I am trapping this weekend!

Wish me luck !!! I have a new gorgeous long-haired pastel tortie that has been coming around lately, I think it is a female, and have decided to name her Wilma. . Also, I need to trap another black/brown long-haired tabby that I thought was a female, but I did get closer to this one yesterday and when (he) turned and walked off, I thought I saw... the you-know-whats. I do believe these cats are all related to Dixie, Yogi and Magilla and that crew. I have not seen Dixie for a few days, but that is not unusual. Boo Boo has not been around for a couple of weeks since this new cat is here . I have the trap out today (unset) so they get used to seeing it. I have all food in the trap. Monday morning are my two appts. at the vet for their TNR. I sure hope I can at least get the tortie, can't tell if she is pregnant .

Thanks all !!!!! I have the trap unset outside yesterday and today. The two cats are going in and out of that unset trap to eat and have not a clue of what is to come later !! Oh well, must be done. I will set trap for them tonight and again very early tomorrow morning if needed. I am loaded up with sardines and tuna . I need to get them to the vet by 8:30 a.m. if all goes well I am hopeful

p.s. Dixie was hanging around last night, and I hope she doesn't tell the other two about the trap . She was sniffing around the trap, but walked away. She is trap smart now...

GOTCHA TIMES TWO

I AM JUST crazy happy at the moment. But feel bad for the frightened, VERY angry ferals. I trapped them both within 30 minutes of each other. I set the trap and guess who showed up first DIXIE!!!!! Don't need her.... she was hungry so I fed her in her shelter and closed up the trap with the tuna/sardines inside. After she was done eating, she kept circling the trap trying to get at the tuna........... THEN !!!!! Here comes Snaggle (Was Wilma, but I changed her name to Snaggle to go along with the Yogi theme). I walked out there and Dixie ran off. Snaggle just sat there watching me and retreated just a bit. Re-set the trap and I went back inside. In she went, and down went the door. She was pretty calm compared to most, but did TONS of growling. I had newspaper set up on my deck floor to set the traps on. Covered the trap and carried her to the deck. Then went and re-set the other trap and put tuna/sardines in. All the while Dixie was watching from the other yard. I went inside the house to watch and here comes Ricochet (the gorgeous long-haired black/brown tabby). He sniffed around for just a second and sauntered right into the trap, and down went the door. HOLY MOLY< was he ever freaked out. I felt so bad. He was fiercely vicious. He is the most gorgeous cat and he has GIANT paws, I just can't believe it. I have never seen such large paws. I think this might be Yogi and Magilla's brother . I had a towel covering the trap, but when you carry them off it is quite tramatic for them. Set him on the newspapers next to Snaggle on the deck. Went and got ice cold water, small amounts of canned food (which I will pull out of the traps after ten p.m.). I doubt they will eat, but just want to offer them something as a sign of friendship . Don't think it will work, but what it will do is let them know I still care for them as this is the same food they have been eating from me for weeks and that I don't intend to harm them. It is best to just let them be and leave them alone. No eye contact at all. Just my soothing voice, which they are already used to anyway. I also always purchase those disposable litter boxes you get from the grocery story. I trim the edges off, empty some of the litter out and mix in some dirt from the woods they live in. These temporary litter boxes slide perfectly into the Hav-a-Hart traps.

So, here I sit, outside on my deck posting this message to you. And, I am being watched by two beautiful feral cats, and every minute or so, I hear that low growl of protest . Poor babies, but this needs to be done. Will be a long night for all of us... I don't expect to sleep much. My deck is enclosed/fenced with trellace all around, so that no other animals will come to bother them. I wonder if Dixie is still watching !!!!! It is WAY too hot to keep them in the garage. They are more comfortable out back on the deck. Familiar smells and it is their territory.

Tomorrow they will get FeLK/FIV tested first. Please pray for negative on the FeLK, if FeLK is positive then I have no choice but to humanely euthanize . If negative, then we will go ahead with the spay/neuter, Revolution (for fleas/tick, worms, ear mites), rabies, distemper, left ear tip, and a microchip. Ricochet I will release tomorrow night late after he is totally awake. Snaggle will stay in a crate in my house for a few days in a secluded room until such time as she is recovered. If she is pregnant, , she will need a longer recovery before I release her. I am just so relieved to have trapped them, it went fairly smooth.

Snaggle and Ricochet made it to the vet. I kept getting up to check on them last night. Snaggle (female tortie) was neat and tidy with her trap. Ricochet (perfect name for him - if it is a he ) made a complete mess/disaster of his whole trap. The temporary litter box was in shreds, litter and dirt strewn everywhere, feet from the trap. Newspaper was pulled up into trap and shredded. Water bowl was pretty dirty and banged up. And when I would check on them, he made sure that I knew he was very, very pissed off, fiercely. Snaggle was quiet as a mouse. She is very tiny, maybe six pounds.

I found out the organization I go through never tests for FeLk/FIV for any TNRs, unless a cat will be socialized or relocated to a barn. I always like them tested anyway and it is only another $5.00 for each cat. We are going to try to find a different situation for Snaggle, maybe a barn. It is in the works, but if nothing comes up, I will release her later this week.

Will post later when I go to pick them up!!!!

They are both NEGATIVE!!!!!!!!! . And they have been home for hours now. I CHANGED THEIR NAMES AGAIN Wilma just suits the tortie better than Snaggle. So I named the boy (yes it was a boy) Fred!! They are quite a pair, Fred and Wilma. I guess I don't have to stick with the Yogi theme afterall.

Wilma WAS pregnant . Why do I feel so bad right now. I am sorry for the kittens whom never will be born now. She had seven and she was very early in the pregnancy. I am sure Fred was the father. Fred has been released just minutes ago. He ran off to the under the neighbor's deck (no one has lived in that house for a year now, abandoned). He feels safe there. Wilma is in a very large dog crate all set up with litter box, food, cold water, a hiding place and a hammock if she so chooses. I hope she eats and drinks soon. She seems very quiet and depressed. She will stay in crate for at least four to five days before I release her back outside in the yard. She needs extra days to recover, especially because of the kittens too. This is the hard part of TNR, if the females are pregnant. Poor Wilma... Will keep you all posted on her release and how Fred is doing too. Thanks for the vibes, friends

Yes, JTbo, you are right. I did think of the horrible life those kittens would have had if born out in the woods by my house. Maybe even being born just to die...... Wilma is now outside (in the dog crate still) near the feeding station, in the shade, with a fan blowing her direction. SHe was very, very stressed this morning and is much happier being outside now. I can tell. I will release her tomorrow morning if I feel she is totally recovered and ready. She is not eating or drinking that I know of and I am very concerned as it it in the nineties. I keep going out there and adding ice to water bowls and fresh water and food. She has been so calm and docile I thought I would try to syringe some water in her mouth. But she nailed me with a bite to the thumb. . Boy, was she quick. And unfortunately, I made a mistake by even trying that . I should have known better . and that probably just stressed her out more. I am going to leave her be for the day. Then tonight will move her back onto the deck for the night and release in the morning. I hope she is not getting sick either. OH, I just have to stop this and hope for the best. I had to get her TNRd and that was that....

Have not seen Fred since his release last night. What a gorgeous cat he is. Oh MY The bone on him and the size of his feet, incredible. He must be young, just a year will be a huge cat. I am sure he is hiding out and still in shock from the event...

Wlma did break skin in three places but it is not bad at all tonight. I cleaned it very well. Seriously, it is not bad bit I will definitely keep an eye on it.

I brought her back inside and put her in my daughters room, since that room is available now . This heat wave is dangerous, almost 100 degrees and her breathing was too rapid. She needs to recover and the heat was too much for her to tolerate. She is resting comfortably in the crate in that room and I am just about to offer her some more food. She is so quiet and doesn't mind me reaching in to get bowls. I will keep her inside for a few more days. She seems frail to me, very tiny. I hope she eats tonight.

Yeah, she is much more comfortable. I will keep her in for two more days and will release her on Friday. Today will be 100 degrees and heat index way above that. . Wilma did eat ALL of her food overnight. She has expensive taste. TOTW - she loved it..... So at least she is eating and drinking now and staying cool and comfortable inside. Oh, I called the vet's office who did her TNR and was wondering about her age. She just looks older to me. The vet thought she was anywhere from five to seven years old . She sure must know how to fend and care for herself to be that old and feral..... Poor little thing.

My thumb is fine. Only one of the punctures is a bit red and inflammed today. Believe me, I have been bit worse than this over the years!