. Both Baby and Boots have let Rick pet them (not me yet).

Stay tuned! This adventure is just beginning!

Ok, well that didn't work too well.

We put together a nice spot in the basement under a work bench. I did manage to catch some sort of life form in it. (see pic below)

Set up the pet carrier with some soft food and lured the Baby into it easily enough. Score: One in the basement, one still loose. Went to transfer Baby to the shelter and she bolted and is now loose in the basement. *sigh*

Reset the pet carrier and lured Momma into it. She bolted when I went to close the door and we spooked her pretty good. Haven't seen her since. *Rats*. Now we've split them up something I didn't want to happen.

Don't know what to do now, try to recapture Momma for sure but what if we don't? Should we set Baby loose again so she can be with her Momma? It'll take a lot of perseverance to catch Momma now. Oh well, at least Baby is warm and safe.

Awwww that looks so cosy as well!!. Both you and Rick have hearts of solid gold

The others should have some advice, but i hope mum turns up soon

I'm pretty sure momma will be back tonight or tomorrow morning for food. Rick says he can bolt the carrier to the deck and then we will use a rope, like we did when we recaptured Squirt. She definitely will not go in if we are close now.

As for Baby we have not seen her all day but our basement offers plenty of hidey holes and warm places a little cat could want. We will take a dish of soft food down after dinner. There is a large bowl of hard food and water down there now. At least she will not freeze to death or get frostbite tonight.

As expected, Momma did come back today and was not as afraid of us as we thought she would be. It is still going to take us a few days to trap her, I think. At least the weather is a little warmer,

As for Baby, she is somewhere in our basement. We have not seen or heard her since she arrived, but the soft food we gave her for dinner last night was eaten and the litter has been used. I had to finish my laundry down there today and every time I went down I talked to her like she was there in front of me. I'm really worried that with our work schedules and the holidays it is going to take a long time for her to come out of hiding to get used to us. Then we will have to start over with Momma. I would like to get them trusting us enough to go into the vet to be spayed and checked out.

I have read everything I could get my hands on today about socializing feral cats so I have a good idea as to what is ahead. Next step is to get a couple of sweaty shirts so she starts to recognize us by scent.

We will continue to post updates.

Lori, Rick, Shadow, Squirt and now Baby

Oh thank goodness she's turned back up Baby sounds like she's getting settled as well, so that mum can get trapped to be with her

That's excellent that your talking so Baby can get used to your voice, well done

I have also read that if you have a radio to put in the room with her it is a good idea to have it on a talk radio station so she will get used to hearing voices. Good luck!

No luck with trapping Momma yet. She keeps a well away from Rick now but she will come within a few feet of me. My work schedule does not allow me to take time to get her in the carrier but hopefully on Friday I will have some success.

Mean time Baby is still in the basement hiding herself. I did get a glimpse of her yesterday, but not since. I am pretty sure I know where she is hiding, but I don't want to go poking around and scare her more.

I stopped on my way home from work yesterday and got a toy for her. it is a wheel with a ball in with some carpeting on top under a spring with a big red pom pom. (Not a good description) but it was about 10 inches accross and maybe 10 inches tall. I noticed baby would chase leaves and other things outside so I thought this would be good. Also, it did not have any string or little parts that could fall off and harm her. Anyhow, I left it in the middle of the room, thinking she would be able to stalk it and pounch on it. Well, when I went downstairs to feed her this morning and talk to her the toy was gone! It was nowhere in sight. I *think* she must have liked it enough to drag it under the steps where I think she is hiding out.

Tonight when we fed her we put the food on an old shirt of Ricks that is loaded with his scent. I will be putting something of mine down there tomorrow.

This weekend I have to scan alot of family pictures so I will be downstairs sharing her space. Hopefully she will show herself to me.

I have a rescued feral and at first she acted the same way Baby does. She would hide behind a fire place, the only way I knew she was even there was because she would use the litter box and she would eat. I would also put toys in the room with her and they would disappear by morning, I later found them behind the fireplace next to her bed. It just takes time and patience, bless you for bringing her inside.

Originally Posted by Knottygirlz

I would like to get them trusting us enough to go into the vet to be spayed and checked out.

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When rescuing ferals, or strays, it is my opinion that you go straight to the vet FIRST. They need to be health checked, wormed, etc before coming into your home. Especially if you have other cats. Some illness are airborne so it matters not if they are separated. Some germs can be carried on your clothing from you being where the un-vetted cat is staying.

The vet knows how to take care of cats that are feral.

Besides, if you wait to take a feral/semi feral to the vet AFTER you gain some trust it is very likely that will cause a set back and you will be starting over.

Getting spayed/neutered now will decrease problems that will occur if a female goes into heat (starts yowling and trying to get out to mate) or if an un-neutered male starts to spray to mark territory and seek a female.

I hope that made sense. Bless you for taking care of them. There are several good threads regarding socializing ferals right now. Give this blog a look www.feralcatbehavior.com . Much advice there, just do a search.

Originally Posted by Skimble

When rescuing ferals, or strays, it is my opinion that you go straight to the vet FIRST. They need to be health checked, wormed, etc before coming into your home. Especially if you have other cats. Some illness are airborne so it matters not if they are separated. Some germs can be carried on your clothing from you being where the un-vetted cat is staying.

The vet knows how to take care of cats that are feral.

Besides, if you wait to take a feral/semi feral to the vet AFTER you gain some trust it is very likely that will cause a set back and you will be starting over.

Getting spayed/neutered now will decrease problems that will occur if a female goes into heat (starts yowling and trying to get out to mate) or if an un-neutered male starts to spray to mark territory and seek a female.

I hope that made sense. Bless you for taking care of them. There are several good threads regarding socializing ferals right now. Give this blog a look www.feralcatbehavior.com . Much advice there, just do a search.

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Everything you said makes perfect sense and was our original plan. However it got cold quickly - very cold and the girls would not use the shelters we provided. We wanted to bring them in to stop them from freezing to death.

I have been reading everything I can get my hands on from this site and externally for the socialization process of these cats. I know it will be a long process and we will have setbacks, but at least we know they will make it through the winter.

Lori, Rick, Shadow, Squirt and now Baby

Momma & Baby have been reunited. They're both safe, warm and secure in the basement!

We've been trying to catch her but she's too wiley. Tonight, during a terrible windstorm, I held the door open and she walked in just enough for me to close the door behind her. A little herding and she went right to the basement. We'll give the two of them a chance to reacquaint to one another then book appointments with the vet to get them checked out and spayed.

That is great news!! I have one that I am trying to catch, I know it is a female, she too is wiley. Do you still have one more outside cat or have you caught them all?

Great job getting momma! You are doing an awesome job. They are warm and safe from the cold. Now Baby has someone for company.

Keep up the good work!

Originally Posted by KRZ

Do you still have one more outside cat or have you caught them all?

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Boots, the Tom Cat is still outside. He's survived a few winters out there now so I'm not worried about him. We've fattened him up pretty good so he shouldn't have a problem. If he gets into trouble we can always try to bring him in but he's a big boy and I don't know if we'd be able to handle him.

I'm sure that as long as he has food and a warm place to hide he will be fine. I am so happy you got momma and baby. Keep updates coming on their progress. Good luck!

Originally Posted by KRZ

I'm sure that as long as he has food and a warm place to hide he will be fine. I am so happy you got momma and baby. Keep updates coming on their progress. Good luck!

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We don't know where he goes. He disappeared last fall and showed up in the spring skinny as a rail. Lori's seen Momma use the shelter we built behind the garden shed so he might be in there. We'll keep feeding him no problemo there. I'm pretty sure we couldn't handle him in the house, he used to be Squirt's "sparring partner"!

Awwwww excellent!!. Well done both of you

I hope the big boy is in the shelter

Momma & Baby update. Both are getting a little more adventuresome lately. This morning they both came out to the rattle of the treat bag and had a nibble. Baby has taken to a new toy on a bungee that Lori got for them. She tries to carry it away but the bungee keeps springing it back. They seem to be adjusting well. Squirt has late night conversations with Momma under the basement door!

Awwww look at those sweet faces Is that Baby at the front, because she looks so curious