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OMG, my feral

post #1 of 19
9/28/11 at 8:23pm
Thread Starter 
Is sleeping on my lap. This is the 1st time ever. She started sitting in my lap for longer and longer periods....this has been a year long process. Just getting her in the same room with us took 3years.

I want to cry.
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post #2 of 19
9/28/11 at 8:57pm
YAY!!! That has to be a wonderful moment for you. Enjoy!
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post #3 of 19
9/28/11 at 8:59pm
AWESOME!!!!
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post #4 of 19
9/28/11 at 11:19pm
I CELEBRATE with you!!

This is such an achievement - and all of us that take in a feral born cat know - first hand - what this means for you and her!!

It's time to party!!!
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post #5 of 19
9/29/11 at 7:53am
Isn't that just the BEST feeling in the world GOOD for you for being so patient with this cat. It CAN take years too and can be a very slow process but progress does come about little by little and it is just so wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So happy for you
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post #6 of 19
9/29/11 at 8:01am
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post #7 of 19
9/29/11 at 8:33am
I think she just graduated to "feral-born" or "former feral". This calls for a celebration!!
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post #8 of 19
9/29/11 at 12:56pm
WOW, just WOW! I can't put it better than everyone else here has - I'm just here to share that joy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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post #9 of 19
10/2/11 at 4:34am
I am so happy for you, and totally understand... my feral momma climbed up and sat on my knew a couple weeks ago... I was frozen in place so not to scare her away, though she still only allows me to pet her head and neck.
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post #10 of 19
10/2/11 at 4:40am
Oh, my. What a wonderful feeling!!!

I know, the first time Larry let me pick him up, and hold him, I had tears running down my face. Now, he's Mr. Cuddlebug. He has yet to sleep on my lap, though, even though he sleeps on the couch right next to me, and makes sure a paw is touching me somehow.

How rewarding for you! Good for you, and good for your "formerly feral" kitty!!
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post #11 of 19
10/2/11 at 5:16am
awwwwww!!
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post #12 of 19
10/4/11 at 10:29am
How wonderful for you. I love to celebrate each benchmark my feral Shadow makes. I remember when I first heard him meow. I cried. Next when he showed interest in playing with cat toys. Next when he came in the house and then began napping on blankets. Next when he finally came in the living room. Next when I could finally close the door when he came inside!! The list continues... petting him for the first time( I would hardly keep myself from bursting), using the litter box inside, sleeping all night inside the house, briefly picking him up, then holding him for a brief moment and then having him sit next to me on the couch. He is just now beginning to sit briefly on my lap. I think he has reached 30 seconds so far!!!

I love to celebrate each and every victory with my feral. Congrats to you!!!
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post #13 of 19
10/4/11 at 10:41am
That's so exciting! Gosh, I've had Elsa inside for 6 1/2 years now...where does the time go?
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post #14 of 19
10/4/11 at 11:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ShadowsRescue View Post
How wonderful for you. I love to celebrate each benchmark my feral Shadow makes. I remember when I first heard him meow. I cried. Next when he showed interest in playing with cat toys. Next when he came in the house and then began napping on blankets. Next when he finally came in the living room. Next when I could finally close the door when he came inside!! The list continues... petting him for the first time( I would hardly keep myself from bursting), using the litter box inside, sleeping all night inside the house, briefly picking him up, then holding him for a brief moment and then having him sit next to me on the couch. He is just now beginning to sit briefly on my lap. I think he has reached 30 seconds so far!!!

I love to celebrate each and every victory with my feral. Congrats to you!!!

If you cry after each benchmark - I hope you have a good supply of tissues!
These benchmarks are easily overlooked if you've never been a caretaker of a feral born cat - some folks may think we're a little loony, but we know what a HUGE meaning they have.

I think I may have a "leg up" with my feral born. The Daddy of the group is a stray, and the mommy just loves loves him. They watch everything that the stray (Gray) and I do. Now when I am grooming Gray, the mommy (Gigi) comes running and vocalizes something like "Me Too!". The son will then come close by to get a few brushes - the daughter is just still watching. Now, in our household, this touching is such a huge benchmark - I'm even getting to massage her tummy a little bit now!!

All this hard and time consuming work has great rewards that may be too difficult for some to understand - but us in the Feral-born and Stray Club really celebrate our victories together. YEA!!!! So, buy stock in the Tissue Companies 'cause we all use a lot of that stuff.
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post #15 of 19
10/4/11 at 12:54pm
Fortunately I don't cry after each benchmark!!! People do think I'm looney. They just don't understand how special these cats are and how it is not their fault that they are all alone in this world.

My latest feral, Patches watches everything between Shadow and I. He is completely monkey see monkey do. He has come up to me and meows a few times, but is still in the stage of running back when I come out with food or when I come out to visit.
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post #16 of 19
10/4/11 at 2:31pm
This is wonderful. It took 2 years to get my feral cat to come up to me and now she just loves me to pet her head and back. That was such a mile stone for her. She lives on. My porch with. A. Heated house and a heated bed. I am sorry I keep. Calling her a she because someone told me if she. Is. A fat. Cat is could be a. Girl. But this summer I saw that she. Is. A. He. Right now I am thinking of bring. Her in door but I need to get her tested. I have another in door cat. Every night she just. Gets. Real close to my door and just looks in. I hate closing. The door at. Night. But she is right there in. The morning. I am so happy. For you. I hope that someday hue will set on. My lap
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post #17 of 19
10/4/11 at 7:26pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks everyone! And yes, I am going to start calling her a former feral. She hasn't gotten back in my lap since she woke up a few minutes after I posted and darted off my lap like "What am I doing??!!". However, she has slept on the bed between my DH and I every night for the past week. It's so awesome.

I get it that not everyone is willing to put 4 years into a cat that won't let you touch them or runs in fear every time you enter a room, but like all of you, it is one of the most rewarding relationships I've had.
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post #18 of 19
10/4/11 at 8:39pm
What a wonderful job you have done and I love hearing these incredible stories. Patience always pays off in the end with these guys. And, yes, it can take years but during that transition time many, many little milestones are made and it does just melt your heart.

Tonight one of my ferals that has been extremely distant has been coming closer and closer to the windows and house this last week. And just tonight, I got the gift of gab from him A huge step in the right direction.
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post #19 of 19
10/5/11 at 9:25am
WHAT a feel good thread this is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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