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- Feb 24, 2012
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I’ve recently caught what I believe is a stray cat by my husbands office. Prior to trapping I was able to get about 15 feet to the cat before he ran in a sewer. The cat got to know my husbands car and at one point was waiting in the feeding area and turned his back to him for at least a minute. When he approached to put the food down it bolted. We know it was out in the wild for at least 3 months. He was trapped Sunday night and brought to the vet Monday morning. He was scared and darted all over the room but never hissed, growled or tried to bite. The vet had to trap him in a clear container and sedate him to examine. He is about a year, no diseases but waiting for a fecal update which I am sure will find something. I immediately had him neutered. I was told he has no wounds, no fleas or ear mites and has a very dirty coat. He looked well fed which tells me he had a secondary food source either by a human or mice.
I have him contained in a room in the basement. I have a high cat post with a sheet draped over it and it sits by a window. I have sprayed pheromone spray and have a “Baby Bach” CD playing. There are other places to hide, two cat boxes (which he uses) and cat toys but no string. I’ve read I need to visit on a routine and still working that out. I’m home quite a bit and just get the urge to go in and talk to him. I sit at the opposite end of the room and talk for about 10 minutes. I bring him small amounts of food and sit hoping he will come out. I think he has gotten wise to the sound of me coming down the stairs and hides just prior to me coming in the room. I do lightly tap on the door before I go in. He is quiet and does not howl at night and hasn’t torn up the room. I think these are all signs he is a stray and not a feral but not sure.
I did this once before with a stray two years ago. After the first week I slowly put my hand on her and started petting her. Looking back I suspect I was lucky I didn’t get bit but I didn’t use the sit back and wait approach that I read on the internet. Even with her it took five months before she came out of the basement and now is a devoted and loving indoor house pet.
I’m torn because I was in touch with Best Friends Animal Society for the trapping and they advised I release him back to his territory. He lived in the woods by a major highway and many office buildings so this is not an option. I’ve got a lot of time and patience and willing to give him a try but want to do it right.
Like my last stray she had to be quarantined from my other cats for 6 weeks. They missed one of the parasites on the initial test. So I am aware about confinement and even how to socialize a new cat but need to get my new boy attached to me.
I read some nice posts on this site and welcome feedback.
A devoted cat lover.
I have him contained in a room in the basement. I have a high cat post with a sheet draped over it and it sits by a window. I have sprayed pheromone spray and have a “Baby Bach” CD playing. There are other places to hide, two cat boxes (which he uses) and cat toys but no string. I’ve read I need to visit on a routine and still working that out. I’m home quite a bit and just get the urge to go in and talk to him. I sit at the opposite end of the room and talk for about 10 minutes. I bring him small amounts of food and sit hoping he will come out. I think he has gotten wise to the sound of me coming down the stairs and hides just prior to me coming in the room. I do lightly tap on the door before I go in. He is quiet and does not howl at night and hasn’t torn up the room. I think these are all signs he is a stray and not a feral but not sure.
I did this once before with a stray two years ago. After the first week I slowly put my hand on her and started petting her. Looking back I suspect I was lucky I didn’t get bit but I didn’t use the sit back and wait approach that I read on the internet. Even with her it took five months before she came out of the basement and now is a devoted and loving indoor house pet.
I’m torn because I was in touch with Best Friends Animal Society for the trapping and they advised I release him back to his territory. He lived in the woods by a major highway and many office buildings so this is not an option. I’ve got a lot of time and patience and willing to give him a try but want to do it right.
Like my last stray she had to be quarantined from my other cats for 6 weeks. They missed one of the parasites on the initial test. So I am aware about confinement and even how to socialize a new cat but need to get my new boy attached to me.
I read some nice posts on this site and welcome feedback.
A devoted cat lover.