I am trapping this weekend!

Lauren, the great news that they're negative for FIV/FeLV is tempered by the sad news she was pregnant. I'm so sorry, sweetie. You're right - that's one of the hardest parts of doing this.

for you both.

Seven is quite many, isn't it? Probably many of those would of suffered horrifying deaths dying slowly, so I think it was best for unborn kittens to never born really. Great news that they both are healthy and are now on road to healtier life, if one tries really hard one could say you saved more than two lives, at least nobody have to slowly suffer to death now, so it really is better this way.

Originally Posted by JTbo

Seven is quite many, isn't it? Probably many of those would of suffered horrifying deaths dying slowly, so I think it was best for unborn kittens to never born really. Great news that they both are healthy and are now on road to healtier life, if one tries really hard one could say you saved more than two lives, at least nobody have to slowly suffer to death now, so it really is better this way.

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SUCH a good point.

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...

Lauren, did she break skin? You may need antibiotics for that. (I made that stupid mistake with Chumley going to the vet - thought I'd "comfort" him by putting my hand in the crate for him to rub his cheek on. Works for all the other cats - totally forgot he doesn't like hands. But it got infected. I was on antibiotics for Lyme at the time so it cleared up right away - but I would have needed them).

I'm sure she doesn't want to eat because of the surgery combined with the heat. And I'm sure Fred will be back.

Continued for all of you!

Originally Posted by LDG

Lauren, did she break skin? You may need antibiotics for that.

(I made that stupid mistake with Chumley going to the vet - thought I'd "comfort" him by putting my hand in the crate for him to rub his cheek on. Works for all the other cats - totally forgot he doesn't like hands.

But it got infected. I was on antibiotics for Lyme at the time so it cleared up right away - but I would have needed them).

I'm sure she doesn't want to eat because of the surgery combined with the heat.

And I'm sure Fred will be back.

Continued for all of you!

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Infection is indeed very dangerous with cats, bite can be surprisingly deep and it is safer to get shots as even tiny mark can cause hospital visit if not taken care of, I think that I read somewhere cat bites being quite near top of list from animal bites requiring hospitalizing in US.

When not yet awakened, they can be bit dangerous, but when they see how we are not that bad it really makes it up, of course with TNR individual that is bit distant event, but they can learn to tolerate by food and when hormones get down curiosity starts win fear, but things right after operation are not the most rewarding, one must just remember what is along the road in future.

It is countless times that I have almost touched Mauku, always I forget as other two beg petting that one is terrified of touch, luckily she does not bite.

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.

OK, but do keep an eye on it.

How wonderful are you for bringing her in?

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!

There is some information about bites and some hints when to get worried and when not:
http://www.vetmed.lsu.edu/animal_bites.htm

So if some new one comes accross this thread such information can be found from link.

This is odd...... I released Wilma yesterday late morning. It was a bit hot but I knew today would be bad due to storms and I was right. We are having major storms push through here all night and this morning too. So I let her go yesterday. She ran right under my deck!!! Not to the woods, not to the abandoned house next door either. That is strange. AND she stayed under there all day and night. I could see her through the deck boards. I am concerned about this. I put her bowls and a bed under the deck close to the house. It is near a window well, and the boards lift up at that section so I could lift the boards and place her things under there. She didn't eat or drink all day. I kept checking and replacing the water with fresh water and ice. Then last night just before dusk, I put fresh food under there for her. I was very worried about the racoons. I can't stand them, cute as they are, and I knew they would be coming very soon if Wilma didn't eat that food quickly. . Went to bed. About eleven o'clock, I heard the boards banging around on the deck. I jumped up out of bed and ran out to the deck. TWO young racoons on the deck running around and mom was under the deck helping herself to food/water. The baby racoons were all puffed up hissing at me and I thought I was going to be attacked by them all. Mom came charging out from under the deck, I picked up a watering can and started banging it and yelling (softly ) because I didn't want to wake Larry, he would have gotten mad . He told me not to put food under the deck and just put it in the shelter. If Wilma was hungry, she knows where to go. So if Larry woke up and saw me in a challenge with racoons ....

Anyway, the baby racoons couldn't figure out how to get out. My deck is all enclosed with trellace. They ran into the attached dog pen and I followed. We were down in the stones and then mom came from the yard and climbed the little wire fence I have enclosing the dog run. She was going to come after me!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The nerve of her. I swung the watering can around and around and acted crazy !!! The babies finally figured out to climb the fencing and off they all went. All the while, I am sure Wilma was under the deck freaking out. I got a flashlight and saw her again through the boards. There was a little food left and I don't know if she got any or the racoons got it. Of course, when I went out to feed this morning before another round of storms, I could tell the sloppy racoons came back. The bowls were covered in mud. It's like the racoons wash themselves up after eating the wonderful meal I left for them and then clean up in the fresh water I left for them ...... Poor Wilma. I did not see her under there this morning. I am worried about her. She is older too maybe seven. I don't know if she wants to be an outside cat anymore . Well, if she decides she wants in, then I will try to find a place for her to go. She will have to make that decision and somehow let me know. I have not seen Fred since he was released. And, here comes another storm !!!!!!!

You have had really eventful night, poor Wilma probably senses change in weather and is not leaving as she might have no safe spot to stay out of storm.

In our language Racoon translates directly bear which washes or washing bear, don't know which is closer really at my level of english.

They wash their food, so that is why their name is such, whenever there is water near their food they wash it.

There is told why Racoon washes their food and many other things which might help a bit if having to fend off them:
http://animals.howstuffworks.com/mam...wash-food1.htm

Hopefully Wilma will do okay in those conditions over there.

Wow, Lauren, you really go the extra mile! An angry raccoon is a scary thing. I'm glad she didn't attack you! (This morning did you tell Larry what you did last night? ).

Wilma knows where the food is. I know storms really throw the ferals out-of-whack, but I'm sure she went under the deck, because she felt safe there. It's dark and quiet, and felt protected. The ferals here all LOVE the decks at all the RV sites.

Is food disappearing? I mean - do you think Fred's been around eating, and you just don't see him? When I get used to how much they're eating (which is all off kilter because of this heat), I have a pretty good idea of how many cats I'm feeding based on the amount of food I have to put out.

Of course... we've had a skunk family decide that they're no longer nocturnal, and the skunk babies come eat at like 3:00 in the afternoon.

When this heat lets up, we're going to have to construct a table with inset legs so we can put the food out for the cats, but not feed the wildlife, as just putting it out a little later and picking it up a little sooner isn't working anymore.

We've released several males after TNRing that never came back. We've also released on female that didn't - in fact, it was the very first female we ever TNRd. Haunts me to this day. But that said... they know where the food is.

I'm sure she's just taken shelter from the storms - and the raccoons probably scared her out of her hidey spot. She'll be OK. If she's hungry, she does know where to come. And if she does needs help, she knows where to come.

Originally Posted by JTbo

You have had really eventful night, poor Wilma probably senses change in weather and is not leaving as she might have no safe spot to stay out of storm.

In our language Racoon translates directly bear which washes or washing bear, don't know which is closer really at my level of english.

They wash their food, so that is why their name is such, whenever there is water near their food they wash it.

There is told why Racoon washes their food and many other things which might help a bit if having to fend off them:
http://animals.howstuffworks.com/mam...wash-food1.htm

Hopefully Wilma will do okay in those conditions over there.

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Wow, that is really great to know. I have always wondered for years why racoons are so dirty, I mean the mud. I always know when the racoons have gotten to the feral's food due to the muddy water and bowls. Thanks for sharing that!!!!!

Hi Laurie , thanks for your thoughts. Food really has not been disappearing these last two days, other than during the night which I am sure the wild animals are getting. I have seen Dixie, she always comes around 6:30 p.m. before the racoons arrive. I am having a terrible time trying to get my ferals used to eating in the morning hours. From now on, I am only putting food out in the morning and just hope they will learn to come then. Fred always came in the morning and I have not seen him since his release . Wilma is gone from the deck as of yesterday morning, probably due to the racoon incident that night. Have not seen her either. I really can't worry myself sick over this right now as I have too many other issues in my life causing me grief. So, I am trying to just tell myself, just what you said Laurie, that they know where the food is and they know where I am if they really need me. I am doing the best I can for them and have to leave the rest up to them......

Originally Posted by Feralvr

I really can't worry myself sick over this right now as I have too many other issues in my life causing me grief. So, I am trying to just tell myself, just what you said Laurie, that they know where the food is and they know where I am if they really need me.

I am doing the best I can for them and have to leave the rest up to them......

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Easier said than done, I KNOW. But make it your mantra right now.

Fred is here . Saw him and Dixie eating dinner tonight at Dixie's usual time. Usually Fred would come in the morning, but that was before his neutering. At least he showed himself to me tonight, PHEW!!!! He is probably over the shock of the whole scary experience. No visual on Wilma... hope soon.