Taming my feral cat.

Hi Momofmany,
That's a pretty neat setup with the cages inside and the outside enclosure.

Yes I have a wire racoon trap that has a door at one end. Hey, that's a great idea to set the trap on end for the injection to put him to sleep. I will suggest that when I go to talk with my vet. I don't think he does too many if any ferals.

What I am hoping for that he becomes a semi-outdoor cat like Tiger is. Tiger will follow me all over the yard and usually stays around the house when i'm not there. He does sneak to the next door neighbors house to visit their indoor cat that I trapped a few years ago for them. I don't let Tiger go out at nite, he then starts to revert to his old ways. In the cold winter or if it's raining he doesn't want to go out anyways. I'm hoping Tabby will be the same way.

Yeah, once an outside cat, they will always have a little yearning for the outdoors. So I think they need some outside time in their lives.

Thanks for all the tips.

-Pete

captiva & CoolCat,

Thanks for the kind words.

-Pete

Originally Posted by tigerclaw

Yeah, once an outside cat, they will always have a little yearning for the outdoors. So I think they need some outside time in their lives.


-Pete

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I think it depends on the cat, and how they were faring outside. I've socialized some that have their noses glued to the window, and others who never look outside. My girl JinJin is one of the latter. I trapped her over three years ago, and even though it took months for me to touch her, she's never shown an interest into going back outside, and I've never seen her actually look out a window. But she was not doing well outside...she was heavily pregnant and emaciated at the time, and probably in horrible pain due to very bad tooth issues. Your little tubby tabby there looks like he might have been having an easier time outside. Also, I live in Chicago, so outdoors is a very hostile environment for kitties.

You actually have pretty very instincts about feral kitties...lots of patience, no expectations of them and allowing them to set the pace, a safe environment, and a schedule.

Pete, you know.... taking the lazyboy down there and sleeping isn't such a bad idea! There is NOTHING less threatening than a sleeping human. Sleeping with Tiger I am SURE went a long way to helping him cross that trust barrier.

Originally Posted by tigerclaw

Yeah, once an outside cat, they will always have a little yearning for the outdoors. So I think they need some outside time in their lives.

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The woman who gave me her set of cages had them so she could allow her socialized ferals outdoor time. That can always be an option for you if you wish to pursue that. I donated those cages to another woman who was taking in ferals that were in high trap/kill areas in order to protect them. They work very well. There are folks on this site that have outdoor enclosures to give them outdoor access also.

And I do know what you are saying about yearning for some outdoor time. I have 2 cats (of my 10) that go in and out, and I only allow those 2 because they have shown that they are outdoor savy - they fear strange dogs, they can get themselves up and down trees, they come when they are called, yet they still love the comforts of being indoors.

clixpix,
Your absolutely right, my positive statement about outside cats was very misleading. Let me correct that to say, I was refering to my cat Tiger and not necessarly cats in general. Good point.

-Pete

Originally Posted by tigerclaw

clixpix,
Your absolutely right, my positive statement about outside cats was very misleading. Let me correct that to say, I was refering to my cat Tiger and not necessarly cats in general. Good point.

-Pete

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Oh, I know you were...I hope you didn't take offense because none was meant! I just meant Tabby might surprise you and become and outdoor-shunning couch potato.

That's an amazing set up you have there Pete! I've only ever socialised one feral adult, and she was still under a year old, had a litter of kittens (in captivity at my house!), and was pretty used to being fed by people, so I had some advantages.

After a couple of weeks, we ignored the hissing and growling (while wearing thick gloves), and tried patting her - both of us were shocked to discover she loved human interaction! For a few weeks she would hiss and growl, then purrrrrrr as soon as she was patted - she loved belly rubs and had no problems with us taking her kittens away, or putting them onto her.

Feral cats can REALLY surprise you! When you put food in, if you do it while wearing thick gloves, keep your hand there and see what Tabby does - he may just want to sniff it, and if it's not his aim at least you're safe

I had that experience too. I had 4 ferals to tame this year. They all hissed and threatened but none of them attacked upon being pet. They all purred while being pet.

Momofmany,
The capture run outside the window that enters into the cages inside was Tigers outside run before Tabby moved in. Every time I let Tiger go out in the outside run he would sit there wishing he was out in the whole backyard. Most of the time I just let him out the back door to roam the yard. I tamed him in the back yard so he is used to it. He always stays close to the house or maybe the next door neighbors. I don't let him out at nite because he get too many ideas that would encourage him to roam farther away I suspect.

When Tabby tames down some, mabe by next spring, I will let him out in the enclosure I captured him in. All I have to do is open the basm't window inside his cage and he can go out to the enclosure and back inside to the cages if he likes. I'll have to wait until I can trust him though. Right now he would probably want to escape. By next spring i'm hoping he will to ok to go out in the run enclosure. I still have to get him neutered and that should tame him down some.

-Pete

Originally Posted by clixpix

Oh, I know you were...I hope you didn't take offense because none was meant!

I just meant Tabby might surprise you and become and outdoor-shunning couch potato.

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No offense taken. I just didn't want to make a misleading statement for others to read. This feral cat taming is all new to me and I find cat behavior very interesting, I want to learn as much as possible. All of you have been so helpful, but I can see that i'm only on chapter one so far.

-Pete

Hi sarahp,
That a wonderful story. It's quit an experience raising a moma cat and her kittens. That's funny, I did the same thing this summer. A little grey cat stayed around all winter and we fed her. She was too wild to come in out of the cold. My cat Tiger used to chase her and our neighbors cat across the street did the same thing. I felt so sorry for her. She would hiss and growl at me but as I fed her she tamed down some. I got her to play with a feathered toy on a strick through the window of our sliding door. Then I would crack the door and get her to play a little with the feathers. She would always hiss and growl and I was afread if I would try to touch her she would bite me. So I used the toy feather on the stick to rub her back and that broke the ice. She then got used to someone or thing touching her that didn't do any harm. In a matter of weeks or so I could touch her then pick her up and place her in my lap. I never wore gloves.

About a month into her pregnancy she began to growl at my cat and the neighbors cat while she sat on out deck. No more cats chancing her. Thats when I realized that she was expecting. I was worried about my feral Tabby, I was feeding him on my back deck at the same time. She would sit on our back mat after dark when my Tabby would come to eat. I thought that he would kill this poor little pregnant cat.

One nite Tabby came to eat while the little cat rested on the mat about 10 feet away. I didn't know what was going to happen. When Tabby got ready eating he looked over at this little helpless grey cat and walked over towards her. He went straight over to her head and guess what....they sniffed noses. I was shocked. OMG! I thought, this must be the father of the coming kittens. She never growled or showed any aggression what so ever.

A short time later we desided that we needed to find her a home so she can have her kittens in a safe place. So Tiger's two story cages was the likely place. By that time she was tame enough that I could walk her into the capture pen I used for Tabby. Lucky we got her in there because six days later she had her litter of 4-beautiful kittens.
They were all rehomed when the kittens could be weaned. It was fun to research how to socialize kittens and it worked out very well. Thanks for letting me tell my story too.

Here are mom and the kids.


I think I will try to use a feather/stick first then the gloves if that doesn't work out. I think I know what Tabby would do with the gloves. Probably try to kill them, he is very outgoing. Thanks for the tip it might be i'll need the gloves in the end.

-Pete

Hi Ellsworth,
I hope my Tabby work out the same...nice and friendly and no biting. I hope purring is in his vocabulary.

-Pete

OMG they are the cutest things and that is THE sweetest picture! It's very rewarding isn't it Of my litter of 6, only 2 survived which was heartbreaking, but they are the sweetest cats who found an amazing home together with 2 doggy sisters and are very content kitties

Tabby is getting bolder but more relaxed.
My routine first thing in the morning is to clean the litter boxes and then feed Tabby. So this morning I greeted Tabby as usual with many kind soft words. He usually greets me with a few meows. So this morning I put on my dust masked picked up the scoop and small plastic container to put the litter in. I opened his cage door and began to clean the litter box when Tabby gave his usual deep long meow when coming to get his food. I looked up and here he comes. Oh my I better shut the door he's coming at me. I barely got the door most of the way closed when he pushed on the door with his paw. He did this about three times in a row. I had to really push to get the locking pin down.

I walked to the front of the cage and asked Tabby what was going on. I talked to him to calm him down, he was meowing with his deep longer meows when he is agitated. I then went to get his food, a mix of dry food and a spoon of canned soft chicken feast which he loves.

Coming down from upstairs to feed him I thought that his boldness was because he thought that I was giving him his food bowl. He was in his upper hide box so I put the food bowl in the lower level a little concerned about opening the upper level door where he was. I set the bowl down and closed the door quickly. As soon as he saw me put the down he jumped from the upper level and began to eat. I think he was just good and hungry and wanted to eat even to a point of pushing on the door to tell me I want my breakfast right now. Well he taught me to change the schedule to eating first then clean the litter boxes and give me fresh water. What a cat.

After eating he turned around and walked over to the scratch pole and used it, another surprise today. Then he jumped up to the upper level and cleaned himself in the hide box. After that he laid in the box enterance and relaxed. A different sight from 10-days ago. I think he is lovin his new home.


Here is a pic of his top two story cage without the cardboard on it. Tiger will live in the lower level after Tabby get checked out with the vet. You can see Tabby's head sticking out of the upper hide box.
Tabby has a window he can look out and it's leads to the outside pen, upper and lower hide boxes, two litter boxes, and two water bowls and a scratch pole he used for the first time today his 37th day of capture. I'm pleased with his progress. Thankyou all for your help and insight.

-Pete

Sounds like things are going really well. I wonder if he doesn't want to bump you, not attack you!

After you get him socialized will they have the run of the house? That is an amazing home you have built for them!

Yes, things are going very well. Tabby surprises me with doing something new just about every day. The last two days he even stopped hissing at me and he is trying to give me more of a normal meow when he greets me when I come down in the basm't. I always talk to him when i'm coming downstairs so he can hear me coming and don't get startled at first sight.

When I have his talk sessions during the day I will sometimes baby talk to him and his reaction is to half way close his eyes sort of squint. Kind of looks like a relaxing posture to me. Tiger my other cat does the same thing when I sweet talk to him.

I'm not too sure what a cat bump is. Is that with his head or paw? He was using his paws pushing at the door. If I hold on to the food bowl I think he would swat me with his claws. So far to my knowledge he hasn't given me any signs that he is comfortable being close to me. Something like rubbing the cage wire with his head while i'm standing(standing with Tabby in the top cage is around chest high to me) near the cage.

How would he give me a bump? and should I encouage him to do this?

-Pete

Yes I hope they will eventually get along and they will have the run of the house during the day. Nite time they will go in their cages. Tiger has the run of the house now and sleeping in the main level laundry room. Tabby hasn't been to the vet yet so I am keeping then separated.

I built Tabby a socializing pen that attaches to his lower level cage. There is a pic in the 1st post here. That's where the socializing will begin between cats, Tabby in the fenced area and Tiger outside it so they don't get into anything serious right off the bat.

Tiger gets to go outside when he wishes except at nite. He is real good and stays near the house. Tabby, when he is ready will get his 1st taste of the outside in his attached outside pen where he can enter through the window in the upper level of his cage.

Yes, thanks the cages worked out really well.

-Pete

A couple of thoughts for you:

Cats LOVE routine. He was mad when you changed it out by scooping the litter first.

Cats great each other by slowly blinking their eyes at each other. A direct stare is a threat. So if you catch his eye, slowly blink your own and see if he does it back. The first time he does this, he's telling you he's accepting you.

I think by cat bump, Laurie means a head bump. Cats bump each others heads in greeting also.

You may want to put a log in the cage. Cats use trees all the time to scratch on, and I kept a couple in the cage that I used for the feral girls in my pictures. They're all natural and best yet, cheap.