It's been awhile since I have posted, but I try to stop by and read the boards every few weeks. Life is just so hectic.
My first feral, Shadow has been with me for 2.5 years now. He was around 5 months old when I first saw him and during the course of the next few months, he was living on my deck and I had trapped and neutered him. I have worked so hard with him over the years. It took me over 8 months to be able to pet him. Once he discovered petting, there was no turning back! He loves it so much. I continued working with him and he even comes inside the house for short visits, occasionally uses an indoor litter box and has even slept inside all night when the weather is horrible. Yet, he prefers to be outside. He is petrified of my large dog and my indoor kitty wants nothing to do with Shadow. Believe me, I tried to acclimate them for 9 months! So Shadow has a wonderful shelter on my deck, equipped with feeding station, covered tent with loveseat and heat pads.
After Shadow had been living with me for 8 months or so, a stray found its way to me. It appeared he had been living on his own for awhile and was only interested in some food. As time went by, he and Shadow became friendly and Patches would live on the deck too. I tried trapping him unsuccessfully and then he disappeared. He has since reappeared, but only stops by sporadically.
This past December a 3rd cat showed up. It was so frightened and so hungry. At first it would only appear at dawn and dusk and if it saw me, it would bolt and takes hours to return. Shadow would watch this cat from his tent and didn't show much interest. One night the new cat (Orange kitty) got bold and went into Shadows tent and slept there for awhile. (side bar...I have outdoor surveillance cameras on my deck that pick up a good bit of the cats activities). Shadow had a fit, but in typical Shadow fashion, he hid elsewhere for almost 2 days. Orange kitty did not go into the tent again, but continued to come and eat each day/night. Once he realized I was bringing out food, he began to come more frequently and often during the day. Shadow didn't seem too bothered and normally would just watch.
About 10 days ago, Shadow got brave and went over to Orange Kitty while he was eating. He tried sniffing the back side. Orange kitty was a bit frightened, but didn't show any signs of aggression. Shadow ran and hid under a table on the deck. A few days later, Shadow tried this again with the same results. Then last Monday (Feb. 18) Shadow was attacked during the night. Most likely by another cat, but I did not suspect Orange kitty as the very next day, Shadow was showing no signs of fear or wanting Orange kitty gone. I was able to clean Shadow's wound and do the best I could for him. I had on hand some liquid Clavamox and began giving him some to prevent an absess or infection.
Then about 3 days ago, Shadow began coming out of the tent when Orange kitty came to eat. This time, he would walk over to Orange kitty and hiss. Then run back, crouch and hiss again. Orange kitty would either cower or just start towards Shadow, but then stop and return to eating. Shadow has done this now for 3 days. THis morning it started immediately when I brought out the food and Orange kitty came up from under the deck. SHadow jumped down, came towards Orange kitty hissing, but this time Orange kitty went after him. THere was tumbling on the deck with fur flying. I went out and clapped my hands and they both ran off. Fortunately I do not believe either was hurt. Shadow came back about 10 minutes later and soon Orange kitty appeared too, just wanting to eat. Shadow was not happy.
So I am now worried about constant cat fighting. I believe Shadow must be defending his territory. But why has it taken him so long? Orange kitty has been here since mid December. Maybe Orange kitty is showing signs of wanting to take over the territory? Yet, to me, Orange kitty never gives any signs he wants anything more than to just eat and maybe play with a catnip toy. Is it possible Shadow is having displaced aggression towards Orange kitty when he is more angry with the cat who attacked him? I have no idea how to handle this. I have a trap on hand and plan to trap Orange kitty next week and have him neutered. I cannot take him to the Humane Society since he is a feral and they would euthanize him.
I am just worried about Shadow. He is just the sweetest cat and it broke my heart when he came home with a large gash on his back side. I just want peace. Is this at all possible?
Sorry for the long winded post. I hope someone with more experience can help me out.
My first feral, Shadow has been with me for 2.5 years now. He was around 5 months old when I first saw him and during the course of the next few months, he was living on my deck and I had trapped and neutered him. I have worked so hard with him over the years. It took me over 8 months to be able to pet him. Once he discovered petting, there was no turning back! He loves it so much. I continued working with him and he even comes inside the house for short visits, occasionally uses an indoor litter box and has even slept inside all night when the weather is horrible. Yet, he prefers to be outside. He is petrified of my large dog and my indoor kitty wants nothing to do with Shadow. Believe me, I tried to acclimate them for 9 months! So Shadow has a wonderful shelter on my deck, equipped with feeding station, covered tent with loveseat and heat pads.
After Shadow had been living with me for 8 months or so, a stray found its way to me. It appeared he had been living on his own for awhile and was only interested in some food. As time went by, he and Shadow became friendly and Patches would live on the deck too. I tried trapping him unsuccessfully and then he disappeared. He has since reappeared, but only stops by sporadically.
This past December a 3rd cat showed up. It was so frightened and so hungry. At first it would only appear at dawn and dusk and if it saw me, it would bolt and takes hours to return. Shadow would watch this cat from his tent and didn't show much interest. One night the new cat (Orange kitty) got bold and went into Shadows tent and slept there for awhile. (side bar...I have outdoor surveillance cameras on my deck that pick up a good bit of the cats activities). Shadow had a fit, but in typical Shadow fashion, he hid elsewhere for almost 2 days. Orange kitty did not go into the tent again, but continued to come and eat each day/night. Once he realized I was bringing out food, he began to come more frequently and often during the day. Shadow didn't seem too bothered and normally would just watch.
About 10 days ago, Shadow got brave and went over to Orange Kitty while he was eating. He tried sniffing the back side. Orange kitty was a bit frightened, but didn't show any signs of aggression. Shadow ran and hid under a table on the deck. A few days later, Shadow tried this again with the same results. Then last Monday (Feb. 18) Shadow was attacked during the night. Most likely by another cat, but I did not suspect Orange kitty as the very next day, Shadow was showing no signs of fear or wanting Orange kitty gone. I was able to clean Shadow's wound and do the best I could for him. I had on hand some liquid Clavamox and began giving him some to prevent an absess or infection.
Then about 3 days ago, Shadow began coming out of the tent when Orange kitty came to eat. This time, he would walk over to Orange kitty and hiss. Then run back, crouch and hiss again. Orange kitty would either cower or just start towards Shadow, but then stop and return to eating. Shadow has done this now for 3 days. THis morning it started immediately when I brought out the food and Orange kitty came up from under the deck. SHadow jumped down, came towards Orange kitty hissing, but this time Orange kitty went after him. THere was tumbling on the deck with fur flying. I went out and clapped my hands and they both ran off. Fortunately I do not believe either was hurt. Shadow came back about 10 minutes later and soon Orange kitty appeared too, just wanting to eat. Shadow was not happy.
So I am now worried about constant cat fighting. I believe Shadow must be defending his territory. But why has it taken him so long? Orange kitty has been here since mid December. Maybe Orange kitty is showing signs of wanting to take over the territory? Yet, to me, Orange kitty never gives any signs he wants anything more than to just eat and maybe play with a catnip toy. Is it possible Shadow is having displaced aggression towards Orange kitty when he is more angry with the cat who attacked him? I have no idea how to handle this. I have a trap on hand and plan to trap Orange kitty next week and have him neutered. I cannot take him to the Humane Society since he is a feral and they would euthanize him.
I am just worried about Shadow. He is just the sweetest cat and it broke my heart when he came home with a large gash on his back side. I just want peace. Is this at all possible?
Sorry for the long winded post. I hope someone with more experience can help me out.
