Trapping for 2nd time?

They just called and confirmed the appointment - I will keep you all posted!!!! The only thing that may change is that if roads are bad, DH may drive with me there and then we'll put the door up when we are back (with her in carrier).

Will keep you all posted!!!!!

Tomorrow's the day! It's finally almost here!

the snow storm isn't bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last post before the big day!!!

Patches was hanging out next to the dresser this evening when I went in to see her - again exposed, not in a hiding spot, but I could see her breathing pretty fast so I'm sure she was scared - although not scared enough to sneak off to a hidey spot when my back was turned like in the past. Since she wasn't in it, I flipped her cubby cube over so her only hidey spot is the cat carrier now. She stayed put the half hour I cleaned and sat in the room. I was really nervous she was going to try to dart out the door because she is getting more curious and watching me leave the room. I think she's getting a little braver - but tomorrow's vet visit will probably cancel all of that out.

I have my list of vet to do's - combo test, apply Frontline (why not), nail trim, rub her with towels, poo exam. Was going to drop off the poo tonight but didn't want to be out in the snow.

I will post tomorrow afternoon! Thank you all!!!!!!

10 hours from now, we'll be at the vet!!!!!! Snow should be ok!

We are back!!!!!!!

Easy getting there (if you don't factor the half foot of snow) - Patches was out and about, and just walked into her carrier. I took a deep breath and closed the carrier, using a toweled hand in case she got scared and tried to bolt out.

The vet was not busy - probably due to snow. I was not invited to exam room, but they rubbed her with towels, Frontlined, combo tested, and nail trimmed her.

Her combo test results - NEGATIVE!!!!!!!!! SO RELIEVED.

But she has round worm. So they pilled her and I'll do the next dose in 2 weeks via pill pocket. Then another fecal test in a month.

I asked about the screen door with the worms - they said it's just through contact with feces. Should we still put up the screen door today or should we wait it out a month and then put up after her fecal test is cleared? They didn't seem sure so I wanted some opinions. (DH went with me to vet due to weather so he did not put up screen door yet.)

I am soooooooooooooooooo relieved about the combo test. The worms are a slight set back but they are a treatable set back so I'm just so happy!

She was a good girl at the vet - she just froze and didn't freak out to anything.

(for the negative test)

By all means get that screen door up and let her and Batman see each other. I don't even live in your house and I'm dieing to see their reaction to each other!!!

There is no way Batman will get round worm even if they touch paws or sniff noses through the screen door - GO FOR IT!

Thank you thank you!!!!

We took one of the towels and put it under Batman's food dish. At first he seemed just weirded out by a towel being there (like how he would react to a new piece of furniture or something) but then once he smelled it, he got very very interested - and he actually licked it a little, then just flopped down next to it, almost trying to play with it! We'll use the other towel for putting under his wet food dish as he gets treats thrown to him and he chases them around It's a long story but stems from him as a young kitten learning that treats were edible by batting them around...

We went ahead and got the screen door up!! We put Batman in the bathroom and blocked off all rooms. Got it up in maybe 20 minutes, then let Batman out to check it out. No major reaction at this point - interest but not obsession.





Patches was in hiding during that time but I walked by earlier and she was out and about investigating a little. I think I hear her now actually (I'm with the birds in a room close by.)

We're going to keep an eye on it and if it looks frayed, we'll get a another layer of something to put over it but for now leaving as is. Any advice on what to buy if I need to add another layer of something?

Here is the current set-up:

I rearranged things so her litter box wasn't so exposed with the screen door. She's in that teal cubbie cube right now. Her carrier is in the corner you can't see (left bottom). Her food is against the wall between the carrier and that nightstand, with the blanket on coffee table to be a barrier for her. I'll adjust as needed once I figure things out.

Thank you all SO MUCH!!!! I am sooooo grateful for all the help and support. It's nice you are all excited too for us during this!

Rescue Remedy should be arriving next week in the mail too!

Will keep you posted!!!!!!!!!

I love the scratching post you made for her!

The only thing that pops to mind when I look at the room is vertical space - but I think there's a dresser in there by a window, right? We just can't see it in the pic, I think.

But it looks great! Looks like you've spent the night in there?

And I love Batman's reaction to her scent!

It's gonna be so interesting to see if Patches comes out and starts checking out all the new sights and sounds.... or if she's going to hide more... or if Batman will draw her out...

SO many "if"s.

It looks GREAT!

I am so happy she did so well at the vet, what a major accomplishment for all of you.

I am waiting anxiously to hear about Batman and Patches finally getting face to face.

Glad you think it looks ok right now! Yeah, the vertical space could be a lot better. The little nightstand is by the window. I know she jumps up on it because I see litter up there a lot that I clean off. She also hangs out sometime on the big dresser that is against the wall adjacent to hallway. I'm going to need to get her something taller, a kitty tree. She also has a 2nd litter box in there that she's never used.

For now, I have her hiding spots facing away from the door so she can choose to hide out and feel safe - especially after her big ordeal today. But later on in the week I'm going to turn one of them more towards the door when she's not in it.

Kind of playing things by ear.

I wonder if I'll get woken up at 4am hearing them talking to each other or hissing! We'll see.

Her litter is so darn messy, it'll leave a trail of wherever she goes so I'll know if she explores today. I sweep up all the time so I can see how active she is. But eventually I need to get a better litter matt so she doesn't track everything all over the house one day.

Will keep you all posted!!!

Originally Posted by killerapple

We're going to keep an eye on it and if it looks frayed, we'll get a another layer of something to put over it but for now leaving as is. Any advice on what to buy if I need to add another layer of something?

Click to expand...

Look for pet screen material. In a pinch it can be stapled into the wood frame.

Love the butt shot of Batman!!

I know, it's so cute!

I am thrilled to hear everything went sooooo well, the little girl was very good at the vets

Batman is so very cute and the door looks great. He seems to love it and shows curiosity in the photo. Can't wait to hear more news! We are gate buddies

Nothing exciting to report today other than Batman putting one of his toys by the door for Patches.

Batman has a rug that he sleeps on pretty close to Patches' door - which is nice because he will sleep there if I'm in the birds' room, so he's close by in case Patches makes a move. I think he's waiting to see what's in the room because he does look into the room a lot. I didn't hear anything last night. She used her litter box and has been eating the treats I put by her cubbie cube, but I don't hear a lot of jumping around. She's probably still recovering from the vets. She's sensitive.

Out of paranoia, we went ahead and bought a pet quality screen that we staple gunned up around the door, as another layer. Made sure to hammer in the staples really good so no one gets a claw snagged. I'm sure the staple gun freaked the crap out of her. Poor girl.

My husband just told me that Batman's laying outside of her door right now.

Will keep you posted!

Originally Posted by killerapple

Nothing exciting to report today other than Batman putting one of his toys by the door for Patches.

My husband just told me that Batman's laying outside of her door right now.

Click to expand...

He is such a sweetheart! I think that this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship!

I think/hope so too! He is obsessed with the door - it's like he's holding a vigil. He brought her another toy this morning.

Patches is done with her post vet hunger strike - back to eating her food. And she was even brave enough to eat her treats sometime between 7:45 and 8:15 this morning... usually she will hold out until after we leave for work. I didn't hear anything last night so I'm not sure if they interacted. But boy, Batman sure wants to see her!

Wonder what will happen today when we're at work!

Aww Batman is a very generous kitty, isn't he? Don't you just wish you could set up a camera?

About your previous comment on Patches scattering the litter everywhere: Sweet Pea does the same thing. They must not shake their paws when they are in the box or about to come out. I told Chloe she will have to teach Sweet Pea how to do that

I am so happy that she ate her treats earlier this morning. Blow her a kiss for me please!

Awww, I think it's because of the litter she uses. She uses really light weight corn cob stuff that has no gravity to hold it down. I'm going to have to look into other matts to try to help! Or even towels around the litter box.

Oh you are using the chicken feed style...Yes the lighweight makes sense. I have been recently reading about this, it is definitely environmentally friendly (which is great) and it is healthier for them. With all the diet changes we had to implement lately (due to some health concerns we switched to EVO after several other iterations of organic foods) and with Sweet Pea coming home, the litter has not made it to my top priority list yet but it is on my list for sure.

Sweet Pea goes potty and then just walks out of the box, our other four babies spend a good amount of time cleaning their paws on the inside walls of the litter boxes (theirs are covered). We have the clumpable litter and in the beginning we put some potting soil on top of it for Sweet Pea.

Patches uses Arm & Hammer Essentials -


Batman is on Arm & Hammer clumping whatever (either MultiCat or something else). We're transitioning him to World's Best Cat litter so we can flush it and stop throwing away so many plastic bags. We're seeing how it goes though. If we decide to switch to World's Best, we'll try to switch Patches to it as well.

Batman doesn't wipe off his paws - he covers up, then bolts out in excitement.