Mitten

Hi guys, I just found this site and wanted to jump right in. I was reading an article about taming feral cats and there was a link to this forum. *waves*

I have a little feral cat, her name is Mitten. Mitten was born underneath my steps in July 2008 to a feral mother. I had been putting food out for MomCat and her companion Budders, but I never knew she was pregnant until I was under my steps moving aside a box spring mattress and found 3 little kits who didn't even have their eyes open yet! I began giving wet food to MomCat and making sure to bring water down to her. (they normally ate at the top of my stairs) Unfortunately, I always thought that if you handled wild kittens, that the mom would abandon them...so I left them alone. *facepalm* Anyway, as soon as the kits were big enough, MomCat started bringing them upstairs to eat. Then one day after they were weaned, MomCat and the other two kittens disappeared.

So, kitten and Budders were left, and they were inseparable. Buds took care of her and I took care of them. They made it though the first winter (I'm in Wisconsin) and come spring I knew I'd have kittens if I didn't do something. So, caught kitten-now called Mitten cause the vet needed a name!-and got her spayed, feline leukemia tested and vaccinated, rabies, distemper, etc. Everything was good until this past December. They came to eat, Buds had been letting me pet him for about 2 years, but Mit would only let me reach out with one finger and touch her nose. When winter came again this year, Buds started spending more and more time away, while Mitten pretty much never left her bed. I'm heartbroken to say that I haven't seen Budders since December 30th. This was his 4th winter from me, and in all those years he was never away from home except one time where he was gone for 5 days and came home with a hurt leg, so I have to admit that he's probably gone now...

Since Buds was Mits protector and best friend, I really have tried to bond with her since he disappeared. Heating up her Snuggle Safe Heat Disc every 2-4 hours (depending on the weather) all winter long (including all night!) has helped I think. Each time I went out I would talk to her, and reach for her. Last week she up and surprised me by standing there and letting me pet her! O-o I had to look to make sure I had the right cat, cause I sure didn't expect her to let me! lol So, that was Feb 7th, and I've been allowed to per her every day since. This morning I was actually invited and allowed to rub her tummy O_O She's still very cautious, gets scared if my arm is over her head-etc, but she's loving the pets. She's even purred for me! And I read that feral cats don't often meow to humans, but Mitten talks to me constantly-lol

Anyway, she has been trying to follow me inside for about 2 weeks now, but I have two cats of my own so I haven't let her. I will be applying Frontline to her tonight to take care of any fleas she might have, just in case. I thought that I would start allowing her to come inside at her own pace soon. I would remove my cats food/water/litter and confine them to my bedroom for these trials. I thought that after she were more comfortable (hopefully) coming inside, and more comfortable with me, then we'd go back to the vet for a full workup, etc. Then, again start letting her in, and when I felt she was ready, introducing her to my two cats Sneezer and Callie. I thought that I would put Sneezer and Callie in their carries in the bedroom, and then let Mitten go in the room at her pace and approach them safely. My goal is to have her inside by Dec or so of this year (before the snow falls again)

I've read about catching a feral and confining them to a room for a length of time, but I only have a one bedroom apartment, and I feel like with the progress she's made lately, maybe the plan I have just might work. I've never worked with a feral before so I'm learning as I go

Sorry this is so long! *blush*

Welcome to TCS.

I'm so sorry about Budders.

And she's looks like a sweetie.

As to Mitten... your situation sounds like ours - we live in an RV and can't separate new intros.

I'll tell you what we did with Billy, and I'll provide links to someone here who did more or less what you're proprosing.

Billy was very close to his brother Bing. Sounds like Mitten and Budders. We got them neutered and released them. Over time they became friendly, and we could pet and brush them, and they'd purr. This was... summer/fall of 2008. Winter was approaching, and they were the only 2 cats that had turned up so far... and DH was in an emotionally vulnerable place, and really couldn't deal with the thought of them being outside for the Winter. So we worked to find them a home - but they had to go to someone who would understand they've never lived inside and would need time to adjust to "new people." No easy task, right?

Well, it wasn't. We were able to find a home for one of them, and had a real hard choice to make. In the end, we split them up, even though it broke our hearts to do it.

But we just couldn't leave Billy outside for the winter all alone. We already had six cats living in the RV with us (all rescue kitties) - but we just felt we had no choice.

So.... what we did was rub Bill (he'd already been treated with Revolution by us so we knew he didn't have fleas) with several wash clothes when petting him - got his scent all over them. We put those inside under our kitty's food dishes. We also just carried one around and let everyone smell it.

We trapped Bill again right before a huge storm, and we took him to the vet. We had them test him for everything again. Turns out he had giardia. So we left him in boarding while they treated him. He was there for two weeks. We didn't want to bring him back here until we were SURE the giardia was gone, and we were sure he didn't have any other viruses that would crop up. I'm sure he was completely freaked out, but we did give them Feliway to use in his cage, and a "tent" kind of thing for them to put in his cage for him to hide in.

And then we brought him home when we knew we were going to be here for a few days. We released him into our bedroom, where we were set up to spend the day. We made sure he couldn't get under the bed to hide, but we let him have his little tent on the bed. We did close the door (even though our cats usually freak out at closed doors) and gave him a little while alone. Thankfully, they didn't realize at first a new cat was here, and they were all napping, so didn't really notice the bedroom door was closed.

He was scared, no doubt - but he was REALLY happy to not be at the vet anymore.

We tried to make no big deal out of his being here, and opened the door when the first cat started scratching at it, but made no fuss.

And we just... kept an eye on things. We didn't emphasize there was a new cat here, we didn't force interaction - we didn't NOT force interaction. If someone was hissy with Billy, we just said things like... "You don't have to be nice, but you have to learn to share your space, because Billy has no home, just like you didn't.." that kind of (silly) stuff. We'd distract them with treats....

He did like to hide in the corner of the bedroom, down at the end of the bed (in an RV, the bedroom isn't a whole lot bigger than the bed LOL) - and for the most part, we let him. He'd come up for food, and could be enticed up to play with a wand toy... and he slowly spent less and less time in his corner. And at first we'd feed him in the bedroom. We did make him come out of his corner for food, but we didn't make him eat with the other cats in the kitchen - though he did get there. We also did not move the free feeding food, so if he wanted to nibble, he did have to leave the bedroom.

One of our cats did not like Bill. Lazlo would rush at him - though not really attack him. Billy would hunker down, make himself really small, and not fight back. We wished he would stick up for himself and not live in fear... and he did get there. It took over a year for him to feel really comfortable here, and to fully make this "his" as much as it is the other kitties' ....

So - we didn't follow any "rules" about introductions. Billy had never lived inside before - but I think making him stay at the vet for two weeks REALLY helped him make the transition from being outside to being inside - and at least happier to be in our home than to be at the vet. He did cry for his brother - but he never tried to get out. And we just played it by ear... and tried to make him as comfortable as possible, and did what we could to help the other kitties think having him around was good, because they got more treats, play, and attention.

Now, let me go find links to the threads where TCS user "diggerled" was working on Marlow, a ferally stray, and his Sasha wanted nothing to do with it (at first)....

Let's see if this works. I searched on keyword "Marlow" in threads started by diggerled. There are 3 pages of them - I'd start at the beginning (page 3) and work my way forward. You'll get a feel for them, and you won't need to read every thread. It starts with just befriending Marlow... then the issue with Sasha being aware of him... then bringing him inside... and then keeping him inside-only on a full time basis.

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sea...archid=3049722

Edited to add: I forgot to mention. We know Billy and Bing were born feral, someone in the RV park had been feeding them. But they'd had exposure to friendly people, so that helped. And they were not quite 2 years old when Bing went to his new home and Billy moved in with us.

I just want to say, welcome to tcs, thank you so much for rescuing this sweet kitten, and you couldn't ask for a better mentor regarding taking in ferels than you've found with LDG.


Robin

Mittens is very cute!! I am sorry about Buddars. I have ferals i tend to each day and one of them has not been back since the big blizzard, or at least I have not seen him. It is always a worry when you don't see the regulars coming around. I think you have a very good plan for Mittens and it already sounds like she is well on her way to trusting you and that is step number one. I would just keep inviting her in (while your other cats are locked in your room) for short periods and then let her back out. I had a feral barn cat TNRd and released but she would still come into the barn everyday to eat and eventually she never left!!! But this took a couple of months time and in doing these short periods of her coming into the barn to eat, the other resident barn cat slowly got used to her smell and presence. So when the time came to keep her in the barn full time the resident cat was already used to seeing her inside and they became fast friends!! This will work for Mittens and your other cats too. Just take it slow and in a matter of a couple months she can be in your home full time. You are doing a great job with Mittens and she sounds like she will be a great addition.

I just sat and read every single post there was about Marlow. I have to admit I teared up when I got to the last two threads and saw pictures of Marlow laying with his new brother Sasha Even more so because Mitten looks just like Marlow. I so want Mitten to sleep carefree next to my two. There were definitely a LOT of things in there that I will be able to use to help the process along, it was great to read about a similar situation that turned out so successfully!

LDG-Thanks for the welcome! I'm really sorry you had to separate Billy and Bing, I know how you feel because I never wanted to separate Mitten and Budders. I always felt like Mit would adapt better to a home, but Buds always wanted to roam... Thank you so much for sharing your story and your tips, I will use that one about the washclothes/socks with kitty's scent on them. Poor Billy having to stay at the vet for two weeks Mitten had to be quarantined for 10 days in 2009 when she got spayed. Long story short, I was an idiot and got myself bitten up pretty well-my bad (This is why kitten/Mitten is also called Bittens...or Mitty-bits) I got Mitten a daBird toy yesterday and she likes to play with that. Still very cautious though. I got her Frontline on her, but it scared her a lot. First time she's run away from me She came back and let me pet her a little, then ran away again...I've read that ferals are two steps forward and five steps back. Will go out once more tonight to switch her snuggle safe before bed, hope she lets me pet her then!

Robin-thanks for the welcome!

Feralvr-I hope you missing feral comes back! That blizzard was awful I'm so glad to hear that your feral cat and your barn cat were able to be friends! I know Mitten is lonely with Buds gone, so I hope that my two will accept her and vice versa when the time comes. I hated knowing she was outside all winter, on nights that it was literally -20 outside. Such guilt you feel as a human in your warm bed at night, but she wasn't ready yet. I really think we have a good shot since it's just now warming up, we've got a long time before winter starts again!

Just know we all want this to work for you and Mitty-bits - and your girls!

Please do keep us posted, and also feel free to ask ANYTHING!

OH DA BIRD!!! Yes, that will do it everytime. Just keep up with what you are doing and Mitty-Bits will soon integrate herself into your life and home. I have a good feeling about it for you. Keep us upated

Ah yes, Mitty-bits I am one of those people that has bunch of nicknames for her pets. Sneezer and Callie are most often called Buggy and Beanie. See why Bittens fits right in? lol

Looks like the scare of the Frontline application blew over quickly, I did get to pet Mitten again last night before bed, and got another short tummy rub in Tonight when I got home we played a bit with da Bird, and a little more petting. I admit it's not an ideal spot, the top of my steps is pretty small to begin with then I have her shelter, her other shelter, recycle bin, food bin, etc., so there isn't room to actually sit out there with her. I tried to kneel but she didn't want to come close then, and with the narrow spot I barely got back up I think next week I will try laying in my doorway and letting her approach at her own speed. I remember one afternoon a few years ago when Budders came home with his sore leg, I just lay in my doorway, and he lay at the top of the steps a few feet away, just sighing every once in a while. I didn't try to touch him, just wanted him to know I was there.

Budders.... So sweet. I'm so sorry... you do never know though. Every once in a while they come back. It's nice to hope.

And you must feel great she's forgiven you already for the Frontline!!!!!!!

Actually, that's something that does scare me. What if I'm moving forward with Mitten and Budders does come back...I can't separate them, but I don't think I could get him to turn housecat either... I miss my boy, he was with me every day (but those 5) for almost 4 years. It's been 50 days now....

Mits is still doing well, pets every day since the 7th. It turned colder again so she's back in her bed more. I offered her some baked chicken tonight but I guess she didn't think it was food cause she didn't eat it. Loves stinky wet food though!

I think it's wonderful that you are planning to take Mitten in. I've taken in a few long time strays and it's been a bit shakey at first but after a few weeks they have settled in. I make sure to provide them with a safe place where they can hide like a box in a closet or a corner that you can close off with chairs and blankets.
I would be a bit afraid of taking her in and letting her out again. I did that with two different cats and they both were so freaked out that they took off. They came back after a few days but i was really worried that I wouldn't see them again.
About a year ago I took in an older kitten that was born outside and had not had any contact with people until he was about 3 months when I started feeding him. Most kittens who have not been handled by this age will be very difficult to tame, if not impossible, but this boy started to let me touch him little by little over a few months. When he was about six months old he let me pick him up for the first time so I snatched him and brought him home (it was winter and not safe). Although he had never been in a house before he settled in quite well. I introduced him to some of my other cats pretty quickly and that helped in getting him to settle in. He felt more comfortable around the other cats. It only took a couple of weeks before he was just one of the cats.
Although Mittens is a bit older I really think you could do the same with her. Your cats may be upset at first but they will accept her. So far I have never had any cats that didn't start accepting each other before long. Usually it doesn't take very long at all. I just took in a new kitten a few weeks ago and there was some hissing at first but after she had been out with them for about a week they were all getting along.

I'm convinced that most cats can be made into house cats. They may not all get used to interacting with humans but they will get used to living in a house. I've fostered probably over 50 cats, many were strays, and all have gotten used to living inside and have done very well. So I think if Budders comes back he can become a housecat too, especially if Mittens is there.

Good luck and thanks for taking such good care of Mitten.