Sadie's Story

I have read a lot of threads on this site since joining a few weeks ago and I have seen many opinions regarding trying to keep an adult feral cat happy, inside.

Many posters feel that it should not be attempted unless the cat has a serious illness or happy's right up.

I wonder about my SadieCat and if I should be releasing him back outside? 

About 2-3 years old.

Attacked by something so viciously his tail had to be amputated, shoulder operated on due to multiple deep bites, and partially blind in 1 eye due to a deep laceration scratch.

His anitibiotics have long been completed and he is healing nicely although he does now have a tongue abcess which the vet said to watch for a few days and then may be put on antiobiotics.

I don't want to release him back into the cruel outside, I would hope he will eventually learn to accept my home as is, but do you think I am being cruel to try for this?

Do you think Sadie meets the criteria for 'serious illness' to keep him inside?

It has not been long enough yet to even make that decision, hun . Look how far you have come with Sadie!!! I would not suggest you releasing him anytime soon. :uuh: He has made great strides and I honestly think Sadie has had human contact as some point in his life. Remember when you took him to the vet? And the vet said.... the cat was calm and looking for attention BEFORE the sedation?? Usually, a cat such as Sadie that has reverted feral from being abandoned by a human and is caught - they submit and give in to the care and attention. If he were completely feral - he would have been untouchable by the vet. Really - if he were a "true" 100% feral cat - you would not be able to pet him, he would still possibly be scrambling when you approach the room, thrashing about, not eating in your company, hiding all the time when you approach. Sadie is comfortable with you at this point and he has only been indoors for a few weeks, right??!! I think you are doing a wonderful job with Sadie. Saving his life. I am not sure he would survive outdoors very well at this point. It is NOT cruel what you are doing. You know when a feral adult cat will just not accept being in close proximity of a human. You just know. Those are the cat's that need to be released back outside after healing from an injury or illness. Sadie want's that connection. That is obvious to me!!!!!!! Don't give up yet... way too soon. Patience, patience and more patience. He is perfectly happy and settled with his new digs and his attached outdoor window enclosure! He couldn't have it any better or any safer than that.

With a tongue absess I would keep him inside. I do not think you are being cruel. I think perhaps he will still adjust to being inside.

Oh gosh no, I will never give up on Sadie   I just wanted to be assured by the feral experts around this town to tell me if they honestly felt I was being unfair and forcing my life on him.

Thank-you so much for making my heart happy and telling me he is okay.

I know he is safer and warm and fed inside, but the weather is warm and I see him looking longingly at his yard.

Then I see the threads (so many!) where folks put tons of heart and work into their inside ferals and one day *poof* kitty escapes back to the outside, sometimes never to be seen again. 

I know that is a chance that has to be taken though.

Right now Sade has a total venomous hate-on for me.  He hisses if I just enter the SR.  I do understand thought that when kitties are not feeling well, especially when they are semi/feral they are quite verbal to keep others back.

I am worried about his tongue 'ulcer' though.  I was fortunate enough this morning that the Vet was the one to answer the phone this morning.  I told him that Sadie would hiss but then keep his mouth open, and when he closed it he would swallow very hard and his mouth would lay open a bit.  Sadie has been extremely lethargic. He has eaten some wet and dry food and a fair quantity of warm chicken broth. The vet was casual about it and said that it would likely resolve itself in 48 hours, otherwise anibiotics would be prescribed.  He said I wouldn't have to bring him in.  ????

Tonight I tried Baby Food Chicken and Gravy but he wasn't interested.

hno: You are right in that all cat's will hiss and be very unhappy if they are hurt, sick or in pain. I wonder if he has a fever too.... I think a vet visit is in order if he is not better tomorrow. Yeah, try the baby food. The all meat jars, chicken, beef are favorites. There is also Hills A/D... A highly nutritious wet food that is very appealing to sick cat's. You could pick up a few cans from the vet. Gosh... I hope Sadie feels better tomorrow

Checking in on Sadie today! How is his tongue?? More good vibes coming your way

3 steps forward, 2 steps back...  Huge leaps the past few days  .

Sadie has been playing up a storm with the straw wand underneath the door with me.

After a few days of this, I sat beside his cubby and he played with the straw wand with me about 2 feet away. We had a ton of fun with this , then my hand got just a lil too close and I got swatted   I'll be more careful.

Anyways, YES, YAY!, he seems to have healed and is back to hisself (haha). Eating and active, he tore up the bathroom for the first time last night. lol

Last night my two res cats were at the door and Sadie was in his cat tree and I was sitting on the toilet and shredding toilet paper to drop from up high.

The cats loved to watch and pounce, Sadie loved to watch at the paper fluttering like he was stalking a bird, but he didn't pounce. Just flattened ears and saucer eyes as he watched his prey...

This morning I woke up to a rolled up bath mat, shredded toilet paper (the stuff I left on the floor thank goodness) and toys that he hasn't touched all moved to different places and chewed up a bit.

Great news, I opened up the bathroom door yesterday!  I locked all the residents away, sent the little one off to kindergarten and shut all the bedroom doors.

Within a minute or two Sadie came out to inspect the house!  I was sitting at my computer in the living room very still.  There is a large sliding glass door in the LR and Sadie walked down the 3 steps into the living room and sauntered across the soft carpet to the window and took a good look outside and then saw me sitting right there  and ran back to the kitchen and inspected up there some more before retiring to his bathroom.

I have done this several more times since then and he is getting brave.

It is very interesting to watch him walk.  I have never seen a cat so squat before (A 2" tail adds to the effect lol).   I know cats slink low when they are scared but he has really short stubbly legs.  He's very neat.

...posting a pic in a sec...

  ha ha ha   Sadie might like my fingers just as much as I do.  We aren't quite there yet, lol.  But feel free to come over and check yourself.

I will definitely take a better look when we play next and let you know.  I have noticed the white streak down Tri's nose and noticed the similar one on Sadie, although I think Sadie's is mostly a wound that is void of fur.

We've been playing on the bathroom floor with the wand and he loves it so much.  He charges it right up to about 2 feet in front of me and even when my

dog barks at something outside Sade keeps on playing.  I wonder if he lived in a house with dogs or is just so used to dog barking from a life on the lamb that

he knows how to judge just how close the danger is.

He even made the journey into the living room a few more times today and even sat there watching me for a bit.  Definite progress.

My cats got a meet and greet and Sadie is so sweet to them but my cats are all growly and hissy. Understandable, thankfully no swats or fights.  After Sadie's gentle hello's are refuted, Sadie completely ignores my cats going about his own interests.

My res cat Scraps has been giving me sooo much loving since Sadie moved in.  A generally non-lap cat to an almost entirely lap cat.  I love her attention but am trying to reassure her that everything is okay.  My other res cat is very scared and mostly hides in my room.

No intros to pooch yet - 3 year old Belgian Malinois Shepherd.  I am very worried about that.  My dogs and cats love eachother and are best buds but my dog once chased Sadie outside into the woods.  I had never let my dog into her backyard once Sadie came on scene but one morning last summer, Sadie was underneath my vehicle and took off when I let my dog out into the front yard.... and my dog took off after him.  I was running, crying, screaming barefoot through the forest for my dog to come back and finally she did.  I went searching for Sadie and by the time I walked back home in absolute ragged tears, Sadie was sitting on his porch, licking his lips waiting for breakfast.  .  I have always felt so horrible about that and intros worry me greatly.

The neighbours were definitely onto the crazy cat lady after that

.

WOW your dog is just stunning :love: I love Belgian Malinois. I think they are so beautiful and intelligent. I am sure you won't have any trouble teaching your dog to respect Sadie, the new family member. Remember, dogs consider "pets" inside the home as part of the family. Cat's roaming outside are just prey to them. I have found this to be true time and time again throughout my lifetime with dog's and cat's that I have rescued and brought indoors. They just know the difference :nod:

You really HAVE made great progress with Sadie Now he is venturing out into the living room!! That is a HUGE step in the right direction. Keep up the great work. Sadie really sounds worth the effort you are putting into his socialization. He will be a perfect little housecat someday soon :cross:

Thanks Lauren!  I sure hope that is true and it does make perfect sense.

I gave a verrrry brief intro tonight.  During our play with me outside the bathroom.  I allowed my dog to sit beside me for 2 seconds and patted her while Sadie could see.

Sadie was not impressed, ears flat, hissed, and I shooed away pooch.  Then we kept playing as though no big deal. Baby steps.

Sadie is trusting me so much more now that he enjoys the wand toys.  He often sniffs my hands and lets me put toys right in front of him.  He even comes right to the floor beside me and lets me rub him gently with the wand and he stretches and pushes the back of his head into the tip for scratches.  ( he has no fear of the wand stick so I pray that he has never been abused -at least with a stick). 

Tonight was awesome - he likes to have his paws gently rubbed with the wand stick (top and bottom!) and tonight I used my finger and he gently curled around my finger and even stretched out more for a better caress.

The HUGEST surprise was when my daughter was on the toilet, Sadie for the first time actually came out of hiding with her in the bathroom.  He talked to us as he crossed the bathtub and jumped onto the window ledge.  He wanted me to open the window to the kennel for him (Gets closed at night cause of mosquitos and stuff).

I was soooo worried about losing some fingers but he was completely encouraging me with his meows and his eyes, nudging the window, that I slowly went over and placed my hand towards the window and he gave me a good sniff but wouldn't move over. It is a beautiful evening with a ton of ducks in the pond and he wanted the window up so badly.  I was literally quite a bit terrified as I put my arm over his head to flip the lock - which snapped open and almost hit him in the nose - but he didn't move - just sat there all expectantly for the window to open, but he quickly reached up to my fingers and I thought I was a gonner but he just had a good deep sniff, then the window opened, he said thank-you and scooted outside. Thats trust!

I bought a feliway type air diffuser today and I wonder if that is helping.

Amazing news for me today.  I am going to be fostering a semi-feral mama and her kittens this week!  She is set to give birth this week sometime and they vet check everybody and then I get them.

This is what they said:

What we expect from foster homes for semi-ferals moms: 10 week commitment

- We keep mom until she births and the kittens are checked over and everyone is deemed healthy.

- They are sent to the foster home (you) ASAP after birth.

- Since the mom is semi-feral, she really doesn't want much to do with humans.

- She will need a room of her own, where no other animals will be interacting, and where there is room to accomodate a larger vari-kennel

- Pretty much for the first 4 weeks you don't have to do much except let mom do her job with minimal stress.

- When they are 3-4 weeks they start to become a bit mobile where you can start to interact and socialize with.

- When the kittens are 4 weeks, 6 weeks and 7 weeks they come to the shelter for check-ups, dewormings and vaccinations. At about 8 weeks, we have mom spayed and keep her her with us. Kittens will then stay with you for approx another 2 weeks to have more socializing.

- It is expected that as the kittens age, you will be able to give them lots of human interaction and socialization. This is a critical part to fostering. Though you don't want to scare mom, you still NEED to spend lots of time with the kittens. Mom will get used to your presence. We will give you tips and pointers on how to do this as time goes. But you do have to be prepared to send a fair amount of time with them.

We will supply you with a large vari-kennel, bedding, a litter box, litter, food and all the necessities you need. You can contact us at any time re:supplies or questions concerns while you are fostering.

____________

Maybe I can socialize mom too enough that she might also get adopted???!!!!

Anything is possible.

First off, EXCELLENT progress with Sadie, the dog (even though Sadie hissed - totally normal - it was good that the dog did nothing :nod, with your daughter, and the MEOWING AND wanting you to open the window without running away. All really, really great strides forward to a trusting relationship

AND WOW - your going to foster a feral mom and her babies!!!!!!!! You will be a busy-bee socializer :lol3: How wonderful OH BOY - you might have to start a whole new thread on this new momma and her babies. OH in fact.... you might want to start a thread in Pregnant Cat's and Kitten Care Forum. Lots of experts in that forum with great ideas, suggestion and wonderful support. Keep us posted !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been told by others who have tamed down ferals that playing is a good sign. He is enjoying the scratches with the stick..good job..one thing that I read is that sometimes cats are afraid of your fingers..I used to put my hand in a fist and Tigger would sort of head bump me. Sounds like things are going great! Your a foster mommy..we need more folks like you out there. I trapped a female Saturday that I had been trying to get for a year! I was so excited and then dismayed as the clinic said she needed to be euthanized...she had a tumor in her throat..she would have starved to death eventually when it got bigger. No wonder she always liked it when I brought her wet food..the weirdoh who feeds her leaves kibble out for all the neighborhood cats which is great..but he only feeds wet food for his indoor cats.

Oooh Iris I am so sorry about your special kitty You did save him from a terrible death though

What's that sound called when a mother cat sort of harumph-meows to her little ones?  The same sound that your cats do to you when they want to be friendly, sort of like they are calling you to them or saying hello....

Sadie has never came right up to me, but just now I went to the bathroom (The door was open) and he was hanging out of his cat tree tunnel looking like a crazy kitten trying to get the ball on the floor.  I kneeled down at the door and asked him just what he thought he was doing....  He looked at me with big innocent doe eyes and I blinked then I turned and looked the other way and stayed still. 

He did 2 of those friendly sounds, jumped out of his tunnel and came just to up beside me and stretched down for a bigggg stretch.  I could see his reflection in the window. I sat motionless praying for a bump but he didn't.  We are so close!!

Two resident cats, 1 adopted semi-feral cat and 1 feral mother with her 4 newborns.  All in my itty bitty house in the forest. lol.

I started a thread in the kitten forum under 'New baby ferals.' There is 1 picture of the new family.

The Easter Bunny definitely came to my house this year (he's lucky though that he didn't get eaten).

Iris said:

I have been told by others who have tamed down ferals that playing is a good sign. He is enjoying the scratches with the stick..good job..one thing that I read is that sometimes cats are afraid of your fingers..I used to put my hand in a fist and Tigger would sort of head bump me. Sounds like things are going great! Your a foster mommy..we need more folks like you out there. I trapped a female Saturday that I had been trying to get for a year! I was so excited and then dismayed as the clinic said she needed to be euthanized...she had a tumor in her throat..she would have starved to death eventually when it got bigger. No wonder she always liked it when I brought her wet food..the weirdoh who feeds her leaves kibble out for all the neighborhood cats which is great..but he only feeds wet food for his indoor cats.

Click to expand...

Oh, hun, sorry about this kitty You did the right thing by her though... Thank goodness you were able to trap her and save her from more suffering and an awful death outside alone. Thank you for caring and saving her from her misery. I know it is hard

OH WOW!!!!!!! Sadie made the "love purr" sound to you That's what I call that sound. I love that beautiful sound kitties make. You must be so happy that Sadie is coming along so well. YES, you ARE so close.... Hoping for a "bump" very soon :cross: :bigthumb:

AND - I will go and check out your new kitten thread. AWWWW I hope all is going well with the little family :cross: YEP the Easter Bunny made a special delivery :heart3:

The love purr, I like that!

I couldn't believe it was him that did it!

A new 'toy' today.  I got a new long handled artist's paint brush and let him attack it for awhile as I brushed his paws with it, then I moved to brushing his head, cheeks and chin with it. I was even able to brush his nose and the dried goop in the corner of his eyes.

He absolutely loved it!  Great idea if I do say so myself .

He took a treat!  He took a treat!  He took a treat right outta my fingertips!!!!!!!

We had a really long play session tonight with the feather wand and a Hex bug, a straw and squeaky mouse.  After Sadie was good and tired I got out the artist's paint brush and began stroking the special kitty spots around his head and throat and he was being all gentle and I offered him a Beef Temptation treat on the end of the brush - which he took several times.

I then bravely approached with my fingers holding a treat which he smelled but looked away.  I put it down in front of him and he ate it.  We did this several times trying different things like palm open, fingertips, one finger...  With my fingers pinched he finally took the treat from the tips, although he did gently sample my fingertip first  with soft teeth and a rough tongue, but then he so gently took the treat!!!  He has no idea how high I was screaming inside!!  So happy!!

The next few times he tried to use his paws to gently claw my hand towards him and I told him firmly, "gentle" and made sure I tried not to give the treat until he retracted his claws... 

 haha wish me luck with that.

That's huge! WTG