Effect of vet trips on half-socialized ferals?

bastfriend

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Hi everyone, I have a sweet indoor feral kitty Patches who hasn't been to the vet since I got her trapped and spayed seven years ago.  She became a happy indoor feral kitty but has never gotten to the point where I could pick her up or restrain her.    I plan to trap her in a couple of days to take her to the vet because....well it's time and she shows a few possible symptoms of CRF.    She trusts me now as much as she ever has and I hate to betray that trust.   She lets me pet her often and purrs at me now.   I worry after this vet visit that will all be gone.  She needs it for her physical health but for her mental health I don't see how it won't be traumatic.   I wonder if I'll bring home the same kitty I brought in.    The vet plans to give her a sedating injection through the bars of the trap first and then they'll do blood work and possibly a dental and her vaccinations.   Her history is that she grew up indoors with some people who abused her and possibly never socialized her fully and she got out, they moved and left her, and she survived and starved for a few months and got pregnant at which point I got involved.   

So any advice and experience to share?   Will she be able to get over going to the vet and still feel ok with me and her home?   Trapping vibes appreciated too, she's very smart and has evaded simple traps like dragging a string into a carrier or putting food in there.   I really want to get her squared away now too before I get more involved with Oscar's situation (for those following that).   Thanks!
 

StefanZ

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If you manage to trap her it should be OK.  You are then the one who do releases her back home.

Good the vet plans to sedate her inside the trap / carrier.   I suppose you know her weigh?  If not, make sure you know the weigh of the trap, so they can weigh her inside the trap, and subtract.

Do you have an appointment, or is the vet very liberal when you can appear to his place?

If the appointment is the limit, try to take her as early as possible, and let her be in the trap and wait there. Not optimal but better then be stressed by trying to catch her at the last moment. NOT optimal.

How is it, do you use Feliway spray?  You can also try with Dr Bachs Rescue remedy. (drops in her drinking water).

Good luck!
 
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bastfriend

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Hi Stefan, thanks for the ideas!   I'm on pins and needles anticipating tomorrow - I so hope I can get her because she really needs to go this time.   Great idea about finding out the weight of the trap so they can give her the right dose of sedation.    My vets office wants me to drop her off between 7am and 7:30am like they would have me do for a regular dental.   If it takes longer to get her, I suspect they may be flexible for up to a couple of hours but they have such a busy clinic it's not guaranteed.

She's being such a sweetheart tonight purring at me and wanting pets.   Looking at me like why have you taken up the food???   Feeling the guilts already.     Feliway, check.   Rescue remedy, check.    All systems are go.
 

ldg

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:vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes:

All of our kitties are feral rescues, though at this point we can handle all of them. Chumley was the latest - May 2010. He still can't be petted (much) with hands (only if we start "petting" him with our heads and he doesn't see the hands touching his cheeks... ). But he was a health mess, and needed quite a few vet trips those first ... 8-10 months. Yes, it was stressful. But each time he came home it increased his confidence that this was, in fact, home. :heart2: As Stefan says, we're the ones releasing them... and then he got yummy treats so.... ;)

As to picking him up... since he doesn't like hands, especially if they're reaching at him, that was a trick. :nod: What we did was use the hands, holding treats, so hands reaching toward him became not scary. Then I'd literally pick him up and set him down. Flailing legs, growling - didn't get him all the way up at first. But it didn't take long before the fighting it stopped, as he realized he was going to be set right down and get a treat. After I was able to pick him all the way up and put him right back down, when he wasn't completely tense any longer, I'd hold him for a couple of seconds.... and just gradually lengthen the amount of time. Now I can pick him up and walk him into a different room. It's a process, but fortunately, he's food motivated. :lol3:

Hope all goes well (or went well?) :vibes: :vibes: :vibes:
 
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bastfriend

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Awwww thanks LDG, I like your training program - I will definitely try it.   I've got to do something.   Today was another misfire - apparently Patches does not like high quality dolphin safe tuna.   Who knew?   She's always loved any catfood with tuna in it, so I just assumed using straight tuna for the bait in the trap made sense.    She wouldn't go in and I thought it was because of her savvy and suspicious  nature (which is there too).    But after I gave up and tested her and my other kitty on the tuna outside of the trap, she wouldn't eat it and he was all nyeaaah and walked away!   I realize now I should have tested the tuna before appointment day......live and learn.   Thanks for the support you guys!
 

ldg

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Oh I'm sorry! :hugs: :rub: I would have expected that to work too. :lol3: Other things to try.... sardines (water, no salt). Or if you're in the states, KFC, no skin or bones. That is almost irresistable to kitties!!
 
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bastfriend

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Thanks LDG
Do you know my crazy cats don't even like KFC?   I bought some earlier in the week to try out on them and the one I need to trap would not eat it and the other one ate it grudgingly and looked at me with suspicion.  They are mother and son so are very similar.    These guys also lay their ears back while purring and being happy - I think they didn't read the cat manual for normal behavior.    They both eat Royal Canin Urinary S/O most of the time and seem to like it but its main ingredient is....chicken!
 

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:shocker: KFC doesn't even get them!!!! :lol3: I honestly have been trying to trap an outdoor - irregular visiting - feral for two years. NOTHING, will attract him to the trap outside - not even KFC. :lol3:

Honestly, don't worry about Patches having a major setback after the vet visit. Actually, since you will be taking her back home to safety, it will only solidify her trust in you and might make her come a bit closer to you. Sometimes, though, it is what it is and you just cannot get them any closer to you as indoor kitties. I have one kitty, Perla. She was a feral born kitten but socialized at about six weeks of age. STILL to this day - she is two - she will run from me most of the time. She loves to be near me but does not like to be touched much and dislikes being picked up. I absolutely adore this girl - love her very, very much. I have seen progress though lately due to her getting older. There are times she will come and lay by me (within a foot) on the couch. I can then pet her and stroke her and she purrs away. The reason I am telling you this is because I have learned that they all are so different, feral or hand-raised, in their innate personalities and how they will ultimately relate to their humans. :heart3: It is the BEST feeling in the world when you get those precious moments when they allow you "in". :heart2: :clap::clap::clap:

:vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes: for trapping Patches!!! AND more of them for Oscar :rub: :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 
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bastfriend

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Thanks Feralvr!    I'm regrouping and recovering so Patches gets a vet reprieve for a little while.  Still I want to get her over there!    I'm with ya that it is such a special feeling when a scared kitty extends that extra bit of trust and you know it really means something cause it's not easy for them.    Your outdoor feral sounds like he got the same memo Patches did....some smart cookies they are.

And thanks for the vibes!
   
 
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