Potential Stray?

Well at this point, I may not have to trap her. I really think she is beginning to trust me. She came by tonight and was playing with my cats through the window. I took a risk when she was done eating to go outside and interact with her. She was laying down a couple feet from my door when I came out, as soon as she heard me she sat up. She definitely was watching me for a good five minutes. Then she walked away probably a couple more feet and laid down. I walked closer to her, she didn't run just kept watching me. I decided I wouldn't push my luck and get closer to her because I want her to come to me. That distance between us is getting smaller! YAY!

That is great news! I am so glad you are committed to saving her, good for you!

Sounds like you are right...she is not feral and definitely wants attention..this is not the behavior of a feral

Sorry it has been a while since I have updated everyone on the stray status, but I think this post will make up for the belated posts. WELL...there has been some seriously interesting developments. Turns out my little girl is actually a little boy. Haha. Also, my little boy has brought along another little friend. I am experiencing the same scared behavior with this new friend, but progress is being made. As with the status with my little boy, I have made GREAT efforts that have paid off. He no longer runs from me, will actually eat food within a foot from me, and sometimes will eat food within a couple inches from me. I haven't tried to pet him yet because he still seems to be uneasy. Today, I actually heard him meow. I was sitting next to him outside and he was talking to my kitties. I heard a couple meows, and one was directed to me when I was talking to him. HOW EXCITING!!??? I felt like he wanted to come over so I could pet him, but he stopped himself and walked over to a bush a rubbed on it instead. This is definitely a long process but it is TOTALLY worth it. I will keep everyone posted with updates and pictures of the new family member(s).

I have been told that Meowing at you is  sign the cat is not feral. Good job

Yes, I have heard that too! It is very exciting. I am guessing someone just left him, which is their loss because he is an amazing little guy. His little friend is definitely a stray because the poor thing is sooo thin. It has come by twice tonight to eat. It eats a LOT too! It's okay though, I will take care of them both.

OH how funny - that she is a he :lol3: I can't tell you how many times I was wrong about one of my feral cats. You just can't tell, unless they are full grown tomcats and have those significant jowels. Anyway, the meowing is a great sign in the right direction. It is true, ferals do NOT meow at humans..... BUT they DO start meowing at their caretaker once a major trust has been established. Not all, but some do. My feral Willow - who was for sure born in the wild by the feral colony in my neighborhood. He was extremely fierce and aggressive in the trap - just crazy mean. ANyway after one year - he is now meowing at me when I am late for the food - breakfast. They do learn from the other cats that meowing to "their" human means that the human will bring the food - hopefully faster. This is a very special time for a caretaker - when one of your longtime TNRd feral cats start to talk to you like that. :heart3: :rub: I actually have meowed back at him. Yep - a crazy cat lady, that's me.....

Can't wait to see pictures. The progress you have made is incredible. It truly does take a long time. I had a feral cat at a barn a couple of years ago. I did the same thing as you. Would put the food down and each day try to get a bit closer until I was just inches away. THEN I started petting the top of his head with one finger :lol3: As the days went on I started using more fingers, but only the head. This worked out great because once he was used to that, then I could apply the Revolution which he needed so badly. I just kept a couple of fingers scritching his head and used the other fingers to dispense the medication. Worked great and he DID know I put something on him. But didn't freak out about it. I ended up feeding him in a medium crate with the door propped open. That is how I was able to get him to the vet, and find him a new home. Coal was a special feral cat to me, I wish I could have kept him, but you can't keep them all. :lol3: He turned out to be a total lovebug and lap cat. He has a loving home now and couldn't be more loved. :heart3:

It is the little steps that mean the most. Makes you feel so good when they start to trust you, little by little.

Feralvr you made me laugh with your post because I meowed at him too. I am so happy with this little guy. He is too cute and I can tell he wants to trust me but is still cautious. As soon as I can, I will post pictures, but that probably won't happen for a bit. The one problem I am having and maybe someone can offer some advice...I have a pond in front of my apartment, which brings many animals. The ducks are posing a huge difficulty for me. They have figured out that I put food out for the cats and sometimes it is an on going battle between me chasing them away from the food. Crazy thing is that the ducks scare away the kitties from eating. I have a very small patio area with no furniture because it allows me to sit on the ground and have a better interaction with the kitties. I would love to have some way of leaving the food out without the ducks eating it all on nights that I have to work, so that the little ones don't go without food. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I have looked online, but I didn't want to buy a feeder. I thought about buying some plants to create coverage, but I wasn't sure if that would phase the bottomless pits from devouring all the food.
 

Well, :lol3: you have ducks (and maybe geese??) I have crows!!! The crows come around each morning now and boy are they loud. They love to try to get in the feeding station and eat the food. They do frighten away the cats. I also chase them away Anyway, I do have a suggestion and you can see a picture of it in the following link. Of course, you wouldn't make a winter shelter, you just need an enclosed feeding station. This might work. :cross: You can make a feeding station out of a rubber maid container and cut a small opening in the front AND the back so it has two entrances or exits. Perfect for summer feeding. Best to keep it in the shade though. The ducks won't be able to fit inside the station and even if they could, I don't think they would try. See what you think.....

http://urbancatleague.org/Shelters.html

Thank you Feralvr, that is a fabulous idea! I will implement this tomorrow. These darn ducks have been driving me crazy. I will let you know how it goes.

OliverBinx said:

Thank you Feralvr, that is a fabulous idea! I will implement this tomorrow. These darn ducks have been driving me crazy. I will let you know how it goes.

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So WELCOME!!! Please do let me know if that works for the ducks :cross: Those darn ducks :lol3: I had the crows visiting again this morning They are SO noisy about their arrival too. Even scares my indoor cats

Feralvr said:

So WELCOME!!! Please do let me know if that works for the ducks

Those darn ducks

I had the crows visiting again this morning

They are SO noisy about their arrival too. Even scares my indoor cats

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I bought everything that I need for the "duck proof" feeder, I just need to drill a hole. I'm bringing to my dad on Tuesday because he has all the tools I can use to make it perfect. I have a feeling it will work. I had "war" with five ducks last night. They are eating the food then I am trying to grab the food and scare them away so the little one can eat. My neighbors probably think I am a crazy girl talking to the ducks and cats. Haha but that's okay. Oh, I can only imagine how loud those crows are. The ducks are always quacking for food. They even peck at my door! How annoying! lol My cats, I think, are officially over them.

OH COME ON - they peck at your door You really have a problem with ducks. I DO think the feeding station will work. But it sounds like you have persistent ducks, so I will be curious to hear your update. yeah - the crows come each morning - Loud little bugger's and there are about 8 - 10 of them. I have an old wooden built in the ground play/swing set and they sit on the top board of the swing set. It looks like something out of the movie "The Birds" They are pretty brave too. They don't fly off until I am just about a few feet from the swing set. :lol3: Waving my hands

I WISH I was making all that up about these ducks. I told my mom that the one stalks my apartment...she didn't believe me till I started sending her pictures. She thinks it's hilarious. I have to admit it is funny, however it is annoying. I think that is why my cats no longer are even phased about the ducks, because they are on my patio all day long and even at night. I thought they would be sleeping haha I guess even they need a midnight snack. Those crows sound rather bold! The ducks here are use to people so they don't fear me, which sometimes I wish they would so they would leave the food alone haha. My little kitty is smart and has started stopping by earlier to eat in peace. I have a good feeling about this feeder. At least it will allow the cats to eat when I am not home. Bonus news: I have a safe trap that I can use to capture the two little strays. YAY! The only odd thing is the second kitty doesn't stop by every night but I wish it would because it's thin.

OMG ducks can be SO aggressive! I totally believe they're driving you nuts. GREAT idea for the feeding station! When we have an issue with racoons and skunks, we simply put the food up on a table. Pool-side tables with those center poles (not four legs) are great for that. :nod:

As to the meowing... older feral cats were taught by feral mums not to talk. But kittens born of strays are not necessarily taught not to talk. And feral kittens definitely "learn" to talk if they've had positive interactions with humans and see other cats talking to people. We have a number of ferals we know for SURE were feral cats born of feral moms, and they started talking after some time. They get excited when we come to put the food out and they're waiting. They hide - I can't see them, but as soon as I'm out the door, they start meowing, "hurry up, hurry up, leave the food and go!" :lol3: The ones that have become friendly meow - but they also rub on my legs. (And again, I know they are feral cats born of a feral mom, we've been TNRing here long enough).

LDG that is such positive news to hear! I have been having many obstacles that I have to overcome with this little kitty. I bought a trap, and the little guy REFUSES to go in! It is cute though, because he will come up to my sliding glass door and sometimes he will meow and other times he just waits for me to see him. He will meet me at the door for his food. I have yet to touch him, but I have been giving him wet food and he lets me hold the plate for him when it starts to slide. Tonight, he did meow at me twice when I brought him more food, which was exciting. I tried to throw a towel on him to grab him, but he is too fast. Luckily, I don't think he was phased by the towel because he didn't run away. I am really having a problem trying to catch him and the towel was my last resort because I really don't know what else to do but wait.  As I said before I live by a pond, apparently the giant frogs have an interest in sitting in the trap on top of the cat food. Like, is this possible??!!! Of course, the little guy won't go into the trap with a giant frog, I know they creep me out when I have to set them free because they trigger the trap door. If anyone has any other ideas on what I can do, I would appreciate it. I think I may just have to continue sitting outside and feeding him till he lets me pet him and then I'll grab him.

So I wanted to give a final update! I finally caught the little stray! We are going to the vet tomorrow. I really appreciate all the advice and help I have gotten from everyone on here! By the way, anyone needing a good idea for a duck repellent cat box...buy a giant litter box with a lid. I'll post pictures as soon as he is all settled! Thank you again! Best wishes to everyone and their little purr muffins!

OliverBinx said:

So I wanted to give a final update! I finally caught the little stray! We are going to the vet tomorrow. I really appreciate all the advice and help I have gotten from everyone on here! By the way, anyone needing a good idea for a duck repellent cat box...buy a giant litter box with a lid. I'll post pictures as soon as he is all settled! Thank you again! Best wishes to everyone and their little purr muffins!

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OH I am sorry I missed this two days ago!!!!!!!! WONDERFUL update!!!! GOOD JOB!!!!! Please keep us posted on how everything is going! And great idea on the "duck away" :rofl: