I'm new here

Hello, I have just found your forum and just in time! First I will introduce myself.. my husband and i live in Northern British Columbia Canada in a rural area with no neighbors for 1/2 mile either way. Lots of bush and fields in between our homes here, and i know all the neighbors on the road. I suspect someone has been dropping unwanted cats off here this fall, because suddenly we had 2 cats show up and they don't belong to anyone here. The one was a young one, very small, that I was unable to get anywhere near. I did manage to trap him when the weather turned really cold and snowy, and I took that one to the shelter and they have been working with him to see if they can get him to a point where he is adoptable. So far not much luck, so I think that one was beyond help. The other showed up right after i took the one to the shelter and at first I thought maybe it belonged to the new renters up the road. I fed it because the weather was so cold, and we eventually gave him a weatherized crate with blankets in it because we thought maybe he couldn't find his way back with all the snow we had gotten. I went to the new neighbors and they said it wasn't theirs, but I have my suspicions about the story they gave me. Either way, this fellow needed some help, and so into the wood shed he moved. He could come as go as he pleased and it took me a long time, but he finally would come down off the wood piles to be petted and ear scratched. But he still would disappear and be gone for a day or so, so i decided to track him to see where he was going and found out he was hanging out in a abandoned den under a log in the bush. But the other day he didn't come home to eat, and we had gotten well over a foot of snow, so I cleared a trail for him and he finally came back. He went into a smaller dog crate I had set up out there so i closed the door and moved him into a guest cabin where at least he would be warm. He was quite vocal about being trapped, and was making some pretty wild sounds and looked absolutely terrified. Once i got him in the cabin I put his litter box and his food and water, left the light on opened the crate door, and left him alone. That was last night, and this morning he is hiding under the bed and refuses to come out to visit me. He did make some non threatening noises, so i just sat in there and talked to him and then left him alone again. I have no experience with cats like this one, and my question is do you think he will come around me again, or stay under the bed never to trust me again? I worked so hard to get him to trust me, and now i'm afraid I may have broken that trust. I had no choice really, it is bitterly cold here, and we have had a snowfall warning for the last 2 days. So far we've had well over a foot and a half of snow, and it isn't supposed to stop until tonight sometime. I don't think Buddy (that's what I've been calling him) would have made it through this blast of winter. Any thoughts on this? Any advice on how to regain the trust? Anyone else had any experience with this sort of thing? Thanks for reading, I know it's long but I could use some help here!

Hi, I feel you are doing all the right things, but you will have to have patients. Go visit and talk to him possibly a couple times a day. But it will take a couple of months, sometimes it might be sooner depending on the cat. I am sure he will be happy to not have to forage for food and water. It just takes time, then you should really gain a good friend and playmate. Plus giving a homeless cat care, and love. You are doing good and you certainly will be blessed for your kindness.
Ruth

Welcome to TCS!!

You're doing all the right things. It just takes time, while the kitty makes up his own mind that you really are OK. Keep up the talking to him, and just being in his space in a gentle way. He's a lucky fellow to have stumbled on you, and he'll come to that conclusion in his own time.

I'm sure other members with more firsthand experience in this situation will be along soon with more specific tips. Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy your time here. Make yourself at home. We're glad you joined us.

Hi. I just joined this site and love this forum. Believe me when I tell you that this cat will come back around and quickly. I has a feral at my horse barn that I was able to eventually pet and love on. Then I crated him and got him TNR. I thought he would never trust me again when I returned him to the barn. But after a few days he was more loving than ever. I found this boy a new home and he lives in the lap of luxury now and never even wants to go outside.

All these types of cats are different with different personalities. Bit since he already trusted you before he will be thankful for the new living quarters once he knows you are coming to feed him. Just talk to him and visit as often as you can. The next step would be to get him neutered though. You are doing a wonderful thing and it is very rewarding to have this experience.

Welcome to this forum!!! Great people here!

Thanks for the replies, it's good to hear others who have had success with this sort of thing. Time and patience, that will be my new mantra!
Buddy came out from under the bed last night, lots of coaxing and talking, but he finally came out to eat his supper, and started to purr as soon as he saw me. We had a good visit, and i feel much better about it now. I wondered if I had done the right thing for him, but now that I see he's thawed out and doesn't have frost all over his body anymore, and he seems like he's already adapting, I feel better.
In time, I am hoping to get him in the house, but that is going to be a way down the road. I have 4 cats, and 4 dogs inside so I need to make sure Buddy is medically sound first, and at a better point in his rehab!
Thanks again

That is a VERY positive sign!! YEAH ! Another good thing to do with these guys, is when you go to feed (canned food is good for this), sit by the bowl and be patient until he comes to eat. Pet him gently and speak softly while he eats. This will establish more trust on his part and you will bond strongly at that point. That is how I first started petting Coalman, the cat from the barn.

You are on your way to having a loyal new friend!! Ferals, when they tame, are the best friends a girl can have

Keep posting and good luck

Welcome to TCS and such a wonderful thing you've done for Buddy! He's coming around right quick. If you haven't had him neutered yet, I know you worry about the trust thing with the crate and such, but being neutered (if he's not already) will really help him calm down (and the litter box will smell better!).

Time and patience are the perfect mantra.

Here are other suggestions:

Leave on a night light. He doesn't need much light at night, but some will help him feel safer.

When you're there, spend time down at his level. You're much less threatening that way! Talk to him, sing, read out loud - spend as much time as you can, and most of it not trying to interact with him. Let him just.... make the cabin "his" and let him watch you. When you get up to leave, put treats down where you were sitting or lying, this will help him associate you with "good" things.

You can also get a t-shirt really good and sweaty, and put it under his food dish. Same concept as above.

"Socialization" is simply about helping the kitty trust you. They're very territory-oriented animals, so the first step is allowing them to feel comfortable in their new territory. Something that REALLY helps break the trust barrier is doing as much as you can on a schedule when it comes to feeding, cleaning the litter box(es), water dishes, &etc. They figure out pretty quickly that you are caring for them.

And if he's already purring when he sees you? That is GREAT!

When it comes to moving him to your home... best to start with scent swapping. Bring a blanket or bed he's been sleeping on to your home, and bring something that smells like all your cats over. Let them sniff and get used to it. When we integrated Chumley (formerly named Charlie when we rescued him in 2010), we used a trailer to get him used to us (we live in an RV so had no place to separate him from the others), and we started with the scent swapping once he was (pretty) comfortable with us. We did that for three weeks, then began bringing him over here in a crate daily - initially we corraled the cats in the back so he could explore a little bit without them around - and they'd be able to smell he was here.... and we let him slowly meet the others (we had 7), and made his daily visits a little longer each time - until one day (after about a month?) he just never went back to the trailer.

Of course it helped that he was a REALLY good boy about being the crate, and just didn't seem afraid of the process (for the most part).

Thank you for rescuing this kitty!

And ask away.

Also, we do love pictures!

Thanks so much for the tips. I hadn't thought about the scent part of things, and will definately try them when the time comes. I think I'm a long way from him being in the house, but I'm more hopeful than a few days ago.
Buddy is doing really well, I'm amazed at the ability of animals to live in the here and now. We could learn so much from them! At this point he is under the bed when I go for our visits, but I see's been on the bed sleeping because there is a definate inprint in one spot! It's a cozy down comforter, so i would guess he has discovered how warm it can be. I was really hoping he'd eventually get brave enough to try out the bed, but never dreamed he'd do it this fast. I first spotted him this past August in my yard, so for a cat who has been living wild for at least 5 months, he's bouncing back fast.
He still prefers his long visits to be in the evening, but I stop in, in the morning and afternoons to talk and let him know I'm here. He doesn't come out, but he does answer me, and I can him him purring away under there, so i guess I'll just follow Buddy's rules and go with it. I gave him a radio this morning, very low sound and on a station that is mellow, so hopefully he won't mind. It's been awhile since he's probably heard any of that type of noise, but I'm sure he'll be fine with it. Plus it will help to filter the outside noises that bother him. ie: the dogs and the vehicles.
He is getting quite playful now, rolls on his back and wants to play! I on the other hand am not ready to have my hand used as the toy! He's is so affectionate and loves to be rubbed under his chin, on his ears and likes to have his back massaged. Such a sweet cat, and wow, he has the greenest eyes! Tonight I'm going to take the wide tooth comb out and see if i can maybe start to get his coat brushed out a bit. I feed him good qualilty food, but his coat is very dull looking, do you think I should give him some type of supplement? or maybe just a good grooming will help? I also am going to get the flea medicine on him if i can tonight. He's still a bit sketchy about different or sudden movements! He and i are learning together about rules and boundaries.
I'd love to post pictures of my little zoo, but I have no clue how! Any hints?

You are SO right - do not let your hands be a toy! If you have any wand toys at home, you might want to bring one over for a try. Chumley was TERRIFIED at first - but I'd make it move toward him and then let it sit there for a few minutes. He finally worked up the courage to slink forward and sniff it after a few days, and then he hit it with his paw and ran away. It only took a few more days, and he was chasing that wand toy around like a kitten.

As to kitty's coat - how long has he been eating healthy regular food? The coat transition takes a few months, but a good grooming certainly won't hurt!

To post pictures - well - I just explained it in another thread, so I'll find it and post a link. Found it - the explanation is on the top of page 2. http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=226264

I knew I had a post somewhere with a few pictures of Chumley over time, and I found it.

The first picture was taken in May just before we TNR'd him.

The second picture was taken in July when he was living in the trailer.

The last picture was taken in November. I think you can see how glossy his coat looks compared to the first two pictures.

Here's the link to the post: http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...9&postcount=12

Just thought a visual on the coat transition may help.

Chumley is very handsome!! I see what you mean in the difference of his coat from pic to pic. Buddy has been eating good food since he showed up here in August. I think living wild and inside a hole in the ground may be the reason he has little shine. i also wonder if the stress of being out there on his own may have contributed to it. I took the comb out this morning, and he knew what it was right away. He loved it, and i did notice that his coat was actually starting to look much better as i combed. I will for sure keep this going he seems to be quite dandriffy ( spelling?).
He's getting so much better, it's amazing how quickly he has taken to being inside again. It's been less than a week, and he is acting like he's always been there. Still takes some coaxing to come out from under the bed, but I know he's not staying under there.
I was going to try and get a picture of him, but I think it will scare him right now, so I'll hold off for now.
Thanks for all the advice with him, I really appreciate it.
Oh ya, tried to do the pictures but couldn't do it, it said my pictures were too big? Maybe tomorrow when i have a bit more time, I'll try again. We've been hit by another "winter storm warning" and I'm back to shoveling and trying to keep a path for the dogs! Right now, I'm sore all over, who needs a gym? lol

Yes, you have to resize the pictures. I think the max is ... um... 640 x 480? Something like that. You have to make them smaller than they are when you download them from your camera to your computer. I THINK you can reszie them at photobucket if you upload them there (it's a free picture hosting site). I downloaded a program called irfanview, and it's easy to use to resize them (and it's free).

You have made great progress in just a few short days.. And if he is rolling over on his back, that is a sign of total trust in you .

Good advice from LDG . Yes, get those feather interactive toys and get ready to go to the next step in your relationship with this boy. My new feral rescue, Magilla, LOVES those toys and she forgets all about being scared . Each day we make a little more progress and you would never know she was totally feral one month ago. Just spending time sitting, talking, feeding, petting and playing are all you need to make things move along with taming a feral. And, I agree, get a T-shirt, maybe one you wear to bed, and put on the bed where he sleeps. I wear the t-shirt for two nights then put it in her bed, and after a day or so, I do the same thing, just keep replacing the t-shirt with a new one with your fresh smell on them. It really works

Well, it's been a week, and Buddy is doing incredibly well. He doesn't hesitate to come for his visits, he just pops right out from under the bed as soon as he knows it's me. I know he sleeps on the bed, and has been checking the cabin out. I even saw him sitting in the window yesterday. I have gotten all of his mats out after alot of combing, and he just sat there, never fussed or scratched at me or anything. This morning he left me a mouse at the door! It was the first thing i saw when I stepped in! We knew there was a mouse coming and going in there, we just couldn't figure it out! well, Buddy solved that problem and my husband says he's earning his keep! It looked like he had a good time with it, the bed was a mess and the blanket I put on the table for him to sit on, was on the other side of the room! I took him a toy to play with last night, but he wasn't interested in it, he wanted to visit instead. I'm ok with that, I left it out there for him in case he gets bored.
He's still a bit sketchy, doesn't like fast movements, and heads for the bed when I get up off the floor, and every now and then gets this "look" in his eyes, but I'm amazed at how quickly he has adapted. I'll give updates as he comes along!

Buddy left you a present??!!! . That is a great sign and wonderful for you, but not that little mouse... Yeah, Magilla gets nervous when I stand up too, but just in the last two days she finally doesn't run off to her tent. It just takes many days and alot of patience which you have . Isn't it so rewarding the tiniest bit of progress each day?? Magilla's room is usually trashed in the morning too. She does a TON of playing now at night and loves her toys. Still keep putting your "stinky" t-shirts in there on that bed at night. I still do that for Magilla.

It was so funny when I started to play with her with those wand toys. She would go for it, and then look at me with terror like "WHAT am I doing???". Day after day she got more comfortable and doesn't barely look at me anymore when we play. We have a deep bond that is getting stronger each day. You and buddy are on the same journey

Well, 2 weeks now and Buddy is doing really well. He has no interest in bolting out the door, actually runs under the bed when the door is opened. I thought after a few days he might be ready to head off but it's looking like he really enjoys being warm again! His coat is getting soft and some shine is showing through, and all the mats are combed out now. I do see now that I have had a good check of him that his tail is a mess. He's missing a good couple of inches off the end, and the whole thing is zigzag shapped. Not sure what the story on that is, but it doesn't hurt him if I touch or comb it out. He's really friendly now, loves to visit, and is getting demanding about it! AND is now picky about what kind of canned food he will eat, no fish for him, chicken, turkey, maybe beef, but he makes is very clear that fish is not on his menu!!
Today I put the VCR out there and hooked it up to the TV that has no hookup to the satelite. He's had a radio since I trapped him, but I thought it was time for him to see something. Turns out Buddy is not a fan of Beauty and the Beast, he came out briefly, and looked at the TV, there was a wolf howling on the show and back under he went. He no doubt came across that noise when he was living wild, we have lots of wolves and coyotes around here. So I turned it off, tomorrow I'll try something with a few less wild noises! I'm trying to get him used to noises and sights he will come across in the house. I have been using the t-shirt idea, and rubbing it on the cats and dogs as well. And doing the reverse bringing in a towel that I've been rubbing on Buddy and letting the inside animals smell it. So far, so good with that, everyone seems very interested in each other's smell.
It's really cold here again, -35c at nights, and I was thinking how glad I am that Buddy is safe and warm inside, he may not be in the house yet, but he seems quite content to have his own cabin!! Yeah Buddy!!

We know this feeling - Chumley enjoyed having his own trailer.

When we moved Chumley over here from his own trailer (that part was about three weeks, bringing him over here only for like 1/2 an hour or something the first time), and he was rebuffed by a few of the kitties (once he was here full time), he regressed in his socialization a little bit, becoming a bit timid again. It's... five months later now? And he's purring and rubbing and playing like normal, and moving around here almost completely comfortably again.

I LOVE that he's getting picky! And demanding! He knows he's loved and safe!