3 ferals at snow

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jtbo

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I have some daily ritual with cats now.

Around 7am I scoop their litter box, put new water to bowl, add some dry food and put treats at different places for them to search, that is bit of game actually for them, treats they have not found I relocate, I always tell them when I put treat on place and usually make audible sound with treat so they register treat being put down.

Next visit is 1pm, this time I bring main dinner, usually warm fish in liquid, that is only one time a day serve. Also I refill water bowl if needed, but this is short visit.

Around 5pm I take a nap at their sofa.

Then between 6pm and 22pm I visit bit randomly, always knocking to door when I enter and also telling them I'm coming in, when I leave I say good bye, always same way, so they learn that area is theirs again, it start to be working quite nicely already, I can speak on phone other side of door and they are not bothered by it at all and when I leave room they immediately are checking where treats are and what I have done.

Last visit of day is when I scoop litter box again, refill water and dry food.

They are already doing their tests on me, this morning one did walk quickly right next to curtain which is separating their hideout area from rest of the room, white legs were only thing I saw and of course I did hear loud thump-thump-thump that his foot made on floor, they still don't quite believe that I would not eat them, but they are doing such tests to see if I do something when I see them. Naturally I completely ignored that.

I'm still letting them be alone most of daytime, just to give them time to calm and rest, when they start to tolerate me more during dark hours, then I start to be there more during daytime too, but it is in my opinion best to avoid causing stress, it is better to have them relaxed, then they are more receiving and curious and in theory things should move faster.
 
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jtbo

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Story of mother cat is still developing, but this is how I gained enough trust with her that she decided to stay in warehouse for winter.

First time that I did saw her, she was about half the size she is now, it was July I think that I did saw her in my warehouse first time, poor thing got so scared that literally climbed to wall and there was nothing more than horror in her eyes, I did put some food on table top for her and then left, she did not eat it until next night.

So I did put few bowls of dry cat food to warehouse and bowl of water, bowls did got empty quite quickly, but I did not see her for some time, but I did see from video that she did use different routes to warehouse and also found out that she always disappeared to woods behind the road, sometimes when I saw her in warehouse I did go to wait her into other side of warehouse where from she did walk to her hideout, when she emerged from under the warehouse I did talk to her and did also cat love eye thing, sometimes I did toss some meat to her, this of course was during the night.

She did disappear always after few minutes and during the day if she saw me she did disappear immediately, no matter how far I was.

We kept doing this ritual, until at some point she did move to another location which was same side of road as my house, also then I noticed that there was bite marks on her nose and generally she did look like being in a fight, she kept coming to warehouse and also started to tolerate me during day on yard too, hiding in bushes, but still examining what I do. I could come perhaps 4 meter from her on that time.

Once some middle aged lady did see her on driveway and started loudly call cat, of course mother cat got scared and did run into forest she is feral, not some tame house cat after all.

When she let me come to around 3 meters from her I started to lie down on ground and toss her some meat when on ground, also she had one favourite spot during that time, so I sometimes carefully moved food towards her into edge of bushes where she was, quite soon she was enough brave to eat there even I was no more than 1 meter from her.

During that time nights started to get quite cold already, we had one month without subzero temps last year.

Trapping attempts of her were when I got 4 meters from her, it did delay a bit of process, but surprisingly little as she did not associate traps with me.

One of important things was to keep on eye of cat's schedule, it does not stay same all the time, but more like it tends to get behind a bit sometimes, so I did go to wait her at some time near the time that she was present day before, then I did wait 1 to 2 hours but sometimes she did not show up, usually she probably was waiting for me as she did come quite quickly after I came out.

Also cameras were great help, I did saw when she was on area so I could quickly get out and offer her some good stuff.

It is important to get lot of those meetings.

At one point she took what I tossed to her and then she did run to her new place that was on same side of road that my house, it was near the time when I saw her kittens, but I did not know about them at the time.

In warehouse I placed feeding station to upper part of warehouse, my warehouse is in two levels, also there is doorway between those levels, so I believe that in cat's mind she had lower part as her territory and upper part she probably thought as my territory, so I did not needed to go to her area to feed them, doorway was kind of neutral zone, only food was on that area so we had nice arrangement there.

It took months to get into such level that cats were actually present when I bring them some food, before that they did go hiding when I came.

With mother cat it is still bit of uncertain if she will stay or not, mostly she stays there, but not always when I bring food.

She eats from my hand rarely, but she does, also sometimes she plays with string on stick toy with me, but she is far from relaxed with me and it is only limited time that she can stand me so she leaves in 10 minutes or so, that much cat's age has to do with taming I think, her kittens did eat more from hand than bowl and did play with me more than I could play with them, young ones are much easier in that respect.

Being on your knees, back straight, not looking their eyes and giving lot of eye kisses, that is basics that I have done, then of course no sudden moves, plenty of nice food and also respecting their space and giving them their own time, being predictable. With those I have had success with these ones.

With mother cat it will take probably quite long until she is really ok with me, just so that she can tolerate me whole day or so, but I have time if she just sticks around.

Well, kind of have time, mother cat's operation is not possible for at least next two weeks, it is really a shame, but she refuses to go into trap and there is not that extra week in my calendar what she should stay indoors after operation. I hope that she stays around and does not get too pregnant before I have next good time window, but there is not much else than giving plenty of food that I can do for now.

She is big girl and can do just fine with shelter alone, that is not which I worry, but she getting pregnant is one of issue I am worried, if it takes a month until I can get her to vet then it might be bit of problem if she has already found a tom cat.
 
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jtbo

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Sorry about multiple posts, subjects tend to vary so I find better have them as new posts.

Update to kittens.

I did build them tiny play castle today, they were again spying on me while I did build it, but don't know if they have used it yet. Really simple three boxes and one box acts as access tube from one box to another, it sits on top of those two boxes so cat have to hop into it, also access tube has small holes where cat can spy surroundings.

Mouku is really relaxed around window, he did lie down on window shelf and did look really relaxed today, Feliway is actually plugged next to that window so they get good dose of it when sitting there.

Mouku clearly loves sofa too, almost rolls there. I try to attach pic later.

Miuku is not so much in camera's view, but he comes and goes from window, also examined really carefully scratching post that I brought to them as it needed to be cleared from pests just in case.

Now I'm hearing some sounds as they start to play a bit, looks like they are relaxing as before they have not played much.

Also I did make few toys from cardboard to them today, cube with large holes, cardboard mouse and ball kind of thing, also they have lot of mouses and other toys from shop, but cardboard has something funny in it, it is something they like.

Mother cat, Mauku has learned to use sandbox now too, which is great, but still not getting into trap and I had to deactivate trap today.
Almost 15cm of very wet snow came down, she has not visited outdoors today at all, can't blame her, I wouldn't either with those paws (her paws are actually less than half of what Mouku has in size, Mouku's paw print on snow is nearly 1.5 inches wide).

Tomorrow I try to build climbing pathway to wall so boys can get perspective they prefer to have, also I have planned to put few shelves up there and also one pathway across the room, but it might take some time to build that.

Quick mock up that is missing all the supports and lot of other things, but should explain better than I did with words:


edit:
Miuku was brave boy, I opened door and put meat at front of me and called them to eat, Miuku did walk right front of me and curiously looked into this other room which he has never seen really, he was really careful with his steps, but he did not got spooked and walked no less than 30cm from me (around 1 foot), I did leave him to eat in peace and closed the door, but he is making great progress and reward was fresh meat from that. I think things will be moving rather fast with these kind of events, who knows maybe he is eating from hand soon again.

edit2: Things move one really fast, Miuku did chill out on sofa while I did fill water bowl, turn spring of old tick tock clock and put some treats for them, he let me approach to 2 meters from him, Mouku was bit more scared but he too was there at first in lit room when I was there, so I would say it was another break trough for them. I did first throw some treats to them from the door which they did pick up, I believe that helped them to tolerate me there, but I think that tomorrow I try playing, maybe they are ready for that by then as they now melt this new experience into their memory.
 

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I love all these posts, JTbo. Keep them coming!
with greetings from the other end of Europe (though when you talk of all that snow, we're a world away...just windy, a bit drizzly and nippy here, typical England)
 

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Oh how exciting!!!!!!!!!!!! You're making such GREAT progress with them!
Doesn't it feel great?


And I LOVE LOVE LOVE the pathway you're going to build for them!!!!

Have you seen this yet? You must take a "tour!" http://www.thecatshouse.com/

I'm sorry you had to deactivate the trap for mom. But I loved hearing her story.
 
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jtbo

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Plans are still not quite ready, also this kind of design interest me, but it might not be possible as roof is so low.


I don't really know what is on mother cat's mind, when I take her water bowl and fill it in kitchen she often comes to half way between feeding station and kitchen door, even she knows that I have to walk 'over' her to be able to bring water bowl back, but she will not come indoors either, just sits or kind of lies there tail wrapped around her with tip of tail turned to side.

It is kind of ritual, maybe she is spying what I put into her water


I did put out heating of the box as she is not staying there, probably too hot for her liking or something like that. She is defineatly more cautious around me now as she is alone, but she tolerates me and as she gets her food all is fine.

Boys had some fun last night, Miuku was vocal, short meow bit like mew perhaps, those he sounded at times, also they did found fun with cat tree too and other high places for first time. When they get less scared I try to get some pics from them, can't see them during day time yet.

At one point amount of snow started to look bit bad:
http://jtbo.pp.fi/images/road_pics/w...ds_of_snow.jpg

I have dug pathways to them into snow, but access to warehouse is dangerous this time of year, whole winter's amount of snow will come down from roof any time now and it so happens that both access routes to there will get tons of snow on them, so I'm bit worried of how mother cat will do, other pathway is now shielded so that even snow comes down cat probably can get into warehouse and out from there, but cat must be enough clever that she is not walking there when snow comes down, it is bit of problem, but there is nothing I can do for it right now.
 
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jtbo

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Beware of cat when you adjust heater temperature, I have electric heater with knob that you turn to adjust temperature, cat's keep now adjusting it to +35C as they did saw me adjusting it yesterday, they learn really easily such things it seems to be.

I have to take off that knob or tape it now


edit: I hope you are not bored of Mouku yet, he is one that is always on camera, Miuku plays next to sofa at right just barely out of pic.

I took curtains off before cats do, glass is tinted, so curtains have not much of use for privacy anyway.

Cat's really seem to like from piano, they sometimes lie down and just listen to what I have playing, at the moment it is "God knows" from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and those two are quite intensively looking to door with curious faces.

edit2: I'm quite surprised by now, I had good 15 minutes of playing with both of them even room was lit, also Miuku actually did visit to my side of upstairs, he did examine good two meters into unknown territory, then he did leave, but clearly curiosity is winning fear by now.

One of them have had accident and there was poo next to litter box. Simple enough to clean, but bit odd as I scoop box at least twice a day, granted, I would need more boxes and that is in order tomorrow.

Oh and Miuku took one treat from my hand. During day I still don't see them, but this late I can lure them near by tossing treats to them, they like it as a game, trying to grab treat from air with paw etc. I don't know what stage we are at the moment, but I think we are making progress quite fast It is week and two days since I captured Mouku and he was operated a week ago, Miuku was captured about week before Mouku, but operated only last Monday, so it is bit of surprise to me especially how at beginning they hid completely their existence.
 
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What a night, boys were stomping on floor, jumping on things, trying to scratch door open and pawing under door, finally around 4am had to go and see what is going on, Miuku instantly did run right next to my leg, then window, sofa, shelf and again came to sniff me, would not play just run, then I hear a fly buzzing against roof (this is an old house and there is few flies emerging somewhere every spring), both of them were clearly disturbed by a fly that they could not catch, so I had to deal with that, they jumped on falling dead fly like predators too and pawed it quite good, so I think cat too can feel for revenge


So after that they were stomping less and as sun started to rise they got again more cautious, however especially Miuku is showing a lot of progress, imo as he comes look very close to me and sniffing too, maybe some day even during the day, also I hope they start to be more active during the day and sleep during the nights, but that might take some time


It is -17C outside and as I filled their bowls could not see even a sign of cats as they were in their sleeping quarters, which is at no human zone.

They did eat lot more this night than usually, I would say around the double the usual amount, but they did move probably 10 times what they have used to do before, which is really good as cat needs to move a lot to keep in shape
 

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I'm sorry to laugh - but I can just see them going nuts trying to get the fly! So glad you were able to help them in their efforts.
It sounds like things are going REALLY well!
 
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I think that one day I learned their "area safe" noise, one kind of mew, at least it did got their attention and curiosity woken and Miku did closer inspection and he did look like if he really would like to come to as close as is possible, but he was still too scared at the time, must try it again some day, it is not very easy to talk cat, but not impossible either.
 

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Still enjoying your updates and it sounds like things are progressing so well for you and the cats
. I finally learned how to talk cat, but don't ask me how, I don't want to sound toooooo crazy


Very impressed with your building skills. I have a dream to build those walkways in my home, but talking the DH into it will take a little convincing. I know my cats would just love those so much. check out the link LDG gave you on The Cat House. Incredible place and that is my dream home. Love all the colors too
 
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jtbo

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Originally Posted by Feralvr

Still enjoying your updates and it sounds like things are progressing so well for you and the cats
. I finally learned how to talk cat, but don't ask me how, I don't want to sound toooooo crazy


Very impressed with your building skills. I have a dream to build those walkways in my home, but talking the DH into it will take a little convincing. I know my cats would just love those so much. check out the link LDG gave you on The Cat House. Incredible place and that is my dream home. Love all the colors too
I really wish that I actually could make things as well as I can plan, but even my planning lacks, it is nothing compared to my actual building skills which more or less are missing, but even I can't make things as pretty as in my plans, I hope them at least to work the way I intended to.

Cat house is indeed quite impressive piece of work, perhaps bit feminine for my liking, but it has been lot of work that have been put to it, that is incredible house.

Just came back from trip, cats have gone crazy while I was off, they had covered all of their food and water bowls with 2 mattress that were on bed, top of those were few blankets which were also moved over 1 meter and taken off from bed that had sides, there was plenty of water on bowls, I don't know if they had understood to find bowls after covering them, I hope that they have managed to drink at least.
Old tick tock clock was found from opposite corner of room from where I left it, however sweaty shirt which I left to them was pretty much where I left it, they just had rested on top of it.

Toy from cat tree I found near the door, ripped off with brute force


I guess I should quit my job and be with them or something like that, or maybe they will get adjusted to situation, but I know situation is not the most optimal, plans at work has changed so that I have to be really lot away and boys seem not to like that I'm away, troubles a bit.
 

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That is so funny!
I can only imagine all of them playing and having such fun!! I'm sure they were missing you though


You do have such a nice area for then to run and play in. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all just stay home with the kittys?

My job is pretty flexible, so I am lucky there.

I am thinking of getting a kitty cam so I can see what happens at night while we all sleep. Sometimes when I go into Luna's room in the morning I'm wondering what could she have gotten into


I think she is becoming more comfortable in her room. I like to see that she has been playing at night, toys moved, etc. My husband built her a cat tree and just over the past few nights she has been getting on it. I put cat treats up there for her, also in my chair.

Thank you again for all your posts and I am wishing you good luck with all your little kittys. Sounds like they are beginning to settle in.
 

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Is is very common for home cats this age to have plenty of energy. For example, running at full speed literally hours in end.."cat galoppes" or "cat frenzy, cat madness" etc. Or changing the furniture of the house...Or at the very least, the bedclothes...

The somewhat unusual here is, these two ex-ferales are behaving so. I suppose they are feeling splendid with you. Their energy is not consumed by the need to survive, to manage the stress. Apparently they dont have any stress to speak of.
It will only take some time, you will have entirely domesticed pets of them.
 
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jtbo

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Originally Posted by StefanZ

Is is very common for home cats this age to have plenty of energy. For example, running at full speed literally hours in end.."cat galoppes" or "cat frenzy, cat madness" etc. Or changing the furniture of the house...Or at the very least, the bedclothes...

The somewhat unusual here is, these two ex-ferales are behaving so. I suppose they are feeling splendid with you. Their energy is not consumed by the need to survive, to manage the stress. Apparently they dont have any stress to speak of.
It will only take some time, you will have entirely domesticed pets of them.
They have known me from time when they had blue eyes, for most of their life I have provided them food and water, also I gave them warm shelter for winter etc. So in that sense they are perhaps not so feral as they could be.

I try to build some pathways for them to use over weekend, so they could spend some of their energy there too, they are really used to jump and climb, furthest jump I have seen has been around 6 meters long, Miuku launched that from height of 4 meters, running of course, it is really incredible what they can do, however in their room there is not that much of space, unless cat jumps from wall to wall and still there is not so much height, so there must be some excessive energy even they are getting calming food.
 
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jtbo

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Originally Posted by alexandrajames

That is so funny!
I can only imagine all of them playing and having such fun!! I'm sure they were missing you though


You do have such a nice area for then to run and play in. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all just stay home with the kittys?

My job is pretty flexible, so I am lucky there.

I am thinking of getting a kitty cam so I can see what happens at night while we all sleep. Sometimes when I go into Luna's room in the morning I'm wondering what could she have gotten into


I think she is becoming more comfortable in her room. I like to see that she has been playing at night, toys moved, etc. My husband built her a cat tree and just over the past few nights she has been getting on it. I put cat treats up there for her, also in my chair.

Thank you again for all your posts and I am wishing you good luck with all your little kittys. Sounds like they are beginning to settle in.
I have used old laptop and webcam for that, open source (free to use and modify) software called iSpy is also handy as it does track motion and records when something moves, also there is possibility to watch video from web when knowing passwords and such. Cat tv at work is possible with that.
 

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I am laughing here..... regarding the webcam. My advice: Do Not Do It
. I did it and it ruined our vacation
. I was constantly on the computer waiting for the sitter to show up, watching the kittens run around and just so worried about them. I hate leaving my cats and since they were so young it was worse for me. At one point, I didn't even think the sitter came at all because everything was the same as it was when I looked earlier in the afternoon. I was a wreck..... then my hubby said that she was there because he remembered there was nothing on the counter earlier and then there was a fork on the counter. SEE, it just made me crazy!!!!


It would have been funny to see your cats trashing their room though while you were gone! They missed you for sure
I am thinking even more seriously about building walkways in my house! I just loved your plans and it got me thinking again and it is dangerous when I start thinking, that means it WILL get done
. Poor hubby
 
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jtbo

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With motion detection even swing of tail is not missed so no need to keep watching, well that is it in theory, we all know how it really goes, must have that video feed open all the time


I did left door open to cat room, Miuku has been here several times, running off almost instantly after coming to room, he is lot more scared than before my trip, but still he comes to see if I'm still here.

He is really noisy, I can hear him approaching from other side of their room
 
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jtbo

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Stefan, I think you are right from the stress, this I found they did when I was away

 
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