Hi everyone!
I am new to the forum and just love this site. I have been reading for weeks and getting some great information.
My feral, Shadow appeared in my suburban backyard in mid July. He was quite small and very skinny. I tried going out numerous times to call to him, but he was always gone in a flash. I continued to see him off and on through August. By mid August, I was beginning to see him daily and sometimes a few times a day. He was so skinny. I decided it was time to take action since he was definitely a stray or feral. I did my research and made a feeding station for him near some pine trees in my backyard. He found the food the first day. I gave him both wet and dry food. After a few weeks, he began showing up regularly and wanting and waiting for food. He would make a run for it, when he saw me, but always come out as soon as I was in the house. After feeding him for a month, I moved the feeding station onto my deck. He found it immediately. It was now easier for me to get food out to him and I could get really good looks at him. I found out, he was a male since he was still intact. I knew I needed to get him neutered. I once again did my research and was able to borrow a trap. So in mid October, I trapped him, had him neutered, rabies vaccine and ear tipped. He stayed in the trap that night in my basement and then I released him the next morning. He did well and returned later that day for food.
Since, the trapping we have begun to bond. He began meowing to me in late November. Each morning, he would great me with lots and lots of meows. I could make it to the feeding station without him running, but no touch at all. Since it was getting cold out, I had made a few of the rubbermaid shelters for him to put under out deck. My wonderful DH then constructed him a house that I put on the side of my deck. Unfortunately he did not like any of them. I was so sad and so worried about him each and every night. It was a really cold and snowy winter here. I found out by following his tracks that he was living under my neighbors screened porch. I was comforted by this, but still so worried about him.
In early December, I began using Spirit Essences, Feral Cat Rehab. Within 3 weeks, he was wanting to come into the house. Of course I had to leave the door open a bit, but he would come in for very short sessions. This was often quite difficult as I have an indoor cat as well as a dog. Both had to be securely put away and neither was happy about this. Shadow began showing up each evening and wanting to come in for up to 2-3 hours. Unfortunately he didn't want to stay the night. I still had to leave the door ajar as when I closed it once, he had a major freak out session. He would come in to get a bite to eat and then have a nap. We also began to play with the wand/feather. He loved it. He also loved the laser light.
So in March, he came in for about 8 hours. Jake, our indoor cat is able to be in a small dog cage ( he actually loves the cage) and we also have an indoor/outdoor cat enclosure tent. He and Shadow can sniff and get to know each other gradually. Jake is a bit unsure and sometimes swats at Shadow, but Shadow just loves all over the cage. He gets scared when Jake swats. Misty, the dog can be on a leash, but she is quite large and isn't very quiet or graceful. She is fine on the leash and they can be near each other, just not close enough to sniff. I am using Composure on all of them as well as the Harp music Cd. All seem to be helping.
In early April, Shadow and I would play with his favorite wand toy every day. I would run the wand over his head and under his chin. He loved it. I then began moving the wand away from him so that it was my hand touching him. He eagerly accepted. So after having him in my life for 8 months, I was finally able to pet him. We now pet and brush. He craves the attention.
We have a few litter boxes scattered throughout the house and he uses them from time to time. He has stayed inside only one night. He gets very very nervous during storms. I have been able to console him, but he is still quite unsettled. Composure definitely helps.
I am now working on getting Jake and Shadow acclimated. Jake has graduated to using a harness some of the time. The interactions lately have been successful as long as they don't exceed 20 minutes. It is all baby steps here.
I am looking forward to being a part of this wonderful forum.
Here is a picture of Shadow
Here is Jake and his favorite toy, Pinky
And here is Misty our Samoyed
I am new to the forum and just love this site. I have been reading for weeks and getting some great information.
My feral, Shadow appeared in my suburban backyard in mid July. He was quite small and very skinny. I tried going out numerous times to call to him, but he was always gone in a flash. I continued to see him off and on through August. By mid August, I was beginning to see him daily and sometimes a few times a day. He was so skinny. I decided it was time to take action since he was definitely a stray or feral. I did my research and made a feeding station for him near some pine trees in my backyard. He found the food the first day. I gave him both wet and dry food. After a few weeks, he began showing up regularly and wanting and waiting for food. He would make a run for it, when he saw me, but always come out as soon as I was in the house. After feeding him for a month, I moved the feeding station onto my deck. He found it immediately. It was now easier for me to get food out to him and I could get really good looks at him. I found out, he was a male since he was still intact. I knew I needed to get him neutered. I once again did my research and was able to borrow a trap. So in mid October, I trapped him, had him neutered, rabies vaccine and ear tipped. He stayed in the trap that night in my basement and then I released him the next morning. He did well and returned later that day for food.
Since, the trapping we have begun to bond. He began meowing to me in late November. Each morning, he would great me with lots and lots of meows. I could make it to the feeding station without him running, but no touch at all. Since it was getting cold out, I had made a few of the rubbermaid shelters for him to put under out deck. My wonderful DH then constructed him a house that I put on the side of my deck. Unfortunately he did not like any of them. I was so sad and so worried about him each and every night. It was a really cold and snowy winter here. I found out by following his tracks that he was living under my neighbors screened porch. I was comforted by this, but still so worried about him.
In early December, I began using Spirit Essences, Feral Cat Rehab. Within 3 weeks, he was wanting to come into the house. Of course I had to leave the door open a bit, but he would come in for very short sessions. This was often quite difficult as I have an indoor cat as well as a dog. Both had to be securely put away and neither was happy about this. Shadow began showing up each evening and wanting to come in for up to 2-3 hours. Unfortunately he didn't want to stay the night. I still had to leave the door ajar as when I closed it once, he had a major freak out session. He would come in to get a bite to eat and then have a nap. We also began to play with the wand/feather. He loved it. He also loved the laser light.
So in March, he came in for about 8 hours. Jake, our indoor cat is able to be in a small dog cage ( he actually loves the cage) and we also have an indoor/outdoor cat enclosure tent. He and Shadow can sniff and get to know each other gradually. Jake is a bit unsure and sometimes swats at Shadow, but Shadow just loves all over the cage. He gets scared when Jake swats. Misty, the dog can be on a leash, but she is quite large and isn't very quiet or graceful. She is fine on the leash and they can be near each other, just not close enough to sniff. I am using Composure on all of them as well as the Harp music Cd. All seem to be helping.
In early April, Shadow and I would play with his favorite wand toy every day. I would run the wand over his head and under his chin. He loved it. I then began moving the wand away from him so that it was my hand touching him. He eagerly accepted. So after having him in my life for 8 months, I was finally able to pet him. We now pet and brush. He craves the attention.
We have a few litter boxes scattered throughout the house and he uses them from time to time. He has stayed inside only one night. He gets very very nervous during storms. I have been able to console him, but he is still quite unsettled. Composure definitely helps.
I am now working on getting Jake and Shadow acclimated. Jake has graduated to using a harness some of the time. The interactions lately have been successful as long as they don't exceed 20 minutes. It is all baby steps here.
I am looking forward to being a part of this wonderful forum.
Here is a picture of Shadow
Here is Jake and his favorite toy, Pinky
And here is Misty our Samoyed
