Female Feral from Garage into Living Room now in heat? Need Knowledge :)

This link will give a little background:  http://www.thecatsite.com/t/252228/feral-female-trapped-in-garage-12-12-2012

Basically, Pepper was able to find her way into our living room.  I'd been leaving the door from the garage to the laundry slightly open because of the high temperatures outside causing the garage to be very warm, too.

One night I missed seeing her in the garage when I took out her food.  I just thought she'd found a place to hide where I couldn't see her.  The next morning, again, couldn't find her so I looked in the living room - and there she was - under the love seat with her daughter - I guess, spending the night in the cooler room.

I decided that I'd just keep her in there with her daughter, so I closed the living room door, and she's been in there for about two weeks.

My Concern:

What kind of destruction should I be prepared to see now that I believe she's in heat.  She started being vocal yesterday, and is more vocal today.

Is she going to pee all over, leave other stains, etc.  

I've never had a cat that hasn't been spayed and in heat - especially in my living room.  I am bracing myself.

I feel I have a better chance trapping her in the living room, but have heard that surgery is more complicated if they're in heat.

I need some guidance and suggestions on how to plan and prepare this new challenge I find myself in.

Fortunately I just was able to get the last male (her son) neutered a couple of days ago - but I've read that he can fertile for up to 6 weeks?  ugh.

I don't want to make this post any longer so am leaving out a lot of details and tried to ask the basic question of what in the heck to I prepare myself for?  

Heat only lasts a few days, I think.  So I would make her appointment for as soon as you can get it.  As for the other behavioral things, I think your main worry is her not getting out.  She's looking for love right now and will use all her wiles to find it.

But it's good news she's inside, right?  Are you planning on keeping her an inside only cat?  If so, she'll need to get used to the idea, so you might as well start training her now.

Good luck!

I would make sure you have scratching posts, toys, hiding boxes and of course litter boxes.  If you are worried about destruction, you can over your furniture temporarily.  Try the feliway diffusers too.  Flower essences help too.  You can try Rescue remedy or Spirit Essences Feral Cat Rehab.  They work so well and can be put directly into wet food as well as being sprayed around the room.  You can also play soft music. 

I hope you can trap both Mom and kitten and have them spayed soon.  Thank you for taking such good care of them.
 

Ondine said:

Heat only lasts a few days, I think.  So I would make her appointment for as soon as you can get it.  As for the other behavioral things, I think your main worry is her not getting out.  She's looking for love right now and will use all her wiles to find it.

But it's good news she's inside, right?  Are you planning on keeping her an inside only cat?  If so, she'll need to get used to the idea, so you might as well start training her now.

Good luck!

Click to expand...

Thanks. 

I can't make an appointment until I actually get her in a trap.  I'm working with a pretty flexible clinic right now and I don't think an appointment should be a problem.

Yes, I prefer keeping her inside - although this makes her the 13th cat inside with us.  

She's been trapped in the garage since the second week of November 2012 (for 8 months). I realized that trapping her in the garage was the only way I could keep her from bringing me more babies to care for - I only wish I would have thought of that with her first litter. She's given me a total of 11 babies.

I think I have the trapping, neutering/spaying and releasing thing down - it's just that having a un-spayed female inside is a new deal with me (especially in my living room) and I'm trying to get ahead of any possible damage that may come from her urges.  

ShadowsRescue said:

I would make sure you have scratching posts, toys, hiding boxes and of course litter boxes.  If you are worried about destruction, you can over your furniture temporarily.  Try the feliway diffusers too.  Flower essences help too.  You can try Rescue remedy or Spirit Essences Feral Cat Rehab.  They work so well and can be put directly into wet food as well as being sprayed around the room.  You can also play soft music. 

I hope you can trap both Mom and kitten and have them spayed soon.  Thank you for taking such good care of them.
 

Click to expand...

Okay - have several scratching posts, hiding places, the litter box gets cleaned out 3-4 times a day.  I have cut up boxes to cover a lot of the furniture, still a work in progress.

I guess my concern came when I saw her peeing in one of the bed-boxes by one of my planters.  Fortunately it was mostly a sprinkle.  I replaced the box so that the scent wouldn't remain for her to continue using it. The bedding didn't have an odor, but I removed it anyway.

Kitten:  She had three in her last litter - one female, and two males.  I got the female spayed in mid-April (2013), a second male in June (2013), and the last male just a few days ago (2013). 

The female is staying with her mommy in the living room, the boys are in the family room/Kitchen area with another feral-born female (calico) that I trapped last year, got spayed and decided she should not be released, either.

Like I said in a previous post - this Queen makes the 13th cat we have living inside with us.  A lot of fur, a lot of litter pans, a lot of fresh water bowls, a lot of food messes, a large food bill including 3 that are on a Vet prescription diet, a lot of cats to give individual attention to, and a whole lot of loving.  We have one that has his own room because he tested FeLV positive, and one in another room with his family - the mother & his two kittens - that tested FIV positive.  

I'd like to keep one room where we could have guests, but I guess that's just not suppose to be.

GloriaJH said:

ShadowsRescue said:

I would make sure you have scratching posts, toys, hiding boxes and of course litter boxes.  If you are worried about destruction, you can over your furniture temporarily.  Try the feliway diffusers too.  Flower essences help too.  You can try Rescue remedy or Spirit Essences Feral Cat Rehab.  They work so well and can be put directly into wet food as well as being sprayed around the room.  You can also play soft music. 

I hope you can trap both Mom and kitten and have them spayed soon.  Thank you for taking such good care of them.
 

Click to expand...

Okay - have several scratching posts, hiding places, the litter box gets cleaned out 3-4 times a day.  I have cut up boxes to cover a lot of the furniture, still a work in progress.

I guess my concern came when I saw her peeing in one of the bed-boxes by one of my planters.  Fortunately it was mostly a sprinkle.  I replaced the box so that the scent wouldn't remain for her to continue using it. The bedding didn't have an odor, but I removed it anyway.

Kitten:  She had three in her last litter - one female, and two males.  I got the female spayed in mid-April (2013), a second male in June (2013), and the last male just a few days ago (2013). 

The female is staying with her mommy in the living room, the boys are in the family room/Kitchen area with another feral-born female (calico) that I trapped last year, got spayed and decided she should not be released, either.

Like I said in a previous post - this Queen makes the 13th cat we have living inside with us.  A lot of fur, a lot of litter pans, a lot of fresh water bowls, a lot of food messes, a large food bill including 3 that are on a Vet prescription diet, a lot of cats to give individual attention to, and a whole lot of loving.  We have one that has his own room because he tested FeLV positive, and one in another room with his family - the mother & his two kittens - that tested FIV positive.  

I'd like to keep one room where we could have guests, but I guess that's just not suppose to be.

Click to expand...

You are an absolute saint!  I can't imagine having so many cats and doing such a great job!  Kudos to you!!! Have you tried Litter Attract litter?  It has a scent to it that makes them want to use the litter box.  I have used it on a few ferals and/or strays that have come inside.  As soon as I switched to Litter Attract for a few weeks, the peeing elsewhere completely stopped.

I am sending you quick and easy trapping vibes for this last female. 

ShadowsRescue said:

GloriaJH said:

ShadowsRescue said:

I would make sure you have scratching posts, toys, hiding boxes and of course litter boxes.  If you are worried about destruction, you can over your furniture temporarily.  Try the feliway diffusers too.  Flower essences help too.  You can try Rescue remedy or Spirit Essences Feral Cat Rehab.  They work so well and can be put directly into wet food as well as being sprayed around the room.  You can also play soft music. 

I hope you can trap both Mom and kitten and have them spayed soon.  Thank you for taking such good care of them.
 

Click to expand...

Okay - have several scratching posts, hiding places, the litter box gets cleaned out 3-4 times a day.  I have cut up boxes to cover a lot of the furniture, still a work in progress.

I guess my concern came when I saw her peeing in one of the bed-boxes by one of my planters.  Fortunately it was mostly a sprinkle.  I replaced the box so that the scent wouldn't remain for her to continue using it. The bedding didn't have an odor, but I removed it anyway.

Kitten:  She had three in her last litter - one female, and two males.  I got the female spayed in mid-April (2013), a second male in June (2013), and the last male just a few days ago (2013). 

The female is staying with her mommy in the living room, the boys are in the family room/Kitchen area with another feral-born female (calico) that I trapped last year, got spayed and decided she should not be released, either.

Like I said in a previous post - this Queen makes the 13th cat we have living inside with us.  A lot of fur, a lot of litter pans, a lot of fresh water bowls, a lot of food messes, a large food bill including 3 that are on a Vet prescription diet, a lot of cats to give individual attention to, and a whole lot of loving.  We have one that has his own room because he tested FeLV positive, and one in another room with his family - the mother & his two kittens - that tested FIV positive.  

I'd like to keep one room where we could have guests, but I guess that's just not suppose to be.

Click to expand...

You are an absolute saint!  I can't imagine having so many cats and doing such a great job!  Kudos to you!!! Have you tried Litter Attract litter?  It has a scent to it that makes them want to use the litter box.  I have used it on a few ferals and/or strays that have come inside.  As soon as I switched to Litter Attract for a few weeks, the peeing elsewhere completely stopped.

I am sending you quick and easy trapping vibes for this last female. 

Click to expand...

Awe, thanks!

Yes, have used Cat Attract - I may even still have some in the garage - I'll look.  I usually just sprinkle it on the top of the other litter (I use World's Greatest Litter), and that does the trick good idea, thx.

Really appreciate those trapping vibes - keep 'em coming.