Not sure what else to do!

I have posted many times about a feral colony I inherited a few years ago. I had to relocate the last 2 females, mother and daughter, to an enclosure in my yard. I was forced to move them by a very nasty neighbor. I did not want to just relocate and release to my yard as their previous location was close enough they would try to get back. I also wanted assurance of mind that they are safe from predators and cars.

The enclosure is large, a lot of room for them, I have their feeding station, Feralvilla shelter and heated house from their previous spot. I added another heated house, an outdoor cat tree, outdoor litterbox, and another shelter with a platform for them to lounge on. I want to add some shrubs for them too. I have done everything I can think of to help them acclimate here.

My worry is that they are not adjusting. When I go to the enclosure, they are both in the Feralvilla. I never see them out and about. I know they are eating, and a few times I have seen the mom cat, Mia, out walking by the fence, almost as if she is trying to get out. It just breaks my heart, they have no clue this was my only option for their well being. I have too many inside cats or they would be indoors. They have been in the enclosure for about 2 months. I knew it would take time for them to adjust, they know me but were always very cautious of anything new when I would go too feed them, like workmen at the house, a new cat that would show up. But I thought that by now I would at least be seeing them lounging around in the sun.

They seem only to eat at night now too. I don't know what else to do, I have cared for them for so long and just wanted what was best for them. I know they are secure and safe, and they are well fed and will be warm during winter, I will tarp the enclosure when winter arrives, but I don't think they are happy, and I just don't know what else to do for them.

My heart breaks for you because I feel your concern. It seems to be a double edged sword, is it not? We build a nice, big, safe enclosure thinking that all will be great and well once they are acclimated only to find our that they hate their new life inside that enclosure and we are left with more guilt than worry when they were free. ARGH. So very tough and I completely understand. Please give it some time, lots of it. You can always release them WAY down the road and you may find that they may not even want to leave at that point. I would completely agree with adding in many shrubs, bushes, small tree :dk:, that you can. I honestly think that will help trememdously. You can also hang wooden perches, even make them yourself, if you are handy. Two months really is not that long and they will need time, much time. For now, rest easy that they ARE safe from harm and well cared for and well loved. :heart3: Also, is the enclosure in the wide open? or is it or part of it surrounded by bushes or a tree line? If not, that is why they are not coming out during the day. Ferals need to hide all the time and be very discreet. Hang in there, hun. Keep posting and updating and talking about it with us. That will help. :nod:

p.s. Your a good person with a big heart, be proud of what you are doing. :bigthumb: They could have it much, much worse. :nod:

The enclosure is a former dog run we used to have for our rescued German Sheperd. He was abused and neglected when we got him and built him the dog run so he would never have to be tied up again. We converted in for the cats, making sure the top and bottom were secure. It is located in my yard, but is set within trees. There is both ample amount of sunshine and shade. The one side faces into my yard but has more coverage so you can't really see into it, the back side which faces the woods with a stream that runs through at the bottom of the hill is more open. We did it that way so our dog had tons to view on one side and limited view on the other. It is hard to describe, but the cats are very protected. I am very careful to keep their gate locked at all times.

I just hope they will at one point be happy there.

I also salute you for all you have done. Think of the life these kitties would have without you. And happy is such a relative term. Ferals don't have the same way of telling us they appreciate our work for them. So if they are not hissing at you when you come in, I would bet they are satisfied with their lives. And that is enough!

First of all, Lauren expressed it all so very well. :heart2: Ondine is right too. :nod:

Just a quick question: how long have they been in there? How long was momma cat living where she was before you had to move them?

Hun, I think they WILL adjust. :heart2: I think the issue is that it likely just needs more time. :rub:

Have you tried working with scents? Catnip? Bach's Rescue Remedy? Feliway? Are there any "toys" as they know them in there? Acorns? Pine cones?

I know, I KNOW this is distressing for you. But they're safe, and that's what matters. I know this is FAR easier said than done, but just do your best to focus on that. :heart2:

What a truly difficult situation for you.  Yet, you know you have done the right thing for these kitties.  They are safe and protected as well as fed and cared for.  Are you able to try and interact with them at all with a feather wand toy?  I have had really good luck with Feral Cat Rehab from Spirit Essences.  Green Hope Farm as an awesome Animal Collection and the people who own the farm are so knowledgeable and helpful.  I have and am currently using several of their essences along with Feral Cat Rehab.  The cool thing about flower essences is that you not only can give it to them in their food, but you can also spray it around the area.  You can do this with the Feral Cat Rehab oo.  Also the way to win their hearts is always Gerber Stage 1 Chicken or Turkey baby food.  Most cats cannot refuse it.  They will lick it right off the spoon and even off your fingers. 

You have done such incredible work with all of the kitties you rescue.  This too is a good thing and in time it will get better. I send you happy thoughts that the ferals will soon settle and learn to appreciate the love you are giving them.

Thank you all so much for the support and advice. Laurie, I have been feeding the girls for almost two years now. I think Mia was there a few years before I got involved. Her original caretaker said she had quite a few litters. They are used to me but will not let me touch them. They knew the sound of my car when I would go to feed and they would greet me, but never let me get too close.

I do know that they are safe, and they didn't seem to wander too much where they were before. They were mostly on the porch, at times they would be lying in the sun on the hillside garden. It took quite a while for them to get used to me, maybe they just need more time.

I will try the essences, I did use them years ago.

Well, that's the explanation then. I don't know if mom's kitten was still a kitten when you started caring for them, but they were "home" for a long time. And while they recognize you and know you, cats are all about territory, and this isn't theirs. Yet. They will make it theirs: but it may take quite some time. :heart2:

Chumley was "3 or 4" when we brought him inside. He was sick and scared, but happy to be safe. That was in 2010. It is now 2013. He is now - pretty much - OK with hands. It only took 4 months or so to get him to stop using his mouth to say "no." But he is STILL not completely comfortable here. And this is with seeing us interact with our 7 completely social (with us) former feral kitties all day. He'll sleep in bed with me, he'll sleep on my pillow - but he will NOT play on the floor. He hates being on the floor (we live in an RV, so it's easy for a cat (and we've made it very vertical) to move around most places without spending much time on the floor).

So please, do not be discouraged. :heart2: They will come around. As my feral kitty rescue mentor used to say, we just have to turn off the clock. It may be more appropriate in this instance to say you just have to "turn off" the calendar.

But they will come to call their new territory home. :heart2: :rub:

The animal communicator that I work with always tells me to make sure I involve my animals in my decision making process.  I explain to them along the way what I am doing and why.  I ask them to coexist in my space as well as inviting peace into the space.  She tells me to send images to them or just send images to the universe that show the cats playing and enjoying life.  It may all seem really silly, but I do think my animals understand some of what I am saying to them.  I may have to say it every single day for quite awhile.  My indoor boy was an only cat inside the house for 5 years.  We have a dog too and 3 outdoor ferals/strays.  When I brought Marvin into the house it was a complete last ditch effort to save both Marvin and my outdoor boy, Shadow.  I talked with Jake every day and explained to him the process of bringing Marvin into the house. I kept him in the loop.  The adjustment process between Jake and Marvin is very very slow.  Yet, Jake has taken it all in stride.  He is happy knowing he still has his favorite room, favorite food and favorite spots.  When I last talked to the animal communicator she told me how much Jake appreciated being in the loop.  He told her that I talked with him every day telling him what would happen.  It may all sound really silly, but it does help. 

Thanks again. I will be patient! The "kitten" of Mia, who I call Olivia actually had a litter of her own. The original caretaker never thought to spay and neuter any of the cats. Mia showed up first, had Olivia and another that did not survive, and it just kept going. All were spayed and neutered when I got involved. I took in the youngest 4 kittens and adopted 3 of them. Then I took in the next group of 4 siblings, thinking I would do the same. They are still here, very shy but adjusting very well to indoor life.

There were about 4 males that wandered through also, 3 feral and 1 friendly. The friendly is in a great home and I relocated the 3 males. All neutered and ear tipped. But the girls were safe and happy there, I would have kept them there, but one neighbor threatened to get "rid" of them by the end of July if I didn't remove them.

I would love someday to ging them inside, I just cannot do that now, this enclosure was truly my only option. If I had relocated them to another area in the townhouse plan, they would have just gone back to the porch. If I relocated them here, they would have tried to get back and I just couldn't take that chance.

Laurie, do you remember my posts about Zach? He was an outdoor cat, fed at my husband's office for 2 years, we moved him and he got out twice and went back to his original place, almost 5 miles! I could not take that chance with my girls.

By the way, Zach sleeps on my pillow every night!

LDG said:

As my feral kitty rescue mentor used to say, we just have to turn off the clock. It may be more appropriate in this instance to say you just have to "turn off" the calendar.

Click to expand...

I love this one and learned that from you, Laurie! :bigwink:

I do think sometimes the clock AND calendar do need to be put away in these situations. :bigthumb: KRZ - to me your enclosure sounds absolutely perfect in how you described it above. Mia and Olivia are quite lucky to have such a safe and well planned out enclosure. :nod: I am positive that down the road you will be reporting some progress. What a great, loving thing you have done for ALL of your rescues, inside and out.

Of COURSE I remember Zach, how could I forget? What a story! :heart2: :heart2: :heart2:

Really, hun, you've done a wonderful thing. As Lauren says, the enclosure is perfect, really. :rub: They will come to call it their own. :rub:

Thank you all! Much appreciated!