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Spayed Feral, when to release?

post #1 of 13
8/27/11 at 4:05pm
Thread Starter 
Hi again. In my previous thread, "Oral Contraception", I posted that I was able to trap and spay my feral. She had her surgery Wednesday afternoon and I have been keeping her in a kennel so she can recover. I was planning on releasing her on Monday, is that too soon? She has been ok in the kennel until last night when she was trying to get out, especially when she heard my other cats meowing. Any advise is greatly appreciated!
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post #2 of 13
8/27/11 at 4:25pm
We normally keep spayed females 24 - 48 hours and then release if weather is OK. She should be OK to go!
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post #3 of 13
8/27/11 at 4:45pm
I TRY to keep females for 3 days afterward, and this mostly works. But one female was so wild and stressed that I let her go the next day, figuring that stress would be worse for her than being loose, and that the chances of her hurting herself in her cage were higher than the chances of her being harmed by being released too soon. She was fine (and, ironically, is now tame and is mostly a housecat!). So whatever works best for this kitty will be fine.
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post #4 of 13
8/27/11 at 6:02pm
You could release in two days. I usually keep them caged for three days, but it is not necessary. Especially if they were trapped right in your yard, then they know the territory. If they are being relocated after TNR, then it must be much longer so they stick around and know where their food, shelter and new territory is.
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post #5 of 13
8/27/11 at 6:46pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks everyone! I was so afraid Mon. would be too soon. So I might even let her out tomorrow if she's stressed but she's been calm most of the day today. She just had a couple episodes and they were over pretty quick. So I'll play it by ear but Monday will be the latest. She's going to be one happy camper! Thanks again!
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post #6 of 13
8/27/11 at 8:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by stacy_s View Post
I was so afraid Mon. would be too soon.
At least one week is recommended for family, indoor females.

Ferales and semiferales and successfull dumped, are made of tough wood. Sorrowfully, because the "not so tough" dont make it very long...

but for resuers and tnr- workers it has the nice bi-effect their recovery period may be much shorter than for the average family cat.

So the difference is NOT because you do care very much about your family pet,
but perhaps not so much about a homeless. No.

The long time survivors are almost their own species.


Good luck!
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post #7 of 13
8/28/11 at 9:19am
Thread Starter 
Well, I ended up letting her go a couple hours ago. She must've been trying to get out during the night because her litter box was standing upright, her food and water were spilled over and covered by the blankets that were strewn about. Then all morning she cried and cried. She perked right up when she smelled the outside air and ran like the wind when I opened the crate. I hope she'll be ok and also that she'll still come around. I'm sure she's pretty ticked at me right now. Thanks again to everyone!
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post #8 of 13
8/28/11 at 7:01pm
She might stay gone for as long as 3 days (although, IME, that's usually the toms who do that). But they always come back .
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post #9 of 13
8/29/11 at 10:45am
Thread Starter 
Thanks, I so hope she comes back by then. So far I have not seen her. I thought for sure yesterday she would come around at her usual time but that didn't happen. Also, I have been worried sick over one of the kittens, the female. I haven't seen her since yesterday morning. I don't think she is with the mama because she didn't want the kittens around her any more, she would growl and smack them. So it's been mama by herself and the 4 kittens together for about 2 weeks now. Every morning all the kittens come running out of my peonies, which is where they must sleep at night. (even though I just bought them a pretty nice house, figures lol) This a.m. only the three boys came out. I'm so worried now. I wonder if there is a chance the mama "took back" the girl kitten. Thanks again everyone!
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post #10 of 13
8/29/11 at 11:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by stacy_s View Post
I wonder if there is a chance the mama "took back" the girl kitten.
Could be. Momas has often easier for half big girls than half big boys...


Good luck!
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post #11 of 13
8/29/11 at 12:20pm
Don't worry about mom kitty. After release, they usually won't keep to their exact feeding schedule for a few days, in my experience. But then once they settle down after their incident, they usually start back on their regular schedule AND even start hanging around on and off all day since they don't have those raging hormones anymore and no need to roam. As for the kittens, I doubt she took back only one, unless the little girl followed mom somewhere. I guess anything is possible. Hope the little girl kitten comes back very soon. Mom can take care of herself, don't fret over it...
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post #12 of 13
8/29/11 at 3:49pm
Thread Starter 
Well, well, well....mama came just now and with the girl kitten! She was rubbing all over everything, my patio chairs, fire pit, all the kittens, my neighbor's cat. Then she even came right up to me and let me pet her??!!! She has never come closer than 1 foot to me and when she did she would hiss and spit at me. I have had females spayed many times but I've never seen them act like this. She's acting more like she's going into labor. Then they all left together, even my neighbor's cat lol. This seems very odd to me, is this normal? I'm so glad they are both back though, I was so worried.
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post #13 of 13
8/29/11 at 8:00pm
I like to think they're grateful. . .I think cats who have had too many litters appreciate being relieved of that burden. But maybe after spending 3 days inside with you she decided you aren't so bad after all .
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