Former Feral Freaks Out!

gardenho

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I am thrilled to be in the presence of so many kitty experts, & hoping someone can help my semi-feral.

I have been working on a stray since Feb, & Kasa has come a long way. It is time to get him to the vet. I failed the first attempt with the carrier, as his long back legs caught the carrier door & he was able to push away. I bought a small dog crate, but the reaction was unexpected. He was able to squirm away, but then he started howling & racing around the house. Not unusual, but then he hurled himself against the wall - three times! This was blind terror, & I feared he would harm himself.  Days later, I put treats in the crate as my vet suggested, but Kasa began to panic when I tried to coax him near it. My vet won't give me tranquilizers as he hasn't seen Kasa yet. I have spent a lot of time gaining his trust, & certainly don't want injuries to boot. Perhaps he has had previous experience with crates. My vet said they can down him with gas to do the workup, but getting him there is the issue. I have never seen a cat behave like this - This was way beyond fear!

So far, all I have come up with is herbs ie passiflora, but I tend to think it won't be enough to calm this one. How can I help this wild child, without scarring him psychologically and/or physically? 

Thanks in advance~

Julie
 

StefanZ

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Yes, real panic.  You are lucky he didnt got aggressive on you. It would be highly dangerous.

One way may be you bide and pay the vet to come home to you.  Some vets do.

Here, you can try and blindfold him.  Like they do on birds of prey whom they use for hunt.

I have myself seen such a blindfold masque in a vets office.  Some forumite do also used them with good results.

Or, wrap him up in a thick towel like in a burrito.   When helpless, they got submissive.

You may combine it with spraying profusely with Feliway spray.  Although Feliway alone wont help here.

A couple of more tips. His legs got in way when you tried to put him in the carrier.  It is easier to be two, the helper moving these legs down.

Or you can use something with a wider opening than a carrier.  Say, in Sweden we do use  plastic barrells for laundry.  These barrells have caps and holes in the sides.  Such a laundry basket can be used as an emergency carrier.    You must of course fasten the cap with something. A thin rope perhaps.

Welcome to our Forums!

Good luck!
 
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feralvr

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Welcome!! Poor kitty and poor you, too. I would suggest a VERY large crate this time around. Kasa has had a couple of very traumatic experiences now with a crate so it is not unexpected to me that he would become very fearful of a crate. Use a larger sized plastic carrier. I would start to feed him in that crate with the door propped open for a few days. Once the cat is comfortable doing so, then you can quietly and calmly shut the carrier door. You can also start leaving a carrier in Kasa's room with a comfortable kitty bed inside and keep spraying daily with Feliway. This way, Kasa will get used to seeing a carrier everyday in his environment and might use it for a sleeping/hiding place. Good luck!!!! :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 

bastfriend

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My semi-feral indoor kitty Patches (a tortie calico) has a looooong memory.   I trapped her once with the carrier trick - I shut her in a bathroom with no hiding places but the carrier with a cozy blanket inside.   She got in voluntarily and "hid" from me and I just shut the door!    However.....in the years since many times I've tried to lure her into that carrier again with zero luck.   Even at playtime aggressively chasing a string she will not go in.   

I originally trapped her in a Havahart trap and I need to take her to the vet now.   I'm hoping it's been long enough that I can get her in there this time.  If it doesn't work, I plan to try a drop trap because she's never seen one of those.  So your best bet is to do something she's never seen before and that involves zero handling on your part.   Good luck!
 
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gardenho

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Wow - A lot of tips & tricks! I have tried several so far, but I don't really have any way to get Kasa accustomed to the crate, as he is still primarily an outdoor kitty. The crate I bought is pretty large - I had to make 2 sling handles just so I could carry it! I tried a blindfold, but he didn't do so well with that either. He will not enter the room with the crate now, even though his catnip toys are there, & a jigsaw puzzle in progress on the floor, which is his favorite place to rest. The good part is that he did not view me as the threat, at least after a few hours passed. He is afraid of men, so a home visit isn't an option.

My biggest fear is not traumatizing him by crating, but the damage he will do to himself while n the crate. This is inevitable, if he freaks out like he did before. We trapped a groundhog once that bloodied itself raw within a few minutes. Kasa behaved very much like that groundhog - Like a wild critter. Is it a bad idea to use herbal remedies to tone down his anxiety? I know Benadryl can make some animals excitable... but passiflora or valerian are both used in over the counter cat remedies. Could they help? 

I hadn't thought of a drop trap. It could work!

I volunteered with a rescue, & adopted one of their ferals.  I had some good years with my feral girl before she died this Spring, & I wouldn't hesitate to adopt one again. She may not have been a cat you could pick up & snuggle, but she was truly a happy little cat, & as devoted to me (in her own way!) as any "normal" kitty. I didn't want an outdoor cat, knowing the coyotes & other predators in my neighborhood. Kasa appeared the night before I took my girl into the vet for the last time. He was so scrawny, grey from malnutrition, & obviously in need of his own person. But he is definitely a different sort of cat!
 

feralvr

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From your story (and sorry about the loss of your feral girl :rbheart:) it sounds to me that Kasa was meant to be in your life and for you to rescue him. :heart3: I think I would try to find a vet who WILL understand and be more empathetic about your situation. One that will give you something to calm his nerves in regards to the crate. Most TNR orgs. have a list of veterinarians experienced in dealing with feral cats and understand your predicament and be willing to prescribe something for you to give Kasa so you can get him to the vet. Another way is to start using a trap for feedings and tie the trap door up. On the day you have your appointment for the vet, you set the trap. The vet will be able to easily tranq. Kasa from inside the trap when he arrives at his office so he can examine him. Unfortunately, yes... when they freak out once confined to a crate or trap, they can do harm to themselves. Hard to witness, but they do need to get to the vet and that is the only way. Hope this helps some!! Are you planning on keeping him indoors and socializing him? Here is an article that will offer some great tips, advice and suggestions. http://www.catnipchronicles.com/may2012/laurie.htm
 
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gardenho

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I too believe it was fate! He needed a person to call his own, whether he admits it or not :)

He is obsessed with hunting, & will only come indoors to eat or sleep on occasion. I suspect he will stay in more often as Winter approaches. I don't think he will ever become a true house cat - He prefers the stimulation of the great outdoors. I am pleased that he removed the destructive rodents in my gardens, but I worry about him, particularly when he is out at nighttime. Kasa is about 3/4 socialized... The last 1/4 is mostly the crate issue!  I have worked on him since Feb., and I have gained his trust. He is still somewhat wary of my parents.

I will look for another vet who is willing to work with me on this. I don't want to wait much longer to get him vaccinated, wormed, etc.

Thank you all again for your help. And thank you all for being the great kitty caretakers that you are :)
 
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