About six weeks ago, a very large buff male turned up injured (lacerated forepaw and right ear stripped entirely of fur) outside my office. We're in an industrial park area, so I knew he was probably feral. I had some tuna on hand, so I dished it up and brought it out to him. He loped away from me, but didn't go far. He ate up all the tuna and spent the rest of the day hiding in the bushes. At the end of the day, he sauntered away and hasn't been seen since.
But, he set me in action and I immediately began doing research into feral cat colonies and TNR. I attended a class at our local SPCA and was introduced to the traps and techniques. I made arrangements to borrow a trap and set up a spay/neuter appointment. Meanwhile, I began leaving a dish of food out every evening as I left the office.
I caught my first one a week ago, a stinky little gray tabby with the sweetest face. He put up hardly any fuss when I transported him home and then to the vet the next morning. He had his surgery, rabies shots and tested negative for FeLV and FIV. The vet figures he's about 6 mos old and in good physical condition.
I had planned to release him after two days of recuperation, but, since he's fairly young, I thought I'd make an attempt at socialization. This may be a rookie mistake on my part, but I want to give this beauty boy a chance to live in comfort and be loved.
So, last Friday, I set him up in a large dog kennel that contains a small cat carrier and small litter box. I have covered the kennel with towels and I've installed a Feliway plug-in in the nearest outlet. The room is kept dark and quiet, with only a small night light kept burning (the room has no window, so it would be pitch black without it).
He has been well-behaved so far; he allows me to open the cage to refill his food dish and remove and replace his litter box without hissing or swatting at my gloved hand. I keep up a smooth patter of gentle talk when I'm in the room, but he is still too fearful to attempt eating while I'm in the room. My daughter also brings him food and observes the same protocols.
He has not yet been discovered inside the carrier, but he does spend a lot of time sitting on top of it when he isn't cowering in the litter box. I think I'll give him a Tshirt I've slept in as a cushion for the top of the carrier as a way to get him accustomed to human smells.
I realize that because he's an adolescent instead of a young kitten, this could be a long process with no guarantee of success. I promised myself I'd release him to his colony if life indoors proves too stressful for him.
Anyway, I'm happy to receive advice and counsel, and any encouragement I can get!
But, he set me in action and I immediately began doing research into feral cat colonies and TNR. I attended a class at our local SPCA and was introduced to the traps and techniques. I made arrangements to borrow a trap and set up a spay/neuter appointment. Meanwhile, I began leaving a dish of food out every evening as I left the office.
I caught my first one a week ago, a stinky little gray tabby with the sweetest face. He put up hardly any fuss when I transported him home and then to the vet the next morning. He had his surgery, rabies shots and tested negative for FeLV and FIV. The vet figures he's about 6 mos old and in good physical condition.
I had planned to release him after two days of recuperation, but, since he's fairly young, I thought I'd make an attempt at socialization. This may be a rookie mistake on my part, but I want to give this beauty boy a chance to live in comfort and be loved.
So, last Friday, I set him up in a large dog kennel that contains a small cat carrier and small litter box. I have covered the kennel with towels and I've installed a Feliway plug-in in the nearest outlet. The room is kept dark and quiet, with only a small night light kept burning (the room has no window, so it would be pitch black without it).
He has been well-behaved so far; he allows me to open the cage to refill his food dish and remove and replace his litter box without hissing or swatting at my gloved hand. I keep up a smooth patter of gentle talk when I'm in the room, but he is still too fearful to attempt eating while I'm in the room. My daughter also brings him food and observes the same protocols.
He has not yet been discovered inside the carrier, but he does spend a lot of time sitting on top of it when he isn't cowering in the litter box. I think I'll give him a Tshirt I've slept in as a cushion for the top of the carrier as a way to get him accustomed to human smells.
I realize that because he's an adolescent instead of a young kitten, this could be a long process with no guarantee of success. I promised myself I'd release him to his colony if life indoors proves too stressful for him.
Anyway, I'm happy to receive advice and counsel, and any encouragement I can get!
and you have done a wonderful thing for this beautiful boy. You are on the right track with socialization. I find that funny that he doesn't retreat into the carrier when you come into to feed and visit. The slept in nightshirt with your smell on it is the way to go and try to replace it each day or so. You can put the t-shirt inside of the carrier. I would spend as much time near the crate as you can, talking, reading and opening the cage door and just resting your hand near the kitty. When you are not there, leave a radio on soft, the voices and music will get the kitten used to human voices.
But cats have flexible collar bones, so anything their head will fit into, they can get into. 
That is a HUGE leap of faith on Charley's part. Wonderful news!!! Isn't is a great feeling when you make these tiny steps in the right direction.... A few steps forward, a few back (this is to be expected) and then alot of steps forward. 
