I've been meaning to come back and post an update on my feral kitty Mitten! Here is the original thread I posted about her...
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=227723
My goal was to have Mitten living inside by December of this year so she wouldn't have to suffer through another winter outside, well...she's been an indoor kitty since May 24th!
Let's see...I first got to pet her February 7th. After working with her for several weeks I started letting her come inside while my two cats were confined in my bedroom. After a few weeks of that, I put a baby gate up in my doorway and let my cats come up to it. As soon as Mitten saw Sneezer I knew things were going to be a lot easier! Mitten LOVES Sneezer, and thankfully Sneezer likes Mitten too. (of course he is 12 and she is 3, so he's not as playful as she wants him to be-lol). One day I was carrying in groceries and didn't get the door closed as quickly as I normally do, and Mitten ran in and went right up to Sneezer to sniff noses. After that she started to come in every day (when I was home) and stayed more and more until it was bedtime, then she'd go back outside. By April 5th I tried NOT letting her out at night, and even though she cried a little, she did settle down and sleep. Every morning she'd wake me up between 5-9am to go back out. Then on May 24th she just didn't as to go out anymore, and she's been inside ever since
Now, as I said, she
's Sneezer, so that makes me very happy to know that she's got a friend. My girl Callie isn't exactly thrilled with Mitty, but as long as Mitten doesn't try and go up to her they are ok. Mitten has decided to just give Callie her space I hope they will learn to be friends someday! Mitten tolerates me, as I am the only one who knows how to open cans
I can scratch her back a few seconds a day, but she's not interested in getting loved up on. That's ok with me, I know we've got the time now. And honestly even if she never changes, I'm ok with that too cause I love her and she's safe now.
She's adjusted pretty well to being an indoor cat, the only things she has issues with are the vacuum, window AC, and heat coming through the vents. Those noises still scare her. She's good about using her litter box and begs for treats with Sneezer and Callie every night She did recently develop a bad habit though, a 12 pack roll of toilet paper was recently sacrificed...little bits shredded everywhere while I slept!
Anyway, I just wanted to share her progress with you all and thank you for your support. I could not be more proud of this little cat!
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=227723
My goal was to have Mitten living inside by December of this year so she wouldn't have to suffer through another winter outside, well...she's been an indoor kitty since May 24th!
Let's see...I first got to pet her February 7th. After working with her for several weeks I started letting her come inside while my two cats were confined in my bedroom. After a few weeks of that, I put a baby gate up in my doorway and let my cats come up to it. As soon as Mitten saw Sneezer I knew things were going to be a lot easier! Mitten LOVES Sneezer, and thankfully Sneezer likes Mitten too. (of course he is 12 and she is 3, so he's not as playful as she wants him to be-lol). One day I was carrying in groceries and didn't get the door closed as quickly as I normally do, and Mitten ran in and went right up to Sneezer to sniff noses. After that she started to come in every day (when I was home) and stayed more and more until it was bedtime, then she'd go back outside. By April 5th I tried NOT letting her out at night, and even though she cried a little, she did settle down and sleep. Every morning she'd wake me up between 5-9am to go back out. Then on May 24th she just didn't as to go out anymore, and she's been inside ever since
Now, as I said, she
I hope they will learn to be friends someday! Mitten tolerates me, as I am the only one who knows how to open cans
She's adjusted pretty well to being an indoor cat, the only things she has issues with are the vacuum, window AC, and heat coming through the vents. Those noises still scare her. She's good about using her litter box and begs for treats with Sneezer and Callie every night
She did recently develop a bad habit though, a 12 pack roll of toilet paper was recently sacrificed...little bits shredded everywhere while I slept! Anyway, I just wanted to share her progress with you all and thank you for your support. I could not be more proud of this little cat!
