TNR question

Hello,
I recently posted on this site concerning the behavior of my stray cat and our neighbor's dog.

This aside, we want to get her spayed. She stayed with us for a while (during the cold weather), but now back outside if we ever get her to come back inside, she gets very aggressive and upset.

We also have 2 other cats who have a history of not liking her (so we would isolate her into the bedroom) My thought it, if being inside/confined to a room brings her a lot of stress, how can she handle that night alone at the vets?

I know that the animal clinics know how to handle a feral or more wild cat, but I'm worried that this will be too much of an ordeal for her.
Then to top it off, we'd be bringing her back to the inside home for a week or so I'm assuming.
Could Feliway help relieve some of the tension she would be feeling during her recovery? Is there anything we can do to make her feel more comfortable inside?

Yes, spaying is practically a must, so plan accordingly.
Help not only against unwelcome litters, but also somewhat in her humeurs, and very probably - the other cats animosity against her.

Feliway is a good shot. Diffuser in the bathroom where she is, and spray for transports and so.

If your residents are much agitated, have a feliway diffuser in their parts of the flat too.

Soft, calming music is never wrong. Classical harp music is best, our forumist LDG uses to say. But almost any calming, relaxing music is OK.

Make sure she has some nice, cozy, hiding place when inside. A sideturned cardboard box will do.


Good luck!

Feliway will definitely help her. Plug it in a few days ahead of time so it will be strong when she gets there.

Trapping and spaying is stressful for them, no matter what. She will be groggy during most of that night alone at the vets, so she isn't going to remember it.

Yes, it will stress her out. Yes, it will probably irritate your other cats.

But her getting pregnant is going to be a lot more stressful for everyone!

Please get her spayed ASAP. Thanks for taking care of her. Even when she's aggravated, you are doing the right thing!

Originally Posted by j_eden

Hello,
I recently posted on this site concerning the behavior of my stray cat and our neighbor's dog.

This aside, we want to get her spayed. She stayed with us for a while (during the cold weather), but now back outside if we ever get her to come back inside, she gets very aggressive and upset.

Click to expand...

How disruptive she'll be I suppose depends on how forceful are you being to get her back in. The procedure of catching a feral cat in a trap at night, taking it to the vet early the next morning, picking it up that afternoon, keeping caged in your bathroom overnight, and releasing the following morning (or whenever she's ready to go) was designed to keep the strain on the animal to a minimum. Of course the cat's body is taxed to some extent by the stress from the entire ordeal and healing process as happens with any invasive surgery...But freed from constant mating, giving birth, and mothering kittens, you are at least giving her the chance for a contented life.

Make every effort to reduce the side effects by getting to the to the clinic as quickly as possible and returned back to her colony and habitat. The difficult part will be the recapture. Did she just wander in freely over the winter ?


Also, you may want to call around ASPCA, no kill shelters or the Humane Society in your areas for free, discounted or low-cost spay/neuter services and clinics that routinely deal with strays and ferals. Good luck !

Another thing I would do hun is make sure she has a place to "hide" ie a box or something. Feral kitties feel a LOT more comfortable if they think they can't be seen. You're doing a great thing! Good luck!

Cats actually like small enclosed spaces, they feel safe.

There's no getting around it, the trip to the vet and being there will be stressful for her. But in a few days back at home Nala will forget all about it, the hormones will leave her body and she (and your other cats) will all be much happier.

Definitely get the feliway going before she comes home.

Oh and..keep her in the room, away from the other cats as she heals from the spay. The vet smell could really tick the fellows off.

Smell is everything to a cat. When you are ready to reintroduce, they may think she's a different cat, because after her spay her personal scent will be different.

When you begin introductions, use the Vanilla Trick. Put a dot of cooking vanilla on the nose and root of tail of all cats during the early introduction days, so they all smell the same.

For those that missed the first thread, this is not a real feral, the cat was in her home over the winter and sat in her lap etc.

I agree with everything otto said, but like Laurie, we used classical music for our cats (the shelter does too)

Has Nala been tested for FeLV/FIV?

If not I highly recommend you get that done, while she is there for her spay.

It said in the other thread that you've known her for an entire year? Has she been pregnant in that time? If not, she may be already spayed. Unspayed cats WILL get pregnant twice/three times a year, every year (until quite a bit older then they might settle down to one a year), unless kept indoors. And I will guarantee that if she's not spayed then she's pregnant now. That doesn't matter if she's not too far along....the vet can do a spay/abort. But definitely have the vet check her out. I really don't think an unspayed cat would go an entire year without being pregnant at least once.

I agree Willowy. Already spayed or infertile by some other reasons.


But if infertile but unspayed, a spaying is in place anyway. there are also other reasons why spaying is good and healthy for the cat.
And of course a vet check up.

Nala has gone to the Rainbow Bridge.

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...69#post2855169

It was really shocking news...

Apparently her fate was destined since long time... Nothing to do.
Im glad you did had this time together as long as it went.

I hope also you will want to proceed with your good work. You couldnt save her, but you can perhaps save someone other. Cat or human. Or...


My compassion with you I_Eden, and my thoughs on Nalas immortal soul.

Hi everyone, and thank you for your genuine concerns and advice.

Yes Nala has passed, due to an extensive pancreatic cancer that was discovered during the spaying procedure.

Maybe this explains why she never got pregnant when she went outside, or why the outside cats never really bothered her. Before we took her inside we brought her to the vet who gave her all her shots/immunizations (FIV,FeLv, ..etc. so don't worry, she didn't carry anything onto the other 2 cats), and told us he did not think she was spayed prior.

I'm not really sure if she even ever went into heat? She never did that yowling thing I hear the neighborhood queens doing. Never got into that arched position that I read cats in heat will do.