Big week ahead

Hello all - just logged back in for the first time in a while. Such a variety of emotional reactions to reading the stories on here: from heartwrenching to joyous, calling all stops along the way.
I'm continuing to make good progress with my barn friends! Ruby, in particular, is so cool. For the past week or so, if I head out anytime she's awake, I'll invariably get a black and white lady appear in the lean-to meowing away at me for treats! Clever thing has realised that if she shows herself, she'll be rewarded with a tasty morsel of two and these she eats about 5-10 feet away from me. Little Cow is much more fearful but I kind of get the feeling that she's slowly opening up to me - little things like letting me talk to her (either from inside or outside the house, even if I'm 30 feet away) is a good sign. But time is on my side!
Later this week, I'm hoping to catch the girls and take them to the vet for fleaing, worming and a general check-up. The vet has 3 sites near here (each within 10 miles) and had said to give them a call as soon as one is caught and they'll get me in asap (probably within the hour). And the shelter I've got them from is kindly lending me a trap and a bit of their expertise. I felt like saying 'hey, I've read all about it online at tcs, I'll be fine', but best not to look a gift horse in the mouth.
plan is to reduce the food a little on Wednesday, put the baited cage/ trap out first thing Thursday morning and keep checking. I'll be putting the cage right next to where I currently feed them. Once one has returned, newly Deflead and dewormed, I'll bring her back and put her in a secure barn (with litter tray and food and water) till number 2 is caught. I'm on holiday/ working from home on Thursday and friday, so fingers crossed I'll get it all done then. Wish me well! Am a bit fearful that I'll be undoing some of the progress I've made with the girls, but I'm hoping that their vet trip will be short and painless and they'll come back to the farm and think 'hey, that wasn't too bad - home again now!'

AW don't worry about having a set-back with the girls, I have had to trap a barn cat twice or three times before and actually each time they got friendlier . It is a bonding thing, go figure..... I wish you luck with trapping and it is so nice you are taking such great care of Ruby and Cow. Ruby sounds like you will be able to pet her someday down the road. Yogi too is getting closer and closer outside about ten feet. He just sits there and looks at me while I talk with him. If I try to get any closer than that, he turns around. But he doesn't run off like he used too. I think now that he is neutered, he is more laid back and serene now. I see him all day out there now, he rarely roams away from the property anymore. Let us know how the vet excursion goes

Originally Posted by Feralvr

AW don't worry about having a set-back with the girls, I have had to trap a barn cat twice or three times before and actually each time they got friendlier

. It is a bonding thing, go figure.....

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Could it be that cat does not realize you trapping it, but from cat's perspective you are one to get her out from trouble and thus leading to bonding?

Clever Ruby!

And of course pleased to hear about LC making progress too.

for Thursday/Friday!

Don't know if you've read up on trapping tips, but we put a piece of cardboard on the floor of the trap so they don't need to step on the wires. Make sure it doesn't cover the trip plate, and isn't too long to interfere with the trap closing properly. We leave a touch of wet food on the ground in front of it, a little dollop in the middle of the cardboard, and a small paper bowel at the far end of the trap with a REALLY stinky food in it (hot chicken, hot tuna, something like that). The trail of food leads them in there, but isn't nearly enough to make them not want to keep going for that great smelling morsel.

Evening All! Hope all are well

Let me tell you about my last 48 hrs....which has a very happy and unexpected ending! Actually, it's one I've been expecting if you look back at a couple of earlier posts.

Yesterday/ Wednesday: picked up the trap and crash cage from the kindly people at the cat shelter. Put the trap (unprimed) next to the feeding stations. Within minutes, Little Cow came out for a reccie: got about 10 feet away from it and turned tail. About 30 minutes after that, as the sun was going down, out comes Ruby - cage sniffed and wandered round and, wallop, straight in. Tuna devoured and one happy cat then proceeded to meow for treats for a while.....

Today: trap set up at primed at 8pm GMT, 'Dad' working from his upstairs office and watching. At c. 8:30, Little Cow comes out and this time goes to within about 5 feet of the cage. This is the first of c. 20 visits to the area by the Little Cow over the course of the day. At one point in time she put her paw in and stole a few flakes of tuna, but generally she was a girl who did not wabt anything to do with the metal beast. Cut to 6:20 this evening and Ruby is spotted in the vicinity for the first time in the day. At 6:22 Ruby is caught!! At this point in time the most heart-wrenching wailing and moaning commences (the cat, not me) from the trapped feline and 'Dad' calls the vet. An appointment is made for 40 minutes later. During the brief drive to the vet, the noises emanating from Ruby were simply heartbreaking.

Have any of you guessed the twist in the tail?

OK, I'll continue.....

7:10 - vets. Ruby is taken in and the examination commences. To cut a long story short (which I could perhaps have done a few paragraphs backl ):

* Ruby is Rudi! A c. 3-4 year old neutered male weighing in at 5kg (about 12lbs). Clearly previously owned
* He is a good, healthy lad. A few cuts and scratches from fights he's been in, but he's basically in good shape. Deflead (he had a few), dewormed and dosed up with antibiotics for a tpuch of conjunctivitis
* He was handled without too much problem by the vets who called him grey and white (not black and white) and also called him a gorgeous boy. They've asked that we try and take him back in a few weeks for further checks.

So, my suspicions that this was not the original Ruby has been confirmed! All the signs over the past few months had pointed to it and we now find ourselves owners of a semi-feral male and the most feral (in a timid, not hissy) female in christendom!

And it's great!! We think that what has happened is that the original Ruby took off pretty much as soon as the door was opened on the holding pen she shared with Little Cow. Pretty much straight away, Rudi (I'm going to have to get used to this!) moved in, as he's definitely the cat that has been hanging around since early November, when the cats were set free.

Phew! I guess I now have to go and catch Little Cow. Just fyi, so that he can calm down, we put Rudi (named after a classic German footballer from the early 90s) in the secure playhouse with litter, food and water. Depending on how he is in the morning, I may try and keep them there for another day - or I may let him run free again. Here's hoping he doesn't run off!

I need a lie-down.....

So you were right all along!! I wonder where Ruby went off to???!!! Well, Rudi sounds like he could easily be socialized and seems to be a very nice boy!!! And someone had to own him at one time since he is already neutered. AWWWW glad he found his way to your place!!!

You knew it wasn't Ruby!!!!

That is really amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rudi knows a good thing when he's got it - so glad you've still got "your" two barn cats!

I am sorry about Ruby. I hope she's found a good source of food, wherever she got to. She knew there was food there if she wanted it.

...but it does also explain why "Ruby" and LC weren't so friendly with each other the way they seemed to be before!

GREAT job, BTW!

thanks for the kind words, all.
Yep, everything sort of fits together now: the size; the slightly different colour; the not getting along with Little Cow; the sudden meowing and wanting attention; the unburied poop on the lawn (which has been happenng since last summer); the disappearances (particularly before Christmas) for a few days at a time.
So Rudi is indeed a stray - but he's our stray! The poor lad was in his playhouse this morning making the same fearful, unearthly wailing sounds he was making when he was trapped last night. He was hiding away (ironically in the same bed that the original Ruby used), but he had eaten his food and had a drink. I spoke calmly to him but he's clearly very traumatised by the ordeal. Fingers crossed he'll come around in time. I left the door of the playhouse open but, three hours later, he's still there and still wailing. Wish us luck: I would be devastated if he now took off.
Sadly, a sudden glut of work has intervened and I simply won't have the time to catch Little Cow. As you know, Rudi/ Ruby was almost was biggest concern (for the issues that have come to light!), so that's the major obstacle out of the way. I'll keep a close eye on LC and make sure she's fine. I've not seen her scratching and I saw her running around happily yesterday (apart from not being able to get any food because of the metal beast!) and this morning. She is adorable.
As for the original Ruby, I'm so sad she didn't stick around. I do wonder if Rudi drove her away! I have memories of her in the holding area/ playhouse being even more timid than LC (we barely saw her in the 3 weeks we contained them - LC's smudged nose was unmistakeable, and still is). Wherever you are, Rubylove, hope you're having fun and keeping well - come home anytime you like.

***STOP PRESS***
Just popped home quickly over lunchhour (my office is very local to the farm) before I go off for meetings.
Rudi was out and about. And what's more, he was meowing away and....get ready for this...walked right up to me, bumped my leg and so got a few nice strokes. He then walked away 3-4 feet and exposed his belly!! So he got a few more strokes (and a couple more treats).
I think he's gonna stay ;-)

Originally Posted by dunnyboy69

***STOP PRESS***
Just popped home quickly over lunchhour (my office is very local to the farm) before I go off for meetings.
Rudi was out and about. And what's more, he was meowing away and....get ready for this...walked right up to me, bumped my leg and so got a few nice strokes. He then walked away 3-4 feet and exposed his belly!! So he got a few more strokes (and a couple more treats).
I think he's gonna stay ;-)

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Congrats, you have new pet now

That is exactly my first cat did (she was stray), day after that lap warmer mode was on and purring

HE KNOWS HE'S HOME! (And being cared for!!!!)

Before I give a quick update on the RudiCat, quick mention for how moving I've found reading Hissy's story about Shell. That's truly humbling: you have a heart as big as a house.
Well, we're at the end of a long week here. RudiCat has become a complete love bug. I share the farm cottages with my brother (and, most weekends, his kids - it's a bit of a Two and a Half Men arrangement, though I'm more Charlie Bucket than Charlie Sheen) and Rudi has now bonded with us both. The past three days, just before the evening steals the afternoon, Rudi has appeared for some loving. He has always been a bit of a night owl - every now and then you'll see him during the day (generally if it's sunny and warm), but I think he's happy to curl up in a barn in his igloo bed and laze the day away.
Anyway, tonight, he was sat in the courtyard, about 10 feet from the house - I saw him from the kitchen window. On heading out to say hello - and this is now 3 evenings on the trot - we've done a little dance to the lean-to where strokings, purring, leg-rubbing and treat-feeding happen for 10-15 minutes. The Rudicat can't get enough: he'll follow me around like a puppy would, running by my side all the way up to the house, bumping my hand when I come in for a stroke. He gets a little startled if I laugh at his antics, but it is lovely. I'll get some photos soon, I promise - the vets said he was the kind of lad you could fall in love with. Over the next few weeks, the aim is to introduce him to the neighbours (peace reigns there at the mo), friends and, most importantly, my brother's boys, who are 13 and 11.
The only concern is over keeping him from coming in. I'm really hoping that he is happy to remain a barn cat with perks, because I have allergic asthma (i've noticed when stroking him outside that it's flaring up a little, but it's not too bad because of being in the fresh air) so I just couldn't bring him in. So if he's happy to stay in his nice, warm barn, safe in the knowledge he'll get plenty of treats, affection (and vet care!), then I couldn't be happier. I think he's been a stray for at least 6 months - maybe as many as 18-24 - so it's fantastic that he can start trusting humans again.
wishing you all lovely weeks

LOVE IT!

I have a feeling he'll wind up inside.

I can help you manage those allergies. I'm VERY allergic to cats. To everything, in fact, AND I have asthma. We live in an RV with 8 cats that are indoor-only.

If you want idea on how to live inside with a cat and not suffer your allergies, I'm happy to oblige.

Hi LDG - please do tell me more on the managing allergies front.
Over time, it may well be that we bring Rudi in. Technically, the farm owner has a strict 'no indoor pets' policy - forgot to mention that! He was delighted to let us have barn cats (free rodent patrol - hey, why not!), and I think that, if the situation changes, he could be swayed. There would be practical issues over catflaps (I wouldn't want to cut a big hole in the door, even if I could), but we can always get around that.
First, though, I've done the honourable thing and put 'found cat' info with the local vet surgeries and with a couple of online services. I suspect it'll come to nothing, but if someone has been pining for him for a few months, it's only fair they have the big lad back. But, given that he's been with us for a fair few months and isn't chipped, it's a very long shot.

Aw, you're right though, it's the right thing to do.

As to the landlord... no thoughts there. If Rudi's not allowed inside, he's already got a happy life now, right? Or if his family doesn't find him, you could try to find him a home, and take another barn cat.

But here's my "cat allergy" regimine. (I have built up immunities, as I no longer have to take the zyrtec (cetirizine - don't know what it would be called there) daily for the cats - I do need it for the seasonal allergies though.

1) Zyrtec. I used to take it every day. Don't know the U.K. equivalent, but the active ingredient in Zyrtec is cetirizine. You do not need a prescription to purchase it, it's been available OTC for a couple of years now. I was crazy allergic, and this pretty much took care of it - enabled me to sleep with the kitties (and one sleeps in my face).

2) When I get hives (which is when I pet them and they drool on me, or I get a scratch), I use a prescription steroid cream. The active ingredient is Halobetasol Proprionate, 0.05%. However, I've found that the "anti-itch" creams available over-the-counter at the pharmacy work pretty well too. The active ingredient in those is hydrocortisone in a strength of 1%.

3) Keep hand wipes available, and/or wash your hands every time you pet the cat. For those occasions when you forget, and you then rub your eyes, keep Visine (or some kind of eye drops) available.

4) When we lived in a house, we had a HEPA air filter in every room - two in the bedroom. Now that we're back in the RV, we still have two in the bedroom, and an additional two in the living room.

5) We cover all the "fluffy" furniture with throw blankets. When I wanted to sit on the couch, I just fold them up and set them to the side, and I've got cat-hair free furniture. We wash and rotate them every week. It's also REALLY convenient, because then you don't have to worry about vacuuming your furniture. Super convenient when you have guests: just fold 'em up and put them in a closet or something - and voila, no cat hair!

6) Vacuum as often as possible. Every day, every other day - a room a day. As much as you comfortably can.

7) You may want to make the bedroom a cat free zone. Personally, I can't imagine sleeping without my kitties - the zyrtec enables me to have Shelly and Billy basically sleep in my face without any problems.

8) If Rudi loves being petted, he'll probably learn pretty quickly to enjoy being brushed. Get a curry comb or slicker type brush to remove as much hair as possible. Brush him as frequently as you can, because the shedding hair helps spread the dander around.

9) During a petting session, wipe him down with a small towel or paper towel made damp with a little bit of DISTILLED water. It is important that it be distilled water. Most tap water has chemicals added to it to make it drinkable, and most bottled water has minerals in it. Cats groom themselves ALL the time (like 1/3 of their awake time!). When allergic to cats, it's the dander to which we're allergic: the dander is their saliva on the flakes of their skin. It is actually an enzyme in their saliva to which we're allergic. So if you bathe them, the just lick themselves all over again to get the right smells back in the right places. Same if you wipe them down with mineral water or drinking water where they can smell the chlorine or whatever. But if you use just a damp cloth of distilled water (no smell), they might not even really realize they're being wiped down. This helps control the dander.

10) Once Rudi (or whatever future kitty LOL) enjoys being brushed, purchase a special comb called a "Furminator." This comb that is truly unbelievable. Use it as often as possible: it REALLY reduces the amount of hair (and thus dander) that they shed, as it is designed to remove the undercoat of the cats, which is what sheds. It works.

So... you can either medicate and not have to worry so much about the other stuff, or try all the other stuff and see if you can get away without even needing medication. Or use a combination that suits you.

But once you've been adopted... it can be darn hard on those cold fall nights when it is POURING rain... or those windy winter nights when it's bitterly cold.... to NOT let kitty inside!

My husband used to HATE cats. A VERY scared stray adopted us. I encouraged him not to chase her away because of the mice (which we didn't have, but the argument worked anyway ). All summer we fed her... and it became a matter of pride with DH that she "like" him. Well, by the time she was lying in his lap, purring, kneading, drooling, being brushed (and VERY parasite free by now!)... who was worrying about where she was when she didn't show up for food on any given day? And who bought the cat bed to put "right inside the front door, because she really hates being wet and it's supposed to rain this weekend." ? Who said - well, I know she's parasite-free, so I don't see any reason to kick her out of the bedroom....

I just didn't argue.

Don't know if you saw this thread, but I think it's fitting, and you'll probably have a good laugh (or get really worried LOL): http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=228256

thanks for the advice, LDG. We do indeed have Zirtec/ Zirtek here - I'll buy a bucketload. Interesting you mention hives: I remember getting this many years ago from an old girlfriend's cat, very blotchy and itchy indeed (but, compared to wheezing, small potatoes).
Anyway, here's a photo of young Rudiger von Kattenstadler (aka Rudi). He's a real sweetheart and seems to enjoy sitting in the courtyard in the sun at the moment, irrespective of whether we're in the house/ coming out to see him or not. A big, happy barn cat. Spring is really springing in the moment in England, so he has lots of opportunity to see his big human friends.

Nothing happier than a cat in a patch of sunshine!

Hello all - update from this end:
* first off, this site (and its people) are terrific. I've had some great reading over the past few days - lots of good advice and some wonderful stories. Gutted that my geography means I can't bid on Shell's kozy kat kabin - have already made a pact that I want one each for Rudi and Little Cow in 6-9 months time. Shell's colourings are quite simply stunning: I did a Google on dilute calico having read her description and the pictures of the other cats are nothing like as stunning as her.
* Rudi still very affectionate with me, but wary of others (even my brother). He rolls around on my feet when I go and see him, and 20 minutes loving isn't nearly enough! However, when I took my youngest nephew out to see him yesterday, Rudi wasn't keen at all, and just silently sulked off. I think Joe (11 year-old) may have tried to rush things. Interestingly, the neighbour's youngest daughter who is the same age stood about 10 feet away tonight and made sensible 'I've seen on animal planet that they approach you, not vice-versa' comments. All the while, Rudi was running between my legs demanding affection. He seems as happy as a sandboy out in the barn: sleep all day, bit of loving from the daft old man, loads of food, go for a stroll around his manor and then off back to bed. It is, as they say, a cat's life! And he deserves it; I think he's been stray/ unloved for at least 6 months, and from the time of his first meow to now is about 6-7 weeks. So that's a long time to fend for yourself emotionally.
* Definite signs of Little Cow coming round. She hasn't run from me a couple of times this week - to put it in context, I've been about 20 feet away from her when this has happened, but it used to be she would run like the wind to one of her many hiding places if she even saw me. Prime example: yesterday, as I exited the back door, I saw her in the front of the lean-to. So I said hello and had a chat with her - it would have been easy for her to run into the back of the lean-to/ main hidey holes, but she simply sat and looked at me inquisitively. I'll keep working on her - unlike Rudi, she's never known humans in her life (she's about 3, I think), and so this will be a slow progress. But having read other stories on the site, I'm convinced that, if I continue to feed her, care for her and give her her space, she'll start to see as less scary. It's clear that she and Rudi don't get on but that she's a tough cookie: he's a good deal bigger than her, but she's clearly said 'this is my farm too, and I'm not moving' so I'm guessing that he tolerates her.
have yourselves lovely weeks
DB

Has Little Cow seen you interacting with Rudi? Because that's going to help her wonder what's so wonderful about your legs.

So glad Rudi's enjoying the good life!

THANK YOU for keeping us updated! I love hearing about them!